20th September 2023

PCalc 4.10.8 is available here.

Just a tiny update to fix a graphical glitch with the widget on macOS 14, and a crash on macOS 11 on Apple Silicon.

15th September 2023

PCalc 4.10.7 is available here.

A small update to add support for macOS 14.

No new interactive calculator widget as yet - the performance when entering numbers wasn't great in my testing, and I'm waiting to see how the Dice by PCalc widget does with App Review. It is something I hope to add down the line, certainly, so watch this space.

The full list of changes is here.

9th March 2023

PCalc 4.10.6 is available here.

A small update that fixes a number of bugs, but also adds the ability for user functions and conversions to call other functions and conversions. This isn't intended for fully recursive functions, it's really just so you can do things like a quick currency conversion in the context of another function.

There's also a new option to blink the display when it's updated with an identical value, so you know something has happened.

The full list of changes is here.

23rd October 2022

PCalc 4.10.5 is available here.

A small update that adds support for Ventura, but also EV efficiency conversions and other core improvements from the recent iOS releases.

I'm planning on bringing multiple window support to the Mac, like I did on iOS, but that is more likely to be next year at this point, as it requires a lot of changes to the code, and I've been dealing with some health problems. It is on my list though!

The full list of changes is here.

20th July 2022

PCalc 4.10.4 is available here.

A bit of a tidy-up bug fix release. Also added menu commands to copy and paste numbers with explicit U.S. formatting, a new digit style, and generally cleaned up the app.

iCloud syncing is now switched back on by default if you are on macOS 12.4 or later, as Apple fixed a number of syncing bugs.

The full list of changes is here.

30th March 2022

PCalc 4.10.3 is available here.

Guess who broke the communication between the app and the widget yesterday? Fixed now!

29th March 2022

PCalc 4.10.2 is available here.

This release moves the About screen to a standalone app called About by PCalc.

If you have the app installed, selecting the "About PCalc..." menu item will work exactly as before, otherwise you'll see a button to install it.

Don't worry, I haven't given up on whimsy! The new app may have more secrets to explore...

14th December 2021

PCalc 4.10.1 is available here.

A small bug fix release, mostly because of problems syncing with iCloud, which are happening at Apple's end of things. For now, I've switched off iCloud syncing by default until the problems are fixed.

In addition, PCalc is now more compatible with third-party window management utilities.

19th October 2021

The Shortest Cut

PCalc 4.10 is available here.

This release adds support for macOS 12 Monterey, including Shortcuts and Quick Notes.

The full list of changes is here.

30th March 2021

PCalc 4.9.3 is available here.

A tiny bug fix release, for a problem entering decimal tax rates in the Preferences window.

9th March 2021

PCalc 4.9.2 is available here.

Mostly a bug fix release, but this also lets you use multiple lines in the menu bar widget, and to duplicate button layouts from one category to another, for example to copy a phone layout to the widget.

11th February 2021

PCalc 4.9.1 is available here.

This fixes a bug that stopped the main calculator window from appearing in some circumstances.

10th February 2021

You Need An Editor

PCalc 4.9 is available here.

This release adds a full button layout editor, greatly improves the menu bar widget, and even allows you to use custom layouts in there too!

The full list of changes is here.

11th November 2020

Silicon Valet

PCalc 4.8 is available here.

This release adds full support for macOS 11 Bug Sur, Apple Silicon Macs, a brand new menu bar widget that replaces the old one in Notification Center, global hot keys to show the app and widget, and more!

The full list of changes is here.

22nd October 2019

PCalc 4.7 is available here.

This release adds full support for macOS 10.15 Catalina, and some minor features including an option to dim the display slightly when the main window doesn't have focus. It also fixes a bug where the app wouldn't launch if you were streaming media to an AirPlay 2 device.

The full list of changes is here.

11th June 2019

PCalc 4.6.5 is available here.

Just a small update to mainly fix some bugs before starting the big push for Apple's OS updates in the autumn, but also includes the latest values for all the scientific constants, taken from CODATA 2018.

The full list of changes is here.

We also have some new t-shirts and limited edition pins on our store, featuring Pascal, the PCalc panda mascot. Check them out here.

26th October 2018

PCalc 4.6.4 is available here.

A tiny update to improve VoiceOver support for the window titlebar buttons, which also means it now works with Moom. Thanks to Peter Maurer for his help!

20th October 2018

PCalc 4.6.3 is available here.

A small release, mainly to fix some bugs that have surfaced since 4.6 and Mojave, but I also added a new fraction display line type, and reworked the preferences window so it fits on an 11-inch MacBook Air again.

Also, due to popular demand, the window buttons on the calculator are more visible by default now. But if there's now popular demand the other way, there's an option to put them back the way they were before, in the Advanced section of the Preferences.

26th September 2018

PCalc 4.6.2 is available here.

Another minor fix, this time for pasting into the Today Widget.

21st September 2018

PCalc 4.6.1 is available here.

Just a minor fix for Mojave in time for its release!

19th September 2018

PCalc 4.6 is available here.

This release adds full support for macOS 10.14 Mojave, including choosing separate themes for light and dark mode, with automatic switching between them.

The full list of changes is here.

Let me know what you think at @jamesthomson or send me an email.

21st July 2018

Just a small update to fix a bug with operator precedence and powers.

If you are lucky, you can also find the castle of the Panda King...

22nd May 2018

PCalc 4.5.6 is available here.

This is a small update, but it adds a new dark theme, support for grads in trig functions, and display of SI unit prefixes in Engineering mode, amongst other things. So maybe it's not that small after all!

The full list of changes is here.

Let me know what you think at @jamesthomson or send me an email.

30th March 2018

PCalc 4.5.5 is available here. It's a minor update, but adds some new display options, many more of the themes support setting a tint colour, and there's now music in the About screen! What more do you need?

The full list of changes is here.

Let me know what you think at @jamesthomson or send me an email.

9th February 2018

PCalc 4.5.4 is available here. It's a small update that fixes a problem updating the currency conversion rates.

Older versions will no longer see updated rates because the European Central Bank added a new currency (the Icelandic Króna) to their rates file and, due to a bug on my part, it caused these old versions to crash after they downloaded it.

Rather than crash, I stopped them updating their rates. This new version will work fine however, and should work with any currencies that are added in the future.

Let me know what you think at @jamesthomson or send me an email.

17th November 2017

PCalc 4.5.3 is available here, a minor bug fix release to bring the core code up to date with the iOS version.

31st October 2017

PCalc 4.5.2 is available here, to fix a few more minor problems on High Sierra.

There's a new option to switch off the beep/flash on errors, in the Accessibility section of the settings. I also added achievements and leaderboards to the About screen, because it amused me.

Comments and suggestions to @jamesthomson or via email.

13th October 2017

PCalc 4.5.1 is available here.

This is mainly a bug fix release to fix some problems with 4.5 on High Sierra, but there's also "Level 2" in the About screen. Look for the golden banana!

I've also had reports of graphical glitch on High Sierra with occasional black frames appearing in the About screen, but this seems to be a bug in the graphics drivers - it's mostly happening on machines with Intel built-in graphics. Hopefully Apple will have a fix soon.

Let me know what you think at @jamesthomson or send me an email!

15th September 2017

PCalc 4.5 is available here.

This release adds full support for macOS 10.13 High Sierra, drag and drop support to and from the display, and lots more! The full list of changes is here.

There's also a pretty cool new About screen, but I don't want to spoil the surprise!

Let me know what you think at @jamesthomson or send me an email!

29th June 2017

Finally appearing after twenty-five years, it's a manual for PCalc! It's written by Glenn Fleishman, and is a general introduction to the app, along with a list of every button and setting and what they do.

You can download a copy as a PDF here, which is better for printing and reading on large screens, and as an EPUB here which is better for smaller screens like a phone.

Let me know what you think!

8th December 2016

PCalc 4.4.4 is available here.

Just a small update to fix a crash bug, but there are a few minor features too - support for click sounds on the Touch Bar buttons on the new Mac Book Pros, and copy and paste of UTF-32 characters (aka emoji).

16th November 2016

PCalc 4.4.3 is available here.

A small release with one big feature, full support for the Touch Bar on the new Mac Book Pros!

You can configure the Touch Bar to have pretty much any button from the main calculator, and it provides easy access to recent conversions, functions, and constants, as well as settings like the display mode and number of decimal places.

There are separate bars for RPN and algebragic mode, as well as for the non-decimal bases, so there's a lot of flexibility.

Hope you like it. Maybe I'll sell enough copies to actually afford a real MBP :)

Let me know what you think at @jamesthomson or send me an email!

3rd October 2016

PCalc 4.4.2 is available here.

The inevitable second small bug fix release! Well, this really just adds the new rounding mode options from iOS. It seems some people are really passionate about their rounding algorithms, and didn't like the change I made in the last version, so now hopefully everybody will be happy!

24th September 2016

PCalc 4.4.1 is available here.

The inevitable small bug fix release! Mainly to fix a rare crash, but it also adds a new option for improper fractions, and the click sound engine from iOS. The full list of changes is here.

Every time I do an update like this, it starts out with no reviews, so if you like this update I'd appreciate it if you added or updated one yourself. Thanks, it makes a big difference to sales!

12th September 2016

PCalc 4.4 is available here.

This release add full support for macOS 10.12 Sierra, including a new look widget. There's also a new "Fraction" display mode that shows the closest fraction for the current decimal result, new accessibility options, improved readability throughout the app, and lots more.

The full list of changes is here.

New versions are also available for iOS 10, watchOS 3, and tvOS 10.

Hope you like the update. Get in touch at @jamesthomson or send me an email!

18th March 2016

PCalc 4.3.1 is available here.

The first thing you'll notice are the new icons, designed by Frank at grafiksyndikat.com. I've unified the design of all the icons across all the different platforms PCalc runs on. The old icons were gettng a bit tired and didn't fit in as well with the OS, especially on the Mac, and these are modern and easily recognisable.

This release also brings a number of fixes and improvements, like the ability to specify E notation for the main display rather than using superscript numbers, and it makes the behaviour of the delete key more sensible when you are dealing with decimals and exponents.

It also brings the core code up to date with PCalc 3.5.3 on iOS. The full list of changes is here. Hope you like this update!

Love or hate the new icons, let me know what you think at @jamesthomson or send me an email!

30th October 2015

PCalc is now available for the Apple TV!

They said it couldn't be done. They said it shouldn't be done. But I went and did it anyway!

Yes, it's PCalc for the Apple TV. It's optimised for use with a remote and has many of the features from the parent iOS and Mac apps including an optional RPN mode, multiple layouts and themes, and full speech support.

It's currently only $1.99 in the US - the price varies in other countries, but similarly low. It doesn't have every feature yet - no tape or unit conversions for example - so I've priced it appropriately for now and I may increase the price as more things get added. I had consider making it a Universal Purchase with the main iOS app, but because you can upgrade PCalc through an in-app purchase in the free PCalc Lite as well, that would have excluded those people from getting hold of it.

So, the fairest thing to everybody - and fair to me, the developer, as well - is that I've made it a standalone app.

To buy a copy, just search on the Apple TV for "pcalc" - select the icon that appears and it will take you directly to the App Store page.

Let me know what you think and what you'd like to see added next - I'm always open to feedback and feature requests!

30th September 2015

PCalc 4.3 is available here.

This release adds full support for OS X 10.11, El Capitan.

In addition, there are a number of frequently requested new features, including support for floating the calculator window above all other apps, and the core code has been updated with all the improvements from the latest iOS version 3.5.1. The full list of changes is here.

Enjoy! Please let me know what you think. Reviews on the App Store are always helpful too, thanks!

I'm also currently working on a small iOS update to add 3D Touch support for the iPhone 6S and 6S+. I should have something to share very soon!

3rd March 2015

PCalc 4.2 is available here.

Matrix Transformers

This release features a powerful update to the Today widget. There's now an advanced mode which you can see above - just click the button at the bottom left to switch between that and the existing basic mode.

Clicking the display, or any of the buttons, will give the widget keyboard focus, and you can then use all the keyboard shortcuts from the main application. The application icon at the side will now launch the main app and transfer the calculation over (you can also just double-click the display).

I'm still working on the layout editing for the main application, like the iOS version - my aim had been to get it into this release, but 10.10.2 introduced a bug that caused the previous version of the widget to crash, so I wanted to get this out sooner rather than later.

Hope you like the update! Let me know what you think. Reviews on the App Store are always helpful too, thanks!

15th October 2014

PCalc 4.1 for the Mac is available here.

This update adds full support for OS X Yosemite, including a Notification Center widget, and support for Handoff of calculations between iOS devices and the Mac.

It also brings the core code in line with PCalc 3.3.2 on iOS so you get all the improvements from that release too. Version 4.1 can import any custom layouts from iOS and sync changes via iCloud, but full editing on the Mac will come in the update after this one.

The full list of changes is here.

Let me know what you think. Reviews are always appreciated, as they help people make up their minds when buying. If you wrote a review already, updating it for 4.1 would be great too. Thanks!

7th October 2014

PCalc 4.1 will hopefully release in the next week - it's currently awaiting approval from Apple. It has support for OS X Yosemite, including a Notification Center widget, and Handoff between the iOS version and the Mac.

It also has the latest code from PCalc 3.3.2 on iOS, and can load custom layouts created there. Layout editing on the Mac will come in the next version after 4.1.

27th May 2014

I've just released PCalc 3.2 on iOS, which adds all of the new features from PCalc 4 on the Mac, and supports syncing the latest user functions, conversions, and constants via iCloud.

Both apps are now using identical core code, so it will be a lot easier for me to quickly add features to both.

15th May 2014

An update to PCalc 4.0.2 is live on the Mac App Store now.

This is another fairly small bug fix release, but it also adds a number of cool new features, including:

• Much improved user functions and conversions.
• Support for hex, octal, and binary specifc user functions and constants.
• An option to stop the buttons from taking clicks when in the background, so clicking on the calculator window to switch to it won't accidentally trigger commands.

The full list of changes is here.

One thing to note with the user functions - if you use any of the new commands, they won't sync over via iCloud to the existing iOS version. An updated iOS version that supports the latest stuff is coming very soon, I'm just putting the finishing touches to it now.

As with PCalc 4.0, this is a free upgrade for existing Mac App Store users, and for anybody who purchased PCalc 3 via Kagi since the 1st of April 2013.

Hope you like it! Reviews are appreciated, as they are a good way to encourage people to buy. If you wrote a review already, updating it for 4.0.2 would be great too. Thanks!

17th April 2014

PCalc 4.0.1 is now out on the Mac App Store.

This is a small bug fix release, mainly to fix a rare crash in 4.0 when switching layouts, and the problem that occured if the "Arial Rounded MT Bold" font was missing. But, there are a couple of new features too:

• Added a "Last" key in algebraic mode which retrieves the result from the last time you pressed equals.
• Added a "00" key to most of the layouts for Accounting mode.
• You can now choose to automatically display big or small numbers in engineering mode, rather than scientific.

• A number of new keyboard shortcuts for things like changing decimal places, adding lines, editing constants etc.

As with PCalc 4.0, this is a free upgrade for existing Mac App Store users, and for anybody who purchased PCalc 3 via Kagi since the 1st of April 2013.

Hope you like it, please let me know what you think via email or social media. And, if you wrote a review for 4.0, it would be a great help if you could update it for the 4.0.1 version - thanks!

9th April 2014

Two quick notes on PCalc 4.

If you're seeing the window for the calculator not appearing, or just a shadow and nothing else, re-enable the "Arial Rounded MT Bold" font. PCalc uses this for the "Easier To Read" digits, and if it's not there Bad Things Happen. I'll fix this in a 4.0.1 release soon.

The multiple calculator support will also return - the code for PCalc 4 was based on the iOS version which didn't support this, but I'm planning on adding it to both apps in the near future.

Thanks!

8th April 2014

PCalc 4 is here! It's available now from the Mac App Store.
  PCalc 4 is a brand new version of PCalc for OS X. Based on the iOS version, it has been completely rewritten as a modern 64-bit Cocoa app. It has every feature from iOS, and some brand new ones too, including:

• The number one most-requested ability to show multiple lines on the display, including the RPN stack.
• An optional “Ticker Tape” which shows a history of recent calculations underneath the main display.
• Editable user functions and conversions, which sync via iCloud with all your other Macs and iOS devices.
• Redesigned tape and register windows that can be torn off from the main calculator and resized.
• Smart searching for conversions, constants, and functions - try “£ to $” in the conversions sheet, for example.
• Enhanced AppleScript support to call any command, perform conversions, run functions, and apply constants.
• All the keyboard layouts from the iPhone and iPad versions.
• All the themes too, including the iOS 7 style “Samurai” and “Samurai Night” themes.
• An accounting display and number entry mode.
• Trend arrows for the currency rates - instantly see how rates have changed from the last time they updated.

PCalc is now being sold exclusively via the Mac App Store - we don't have any plans to sell a separate version outside the store.

This is a free upgrade for existing Mac App Store users, and for anybody who purchased PCalc 3 via Kagi since the 1st of April 2013. I'll be contacting those people shortly by email.

For everybody else, the new version can be purchased here. It's been fourteen years since the first release of the shareware PCalc 2.0 on the Mac, and we haven't charged for a single update to PCalc since then, so I hope that people will understand why we're charging for this one now.

PCalc 4 requires OS X 10.8 or later, and is fully compatible with OS X 10.9.

I hope you enjoy this new version, please let me know what you think. Thanks!

3rd April 2014

PCalc 4 is coming very soon!

Hot Cocoa

Those of you who follow me on Mastodon at @jamesthomson will know that I've been working away on a brand new version of PCalc for the Mac, PCalc 4.

This is a complete rewrite of PCalc, based on the iOS version. It has every feature from it, including the multiple-line display, the horizontal ticker tape, the user-editable functions and conversions, and more. All the layouts and themes from the iPad and iPhone are included, alongside Mac-specific ones. It's also now a modern 64-bit Cocoa application. It's basically the best bits of the iOS version and the best bits of the Mac version, together.

The coding is all done, and I've just submitted a build of it to the App Store now, so I figure it should be ready for release about this time next week. Fingers crossed!

The only slight complication is how I'm going to handle upgrades, so I wanted to take some time to explain what's going to happen. Now, I haven't charged for an upgrade to PCalc since the very first shareware version 2.0, released fourteen years ago, so keep that in mind...

I'd really like to charge for this one, it's been a long time since I've done so, and this represents a lot of work. But it's complicated.

The vast majority of sales of PCalc on the Mac now come through the Mac App Store, and I can't charge anything for an upgrade there without creating a brand new app on the store. That causes a lot of confusion, especially if the old version is left up at the same time. You also lose all your existing reviews and search ranking. That's not good. Even then, the best alternative would be to lower the price for the first few days as a way to offer an upgrade price, but then everybody gets that price, regardless of whether they purchased it previously.

At the same time, I'd like to retire sales of PCalc outside of the Mac App Store. I've had a good run with selling via Kagi, but it's time to focus on the one store. Dealing with serial numbers and software update code is a real pain, for both me and the users.

So, this is what I'm planning when PCalc 4 comes out: it's going to be a free upgrade for existing Mac App Store users, and for anybody who has purchased it via Kagi since the 1st of April 2013. For those people, I'm going to get in touch shortly and give them a copy. For everybody else, the new version will be available from the Mac App store.

I can understand that some people will be unhappy at having to pay again for the latest version, but that's the fairest solution I can come up with given the many constraints of the App Store, and my desire to still make some money from this release. I hope that you think so too!

I'll have more on PCalc 4 in the coming week - let me know what you think!

4th June 2013

PCalc 3.9 is now available - grab it from the Mac App Store here, or if you bought it via Kagi, get it from here.

Constant Craving

The biggest change in 3.9 is support for the user constants, conversions, and functions created by the iOS version of PCalc. You can import them from iOS, and - with the Mac App Store version of 3.9 - they will sync across all your devices automatically via iCloud, both on OS X and iOS. You can also create and edit an unlimited number of user constants using the Mac version, and those will sync too.

Automatic syncing is currently only available in the Mac App Store version, due to Apple's restrictions on iCloud usage, but you can still manually import and export everything. Thanks to Joe Gering who put together a file for all the CODATA 2010 fundamental constants - download this file, double-click it, and PCalc should offer to import it. The list is very long, but you can copy and paste any of the entries into new categories in the Constants section of the Preferences window.

3.9 also adds constant functions in algebraic mode. Just press equals to repeat the last calculation, or enter a new value and then press equals to repeat it on that value - really quick and useful. That will be making its way to the next update on iOS too. I hope to add user function and conversion editing to the Mac version next time as well.

I hope you like this release - let me know on Mastodon at @jamesthomson or drop me an email. And, if you really like this update, please consider leaving a review on the App Store - it really helps! Thanks.

The Mac version is here, and the iOS version is here.

20th December 2012

PCalc is twenty years old this Sunday! I'll let that sink it a bit...

Yes, the first version of PCalc 1.0 was released for the Mac on the 23rd of December 1992. I'm willing to bet it's older than some of the people using it now... I went back and installed a (virtual) Mac with a fresh copy of System 7 and tried to find the very first version online to install. The closest I could come was 1.0.2 from March 1993, but that's good enough to take some screenshots at least :)

I've written up a brief history of the app here - I hope you enjoy the trip down memory lane.

The Mac version is here, and the iOS version is here.

Older news is available here.