Why the iPad has no calculator

With news that iPadOS 18 would possibly perhaps presumably carry a calculator to the iPad we’ll refresh our memories as to why the iPad doesn’t hold a calculator vivid now, and what the picks are in expose so that you just can enact some math and it’s the final phrase machine it’s probably you’ll presumably presumably presumably even hold helpful.

Ever for the reason that iPad first arrived, there’s been a particular omission in the apps that extend preinstalled by Apple. Whereas the iPhone, Mac, Apple Behold and even the iPod contact characteristic a calculator as regular, there’s by no map been one on the iPad.

Why is that? Of your total platforms, it’s doubtlessly the one most suited to the process, especially if it was as soon as one in every of the scientific selection in conjunction with your total extra capabilities.

We’re no longer ones to stride away a stone unturned, so we characteristic out to search out why the iPad comes calculator-free.

The Steve Jobs memoir

In trying to get to the bottom of this, we reached out to Apple to ask if there was ever a legitimate reason why it withholds the calculator app from the iPad. At the time of writing, we hadn’t received a response, so we couldn’t determine whether it was related to an Apple executive standing at a crossroads in the dead of night, tinkering with a prototype iPad until a mysterious figure appeared, promising to make it the king of all tablets—but at a terrible cost: the calculator app.

Perhaps this theory explains why no one at Apple wanted to speak with us? Or is it something forbidden? Who knows?

There may be another explanation, however, as reported by Luke Dormehl of Cult of Mac back in 2016:

This account, which came from someone who was working at Apple at the time, says that in the lead-up to the launch of the original iPad, Steve Jobs called Scott Forstall (who was then leading the software design for the tablet) into his office. Jobs then asked where the new calculator app designed specifically for the iPad was. To which Forstall replied that there wasn’t one. They had been planning to use the iPhone version as a substitute.

Jobs, who was once known for his incredible attention to detail, wasn’t happy with this, because the app looked unpleasant in his eyes. He therefore pulled the app, much to Forstall’s chagrin, and it simply fell to the bottom of the pile of issues that needed to be addressed for every change or improvement to iOS and then iPadOS ever since.

It’s entirely possible that this story will turn out to be apocryphal, as it’s a bit hard to believe that no one at Apple could have put together a decent calculator app over the past decade, but the continued absence of such an app does lend some weight to the idea.

We prefer the crossroads model, but perhaps that’s just the fatalistic romantics in us, plus we suspect Craig Federighi might have made a similar change to ensure the magnificence of his fine mane.

use the Calculator on the iPad

No matter the reason why Apple doesn’t include its Calculator app on the iPad, the odd thing is that the Calculator is often there—it’s simply hidden from view.

How can you access the Calculator on the iPad? Just ask Siri.

We asked Siri on the iPad “What’s 10 x 12” and it gave us the answer 120. The big surprise, as you can see from the image below: It got that answer from the Calculator!

You can therefore most attention-grabbing consume Siri to manufacture straightforward calculations to your iPad. As an illustration, quiz:

• Hi there Siri, what’s 10% of 100
• Hi there Siri, what’s 15-7
• Hi there Siri, what’s 28.96 divided by 5

Diversified more sophisticated questions will seemingly be routed through Wolfram Alpha. As an illustration when we asked Siri for the sq. root of 16 the retort came from Wolfram.

So the Calculator app on the iPad turns out to be handy for straightforward calculations, but it’s not going to give you all your answers. What are the suitable alternatives for more sophisticated calculations? We’ll focus on that next.

Perfect calculator apps for iPad

In the occasion you don’t have to take a seat down up for Apple’s hold legendary calculator app to reach on the iPad, there is composed an astronomical series of respectable picks on hand on the App Retailer. Actually appropriate one of our favorites is the cheap and pleased Calcbot 2which does regular and scientific calculations, plus unit conversions. The free model contains adverts, but you will seemingly be in a location to dispose of them for around $2/£2.

Other alternatives include PCalc, Calculator HD++, Calculator HD Pro Lite and a wealth of similarly powerful apps. There is no Apple Calculator app for the iPad, but luckily you’re not short of options in this department from other developers.

Creator: Martyn CasserlyContributor