Upcoming Cool Calc Version 1.7

We have had to delay the release of the upcoming Cool Calc update (version 1.7) because of some new technical requirements.  We are currently in the process of developing a new internal calculation "engine" capable of dealing with the advanced functionality associated with a full-featured scientific calculator.

The prototype layout for the new scientific mode of Cool Calc, which is activated by rotating the phone sideways, is as follows:

The new version will be a major update to Cool Calc, as the scientific mode will include:

• Entry and processing of arbitrarily complex formulae in algebraic notation
• Trigonometric functions (sine/arcsine, cosine/arccosine, tangent/arctangent, and their hyperbolic functions (sineh, arcsineh, etc.)
• Natural and base 10 logarithms and their inverses
• Powers and roots
• Factorials
• Integer/fraction conversion
• Automatic use of mathematical order of operations
• Custom override of order of operations via '(' and ')' grouping operators
• Common mathematical constant values as single-key inputs
• Degree/Radian/Grad angle modes
• Entry or display in scientific notation
• Undo/Redo button (either reverses or restores last action or input)
• Storage, retrieval, and display of multiple memory values
• Access to previously-entered formulae
• All the common functions of the portrait mode of Cool Calc (basic math, inverse, change-sign, square root, etc.)

We hope to have all these new enhancements available within this next month.  Stay tuned here for more details on these new developments.

Cool Calc Version 1.6 now available

Cool Calc 1.6

Version 1.6 of Cool Calc is now available on the Windows Phone Marketplace, either on your phone or within Zune.  This new version incorporates help within the app, without relying on an Internet connection, in addition to some performance enhancements.

If you have a previous version of Cool Calc, version 1.6 is available as a free update. All MJ App Factory updates are free to existing users.

Upcoming enhancements

• Both Cool Calc and Cool Grader 1.7 will add a landscape-mode scientific calculator and updated help. These two new releases are expected to go to certification within the next week. This blog will contain the announcement of their availability when the updates are published.
  
• Cool Calc (and Cool Grader) version 1.8 will contain support for multiple memory values and multiple operation/result sequences. These will be incorporated on a new Calculator Detail display, and the values from both the memory list and the operation/result list will be available for reuse within the app. Both the memory list and the operation/result list will also be automatically stored for later access.

Cool Grader Version 1.6 now available

Cool Grader 1.6

Version 1.6 of Cool Grader is now available on the Windows Phone Marketplace.  It incorporates help within the app, without relying on an Internet connection, in addition to some performance enhancements.

If you have a previous version of Cool Grader, version 1.6 is available as a free update.  All MJ App Factory updates are free to existing users.

Upcoming enhancements

• Cool Calc 1.6 will also be available in the marketplace within a few days.  It incorporates the same improvements as Cool Grader 1.6.
   
• Both Cool Calc and Cool Grader 1.7 will add a landscape-mode scientific calculator and updated help.  These two new releases are expected to go to certification within the next week.  This blog will contain the announcement of their availability when the updates are published.
   
• Cool Calc (and Cool Grader) version 1.8 will contain support for multiple memory values and multiple operation/result sequences.  These will be incorporated on a new Calculator Detail display, and the values from both the memory list and the operation/result list will be available for reuse within the app.  Both the memory list and the operation/result list will also be automatically stored for later access.

Usability updates, RSS, Atom & FeedBurner news feeds, Twitter feed

Usability updates
Version 1.6 of Cool Grader and Cool Calc now include help information built into the app.  Neither rely on the Internet connection to get Help.  This help integration not only makes retrieval of help information much faster, but it also means you no longer need to have a working Internet connection just to get help.

Both updated apps are currently in Microsoft certification testing and are expected to be released within the next few days as updates on the Windows 7 Phone Marketplace.  We will post another notification here when the certification cycle is done and they are available for download.  (Note: If you already own these apps, the update is free.  You may purchase the app now and get the update later at no additional cost.)

RSS, Atom & FeedBurner news feeds
In addition to the "Follow by Email" subscription options, you may subscribe to this blog's updates via either RSS, Atom, or Feedburner.  To use RSS or Atom, when viewing the blog page click on the down-arrow beside your browser's Feeds icon and select either RSS or Atom.  To use FeedBurner, click on "Subscribe to updates via FeedBurner" on the left of the main blog screen, and you will be taken to the FeedBurner page.

Twitter feed
You may follow us on twitter either by subscribing at http://www.twitter.com/mjappfactory or via SMS by texting "follow mjappfactory" to 40404 in the United States.  You may also click on "Subscribe to updates via Twitter" on the left of the main blog screen.

Upcoming enhancement to Cool Calc

We're planning on changing the layout of the Calculator Detail page from a standard single-page format to a scrolling panorama format, so we can implement new functions.  Specifically, Cool Calc is going to automatically remember a series of memory values and also a series of operation/result sequences.  These series will be viewable and selectable from the new Calculator Detail panorama pages, employing the cool, horizontal panaroma scrolling common among Windows 7 Phone apps.

The following is an image of the current Calculator Detail Page:

New products

We've just released two new apps on the Windows Phone 7 marketplace ... Cool Grader and Cool Calc.  Here are some screen shots:

If you have any comments, suggestions, or other feedback, please feel free to submit it on the blog.