(Last edited Feb 25, 2008)

The Calc application is very simply, a basic calculator. Again, Palm has decided to create a very basic calculator application instead of adding a few more functions and features to make it more versatile. As a simple calculator that is handy and easy to use, this application can easily replace a similar sized pocket calculator that many people may carry on them. It still would have been better had the calculator application provided more features.

What I would like is if the Palm calculator application were better integrated into other Palm applications. But, there is a third party application, SnapCalc5, that does a great way of hovering over your current program so that you can calculate and copy and paste the result without exiting out of the application. Best of all, it’s freeware. I have discussed SnapCalc5 in this posting as well as suggestions on similar programs. Again, third party applications are available to satisfy a specific need.

Screenshot of third party software SnapCalc

Back to the Calc application. Right now, since the Calc application is a standalone program, it would be a multi-step process to figure out a calculation and put it in another application. First, you would need to do the calculations in the Calc program. Tap on the Menu icon in the Silkscreen area. Select Copy. Exit out of the Calc application and launch whatever other program you want and paste the result. You can’t tap the top left hand corner to bring up the Menu Options but have to tap on the Menu icon in the Silkscreen to access the Menu options. I don’t understand why this happens in the Calc app when practically every other Palm application allows access to the Menu options by tapping on the top left hand corner. The Calc application is simply a standalone basic calculator. That’s all.

After saying all that, I do find myself using the Calc application when I’m shopping to calculate whether a larger sized product is a better deal than a smaller one or when figuring out how much of a discount I would get at % off sales. While, there are other third party applications that can do the calculating and more, they are usually bigger programs and may require me to click a few time to get to the calculator function. The Calc application being such a simple program, runs quickly without a lot of bloat. It’s great for just doing simple calculations. So, for me, there is somewhat of a need for it, from time to time.

Although I’m sure many of you are quite familiar with the basic calculator, I have created a simulation of what the program looks and feels like. (Besides, I enjoy making these simulations).

Simulation of using the Calc application

Alternative links: Photobucket

This simulation shows a few sample calculations involving addition, subtraction and the use of the calculator’s memory.

The simulation will play through to the end unless I’ve inserted a pop up note to explain specific points.

To continue playing the simulation, press the button.
To go back to a previous paused segment, click on the button.
To pause the simulation at any time, press the button. To continue after it’s paused, press the button again.
To scroll forwards or backwards in the simulation, click anywhere on the left (to go back earlier in the simulation), or right (to go forward in the simulation) on the progress bar.

Here’s a screenshot of what the Calc application looks like. As you can see, it’s very plain and looks very much like a regular basic calculator.

Screenshot of the Calc application

Menu options

Recent Calculations

Recent Calculations Info screen

The Calc application is a basic standalone calculator program, very much like the pocket calculator, except that it is a software program that resides in the Palm. For quick simple calculations, you can easily run the program and have it figure out the results. But that’s all it is: a simple calculator. It does a good job as a basic calculator and I guess that’s all it can do.There are many third party applications for all kinds of calculations from chemical engineering, to financial, to pharmacology, to scientific, etc. There are literally thousands of different kinds of calculators available that can suit practically anyone. But that discussion will be left for a future posting.

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