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RealCalc review

Nicole Cozma

We review RealCalc, an Android calculator app for the true numbers geek who needs to calculate more than just basic equations on the go

RealCalc for Android

Published on Mar 8, 2010

The stock Android calculator app is capable of most basic calculator functions. While these basic functions are adequate for your average calculations-on-the-go, what happens when your situation calls for more complex functionality? Enter the RealCalc app by Brain Overspill for all the calculation-loving geeks out there.

RealCalc combines the functionality of a physical scientific calculator with the all-in-one portability of an Android device. It boasts a simple, clean UI and a few options for making your calculator experience more enjoyable. In order to conserve space on the screen, and avoid the second screen approach used by the stock calculator, this app uses a Shift button located in the top-left corner, which can be used to access alternate functions using the same buttons. This app also supports multiple number bases, including decimal, hexadecimal, octal and binary computations. Also quite useful is the conversion function, which can perform several types of unit conversions, ranging from distance to power.

RealCalc for Android

Such a simple app doesn’t require many customization options, though the options that are available make using it a whole lot easier. Four unique options can be enabled or disabled to make the app function exactly how you want it. The first option concerns the behavior of the history. By enabling Unique History, you can eliminate duplicate calculations from being stored, saving space and time. Next, there’s the Button Feedback option. This function does exactly what it sounds like -- it enables a small vibration feedback whenever a button gets pressed, so you don’t have to worry about missing a tap. Enabling the next option, Long Click Shift, provides one of our favorite functions of this app. This option allows you to bypass the Shift key entirely by holding down a button for a short time. This makes inputting your calculations much easier and faster. And last, but not least, is the RPN Mode option. This is the only option not available by default, and allows you to enable or disable Reverse Polish Notation, should you find yourself needing it.