James Thomson

I’ve been playing around with the iPadOS 18 calculator, and some of the stuff is neat, but I think it’s probably more of a threat to Soulver and the like, than it is to PCalc.

It doesn’t do RPN, custom layouts, user functions / conversions / constants, multiple memories, hex/oct/binary, visual themes, and a lot more that PCalc does. It does have nicer expression based entry, which is something I want to add.

The Math Notes stuff feels like it’s a separate app.

Also, no bananas whatsoever!

Jun 10, 2024 at 8:39pmIvory for iOS
Show threadI Can't Believe It's Not Zero!Jun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson no dice either?
Show threadMichael SteeberJun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson sounds like it's time to add bananas to your App Store Connect keywords, then.
Show threadKevin Patrick Doyle 🍅🥫Jun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson
Show threadAulia MasnaJun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson lack of bananas is a deal breaker
Show threadCesare ForelliJun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson how do you even ship an app without bananas?
Show threadAndy StechishinJun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson in these modern times who in their right mind would produce an iPad calculator without bananas. I mean was there any product design to this thing?
Show threadFrank ReiffJun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson I don’t think you have to worry too much. Apple always does something cool, but rarely something in huge depth.. and never with any degree of continuous effort.. so niche apps are mostly safe even when Apple moves into their space.. often, but not quite always.
Show threadBrokenFlowsJun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson 🍌🍌 🍌
Show threadTim McGregerJun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson as far as I’m concerned, your app is still going to be my go-to calculator app, and the math notes stuff will likely be more useful to me in the notes app itself (not in the calculator app)
Show threadahakimJun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson glad to hear this. Math notes was the best part of the demo but I don’t see myself using it much. For actual calculator needs I’ll stick with PCalc.
Show threadCTDJun 10, 2024

@jamesthomson RPN FTW!

Always.

Show threadCraig HockenberryJun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson WHAT ABOUT BOOBS
Show threadLeon CowleJun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson No bananas?! I’M OUT! <hugs pcalc>
Show threadGlenn FleishmanJun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson how do you like them bananas
Show threadDavid Crooks 🏳️‍🌈Jun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson No bananas, no sale.
Show threadChip MasonJun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson You had me at RPN (oh and conversions and constants too)
Show threadCraig HockenberryJun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson Looks like Math Notes has some problems with intermediate results.
Show threadLeon CowleJun 10, 2024
@chockenberry @jamesthomson Is that an ‘x’ in the last line, instead of a ‘multiply’ symbol?
Show threadCraig HockenberryJun 10, 2024
@leoncowle @jamesthomson Yes. The “x" gets converted to an multiplication symbol after you enter “=“ .. when it works.
Show threadChris FinazzoJun 10, 2024

@chockenberry @leoncowle @jamesthomson I didn't have "MathJax for the rest of us" on my bingo card, but I guess this is useful to somebody? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

👋🏼 @drdrang

Show threadRoisin 🏳️‍⚧️Jun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson it also feels very “giant novelty calculator" in terms of information density. Basic mode feels comical on the iPad Mini and the scientific mode feels like it's got so much space wasted between buttons and the readout is crammed near the top.
Show threadLonnieJun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson IMO PCalc is too polished and customizable to ever be fully sherlocked by Apple
Show threadTyler HillsmanJun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson I require bananas in my calculators.
Show threadDavid H. McCoyJun 10, 2024

@jamesthomson

No theming!

Show threadMaysonLancasterJun 10, 2024

@jamesthomson The Math Notes stuff seems to be working in the Notes app:

3(12 + 11) ‎ = 69

When it was just 12 + 11 =, the answer 23 appeared.
Adding 3(, the answer disappeared. Adding a closing ), 69 popped in.
Both answers were yellow in the Notes app.

Show threadGene Thomas Jun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson
I’ve used RPN for ~45 years, I don’t have any clue what that “=“ button does.
Show threadThom AnthonyJun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson Honestly, could care less about the new calculator... because now I will be able to put PCalc in Control Center and Lockscreen, right? That's all I need, quick access to the good apps.
Show threadBrandonJun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson No RPN is a new go. PCalc is always a “first install” app and has lived on my first screen forever. #rpnforever
Show threadAurani Casts FireballJun 10, 2024

@jamesthomson I have simple math needs these days. But last week I was yelling at the iPhone, because it's calculator doesn't have a back button.

I am baffled by why the iPad sometimes has a back button, and other times the AC button.

Seems like something easily caught in QA.

Show threadXbills1Jun 10, 2024
@jamesthomso that’s good to hear
Show threadSeth RichardsJun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson I might use the conversions in PCalc more often than I use it as a traditional calculator. That would be hard to give up.
Show threadAlonely0 🦀 🇪🇺Jun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson all these years and that's the best they could do? Google calc sucks, but it's better.
Show threadthebesJun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson Oh, I hope I'm the first to note the Fruit Company has no bananas today!
Show threadJames ThomsonJun 10, 2024
@thebes You are!
Show threadEllen ShapiroJun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson no bananas = will never scale
Show threadMarina EpelmanJun 10, 2024
@designatednerd @jamesthomson Remember during early pandemic there were posts on Twitter about Instacart delivering 6 cases of bananas instead of 6 bananas? I recreated the experience in my own kitchen
Show threadHuw RowlandsJun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson does it even have an about screen?
Show threadGary AshJun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson That’s what I thought. Been too long with my PCalc app to change now, James
Show threadJoe BeamJun 10, 2024

@jamesthomson

https://youtu.be/8QqkrIDeTeA?si=RDvpXFweKOSp1idQ

Yes, We Have No Bananas

YouTube
Show threadRob MathersJun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson there’s always money in the banana calculator 😉
Show threadMarina EpelmanJun 10, 2024

@jamesthomson James, they are “solving functions.” I want to cry. Hold me, PCalc…

https://mastodon.social/@marinaepelman/112594838278602070

Show threadChris Huck  Jun 10, 2024
@jamesthomson A calculator without RPN isn’t really a calculator.
Show threadJeff WatkinsJun 11, 2024
@jamesthomson That’s bananas!
Show threadBryanJun 11, 2024
@jamesthomson no bananas?! 0/10
Show threadMacBalanceJun 11, 2024
@jamesthomson The conversion tools are the primary reason I paid for pCalc.The second is you seem like a good person and that should be rewarded.
Show threadJeri DanskyJun 11, 2024
@jamesthomson Any calculator app without RPN is useless to me. (I worked at HP for many years, back when it was still a good company.)
Show threadNathanJun 11, 2024
@jamesthomson
Wot?
No bananas?!
🙈
Show threadRob HagueJun 11, 2024

@jamesthomson My thoughts exactly. Math Notes looks great, but it's not a direct competitor to traditional calculators like PCalc. The new iPad calculator app looks like two apps taped together; I'm slightly surprised they didn't just skip it and just put Math Notes in Notes.

(I'm also steeling myself for seeing "Math" rather than "Maths" a lot over the next few months...)

Show threadJim AndewayJun 11, 2024
@jamesthomson I love me some RPN.
Show threadJonathan HendryJun 11, 2024

@jamesthomson

On Mac the Math Notes menu item actually launches Notes.