It may seem a bit bizarre, but the iPad hasn't had a calculator for 14 years – at least not in the form of Apple's own app. But an update to iPadOS 18 is set to change that.
The iPad is probably one of the most popular tablets. This is due in part to the iPadOS operating system and the powerful computing power – now thanks to Apple's own processors. But this computing power could not be used for calculations for 14 years because the iPad did not have a calculator – at least not in the form of an Apple app.
According to Apple, this will change with iPadOS 18. In addition to the calculator app, which many already know from the iPhone, the iPad update will include AI functions such as ChatGPT for Siri as well as customization options for the home screen.
With iPadOS 18: The iPad gets a calculator
This means that users will no longer have to use third-party apps, which are often full of advertising and are not optimized for the iPad, to perform calculations. The new calculator app will also work with the Apple Pencil. Specifically, it will be able to solve mathematical problems that were written with the pencil.
Apple is also introducing so-called Smart Script with iPadOS 18. This is a feature for the Notes app that is intended to improve the appearance of text when writing with the Apple Pencil. According to the company, Smart Script can recreate handwriting, check writing for spelling and convert typed text into handwritten text.
iPadOS 18 will be released in September along with the iPhone update iOS 18. According to Apple, the update will be compatible with the following devices: “iPad Pro (M4), iPad Pro 12.9″ (3rd generation and later), iPad Pro 11″ (1st generation and later), iPad Air (M2), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad (7th generation and later), and iPad mini (5th generation and later)”
iPadOS 18 will also include the AI system Apple Intelligence. According to Apple, this will be able to generate text and images and edit photos. The functions of Apple Intelligence will be gradually expanded.
Why doesn't the iPad have a calculator app?
The fact that the iPad has not included a calculator since its launch in 2010 is reportedly due to a last-minute decision by then-Apple CEO Steve Jobs. He was apparently dissatisfied with the corresponding app on the iPad prototype.
Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, said in an interview in 2020 that the company would not bring a calculator to the iPad until it was “really, really good.” Apparently, they failed to do that or wanted to for 14 years, which caused a lot of ridicule.
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Source: https://www.basicthinking.de/blog/2024/06/11/ipados-18-das-ipad-bekommt-einen-taschenrechner-nach-14-jahren/
