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Apple Unveils Calculator App for iPad With Math Notes, Apple Pencil Support
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"We choose to add a calculator to the iPad in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others, too." – Tim Apple Kennedy, Jr.
Apple at WWDC today announced a new Calculator app as part of iPadOS 18 that features special Apple Pencil support and a maths notes feature.
The Calculator app for iPad includes history and unit conversions, and when used with Apple Pencil, includes the ability to write Maths Notes. These allow you to hand-write expressions. For example, when you write an equals sign, Maths Notes will automatically calculate the answer and present it on the screen in handwriting like your own. You can use basic or scientific math, and notes can be saved for later.
Article Link: Apple Finally Announces Calculator App for iPad With Apple Pencil Support
Honestly, the math notes thing was the most exciting part of the whole presentation to me. Pretty cool!
From Craig, The Man of Hair, himself. This is the most they've ever said. (IMO Apple lived up to the goal stated. I can now ditch Soulver and handle other everyday numbers with way more ease.)
Nah, Tim definitely has a Mac. They’re complementary devices to the iPad, I hear.
Actually, Numbers is available on anything and would be better with calculating an options sell. LOLMaths notes demo was nuts.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like that
That demo alone sells a lot of iPads
I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like that
That demo alone sells a lot of iPads
The demo they showed was pretty impressive. I feel macrumors could really do a better job with their screenshot/article to better illustrate what was shown for people who didn’t watch the keynote 🫤
If that can run on iPad 7th gen on up... the education possibilities are pretty wild.
If there was anything that you could show 'a vision of the future' to someone from 1980... Math Notes would be it. Sure, all the Apple Intelligence stuff is pretty wild, but those formula results changing in real time was a WTF moment for me.
Thank you! (And thanks for recognizing my "by" meant "why'!). Could you give a timepoint where in that video I should view for Craig's explanation?
It’s basically Wolfram Alpha with handwriting recognition, no? (haven’t been able to watch the video yet)Did you actually watch the segment for Math Notes?
I think it's more sophisticated than that. I'm not a math expert so I will probably botch this - but you can change variables (by hand) and the ai-generated graphical output will change in real time.
EDIT here you go. Real time graphic updates of variable.
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AKA Hair Force One!
As for the calculator... At last, all my dreams have come true.
Called it. Craig did say they were waiting to make it in a "uniquely iPad" way when Marques asked him about it, which I knew meant "Apple Pencil".
In reference as to why it took so long to add a calculator app, I think it’s because there are hundreds, if not thousands of paid calculator apps in the play store and Apple was getting a 30% cut of all of them.
Edit: Speling is hard.
Edit: Speling is hard.
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Many years ago, there was a calculator app on the iPad that could recognize handwriting and complex formulas and provide an answer. Does anyone remember the name? It was a paid app but there was a free version with some limitations.
P.S. Found it:
P.S. Found it:
Knowing the history of the calculator app for iPad and how much they would risk upsetting The Great One from beyond the grave, they probably waited until they can release an Apple-like wow factor, such as drawing to calculate, which does seem like it could be a neat educational tool.
About 14 and half minutes. YouTube also has the chapter that goes to that point.
That was literally my first thought. No RPN then no-go. I'm using an HP 11c emulators on my iPhone and on macOS (even though the macOS calculator does support RPN).
