April 1, 2018 (Vol. 38, No. 7)
Rating:
Strong Points: Calculation history, can easily apply function to entire expressions
Weak Points: Ads present in free version
Platform:
iPad/iPhone
Cost:
Free (in-app upgrade to ad-free version for $1.99)
Summary:
There are a variety of calculator apps out there for mobile devices (in addition to the permaware ones) but SmartCalc is unique in that its “smartness” is largely due to the app’s ability to store a history of past calculations. Users are able to quickly access this history by swiping down from the top of the screen. The calculator can operate in degree or radian mode, and includes all of the operations one would expect from a basic scientific calculator. Conveniently, users do not need to turn their screens to access the scientific functions. Instead, they are located on a second screen accessible via the “2nd” key. An additional feature of the app is that users can tap and hold any function to apply it to the entire expression on the screen.
