You can now run Windows Calculator on Android, iOS, and the Web
Microsoft open sourced Windows Calculator under a MIT License in March 2019 and released the source code as well as required tools on the company's GitHub project hosting site.
The MIT license allows third-parties to use, modify, distribute, and even sell the open sourced product released under the license.
The company behind the UNO platform did just that; it used Microsoft's source code to port Windows Calculator to C# and the company's UNO Platform resulting in Windows Calculator releases for Apple's iOS and Google's Android operating systems, as well as a web version hosted by the company.
The web version should run in any modern web browser provided that it supports Web Assembly. The start is a bit slow initially but once Windows Calculator has loaded, everything should work like a breeze.
Windows Calculator looks and feels like the version of the calculator that is included in Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system.
You may use the keyboard, mouse or touch to run calculations; there is a history to look up previous calculations, and the option to switch from the standard calculator to the scientific or programmer version. Both of these versions offer additional options that the standard calculator does not support.
Options to convert units are provided as well; a click on the currency converter displays options to convert from one currency to another using the day's conversion rates.
The Windows Calculator apps
The apps are still in development but already released on Google Play and the Apple App Store. You can check them out and download/install them by following these links:
- iOS: Uno Calculator -- Apple App Store link
- Android: Uno Calculator -- Google Play Store link
I downloaded the version for Android to test it. The app opens considerably faster than the web version of the Windows Calculator port. It is by no means the fastest opening app on Android but it is fine for an application that is still in development.
The calculator looks and feels like Windows Calculator. You get to use the standard calculator or the scientific or programmer calculator, and may also use the integrated conversion tools.
All in all, a promising start. I'd expect the company to optimize the loading time and responsiveness further before the calculator is released officially.
You can check out the official announcement on the Uno website for additional information. Developers may find the list of challenges useful that the company had to overcome to port the calculator.
Closing Words
You may access Windows Calculator on the Web now or as an application on Android or iOS. The name is different but the inside is the same. If you like Windows Calculator, you might want to give this a try as it replicates the functionality of the default calculator on Windows.
Now You: do you use a calculator app?
Microsoft is working on far too many things which are already done better by others.
They need to pay more attention to more important things like their operating system.
Microsoft has serious trouble up top.
I really like the open source project from Tomas Sokken concerning the Hewlett Packard 42 calculator, which is freely available for all platforms.
Free42 is a re-implementation of the HP-42S Scientific Programmable Calculator and HP-82240 Printer.
Another really good this from this open source project is that the software is very regularly maintained.
https://thomasokken.com/free42/
Any reason why I should bloat my iOS devices with anything Microsoft ?
Calc Tape. German software. Best on Android, slightly less satisfactory on Windows.
It’s worth upgrading to the paid version on Android. On Windows, I’m not so sure. I stay with the free one.
While the concept of a virtual paper tape calculator is, on the whole, very cleverly implemented, plenty of irritating oversights remain. Development seems slow.
I haven’t been able to find any better application. It’s surprisingly difficult to find a good “average” calculator.
If you’re looking for a scientific calculator able to replace a small mainframe, I’m sure you can find something nice. Lesser needs are not as well addressed.
Hot diggity daffodil!
I wish it had an option to use RPN.
I use calculators very often. On Windows, I use calc. On Android, I use anandCalc, and on Linux, I use the calculator that comes with KDE.
The Windows calculator is my least favorite, so I have no interest in using it elsewhere. Nonetheless, it does the job and is convenient, so I use it in Windows.
I use it on occasion but, I can not understand why it wants internet access or why it needs updated so often.
You could have mentioned that the Android App is a hefty 45.8 MB.
Now if someone would port it without a Ginormica-sized runtime…
99% of my calculation needs are satisfied by http://www.moffsoft.com/freecalc.htm which for me has worked well from Win95 through Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.18362.175]. I do use the native Windows Calculator for more complex things, but even it cannot easily show
20,615,673â´ = 2,682,440â´ + 15,365,639â´ + 18,796,760â´ :-)
Same here. Moffsoft’s FreeCalc may be old it remains fine for basic calculations and it includes a virtual paper tape which I appreciate. Windows 7′ native Microsoft calculator, occasionally.
Otherwise, ‘Calculatormatik’ for conversions, ‘Quick Number Base Converter’ (converts between decimal, hex, binary, etc, quick color hex/rgb is helpful). I almost forgot the ‘Credit Card Verifier’ which is not really a calculator even if money does count :=)
This looks like they did this port to show their UNO Platform, but it is so sluggish on my Note8 that I wonder if it could backfire on them.
I mean, beta or not, a calculator app isn’t that heavy on resources, leading me to wonder the performance of their platform.
Anyway, I hope they will improve the port or their platform, because I would really like to use the same calculator on all my devices.
On Android I’ve been using ‘RealCalc’ for regular calculation for years, plus tCalc more recently for time calculations.
HiPER Scientific Calculator here. It’s really convenient and allows to see at least a couple of operations at the same time.
Yes. HiPER Scientific Calculator is more powerful and easier to use than Windows Calculator.