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Texas Instruments TI-83 Plus review

Darren Murph — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 14:13:00 EST

The year was 1999. I was pondering all too carefully what kind of threads I'd be wearing come the new school year. But all I could really think about was exactly how much of my styling budget would be blown on some antediluvian piece of technology that -- in my mind -- was no longer necessary due to the invention of the internet. That hunk was Texas Instruments' TI-83 Plus. So far as I could understand it, the "Plus" meant that it had a few extra megabytes of RAM; why you needed loads of RAM in a graphing calculator, I had no idea. At $119.99, it was the most expensive purchase I made leaving middle school, and now that I've had well over a decade to toy with it, it's about time I sat down and gave it a proper review. Join me after the break, won't you?

Gallery: Texas Instruments TI-83 Plus gallery

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Texas Instruments TI-83 Plus review originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 14:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Belfry brings Stocks and Weather, other native iPhone apps to jailbroken iPads

Joshua Tucker — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:48:00 EST

Rounding out the honeymoon period with that freshly jailbroken iPad 2? Well now we have some new apps for you to play with, and you may already be acquainted. iOS hacker Ryan Petrich's most recent project, dubbed Belfry, lets you install stock iPhone apps that are otherwise absent from both versions of Apple's tablet including Clock, Voice Memos, Stocks, Calculator, Compass and Weather. As to why these aren't included already is beyond our knowledge, but at least there's an alternative. Users can install Belfry directly within Cydia for free from the BigBoss repository. If you're looking for proof to seal the deal, you can catch the bashful Belfry and his silent film antics after the break.

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Belfry brings Stocks and Weather, other native iPhone apps to jailbroken iPads originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google brings graphing calculator functionality to search, still can't play 'Snake'

Brian Heater — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:29:00 EST

Well, Google's gone an done it, turning the Internet into one giant graphing calculator. The software behemoth has brought graphing capabilities to search, letting users input a mathematical function into the engine -- or multiple functions, separated by commas. And, this being Google, users can explore the graphs more closely by zooming in and out and panning across. According to the company, it "covers an extensive range of single variable functions including trigonometric, exponential, logarithmic and their compositions." If you know what all of that means, we're guessing you're pretty psyched about this news.

Google brings graphing calculator functionality to search, still can't play 'Snake' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel 4004, world's first commercial microprocessor, celebrates 40th birthday, ages gracefully

Amar Toor — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:08:00 EST

Pull out the candles and champagne, because the Intel 4004 is celebrating a major birthday today -- the big four-oh. That's right, it's been exactly four decades since Intel unveiled the world's first commercially available CPU, with an Electronic News ad that ran on November 15th, 1971. It all began in 1969, when Japan's Nippon Calculating Machine Corporation asked Intel to create 12 chips for its Busicom 141-PF calculator. With that assignment, engineers Federico Faggin, Ted Hoff and Stanley Mazor set about designing what would prove to be a groundbreaking innovation -- a 4-bit, 16-pin microprocessor with a full 2,300 MOS transistors, and about 740kHZ of horsepower. The 4004's ten micron feature size may seem gargantuan by contemporary standards, but at the time, it was rather remarkable -- especially considering that the processor was constructed from a single piece of silicon. In fact, Faggin was so proud of his creation that he decided to initial its design with "FF," in appropriate recognition of a true work of art. Hit up the coverage links below for more background on the Intel 4004, including a graphic history of the microprocessor, from the Inquirer.

Intel 4004, world's first commercial microprocessor, celebrates 40th birthday, ages gracefully originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP's 12c calculator hits middle age, copes by releasing Anniversary edition (video)

Sean Buckley — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:01:00 EST

HP's tablet ship may have sailed, but at least you can still count on the outfit for your next reverse Polish notation calculator. That's right, HP's 12c just hit the big three-oh. The classic calculator is celebrating its ~~mid life crisis~~ 30th year in production with a special limited edition number cruncher, featuring an etched faceplate declaring its pedigree. If 1981's coolest calculator isn't your style, don't fret -- HP is also releasing a limited edition run of 1982's HP 15c, boasting a hundred-fold improvement in performance over its predecessor. Retro calculation can be yours for $80 and $100, respectively. Hit the break to see HP toot its own horn in the 12c's official 30th anniversary "Then & Now" video.

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HP's 12c calculator hits middle age, copes by releasing Anniversary edition (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mobee intros Magic Numpad for your Magic Trackpad, glittery dust not included

Joe Pollicino — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:43:00 EST

Do you use a Magic Trackpad? Is the act of crunching numbers a daily task for you? Well, if actual keys or a calculator / mouse hybrid just aren't magical enough for you, then Mobee's Magic Numpad may just be. Despite its name, the Numpad is a $29 set of films that allows you to morph your Trackpad into one of three numeric "keypad" layouts, with software for enabling an on-screen calculator and setting macros. Adding Splenda to the strawberries, you'll also get a cleaning kit and erasable marker to customize your films even further. If the left side of your brain is pounding with excitement, the Magic Numpad is available for pre-order now and should ship come this October.

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Mobee intros Magic Numpad for your Magic Trackpad, glittery dust not included originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget's back to school guide 2011: accessories

Joseph Volpe — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST

Welcome to Engadget's Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. Today, we've got a slew of accessories -- and you can head to the Back to School hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the month we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here!

Fall's slowly, but surely creeping back in, and we bet you've already started to gather up the necessary gear for your return to the residence hall. Sure, you've got the basics covered, with a computer, smartphone, MP3 player and even a tablet at the ready. But wouldn't it be nice to start the school year off in style with some handy accoutrements to trick out those digital crutches? Let's face it, you're going to need a lapdesk buffer zone between you and your laptop's scorching heat for those countless hours spent churning out term papers. Or, an external hard drive, so you can store those full seasons of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and bring the late night funny to your stressed-out friends. However you manage to make it through the year and snag that 4.0 GPA, we've got a selection of accessorized aids to match your collegiate budget. Oh, and don't forget, we're giving away $3,000 worth of essential back to school gear to 15 readers, and you can be among the chosen few simply by dropping a comment below! Click on past the break to start browsing.

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Engadget's back to school guide 2011: accessories originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon X Mark I Mouse Lite hands-on impressions

Zach Honig — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 13:40:00 EST

It's a calculator. It's a wireless mouse. It's a Bluetooth numeric keypad. It's... really bizarre. Canon's X Mark I Mouse Lite takes everyone's favorite desktop rodent and tries to make it all fancy like, filling that wasted space below the mouse buttons with a calculator -- monochrome LCD and all. Except that the unused space below the mouse buttons isn't wasted at all -- it was designed for resting palms, not poking fingertips. The result is a mediocre mouse paired with a mediocre calculator, for $60. Sadly, it's not nearly as elegant of a solution as it may appear to be, and after a couple days of use, we were ready to switch back to our boring old single-function mouse. So what exactly left us so unimpressed? Jump past the break to find out.

Gallery: Canon X Mark I Mouse Lite

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Canon X Mark I Mouse Lite hands-on impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Graphing calculator web browser lets you visit your favorite sine wave fan sites (video)

Brian Heater — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:15:00 EST

Graphing calculators: essential tools for math education or low-res Game Boys? The debate rages on. Advocates of non-mathematical applications for the devices have scored a major victory with the introduction of Gossamer, a new web browser for various TI graphing calculators, which lets users visit some very basic versions of webpages, using the CALCnet and globalCALCnet protocols. The 1.0 version can request, display, and scroll pages. Logging in will bring you to a portal with links -- the application's developer has promised to add the ability to directly enter URLs in a future version, however. There's a demo video after the break, though you may want to wait until after math class to check it out.

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Graphing calculator web browser lets you visit your favorite sine wave fan sites (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon launches X Mark I Mouse Lite, pairs ten-digit calculator and Bluetooth laser mouse (video)

Zach Honig — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST

Have you ever looked longingly at your mouse, noting its underutilized input device real estate? Canon has, replacing that excessive unused space with a built-in calculator in its X Mark I Mouse, announced today for folks in the US. (If you'll recall, we spent a few quality moments with this guy in Germany last year at Photokina.) The combo device provides users with both a physical ten-digit adding machine and a numeric Bluetooth 2.0 keypad, which you can use seamlessly with a variety of apps, replacing the number pad now absent on many desktop and portable keyboards. The company's camera design team helped to create the hybrid input device, which also includes a trio of mouse buttons and laser tracking. Canon also announced its X Mark I Keypad, a full-size calculator with Bluetooth support that's powered by either AAA batteries or a built-in solar panel. Both devices will be available for $60 in August and September, respectively, and will ship in both black and white.

Gallery: Canon X Mark I Mouse Lite

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Canon launches X Mark I Mouse Lite, pairs ten-digit calculator and Bluetooth laser mouse (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TI-Nspire CX graphing calculator now shipping, color officially 'in'

Donald Melanson — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 08:49:00 EST

It may have been hard to believe when it was announced back in February, but you can rest assured that Texas Instruments' new color TI-Nspire CX calculator is indeed real, and shipping right now. Assuming you're ready to make the jump from monochrome, the $165 asking price will buy you a 3.2-inch 320 x 240 display, 100MB of storage, 64MB of memory, and TI's new version 3.0 operating system that comes complete with 3D graphing capabilities. Of course, TI isn't completely breaking new ground here -- Casio's had a graphing calculator with a "high res" color screen since way back in 2010.

[Thanks, Michael]

TI-Nspire CX graphing calculator now shipping, color officially 'in' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 08:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kokuyo's X-VIZ designer calculator is tailor-made for one-armed accountants

Amar Toor — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 11:51:00 EST

We're not exactly sure why anyone would ever want a designer calculator, but for those who do, Kokuyo's got you covered. The Japanese company has just announced the X-VIZ -- a super slim, matte-finished device that can help you balance your checkbook with one hand. Crafted by robot designer Tatsuya Matsui, the X-VIZ probably isn't something you'd use to carry out heavy duty operations and, at just 12mm thick, it certainly won't double as a mouse, either. But at least Kokuyo refrained from tacking on another superfluous laser or detachable holster, as it's been known to do. Both black and white models of the X-VIZ will hit the Japanese market on May 11 for ¥5,250 ($64), so hit up your favorite importer if you're interested in grabbing one.

Kokuyo's X-VIZ designer calculator is tailor-made for one-armed accountants originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 11:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TI-Nspire graphing calcs get full color displays, 3D, WiFi, and new OS

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 11:57:00 EST

It's been a good year or so since the TI-Nspire line of graphing calculators got a refresh, but that was nothing compared to what the company's planning for this year. Possibly responding to changing times (or the Casio Prizm), the new Nspire devices are getting a WiFi dongle for communication with TI-Navigator workstations, a 16-bit (320 x 240) full color display, and a number of new functions, including the ability to load images and analyze images for such things as curve fitting functions and regressions. Perhaps even more exciting, the new Nspire OS 3.0 features 3D functions -- and, yes, the original grayscale TI-Nspire models will be able to upgrade to the new OS when it becomes available this spring. Tech Powered Math is reporting a mid-April release date, for an MSRP of $165. Totally psyched? We bet you are! See the PR after the break for more info.

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TI-Nspire graphing calcs get full color displays, 3D, WiFi, and new OS originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TI-Nspire calculator: yes, it plays Doom

Sam Sheffer — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 02:02:00 EST

Sure, folks have ported games over to the good ol' number cruncher for ages, but getting a fully rendered classic like Doom to run on a calculator is a different feat altogether. The folks over at omnimaga have successfully moved a beta version of nDoom (a reworked version of the original id Software's FPS) over to a Texas Instruments TI-Nspire and -- with all things considered -- the game runs shockingly smooth. As of right now, the only proof of concept is the video you see above, with a tragic crash bringing all things dangerous to a dismal halt. We're looking forward to a fully working version of nDoom because, you know, video games and calculators are two things close to our nerdy hearts.

TI-Nspire calculator: yes, it plays Doom originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 02:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple engineer uses Lego to rebuild ancient Greek mechanism, will surely try to patent it (video)

Vlad Savov — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 06:28:00 EST

The Antikythera Mechanism is what you call truly old school technology. Argued to be the world's oldest known computer, this ancient Greek invention was used some time circa 100BC to calculate and "predict celestial events and eclipses with unprecedented accuracy." Skipping past the two millennia in which it lay lost on a sea floor somewhere, the Mechanism has now been recreated by an Apple software engineer by the name of Andrew Carol, who has lovingly pieced 1,500 Lego Technic blocks together, creating 110 gears and four gearboxes in total. Each box is responsible for performing one piece of arithmetic, and when the resulting machine is fed with appropriate calendar data, it spits out a (hopefully accurate) prediction for the next time a solar eclipse should occur. All well and good, but we're really just amazed by the beauty of those gears working. Check them out after the break.

Continue reading Apple engineer uses Lego to rebuild ancient Greek mechanism, will surely try to patent it (video)

Apple engineer uses Lego to rebuild ancient Greek mechanism, will surely try to patent it (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 06:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Casio debuts Prizm graphing calculator with 'high-res' color screen

Donald Melanson — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 10:20:00 EST

Texas Instruments recently rocked the graphing calculator world by adding a touchpad to its TI-Nspire calculator, and Casio has now come back with a technological revolution of its own: a high-res color screen. Of course, a 3.7-inch, 384 X 216 display may not be much by smartphone standards, but Casio insists that the "Blanview" LCD will let equations and text be "displayed just like they appear in textbooks." The rest of the calculator's specs aren't too shabby either, and include USB connectivity, 16MB of flash memory, and a promised 140 hours of battery life. You'll still have to stick to your cold, hard black-and-white world for a while longer, however, as the Prizm won't be available until sometime in January, when it'll set you back $129.99.

Casio debuts Prizm graphing calculator with 'high-res' color screen originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Oct 2010 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon's X Mark I Mouse excites and exhilarates like few gadgets can (video)

Darren Murph — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 17:33:00 EST

If there's one thing you don't expect to find at Photokina, it's a mouse. If there's another, it's a calculator. In some strange twist of fate, we found both in Canon's press lounge, and we couldn't possibly be more elated. The X Mark I Mouse captured our attention early last month, and we've been searching up and down to get our hands on one ever since. Nestled gently between legions of camcorders and a few dozen printers was the gem we'd be searching for, and we didn't hesitate to clear the area for a brief hands-on. Both models were surprisingly large, which simultaneously made the calculator buttons easy to press and the mouse as a whole difficult to grasp. The harsh, sharp edges were no friend of Mr. Ergonomic, but we'd probably forgive it if that $63 MSRP fell to a more reasonable level. Be sure to thank a lack of sleep and all of the companies pouring out news at the show for the delirium that's after the break.

Gallery: Canon's X Mark I Mouse: glorious hands-on at Photokina 2010

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Canon's X Mark I Mouse excites and exhilarates like few gadgets can (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Sep 2010 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DIYer constructs 4.3-inch Open SciCal graphing calculator, puts your TI-83+ to shame

Darren Murph — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 03:26:00 EST

What's 4.3-inches diagonally, costs $200 to build and has absolutely no reception issues when held as shown in the image above? Why, the Open SciCal! Matt Stack, the genius who pieced this gem together, relied on a 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 CPU, 8GB SD card, WiFi module and a spartan web browser in order to concoct what's likely the most desirable graphing calculator this side of Pluto. The handheld device weighs about 1.6 pounds, runs Linux as well as the statistically inclined R, and is reportedly capable of doing roughly twice as much crunching as Texas Instruments' Nspire. Skeptical? Considering that this bad boy sucked down stock data from Yahoo! Finance and ran auto-correlation on the numbers in order to near-instantly report current trends, we're guessing TI (or any other graphing calculator company, really) has no room to argue. Hit the source for more details, and don't worry -- that feeling of insignificance wanes with time.

DIYer constructs 4.3-inch Open SciCal graphing calculator, puts your TI-83+ to shame originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Aug 2010 03:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon's X Mark I Mouse triples as calculator, numeric keypad, fame attractor

Darren Murph — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 09:51:00 EST

We know, we know -- you're practically married to your existing Razer or Logitech, but it looks like you may want to phone your lawyer and get the separation papers flowing. Canon -- of all companies -- has just introduced its latest critter, and it may very well be the most spectacular mousing device in the history of mousing devices. The unquestionably magical X Mark I Mouse is a wireless laser mouse underneath, but it also doubles as a fully functional calculator and a numeric keypad to boot. Bluetooth 2.0 is responsible for the connections, and the 1,200dpi sensor should please all but the most particular of users. It'll also play nice with both OS X and Windows platforms, leaving us with an inexplicable need to handle one prior to the scheduled November launch date. Oh, the price? A paltry £39.99 / €48.99 / $63, but really, you'd pay anything those blokes asked to have one of your own.

Canon's X Mark I Mouse triples as calculator, numeric keypad, fame attractor originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 09:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bing Maps' Taxi Fare Calculator keeps your lollygagging cab driver in check

Darren Murph — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:44:00 EST

We've all been there -- you step into a cab in a foreign place, ask your driver to head to your destination, and then he / she asks you if you'd rather take the highway or go direct. Or, worse still, senses your innocence and proceeds to head the wrong direction for two or three miles. In an effort to give desperate travelers a better sense of how much it'll cost to get from point A to point B D in a cab, Bing Maps' new Taxi Fare Calculator was created. Turns out, this add-in for the mapping service was built by someone hankering to win the King of Bing Maps competition, and while it's only capable of calculating routes around a few dozens cities right now, we get the impression that this could soon grow into a monster of its own. Hey Microsoft, when's the (badly needed) optimized-for-mobile version coming out?

Bing Maps' Taxi Fare Calculator keeps your lollygagging cab driver in check originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Engadget: what's the best graphing calculator for under $200?

Darren Murph — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 23:11:00 EST

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Brian, who just can't help but think about the dreaded back-to-school season already. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"Hello Engadget. I'm currently scouting a calculator for school. What's the best calculator to buy for around $200 dollars?"

We're going to guess this guy's majoring in poetry, but those blasted math courses that "they" make everyone take is driving this need. It's funny to think how slowly graphing calculators have evolved (and how prices have fallen at an even more lethargic pace), but there's just got to be something better out in 2010 than the tried-and-true TI-83. Right? Let the man know in comments below.

Ask Engadget: what's the best graphing calculator for under $200? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 23:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TI-Nspire graphing calculator gets a new touchpad, nerds swoon world o'er

Joseph L. Flatley — Tue, 04 May 2010 22:39:00 EST

Texas Instruments has been making graphing calculators for twenty years now, and things look pretty much the same as they were in that bygone era of Amy Grant and C&C Music Factory. The company's latest, TI-Nspire with Touchpad, features -- you guessed it! -- a touchpad above the keypad for scrollin' around, as well as a letterpad (apparently they had to forgo QWERTY to make this compliant with tests like SAT and ACT). And, like its precursors, it comes with a snap-in TI-84 Plus keypad so your old dog won't have to learn any keystrokes. Available now from your fave e-tailer, look to pay around $140.

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iPad apps: utilities you need

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 10:30:00 EST

Utilities are the vegetables of the software world -- not fun, rarely pretty, but gosh darnit, they're good for you. Whether they're checking that your new TV has been mounted square on the wall, crunching your numbers, getting you up in the morning, or keeping track of your mad ramblings in the middle of the night, these little bundles of binary joy can save your job (or your marriage) every time an iPad game almost destroys it. We've taken a close look at a few of the utilities available to iPad owners in the first volley of native, high-resolution apps for the platform and come away with a few winners -- and even better, some of these suckers come at absolutely no cost to you. Follow the break for the full rundown -- and don't forget to check the rest of our app roundups after you're done!

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iPad apps: utilities you need originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Apr 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TI joins HP, creates official business calculator port for iPhone

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:11:00 EST

Calculators were the original handheld computers, but unlike the whole PDA fad, they've had amazing staying power through their 40-year history -- to this day, buttoned-up dudes crunching numbers at wooden desks have HP 12Cs next to them not for the kitschy retro street cred, but because they're functional, familiar, and do exactly what they're expected to do. Thing is, even purpose-suited perfection can only carry a product for so many years; eventually, raw technology and a new generation of users with different expectations are going to conspire to tear down the status quo. HP was the first giant to recognize that it might be a good idea to have virtual versions of its products available for a more modern medium, porting the 12C and 15C to the iPhone; now, TI -- HP's archrival in the calculator business for decades -- is doing the same by offering its BAII Plus as a $14.99 download from the App Store. That's exactly the same price as the 12C, so come on, you HP and TI diehards -- duke it out and tell us which brand makes the better adding machine once and for all, won't you?

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

TI joins HP, creates official business calculator port for iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TI joins HP, creates official business calculator port for iPhone

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:11:00 EST

Filed under: Software, iPhone OS

TI joins HP, creates official business calculator port for iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Behold: the illuminated calculator / mouse pad / USB hub

Donald Melanson — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:23:00 EST

Sure, you may have seen plenty of calculators / mousepads / USB hubs in your day. But how about a calculator / mousepad / USB hub that lights up? Didn't think so. Head on past the break for a glimpse of that magic, and hit up the link below to get one of your own for just $17.99.

[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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Da-Lite's online Projection Screen Calculator makes the decision for you

Darren Murph — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:25:00 EST

Baffled when trying to choose what size screen to install in your home theater? Let Da-Lite help. The outfit has just made live its web-based Screen Calculator, which guides individuals through an "easy and clear process for selecting the right projection screen." Users will be able to determine the optimal screen size by "selecting the appropriate format the projection will be shown in, choosing the screen type and lastly picking the correct material or surface." Just don't be shocked if you suddenly start craving a Da-Lite screen when it's all said and done.

Filed under: Misc, Displays

Da-Lite's online Projection Screen Calculator makes the decision for you originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Enhanced Calculator for S60 updated and archived in one fell swoop

Darren Murph — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 07:57:00 EST

Remember that super swank number cruncher that Nokia was working up for the Symbian S60 platform back in August? Welp, she's reached the end of her road, as they say. According to an update on the Beta Labs website, the Enhanced Calculator for S60 has seen its final wave of tweaks which make it fully compatible with the N96 (among other things). Curiously, Nokia is also announcing that the project is being archived (though it's still available for download), noting that it learned that "it wasn't feasible to productize." Instead, Nokia has enlisted a proper R&D team that will eventually "result in an improved built-in calculator for future Nokia devices." Hmm, maybe they're referring to something such as this?

Filed under: Software, Nokia, Symbian

Enhanced Calculator for S60 updated and archived in one fell swoop originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Dec 2008 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia's Handwriting Calculator makes math cool again

Darren Murph — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 04:51:00 EST

Be honest with yourself -- you loathe math. We mean, you're totally kosher with counting ohms and watts when dealing in DIY projects, but you'll gladly pay a certified accountant to handle your taxes. Chances are, though, that Nokia's new Handwriting Calculator will have you doing calculations you never thought you'd do once you nailed that Calculus IV book shut with a completely respectable B-. It's designed to operate on Nokia's "latest touchscreen devices (read: S60 5th Edition), such as the N800 and the 5800 XpressMusic," and it's being delivered free of charge from the always inventive Beta Labs operation. The greatest part about this is its ability to understand unorthodox symbols such as square roots and the like; too bad most professors outlaw cellphones during testing periods, huh? Video demonstration is after the break.

[Via MobileSyrup]

Continue reading Nokia's Handwriting Calculator makes math cool again

Filed under: Software, Nokia, Symbian

Nokia's Handwriting Calculator makes math cool again originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 04:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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S60 gets a better calculator -- thanks to Series 40

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 05:56:00 EST

Hey, S60 owners, have you had this nagging sense over the past year or two that you're somehow getting slighted by Nokia, but you haven't been able to put your finger on why? No worries, we've figured it out: it's the calculator. Nokia's mainstream dumbphone platform has featured a far better and more capable built-in calculator app than S60 for a while now, which really doesn't make a whole heck of a lot of sense; granted, you can get better ones from third-party developers, but the point is you shouldn't have to. Thankfully, Nokia agrees, and they've started to toy around with the idea of replacing the S60 calc with its little brother's -- a relatively easy process, since the latter is written in Java. On one hand, it'd be a shame to see a core S60 app move from native code to Java, but on the other hand, if it's a better app and the JVM is transparent, who really cares? Anyway, the ported app is chilling in Nokia's Beta Labs as we speak, just waiting for customer feedback before the higher-ups make a judgment call on whether to integrate it into future S60 releases. The power's in your hands, people, so you may as well take advantage.

Filed under: Software, Nokia, Symbian

S60 gets a better calculator -- thanks to Series 40 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 05:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP's Quick Calc can't fool us

Paul Miller — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:03:00 EST

Nice try HP, trying to pull a fast one on us with this here Quick Calc. Turns out there's a calculator inside our computer, so we don't need none of your fancy Quick Calc shenanigans to spell "boobless" and cheat on our long division homework anymore -- we forked over good money for this beige tower PC, even went in for that "multimedia" package, and we're going to put it to good use.

[Via Boing Boing Gadgets]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

HP's Quick Calc can't fool us originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DIY'er crafts scientific calculator watch, TI-30 is like "what?"

Darren Murph — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:17:00 EST

Calculator watches, a staple of the average's geek wardrobe since before your grandmother was born, have been called out, as David Jones' own homegrown version totally trumps anything out there on the pre-fabricated market today. The cleverly-titled µWatch was born after a Casio CFX-400 bit the dust after years upon years of telling time and determining averages, and while it seems as though a bona fide front panel is still in the works, we're personally hoping that currently unoccupied Design & Construction portal gets updated with a how-to guide. Check out the read link for a few more shots of the early prototype and the current build.

[Via OhGizmo]

Filed under: Wearables

DIY'er crafts scientific calculator watch, TI-30 is like "what?" originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hisgadgetoric: The Curta mechanical calculator peppers our eyes with nostalgia

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 03:42:00 EST

Look, we know that the Curta Calculator is old. 1948 old in fact, after it was first conceived by Curt Herzstark while imprisoned in the Buchenwald concentration camp. Still, why not introduce the post HP35 generation to what was widely hailed as the best portable calculator of its time? Besides, with that WWII intrigue and satisfying mechanical grind, what's not to love? See it in action after the break.

[Via HighTech]

Continue reading Hisgadgetoric: The Curta mechanical calculator peppers our eyes with nostalgia

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Hisgadgetoric: The Curta mechanical calculator peppers our eyes with nostalgia originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Feb 2008 03:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Chocolator: if Hershey controlled Skynet

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 02:07:00 EST

Mmm mm, what could be finer than the aroma of solar powered, "delux" chocolate while punching a stack of numbers? And just look at the separation between the Chocolator's skin and solar panel. Quality man, quality. Then again, you're not buying this 5.5 Design calculator for performance reasons are you?

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

The Chocolator: if Hershey controlled Skynet originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Aug 2007 02:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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USB Mouse Calculator ready to calculate how much money you've wasted

Donald Melanson — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 04:52:00 EST

There's plenty of mice with integrated keypads out there, but those looking for some more instant gratification with their calculations may want to consider this marvel of technology now being offered by PrezzyBox.com, which packs a full-on calculator into something vaguely resembling a mouse. For other number-intensive tasks, the mouse will also double as a numeric keypad, and it appears to be small enough to pack away with your laptop for some number crunching on the go. If that's what you've been waiting for, you can get your fix now for £15 (or just over $30), which is sure more affordable than Casio's non-mouse USB calculator.

[Via Coolest Gadgets]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Peripherals

USB Mouse Calculator ready to calculate how much money you've wasted originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Aug 2007 04:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP celebrates 35th anniversary of HP-35: launches 35s calculator

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 05:54:00 EST

Feel that? That's the unexpected stir of nostalgia welling inside your dorktic-loin. Rest easy, you're not alone. In fact, that picture aroused a deeply seeded HP fanboi-ism long obscured by thick slabs of drab computing plastic and opaque printer ink. The 35s marks the 35th anniversary of the industry defining HP-35 pocket scientific calculator (and death of the sliderule) -- a first to offer basic trig and exponential functions. While HP preserved the original's reverse Polish notation, gone is the single-line of red LEDs which illuminated the childhood wonder of so many budding engineers. The new 35s also introduces an algebraic entry mode for those who find RPN entry just a bit too, well, reversed. Of course, it's fully modern with 800 storage registers, 100 built-in functions, and a large 2-line alpha numeric display with adjustable contrast. Better yet, the 35s will only set you back $60 compared to the $395 it cost back in 1972 -- that's a lot more 8-tracks for your swank ~~Ford~~ Mercury Capri, eh Pops?

Read -- HP-35 anniversary video
Read -- HP 35s

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Handhelds

HP celebrates 35th anniversary of HP-35: launches 35s calculator originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Jul 2007 05:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IDEA-IN Yuento presents calculator-cum-phone

Sean Cooper — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 13:01:00 EST

IDEA-IN presents the YUENTO branded calculator that is shaped and has a similar key layout as a mobile. Clever, huh? The idea behind this molded bit-o-madness is that most human's fingers are rather adept at tapping away on mobile phone keys, so taking that insight a step further produced the "Mobile Calculator". Available in pink, white, yellow, and black. This, ahhh, interesting concept should set you back about $20 bucks if you can find one.

[Via Akihabara News]

Filed under: Misc

IDEA-IN Yuento presents calculator-cum-phone originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 16 Jun 2007 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Homegrown USB-powered calculator synth doubles as pillow

Darren Murph — Mon, 21 May 2007 07:02:00 EST

As if the Cushion Control pillows weren't cute enough, here we find a USB-powered, felt-covered calculator synth to ooh and aww over. Artists Kelli Cain and Brian Crabtree were able to conjure up this nifty device at a Felt Circuits workshop held in Los Angeles, and while details are relatively scarce, the creation is essentially a homemade eight- x six-inch calculator constructed from dyed wool that was hand-rubbed into felt. The two also "designed, etched, and populated noise-making circuit boards" which were then put into the contraption, and when connected to a USB port, touching the metal contacts that are sewn on "makes a bunch of noise," which we can causally refer to as abstract music. Unfortunately, there's no sign of these things going on sale, but if you beg the duo hard enough, you might find out if another workshop is in the pipeline.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Portable Audio

Homegrown USB-powered calculator synth doubles as pillow originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 May 2007 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Texas Instruments finally gets fresh, unveils TI-Nspire calculators

Darren Murph — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 10:01:00 EST

We're not exactly sure if Texas Instruments' widely utilized TI-83 / TI-84 line of calculators have reached the same success as Casio (but it's fairly safe to assume a "yes"), but the firm is finally throwing out a substantial update to the graphing calculators that you, your folks, and probably your grandparents all used throughout high school. The TI-Nspire lineup maintains the same relative form factor, but offers up a few swank advancements such as multiple representations, "grab-and-move" functionality, resizing, dynamic linking, and of course, the oh-so-sweet ability to save and edit in-progress work (shown after the jump) right on the device. Additionally, Windows / OS X software will be available to mimic the on-screen abilities of the handhelds, which means those days of viewing the monochrome display via an overhead projector are long gone, and for those who just aren't willing to make the transition, TI is even including a snap-in TI-83 / TI-84 Plus keypad so you can upgrade your machine without relearning keystrokes. The TI-Nspire and TI-Nspire CAS are both slated to hit instructional dealers this Fall for educators (commercially available by Fall 2008), so we'd suggest pinching those pennies now in back-to-school anticipation.

Continue reading Texas Instruments finally gets fresh, unveils TI-Nspire calculators

Filed under: Handhelds

Texas Instruments finally gets fresh, unveils TI-Nspire calculators originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Apr 2007 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Casio sells its one billionth calculator

Darren Murph — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 18:21:00 EST

Just as broadcast radio was turning one hundred, Casio was selling its one billionth calculator, as the company reportedly announced that this past December held the milestone purchase. The firm's first electronic calculator, dubbed the 001, hit the market in 1965, and played a big part in the development of the chip industry by generating demand for LSI chips. The pocket-sized renditions the company is so well known for started in 1972 with the Casio Mini, only to be followed by the graphing scientific version in 1985. These monochrome graphing editions will always hold a special spot in our hearts, as there was just nothing like kicking back during class and crushing your previous Tetris record while the instructor gave you kudos for focusing so intently on your work, and of course, that wasn't the only game to ever get ported to the small screen. So here's to Casio for hitting the big 1 billion, but we've got to admit, it looks like TI is the current champ in terms of universal acceptability, but we can't argue too much with a figure like that.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Casio sells its one billionth calculator originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Jan 2007 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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