Hi all

from Think Secret

FileMaker, Inc. is currently wrapping up development of FileMaker Pro 8.5 Advanced, sources familiar with the application's plans have disclosed. The upgrade will mark the first Universal Binary of the database application, a feature the Apple subsidiary originally planned for version 9 but was pushed forward after prompting by Apple, which released the first Intel-based Macs in January.

Other new features that have been incorporated into version 8.5 include a Web Viewer that allows information on Web pages to be put directly into a FileMaker database, as well as accompanying Custom Web Addresses that will automatically add support for mining data from FedEx, Mapquest, and other popular Web sites into databases, as well as enabling the creation of custom Web Viewer links. Web integration has also been expanded to Web-enabled applications.

[color:red]The ability to name specific objects, long desired by FileMaker developers, will finally arrive with FileMaker Pro 8.5 Advanced, sources said, while novices should appreciate the new Learning Center, which ties together online resources for FileMaker users.

The release of FileMaker Pro 8.5 Advanced should pre-empt a similar upgrade to FileMaker Server 8, which is not expected before Intel-based Xserves begin shipping later this summ

Cool! Are dot releases always free?

Only patch releases are free... v2 to v3. Going from 8.0 to 8.5 would be version release, which will be an upgrade.