Like the iPad itself, the iPad version of FileMaker Go is somewhere in between traditional mobile and traditional desktop. This app is as snappy and clean as its iPhone counterpart, but it has enough breathing room to accomplish more than any mobile app has business attempting. It’s a great implementation that really rivals the complete desktop experience.
If your Mac and iPad are on the same network, you can use Network Sharing to work with the databases on your Mac. If you’d prefer to take your iPad on the go, you can load it up with your database files right in iTunes in the File Sharing section. Either way, you can easily manipulate and move data back and forth between the iPad and Mac. It works seamlessly, and that’s what impresses me the most. Too often, software ends up with half-assed implementations of file management, but that’s not the case with FileMaker products.
It should be noted that this app is designed to work with FileMaker Pro. You can’t create or design databases in FileMaker Go. Viewing and editing work wonderfully, but keep in mind that this is a mobile interface. Please don’t buy FileMaker Go if you don’t intend to buy FileMaker Pro.
If you’re interested in purchasing the FileMaker apps, you’re very much in luck. Starting today, anyone who purchases the iPhone or iPad version of FileMaker Go is eligible for a 50% discount of FileMaker Pro on the desktop. Just by dropping the cash in the iOS App Store, you can save yourself a hundred and fifty clams. That’s a really cool thing for them to do. If there was ever a time to recommend FileMaker, it is right now. If you’d like to read the whole press release with all of the details, you can view the PDF right here. Many thanks to the PR department of FileMaker, Inc. for giving us a heads up about this.
Whenever I discuss a FileMaker app, I like to point out that the same folks make a great personal database app called Bento. It’s much more affordable for non-professionals, and it has iPhone and iPad clients as well. Whichever app is more your speed, I’m positive you’ll find a good use for it. These folks are extremely nice, and they do great work. I’m so glad that we at Macgasm have such a great open dialogue with the FileMaker people.
