Calculator App Issues in iOS 18

This calculator is my catalyst. It’s the reflection of Apple’s lack of all innovation since the loss of Steve Jobs. Each iteration is a new color/ facelift/ and minutely better camera. Absolutely pitiful. Removing simple features that make lives easier. Last time Siri was updated was when it was added to iOS 10+ years ago. I’m done with Apple. FIX THE CALCULATOR and stop hiring teenagers in silicon valley.

I hate this update to the calculator app so much. I used to lend my child my iPhone when he needed to use a calculator, but now I had to buy a real calculator for him because now the app is so unusable. Why do I need to press the back button multi times just to reset the calculator? Before I just need to tap AC. Why does when I press + or x for the second time, the calculator doesn’t show the result of the first addition/multiplication but show the full equation instead? It’s just so unusable…

vthegreat1 wrote:

What we hope for is:

Who is this "we" you think you're speaking for? It certainly doesn't include me. I have no OCD to be "triggered." I have no issues with Calculator as it is now. And I use it multiple times a day.

I did have greater hopes for Math Notes but, I can live with it.

vthegreat1 wrote:

We is the almost 700 folks saying “me too” on this thread. Everyone with an iPhone in our office, mostly accountants and sales folks that are in the credit card industry. If you go online and look at the YouTube vids on it, and countless Facebook threads.

So, a miniscule subset of people who own iPhones. Note also that the people who like or don't care about the change aren't posting.

I’m going to ask, do you use the calculator for your work life everyday?

Yes.

Why did you choose Apple in the first place? Did you use the swipe features to delete numbers? Did you use the equals add feature. Did you use the equals recall feature? Mainly, my questions are going to ask, did you use the old calculator for work each day as we do?

Yes, I use the calculator at work. Why did I choose to use the calculator on my phone? Because it's there. Do I use the calculator the way you did? Apparently not. And that's the point. Not everyone has the same needs that you and your co-workers do. Apple has been getting complaints for years about using the equal key to add feature.

If you like the new one better, please, in detail what IS better? Why? Maybe I’m missing something.

For my purposes, they are largely the same. I do prefer the way the equal key works now as it did cause me occasional issues. But it's not a strong preference. My point again. I'm not saying your dislike is in any way wrong. I suggest that you consider that you may not be in the majority.

And also, it's a just calculator. There are lots of them. Find another one that does what you want and move on with your life. Getting seriously wound up about this seems like a sad waste of one's limited lifespan. But that's just me.

"Don't sweat the small stuff...and it's all small stuff." - Richard Carlson

Captain Lardnicus wrote:

I would honestly classify this as a bug at this point

Well, I would classify it as a much demanded change to accommodate thousands or perhaps even millions of user requests over many years.

I guess we will have to agree to disagree.

I guess I’ll speak for the vocal minority then. But, unlike you, I don’t argue what I don’t see to be rhetorical. I don’t even see the point of you answering but I’ll reply, cause the point of most debate is change.

From your answer, it doesn’t matter either or which calculator. You liked it cause it’s there. So at this point I have to say you just wanna be in the discussion because you had nothing to do. Cause I’m trying to get your point.

As there are masses of people who are not vocal, and don’t care like you, I’m sure that there are masses that actually do care and not vocal. But at least I have a detailed point.

As it has shown from the good amount of comments before me, I’m not the only one who cares about this issue. But please link me to those discussions where tens of thousands had issue with certain services that they didn’t have -to make this abrupt change to almost all the functions I’ve come to love?

There are 30+ folks in our office. I would say most of them are iPhone users, and we all agree the calculator should be untouched. It may not mean anything to you but we work in the payment financial industry. We serve the interests of businesses and average folks with credit cards and bank accounts just like you. We do the work that involves millions of transactions a day, so yes, it may be a drop in the bucket but it’s a big thing to us. We relied on the old style calculator to do a massive amount of work.

So your, not useful answer to my specific complaints, is “don’t sweat the small stuff..”. You must be an older wise gentleman with probably an over abundance of friends to be making this remark. Would Apple even be if they didn’t sweat the aesthetic small stuff, and the important detail of the functions?

Why don’t you choose Android, if it don’t matter? Why are we choosing a company that mimics the opposite base at a higher price tag? Why am I even wasting my time talking to a community about a company that doesn’t listen to detailed specific complaints? Because I will surely leave this technical environment for another if I’m not heard and not look back. 🤷🏻‍♂️ I bought into this Apple ecosystem and I can choose go with the majority like they did.

guest_33 wrote:

This change by Apple has no benefit - and I do not believe anybody has asked Apple to break this functionality. There is no benefit.

The fact that you see no benefit doesn't mean there isn't one to some people. Never assume that everyone's needs are the same as yours.

If the new IOS 18 calculator is not changed back to its original format IOS 17 version with running totals then I will be getting rid of I phone , it is absolutely pointless when you are trying to deduct a commission percentage and then add vat that you are unable to see the running totals

please speak to who ever designed this and get them to rectify it please

I’m completely unable to use this new calculator & I’m so frustrated. I have no idea what the people at Apple were thinking. Or maybe they weren’t thinking at all. It’s not a viable option for a calculator at all.

teaandcoffee wrote:

The feature I hate the most is the erase button, it was so much easier to just swipe to get rid of an accidental digit, I've gone back to my TI84 I hate it so much

Well, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I think tapping the backspace button is much easier. And you can't swipe on your TI84; it has a backspace button also.

Has anyone at Apple responded to this? They have made the calculator virtually unusable!! It’s just as one commenter wrote… that this was engineered by a child. WTH Apple?! This is the dumbest change since taking away the arrow key, another childish change.

After the update, I cannot use my calculator. What are we supposed to do? I can do it on a piece of paper, but isn’t that what a Calculator is for when you’re out and about and you don’t have paper and pen.

Sabii1002 wrote:

You think that’s how compounding interest works?

Excellent analysis.

An even better idea is to use a calculator DESIGNED for interest calculations, such as an HP-12C, and there are several HP-12C emulators in the App Store.

There are other recent changes too. The people who think they can just change how calculators have worked for 50 years. But what would you expect from Gen Zers who probably never even used one.

[Edited by Moderator]

icterusgularis wrote:

There are other recent changes too. The balls of these people who think they can just change how calculators have worked for 50 years. But what would you expect from Gen Zers who probably never even used one.

Why, what are you seeing?