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Tapbots, makers of Tweetbot, release major update to Calcbot for iOS w/ iCloud sync, Convertbot features, more

Tapbots, the developers behind the popular third party Twitter app Tweetbot, is out today with a major new version of their advanced calculator app Calcbot. As the ‘bot’ theme implies, Calcbot approaches the stock calculator experience and applies character through animations and sounds while delivering more function than the out-of-the-box calculator from Apple.

The completely new version follows the debut of Calcbot for Mac last fall and includes support for quick iCloud sync between the Mac and iOS versions. While the new version of Calcbot is free, an in-app purchase unlocks additional features including what was previously a separate app called Convertbot.

While Calcbot was left mostly untouched since the days of 3.5-inch iPhones like the iPhone 4 and 4s (the last version was advertised as iOS 4 ready), Calcbot 2.0 takes full advantage of various iPhone display sizes available now, including the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus, and Convertbot users will be happy to know the new version of Calcbot offers up all the conversion functionality found in the Mac version of the advanced calculator app.

For iPad users, Calcbot never got the letterbox or scaling treatment as iPad display sizes, resolutions, and aspect ratios haven’t changed over the years, but the app’s design did appear aged. Calcbot 2.0 offers a user interface that fits the latest iOS design language and packs in the same conversion features.

So what does Calcbot offer over Apple’s Calculator app? For starters, the iPad doesn’t include the Calculator app found on the iPhone and iPod touch, but Calcbot still goes a little further. Calcbot presents a tape of everything you input, offering up the ability to reference calculation history. You can easily plug these old formulas into to calculations or share both formulas and results over email.

The new Calcbot is also rather customizable with several themes that change the look of the app by applying different colors throughout the user interface. The iCloud sync is also really handy. Your calculations aren’t stuck on one device but rather readily appear right on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

The extensive conversion tools are included in a ‘pro’ upgrade with a $1.99 in-app purchase. This includes more than 200 units from 20 categories, a special pro theme, unlimited history tape for saving every calculation rather than just the ten most recent, and support for custom constants for adding your own values and labels.

If you’ve used Tapbots’ latest Calcbot Mac app, you’ll already be familiar with the new iOS version; users of the old Calcbot and Convertbot iOS apps should be happy to see new life for the old apps.

Calcbot 2.0 for both iPhone and iPad is available for free on the App Store with a $1.99 in-app purchase to unlock ‘pro’ features and two additional $0.99/each theme packs. Calcbot for Mac can be had for $4.99 from the Mac App Store.

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Comments

  1. Barnes Dave - 9 years ago

    Do not see support for RPN. I love this feature in PCalc.

  2. The included link is to an iPad-only version. I can’t find it for iPhone….

    • Zac Hall - 9 years ago

      Hmm maybe try again. Works here and it’s a universal app.

  3. Huxley Dunsany - 9 years ago

    Love TapBots, but just wish they hadn’t abandoned their WeightBot app. I still love it, but it’s wildly out of date now (doesn’t scale to iPhone 5 or 6 screen sizes, doesn’t tie into HealthBook, etc.).

    • Joe Cheng - 9 years ago

      agreed . . . loved their apps and still use tweetbot but I really can’t see myself supporting them when they’re so quick to abandon apps we as customers paid a premium for.

  4. nguyenhm16 - 9 years ago

    Finally. I guess they realized their Tweetbot gravy train is coming to an end.

  5. Francis Chavonand - 9 years ago

    Hi, I am looking for Pastebot which seems to have disappeared! thks and rgds

Author

Avatar for Zac Hall Zac Hall

Zac covers Apple news, hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and created SpaceExplored.com.