Posts Tagged ‘calculator’
One-Hand Calculator
Posted by: Gadget Boy in Gadget News on December 7th, 2009
Are you involved in a job that requires you to crunch numbers on a separate calculator apart from that on your numeric pad? Well, a desk calculator is often one solution that many use, but what about the One-Hand Calculator which makes things easier and more convenient?
Balance your checkbook or tally your taxes at the same time you’re writing down the numbers. It takes just one hand to operate this calculator! Press the big, white button, and out pops the LCD display. Slim design fits in your palm and makes numbers easy to key. Auto off after 10 minutes. Just 4¼”L. Includes battery.
You can pick one up for $9.95, but purchase two and save $1 off the retail price for each. Definitely much more portable compared to a desk calculator, although those whose fingers are so used to the regular desk version might take some getting used to. One positive way of looking at it would be to use it as though you were composing a text message on your cellphone while driving – I believe many people have mastered that technique by now 
Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool
[ One-Hand Calculator copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
My Most Memorable Gadgets, By Steve Wozniak [Memorable Gadgets]
Posted by: Gadget Boy in Gadget News on July 3rd, 2009
We're kicking off our series exploring memorable gadgets from memorable people with one most influential tech giants: Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple. – JC
OK...meaningful...here goes...
For that definition, it was probably an electronics learning kit I got for Christmas at about age 8 or 9. As I recall, it didn't teach electronics formulas or resistor codes, but was full of projects to hook up input devices like switches and output devices like buzzers and lights. It was like learning how to connect all the devices to your hi-fi, or connecting all your peripherals to a computer. It also gave me a good start toward understanding logic rules, like both switches have to be on for the light to shine, or if switch A is on, then switch B selects which light is on.
I call this one the most meaningful, because, pretty clearly to me, it preceded my other important gadgets and inspired me to like gadgets and to understand how to build some. It's like how the transistor led to the chip, which led to microprocessors, which led to personal computers. Everything goes back to the first invention, in that sense. This electronics kit gave me the understanding that made it easy to progress to large logic devices with multi-pole switches, and some relays, which then progressed to a large tic-tac-toe computer with transistors which progressed to a large adding/subtracting machine with transistors, etc.
The word 'meaningful' has the root 'meaning' which implies some emotion. In that sense, my first transistor radio, at about age 10, would fit the bill. It gave me portable music that I could listen to all night long as I slept, every night. 20 years later came the walkman, and 20 more years later came the iPod, but the real change in life, the one having the most 'meaning', was with the transistor radio.
I always wanted my own computer. With the Apple I, I now had a machine that I could program. I would never run out of things to do in my entire life. So it's a close runner up to the other two.
The gadget that has been the most attractive of attention ever is not my Segway. It's my nixie tube watch from CathodeCorner. It looks very large to other people and looks very strange. It's handmade in America too. The nixie tubes run on 140 volts on your wrist. Airport security guards who have seen every kind of watch ever made have a thrilling time with this watch.
I used to fly to Japan regularly to scour new gadgets, and always bought tons of things which were always surprising at the time, but looking back, few have special meaning. The first consumer digital camera, I think the Mavica technology, was meaningful. The first one for computers, not TV's, was the QuickTake from Apple. But in many ways, no digital camera to this day has been as good as the first Ricoh one.
The HP-35 calculator was also very meaningful in my life, as it led me to an incredible job designing for the follow-on models.
Much thanks to Woz for helping to kick off our series. Coming up soon: Phil Torrone, gadget maker and modder extraordinare.
Image credit: Sony Mav, HP Calculator
HP Invents Time Machine, Converts iPhone into Classic Calculator [IPhone]
Posted by: Gadget Boy in Gadget News on June 25th, 2009
Nerds of the world jump of happiness, for HP has brought the legendary HP 15C Scientific Calculator and the HP 12C Financial Calculator for the iPhone and iPod touch, complete with custom skins and programming.
What are these "calculators" I am talking about, you ask? Please, allow me to pull a Chris Anderson here:
The HP-15C was a high end scientific programmable. To the HP-34C's numerical integration and root solver the HP-15C added complex numbers and matrix calculations.
The HP-12C is HP's longest and best selling calculator. Though it has been followed by many newer models, with both more and less features this model continues to sell well. In fact an EduCALC catalog says of the HP 17BII (in bold type): "It's 15 times faster than the HP 12C, and displays more than 4 times as much information." And of the HP 19BII: "It's 15 times faster than the HP 12C, and displays more than 9 times as much information." In addition, both newer calculators can print via infrared to compact printers, have more memory, general purpose solvers, menus etc.*
Oh man, that was easy. Now the question is: Do you really want to spend $15 on a financial calculator or $30 in the scientific one? If you are asking that, probably you shouldn't buy it, but here is the answer: Yes, get the iPhone version because the actual financial calculator is $80 and the 15C doesn't even exist anymore—and newer models are more expensive. [HP 12C and HP 15C]
HP Announces Calculator Software for PCs, iPhone and iPod Touch
HP announced that some of its most popular calculators will be available as software applications on PCs, iPhones and iPod touch devices.
HP 12c and 12c Platinum software are exact replicas of the original calculators that millions of business professionals and students use. The software is built with the same algorithms and calculation sequences and has the identical layout and functions as the originals. The Platinum version of the industry-standard HP12c adds the choice of time-saving Reverse Polish notation or traditional algebraic data entry as well as convenient editing features such as "backspace" and "undo" keys.
Ideal for engineering professionals, teachers and science students and professionals who already use the HP 35s Scientific Calculator, the software version offers quick, accurate answers from the PC. The software offers the identical HP 35s calculator layout and functionality and provides quick results to scientific and engineering calculations. The software was developed by HP, recipient of the IEEE Milestone in Engineering for the original HP-35. The HP 35s software also offers more than one hundred built-in functions, HP Solve where the user can store an equation, then use it to solve for any variable and the ability to copy and paste calculations directly into financial documents.
Designed for business professionals and students, the software version of the HP 20b Business Consultant is identical to the calculator. It is designed to be a convenient tool for finance, business, and real estate functions. The large two-line display enables the user to view up to 12 digits and scroll through variables, detailed real-text labels, menus and worksheets, and prompts as well as copy and paste answers into other documents.
The HP 15C application, designed for iPhone and iPod touch, replicates the original calculator's layout, functions, algorithms and calculation sequences. Used by college students and career people alike, the programmable HP 15C was revolutionary when it was introduced in the 1980s. Like the hardware version, the software application provides an array of matrix calculations plus complex functions and a Solve key that finds the root of an equation.
Pricing and availability
The HP 35s application for iPhone and iPod touch is available on the iTunes App Store. Software for the HP 20b and 15C is available at www.hp.com/buy/calculators. Software versions of the HP 12c and 12c Platinum are available on both sites. Most of the software is available now on the iTunes App Store and through HP at prices starting at $9.99.(1) The 12c Platinum solution is expected to be available in late summer.
About HP
HP, the world's largest technology company, simplifies the technology experience for consumers and businesses with a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com/.
* All this from HP museum site.
Behold: the illuminated calculator / mouse pad / USB hub
Posted by: Gadget Boy in Gadget News on June 19th, 2009
[Via Engadget Chinese]
Continue reading Behold: the illuminated calculator / mouse pad / USB hub
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Peripherals
Behold: the illuminated calculator / mouse pad / USB hub originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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