Calc-12E

Not just another disposable App

The drive behind Calc-12E is quite simple: To make a first quality tool for daily professional use that is a worthy replacement for the HP 12C, an app that you will keep and use, one you will be glad you spent money on. Make no mistake, this is NOT a Hewlett Packard product. They sell theirs here, check out the reviews. But while building a strict copy is easy, a copy is really a bit of a robbery because a copy does not deliver the new and exciting capabilities that iOS makes possible on your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. To remain on your iDevices, we believe Calc-12E must be significantly better than the HP 12C it replaced. Since August of ’08 (we are the premier HP 12C emulator!), three out of four copies remain on the customer’s phones and are kept up-to-date... the jury is in. Use it to learn RPN, study for the CFA exam, then keep on using it--on your iPhone, Touch and iPad.

Making it better

Improving on a 30 year gold standard takes more than one or two skillsets. Absolutely the math has to be rock solid, that is a given. Photographing the keyboard works, but is that the best you can get out of the touchscreen? How do you pick from the myriad of “it could do this” choices when adding to the feature set? Support will have to be provided after the sale.

Knowing this, Stone Meadow Development engaged people who are acknowledged experts in their specialties to design the replacement for HP’s 12C from the ground up. The financial algorithms were rewritten specifically for the iOS by a key member of the original 12C team–they are more accurate and three decades faster than the original and absolutely, Calc-12E gets the right answers to the “tough” problems. The interface was designed by the same group that won the Gold award from the Industrial Design Society of America’s Gold for their automated external defibrillator. Graphics were handed to a veteran game artist (they needed to be engaging!). Functionality choices are made in concert with both professional and occasional users to ensure that usability is not lost to feature creep. And customer support email goes directly to the lead programmer. You pay for this app (no ads) and you deserve excellent support.

Throughout the development process, the end game was the focus: this is a tool. Its job is to provide answers. And it can’t provide answers if people can’t use it.

So prove it

As we know, Apple does not allow “try before you buy” so while we acknowledge it’s a weak alternative, we made a few videos to demonstrate features that take Calc-12E beyond the realm of original HP 12C. For those that are visiting on their mobile device, you will have to check the videos via the YouTube links -- or search for Calc12E in the YouTube app.

You can save a bit of coin by buying the Basic version (App Store link), it’s a stripped down variant without cash flow editing. There is no in-app upgrade and it’s iPhone only but if you can’t take the risk for the grandaddy, you will still have a serviceable app.

Invest mode. Compare investment scenarios side-by-side. (YouTube)

Visual Cash Flow Editing. Truly out of the dark ages. (YouTube)

Email an Amortization Schedule. Communicate your results. (YouTube)

Blisteringly fast. Redesigned math on modern hardware means no more “running”.

iPad and iOS4 (+graphics for the retina display)...

Calc-12E 3.3 a universal version that works on iPhone/Touch just like it always has and it’s a bit better on iPad than the awkwardly sized and less than “beautiful” pixel-doubled rendition. Buy-once, use on all of your iDevices... a two-for-one deal.

A note about inaccurate loan results in an App Store review

In December an instance of unexpected loan results (also reported in an App Store review) was emailed to me with a screenshot of the offending calculation. It turns out that in this particular instance the calculation was performed with a non-zero FV which resulted in a very surprising but nevertheless accurate payment amount. Calc-12E is fine and hasn’t changed.

That said, please please pretty please report strange results to me via email: customerservice (circled a) stonemeadowdevelopment (dot) com. I will investigate any odd behavior and fix it. Promise. Screenshots really help; in the above instance the screenshot showed the contents of the FV register when the calculation was run, pointing directly to the cause of the problem.

FWIW, my #1 frustration with the original HP was not being able to see what was in the financial registers, especially when I received a fantastical result. Now it’s much easier.

Kim