For 12 years, the iPad has had to do without something that actually belongs to the standard equipment: a pocket calculator. Google now jumps into the breach and treats the tablet to a pocket calculator. This works with just a few clicks and does not cost a cent.
The iPhone has one, the Mac has one anyway, and Apple has even offered a calculator for the Apple Watch since watchOS 6. Only the iPad is still looking into the tube. For 12 years, the developers in Cupertino have persistently refused to equip their own tablets with a calculator – with a questionable justification. But what Apple can’t manage, Google can at least do.
Google brings calculator as a web app to Apple’s iPad
One thing makes it possible new web app that the US company recently released. At https://calculator.apps.chrome/ is a full calculator available, which not only looks chic, but also works offline after the first call – so a connection to the Internet is not necessary afterwards. Very convenient.
Nevertheless: Of course it is not really comfortable. Who would want to open the browser and type in the URL for every little arithmetic problem? But there is a simple solution: The Simply save the URL as a bookmark and place it on the home screen. This works like this:
- Open share menu (up arrow)
- Tap Add to Home Screen
- Choose a suitable name (e.g. calculator)
- And tap on “Add”.
The functions of the current iPadOS 15 at a glance:
The appropriate icon is available with the Shortcuts app
The only disadvantage of the method: the icon on the home screen doesn’t look really nice, iPadOS simply takes a screenshot of the page. However, the problem can be solved using the Shortcuts app.
Good to know: also the integrated one Spotlight search in iOS and iPadOS offers a rudimentary calculator function. So if you don’t feel like Google’s workaround, you can use Spotlight for simple arithmetic tasks. Of course, there are also many calculator apps in the App Store, such as Calculator Pro or Tydlig.