Gamingdeputy News on April 19, according to AppleInsider, Apple has been preparing the “most significant update in history” for its calculator app for many years, and the last major design update was about ten years ago.
The version currently available in early beta of macOS 15 already includes a variety of new features and an upgrade to the unit conversion system. According to people familiar with the matter, the new version of the calculator application that Apple is testing internally is code-named “Grey Parrot” (African gray parrots are known for their intelligence and cognitive abilities).
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In addition to the previously reported “Math Notes” function, the new version of the calculator will also bring a new history bar, which will show users an overview of previous calculations in the form of a sidebar.
In other words, users do not need to use other apps to record numbers or amounts. They can directly see the previous calculation data results and processes in the macOS calculator, so as to better judge and summarize.
In addition, the new version of the calculator can also switch the history bar of three views: basic, scientific and programmer through a dedicated button in the upper left corner of the window, and the new version of the calculator will also support window resizing (the buttons can be adjusted according to the The window size can be adjusted to its own size and shape), you can refer to the current calculator application in Windows.
Math Notes
Similar to Apple’s Notes app in iOS 18, the new Calculator app will also usher in a new “Math Notes” function. Math Notebook is essentially a memo integrated in the calculator, allowing users to quickly create notes containing special mathematical elements or mathematical symbols.
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Thanks to the math note-taking feature, Apple will be able to better compete with competing products on the market, such as Microsoft's OneNote or the Soulver 3 calculator app. Gamingdeputy Note: OneNote introduced the mathematical annotation function many years ago, and Microsoft recently released a version suitable for Apple Vision Pro.
Unit conversion
In response to the problem that the current version of the Calculator app cannot perform unit conversion and mathematical operations at the same time, Apple has optimized the unit conversion function in the new version of the Calculator app to make it more concise and intuitive.
Simply put, the new version of the calculator app will no longer present users with a series of drop-down menus and then force users to perform unit conversions before performing calculations. Instead, the new version of the calculator app will automatically integrate unit conversions into the main interface when enabled.
In other words, Apple can allow unit conversion to be done automatically when needed, helping users quickly perform the required calculations. When the calculator has processed the corresponding calculation, the result is automatically converted to the selected unit and labeled below its original unit, covering amounts, taxes, exchange rates, prices, and more.
Sources also revealed that currency conversion in the new version of the calculator relies on an Internet connection. It will automatically obtain the current exchange rate from a trusted third-party API and perform conversions, making it easier for engineers or scientists to convert corresponding values to their preferred units.