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I plan to buy a new mobile phone and one of things I want to use it for is HP calculator emulation.
Currently, these models are in my favorit list: iPhone 3GS/HTC Touch Pro2 (with hardware keyboard) / HTC HD2 (the largest screen on the market afaik).
Which one would you recommend with respect to the HPcalc emulation? Which emulators are the best for iphone/WinMobile?
Thanks in advance

Elia Freedman, CEO of Infinity Softworks, has been writing and selling calculators for mobile devices for the last dozen years. I remember paying something like $59 some years ago for his PowerOne Financial calculator for use on my Palm V

Elia's January 2010 blog entry talks to the selection of the mobile platform(s) from a developer/business viewpoint.

   Developer's Perspective: Strengths/Weaknesses of Mobile Platforms, Jan 12, 2010, Elia Freedman

PS. I have no connection with Infinity Softworks other than having bought PowerOne RPN calculators for my many Palm handhelds and for my iPhone which replaced them.


Edited: 15 Jan 2010, 7:52 a.m.

Hi,

I have a HTC touch pro 2, which is similar to the HD2. the screen is the best bit 800x480. the keyboard is nice (if you want keyboards) however, WinMo sucks *big* time. I have a nice version of Tom Okken's free42 running on it, although be advised this is a simulator and not an emulator - although you can run most 42s programs fine.

More and more people are acquiring the iPhone and this is turning into a solid platform. there are many calculators for it already.

Also, it depends on the cost differences etc. Over here in the UK, the retailer Tesco are offering some very good deals on iPhone 3GS.

So it depends on your preferences.

Quote:
Currently, these models are in my favorit list: iPhone 3GS

I use the following on my iPhone (in order of most frequently used):
  1. 42s. 42S simulation based on Free42, includes virtual printer and the ability to save/restore programs. X-L stack display.
  2. i41CX+. IMHO, by far the best 41CX emulator on any platform. Includes printer, import/export of programs, data, HEPAX data, modules. Supports overlays, X-L stack view, enhanced virtual 41CX hardware with support for iPhone features (accelerometer, compass, GPS). 100% 41CX compat--based on Nonpareil.
  3. m48. Port of EMU48 to iPhone, all the rest of the 48 emulators are based on x48. 48GX emulation.
  4. SCI-15C. Eric's Nonpareil-based 15C emulation.
  5. RPN-12C/15C/16C. More Voyager emulators.
  6. Free42. Another Free42 iPhone port directly from Thomas.
  7. GO-21. HP 21 simulator.
  8. I also have a sliderule (iSlideRule) and an abacus.
Others I have not tried:
  1. 10BII
  2. 17BII+
  3. 12C Platinum.
  4. RPN Calc 42s. This is a direct rip-off of 42s.
If you search the App store for RPN or calculator you will find many more. AFAIK there isn't a mobile platform with more HP emulation choices.

Edited: 15 Jan 2010, 6:14 p.m.

Calc12C+ is available on the iPhone as a free download for a limited time. It is a 12C and 11C emulator with a bunch of other features added on ;-)

I have a HTC Touch Pro 2 running the following:

1. Christoph Giesselink's Emu42PPC

This allows me to emulate HP-17B, HP-17BII, HP-27S, HP-28S and HP-42S. There is an excellent 640x480 VGA skin for the HP-42S. This I consider to be the best HP42 emulation available at this time. (Thanks Erik!)

2. Christoph Giesselink's Emu48PPC

Emulations supported are HP-38G, HP-39G, HP-40G, HP-48SX, HP-48GX and HP-49G. The HP-49 has a particularly good VGA skin. (Thanks Beemer)

3. eV41 HP-41 Emulator available from TOS

4. The Lygea Pocket 12C SE and Pocket 15C SE ($)

Of the 14 emulators, 12 of them are free--provided you have the capabilities and patience for dumping some of the ROMs. Can anyone with an iPhone match this?

For my part, Windows Mobile is reliable.

markHardman

Quote:
Can anyone with an iPhone match this?

  1. EMU42. Currently the iPhone has Free42 (42S simulation with printer). IMHO Free42 is a 42S+ and runs much faster than EMU42. However, the purist will want the ROM-based EMU42. I do not think it would be much of an effort to port EMU42 to the iPhone since EMU48 has been ported. I.e. the effort to remove Windows APIs has been done. Perhaps I'll do it myself someday.
  2. EMU48 has been ported to the iPhone and is open source (I have the source). It would not take much effort to add the rest of the calcs listed, but at this time only the 48GX (highest demand) is supported.
  3. i41CX+ is vastly superior to eV41. E.g. printer, phone HW integration (compass, accelerometer, etc...), HEPAX support, overlays, ease of use.
  4. Lygea is a simulator. There are many Voyager simulators and emulators for the iPhone (I count at least 11 12Cs to choose from). Purists will prefer the ROM-based emulators for identical results. ROM-based emulators are available for the 11C, 12C, 15C, and 16C.
  5. From my list above there are others like the 21, 10BII, and 17BII+. Since HP published a ROM-based 12C for the iPhone I would not be surprised to see others like the 30B someday.
So no, the iPhone cannot exactly match Windows Mobile given your list, but then Windows Mobile cannot match the iPhone given my list.

IMHO, everybody is a winner here.

Quote:
For my part, Windows Mobile is reliable.

I suffered through Windows Mobile for 18 months. IMHO, the iPhone has been much more reliable. WM has the challenge of supporting many different HW platforms and you never know if its WM or the HW that is the problem. At least with the iPhone I have one neck to choke.

I use "RPNcalc" on my Android-based phone. I particularly like that the author did not try to copy the look of an existing calculator, but rather tailored it to the new technology.

My only real complaint is that there is no haptic feedback when you "press" the keys. Yes, the keys change color when you press them, but my fingers are not transparent!