FileMaker Pro, the Mac's answer to Microsoft Access, is now available for iOS – allowing the iPhone and iPad into the enterprise, as long as the enterprise is using FileMaker.
To be fair, FileMaker Pro is now available for Windows too, but with its Claris heritage it's hard not to think of it as a Mac product first and foremost …
Because believe it or not there is less overhead in maintenance. You would need to maintain the database, the webserver, support of various browsers on lots of platforms. Dedicated clients, simply fire up the DBMS server and connect the client, which can be the same on all platforms. Oracle and SQL*plus, a simple example.
"To be fair, FileMaker Pro is *now* available for Windows too" (My asterisks)
To be even fairer, I briefly did some Filemaker Pro/Windows Developments in 1998, and apart from some very minor font issues, it worked with perfectly well, so it's been able to do that for quite a while!
- Evil Steve, 'cause though I'm being fair, I still hate the buggers!
If you can download a database and store it on the device you're just asking to loose it on the train -- leaving customer records or personal details exposed.
Play with your iToy all you want -- but using stupid applications like this just leaves you open to compliance issues and other data protection issues.
Not in the industry I work for they're not. Well, unless they want to loose multi-million dollar clients that is. They will use devices which can have policy applied and they will use approved encryption on all mobile devices, they will not use their own devices to store any data of any importance to clients -- failure to do so will result in crosses on auditors reports and failure of the business entirely due to lack of clients.
But it's best to allow these creatures to type 'loose' when they mean 'lose' because that way we can be sure that whatever follows is ill-thought-out and, probably, erroneous.
As opposed to working on a laptop which is obviously impossible to leave lying around? Or are you saying that nobody should do work anywhere other than in their office?
"As opposed to working on a laptop which is obviously impossible to leave lying around?" Having the database on a Laptop is a no-no too. Users should VPN in and use a front end app which retrieves only small amounts of the dataset or use a web portal from a machine with good security apps (firewall, AV, ...) which are checked regularly by someone who knows what they are doing. Developers and those tasked to work on large amounts of data should be VPNing in and using Citrix or other remote software to work on a machine which is safely locked away.
Databases themselves should remain on servers in data centres with controlled access or, at the very least, PCs in offices with controlled access on a machine with an encrypted drive. Heck, at absolute worst they should be on a laptop with full drive encryption and a sensible strength password.
This, on the other hand, is encouraging anyone to carry databases around with them on their latest tech toy. That's called being irresponsible and, in some cases, borderline illegal.
Steve wants to send computing back to the 80s and now we have another 80s style application rising from the grave like some sort of zombie.
Even if you do have a toy database platform, it still makes more sense to make the user facing frontend a web browser. That allows for a wide range of sophistication levels in your frontend app coding spanning the range from little more than shell scripts to serious secure enterprise computing. Code your interfaces right and you can even move freely between backend platforms.
One would have thought that all of the little PIM apps in the app store would make an application of this sort pretty redundant anyways.
You've all missed the point...you don't have to carry the database file on the device - it connects to a FileMaker server, via VPN or whatever security you have on your WAN.
Wow, talk about a blast from the past. I remember doing all the telephone support for Claris / Filemaker in the early 90's. Filemaker Pro 2.1 was so far above the dreadful Microsoft attempts at databases at the time. The only reason it didn't become more estabIished was because Microsoft starting bundling Access into Office. I haven't heard it mentioned in IT/development deps for ages.
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FileMaker Pro squeezes onto an iPhone
FileMaker Pro, the Mac's answer to Microsoft Access, is now available for iOS – allowing the iPhone and iPad into the enterprise, as long as the enterprise is using FileMaker. To be fair, FileMaker Pro is now available for Windows too, but with its Claris heritage it's hard not to think of it as a Mac product first and foremost …
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Posted Tuesday 20th July 2010 11:34 GMT
Pantera
why oh why #
would we need a dedicated client if most modern databases can be accesed by webbrowsers?
Posted Tuesday 20th July 2010 12:21 GMT
Anonymous Coward
Less work? Easier support? #
Because believe it or not there is less overhead in maintenance. You would need to maintain the database, the webserver, support of various browsers on lots of platforms. Dedicated clients, simply fire up the DBMS server and connect the client, which can be the same on all platforms. Oracle and SQL*plus, a simple example.
Posted Tuesday 20th July 2010 12:21 GMT
Laurie
To be fair #
"To be fair, FileMaker Pro is *now* available for Windows too" (My asterisks)
To be even fairer, I briefly did some Filemaker Pro/Windows Developments in 1998, and apart from some very minor font issues, it worked with perfectly well, so it's been able to do that for quite a while!
- Evil Steve, 'cause though I'm being fair, I still hate the buggers!
Posted Tuesday 20th July 2010 12:24 GMT
Cameron Colley
Just encouraging idiocy. #
If you can download a database and store it on the device you're just asking to loose it on the train -- leaving customer records or personal details exposed.
Play with your iToy all you want -- but using stupid applications like this just leaves you open to compliance issues and other data protection issues.
Posted Tuesday 20th July 2010 14:24 GMT
Maliciously Crafted Packet
Maybe but... #
you can apply the same argument to having a database stored on a laptop, even a Windows laptop, god forbid.
This sounds like FUD coming from IT who want to keep Apple out of the enterprise at all costs despite the wishes of their user base.
Its not the 1990's, you wont win this time, users are bringing in Apple iDevices in by the back door whether IT like it or not.
Posted Tuesday 20th July 2010 16:58 GMT
Cameron Colley
@Maliciously Crafted Packet #
Not in the industry I work for they're not. Well, unless they want to loose multi-million dollar clients that is. They will use devices which can have policy applied and they will use approved encryption on all mobile devices, they will not use their own devices to store any data of any importance to clients -- failure to do so will result in crosses on auditors reports and failure of the business entirely due to lack of clients.
Posted Wednesday 21st July 2010 09:32 GMT
Anonymous Coward
I Can't stand it anymore! #
LOSE, it's LOSE it on the train, not loose
Lose, to misplace something
Loose, not tight
FFS!!
(time for a lie down now :-))
Posted Wednesday 21st July 2010 10:52 GMT
Ascylto
Agreed #
But it's best to allow these creatures to type 'loose' when they mean 'lose' because that way we can be sure that whatever follows is ill-thought-out and, probably, erroneous.
Enjoy the lie down.
Posted Tuesday 20th July 2010 13:43 GMT
Anonymous Coward
@Cameron Colley #
As opposed to working on a laptop which is obviously impossible to leave lying around? Or are you saying that nobody should do work anywhere other than in their office?
Posted Tuesday 20th July 2010 14:25 GMT
Cameron Colley
@AC #
"As opposed to working on a laptop which is obviously impossible to leave lying around?" Having the database on a Laptop is a no-no too. Users should VPN in and use a front end app which retrieves only small amounts of the dataset or use a web portal from a machine with good security apps (firewall, AV, ...) which are checked regularly by someone who knows what they are doing. Developers and those tasked to work on large amounts of data should be VPNing in and using Citrix or other remote software to work on a machine which is safely locked away.
Databases themselves should remain on servers in data centres with controlled access or, at the very least, PCs in offices with controlled access on a machine with an encrypted drive. Heck, at absolute worst they should be on a laptop with full drive encryption and a sensible strength password.
This, on the other hand, is encouraging anyone to carry databases around with them on their latest tech toy. That's called being irresponsible and, in some cases, borderline illegal.
Posted Tuesday 20th July 2010 16:55 GMT
JEDIDIAH
The 80s is calling. #
Steve wants to send computing back to the 80s and now we have another 80s style application rising from the grave like some sort of zombie.
Even if you do have a toy database platform, it still makes more sense to make the user facing frontend a web browser. That allows for a wide range of sophistication levels in your frontend app coding spanning the range from little more than shell scripts to serious secure enterprise computing. Code your interfaces right and you can even move freely between backend platforms.
One would have thought that all of the little PIM apps in the app store would make an application of this sort pretty redundant anyways.
Posted Tuesday 20th July 2010 16:55 GMT
Anonymous Coward
Missed the point #
You've all missed the point...you don't have to carry the database file on the device - it connects to a FileMaker server, via VPN or whatever security you have on your WAN.
Posted Tuesday 20th July 2010 16:56 GMT
Joel Mansford
iTunes? #
Am I the only DBA that cringes of the thought of any kind of 'business' database being user/replicated via iTunes of all applications?
Posted Tuesday 20th July 2010 16:59 GMT
Anonymous Coward
@JEDIDIAH #
Worried about your job? Pesky users wanting stuff that you can't control - how dare they!!!!
Posted Tuesday 20th July 2010 20:31 GMT
bob's hamster
Memories #
Wow, talk about a blast from the past. I remember doing all the telephone support for Claris / Filemaker in the early 90's. Filemaker Pro 2.1 was so far above the dreadful Microsoft attempts at databases at the time. The only reason it didn't become more estabIished was because Microsoft starting bundling Access into Office. I haven't heard it mentioned in IT/development deps for ages.
Posted Wednesday 21st July 2010 04:50 GMT
Rick Damiani
It runs scripts? #
So what happened to the ban on running interpreted code?
Posted Wednesday 21st July 2010 21:28 GMT
mediumcool
History re-written? #
" ... FileMaker Pro is now available for Windows ... "?
Yeah, since 1992. Definitely very recent.
This topic is closed for new posts.