calculator

Hash it out

Febooti fileTweak Hash & CRC sounds like the sort of place Indiana Jones ends up fighting his way out of, but it's actually a free hash and checksum calculator. Hash and checksum values are used to verify the integrity of large computer files by comparing special codes to see if anything has changed. That's a simple explanation of what many PC users see as a complicated and entirely too geeky procedure. It isn't a difficult concept, especially with free tools like Febooti at hand. To use the values the module creates, you can compare them with existing … Read more

Tax totals

Many small businesses have software--or even outside companies--that handle employee payroll. Businesses with very few employees, however, may find that they can still manage payroll by hand. Vinny Federal Withholding Tax is a basic program that calculates appropriate payroll withholdings based on gross pay, pay period, and dependents. This is by no means a full-featured payroll solution, but for a quick withholding calculator, it works fine.

The program's interface is plain and pretty self-explanatory. Users enter the gross salary and any additional income or withholdings, select the length of the pay period and the employee's marital status, and … Read more

Rental regulator

When we first read the description for Rental Calendar, we weren't quite sure what it was for. Renting out housing? Cars? Machinery? It turns out that the answer is "all of the above," and then some. Rental Calendar is a basic program that manages the rental of just about anything that can be rented. Of course, the drawback to the program's broadness is that it doesn't provide specialized features; it's designed to be general and nonspecific.

Rental Calendar's interface is attractive and intuitive, with the same visual style as recent versions of Microsoft … Read more

Canon's wireless mouseculator, for the accountant who has everything

Sure, Apple has the Magic Trackpad, but Canon looks like it's got a one-up all its own: the calculator-mouse. Coming in November 2010 to U.K./European markets (and hopefully to the U.S. as well), this funky little wireless Bluetooth mouse is an old-fashioned calculator from the waist down. Called the X Mark 1 Mouse, it aims to replicate most of the features from Canon's X Mark 1 business calculator.

Armed with a scroll wheel and 1,200dpi resolution, the Mac/PC compatible device comes in black or white and boasts its own LCD display. It may … Read more

For calculating types

Scientific calculators are essential laptop utilities for engineers, scientists, researchers, builders, teachers, and students. College Scientific Calculator 27 from Tvalx is a fine choice to fill the bill. It offers precise calculations to 63 digits; hyperbolic, trigonometric, and inverse functions; memory for frequently used figures; and the capability to store and reuse calculations and formulas, print them, or save them as text files.

College Scientific Calculator 27's interface is different from most desktop calculator applications, which usually try to mimic the look and feel of a handheld calculator as closely as possible. This program's interface more closely resembles … Read more

Calculator replacement and a drift racing game: iPhone apps of the week

The big news this week was Apple's announcement Friday morning regarding the antenna issues on the iPhone 4. Steve Jobs came to the stage in a very unique Apple event to talk about the iOS 4.0.1 update that he says shows signal strength much more reliably. As a way to quell concerns about dropping calls by gripping the iPhone 4 a certain way, which Jobs admitted decreases signal strength in some circumstances, Apple is offering free bumper-style cases for everyone. Those who have already bought the bumper will receive a full refund. iPhone 4 users will be able to sign up for a free bumper or refund starting next week at Apple's site.

I have had the iPhone 4 for exactly a week now and I haven't experienced any connection issues so far, but I bought the bumper a couple of days ago for protection, in case I drop it. I was wondering what Apple would do with people like me who already bought the bumper (most people I talked to agreed that I was out of luck), so it was a pleasant surprise to hear I would get a refund, too.

This week's apps include a slick-looking and useful calculator app and a drift racing game that challenges you to master the controlled slide.

Calcbot (99 cents for a limited time) from the makers of stylish currency converter Convertbot brings more than your iPhone's included calculator wrapped up in a nice package. Like other apps from Tapbots, when you launch Calcbot, the first thing you notice is the slick-looking design. Features include a live as-you-type expression view so you know you have all your values correct, a history tape so you can track back to earlier calculations, and an advanced functions screen, all accessible with a swipe of your finger.

For all of Calcbot's class and functionality, it's not the most feature-rich calculator in the iTunes App Store. But if all you need is to make basic calculations (and some advanced functions) and the ability to send your work elsewhere, Calcbot is an attractive option. A swipe downward brings up the history tape, and a swipe to the left brings up the advanced function screen. I'm a little disappointed there is no graphing calculator, but Calcbot is an excellent alternative to the iPhone home screen calculator.

Drift Mania Championship (99 cents) is a drift racing game that offers excellent controls, smooth graphics, and challenging gameplay, and even though it's a little short on content, the price makes it a must have for drift racing fans. The precise tilt controls work better than most racing games in the iTunes App Store, letting you truly control how you attack each corner. Your speed is controlled by where you place your finger on the throttle bar on the right side of the screen, and you'll need to adjust your speed a lot to get the best drift through each turn.… Read more

Decimal placer

Tvalx specializes in mathematical software; its Scientific Calculator Decimal is essentially a virtual version of the classic handheld scientific calculator optimized for calculating decimals. It's suitable for everyone from math students to scientists and engineers. It's precise up to 30 digits and includes trigonometric, hyperbolic, and inverse functions.

As with other calculating tools from Tvalx, Scientific Calculator Decimal has a clean, efficient, attractive layout that's largely based on the functional design of handheld scientific calculators, though you can customize the look, too. The layout strikes a good balance between busy and clean. File, Edit, Tools, and Help … Read more

AppTools: 100 apps for 99 cents

Remember App Genie, an iPhone app that combines 27 handy tools into a single 99 cent app? What a rip-off!

I'm kidding, of course--I still like App Genie and consider it a great value. It's just that the new AppTools raises the bar to a whopping 100 tools, all for that same 99 cents. Let me say that again: 100 apps, 99 cents. I think that sets a new record for the "toolbox app" category.

Ah, but are the apps any good? And are they organized into a simple, efficient interface?

Let's start with the apps. Here's a small, random sampling of what you'll find inside AppTools: a bubble level, a mosquito repellent, a talking compass, a talking mortgage calculator, a non-talking car-loan calculator, a magic 8-ball, and a unit converter.

There's value in some of these tools, like the various calculators, the pedometer, the "Where Am I?" location app, and the flashlight. I particularly like the Search DVD Preview app that scans DVD-case bar codes and then finds matching clips in YouTube. Try it out the next time you're trying to decide on a movie at the local video store.

But as you might expect from an app collection that numbers in the three digits, AppTools serves up some stinkers. For example, know what you'll find inside iRecipes? Exactly five recipes, one each for brownies, cheesecake, cookies (variety undisclosed), pear cake, and turkey.

I could go on--and on--but I'll just leave it at this: There's a lot of junk in here.… Read more

It all adds up

Judy's TenKey is a three-in-one desktop calculator that has some interesting extras. It can be a standard full-function calculator, an adding machine, or a scientific calculator. A scrolling tape shows you just where you are in a running tally of calculations and automatically recalculates totals when you change something; multiple undos extricate you when you change something you shouldn't have. You can customize the look, add sound, and more.

An optional demo walks new users through the many features and settings Judy's TenKey offers. It starts by explaining how to hide the onscreen number pad, since most … Read more