Release notes
1.4.1130507
Minor Fixes
- Fixes a formatting issue with significant figures.
- Fixes a rare error related to complex numbers and arccosine.
- Fixes a cosmetic issue with a menu in drawer.
- Up-to-date content in help.
1.4120810
High Resolution Goodness
Improved support for Retina MacBook Pro.
(Magic @ 200%)
More Love for Cats
- Improved compatibility with Mountain Lion (OS X 10.8)
- Improved UI for precision options.
- History, data, 2d data, and, matrix now have multiple undos.
- Minor bug fixes.
1.3120622
More Options
- There are now 2 custom buttons, F1 and F2, for the extra functions.
Tip: You may find it easier to use the shortcuts F and G. - Tax subtraction: Option to use another method as the default.
More details here.
Improved Shortcuts
- You can convert a result to percent by pressing command-%.
For example:
- Shortcut for inverse power ( x1/Y ) is shift-Y.
Just to be consistent with power ( xY ), whose shortcut is Y. - Shortcut for n-th root ( n√ ) is shift-J.
For consistency again. As the shortcut for square root ( √ ) is J. - You can still use cube-root ( ³√ ) via the button F1 or F2.
1.2.1120204
Fix + Amend
This release is almost identical to 1.2, except:
- It fixes a bug that can cause an error when signing up.
If you previously experienced problems, please try again by choosing menu:
★ Notify Me of Magic Number 2
- It has an up-to-date summary of all the keyboards shortcuts in help.
(Sorry for inconvenience. It has been a long week.
And thanks to the App Store review team for the quick response.)
1.2120202
Hidden Treasures + Secret Features
1Multiple Memories
Store up to 4 numbers. Or if you like, 4 variables.
2Multiple Rates
Other rates work the same way as tax:
- You can set the rates and names via Options.
- You can access the other rates by pressing the tax key repeatedly.
- You can set the rates the natural way:
20 %
3Favorite Base
If you use 2x or 10x a lot, it’s time to make it your favorite. No more pressing shift. It’s just one-click or one-key away.
4Favorite Log
The war between loge, log2, and log10 is over.
You decide who the winner is.
The shortcut L goes to your favorite log.
5More Functions
No big deal, we have added Floor and Ceiling.
These functions are more accessible via the menu.
We also like to mention other hidden functions…
Hidden % functions
While a calculation like ‘120 + 20%’ is easy.
It gets harder in cases like:
If ‘x + 15% = 621’, what is x?
There are 3 new functions to help you calculate backward. Check them out here.
What are hidden in the drawers?
Data — Comparison functions
They may look unusual:
Max – Min
Max ÷ Min
Min ÷ Max
Max ∆% Min
Min ∆% Max
But they can tell you the most expensive iPad costs 66.1% more than the cheapest one.
(Sorry it took so long.)
Data, 2D data, Matrix — Contextual menus
You now have more controls over your data. Once again, right-click is your friend.
Data, 2D data, Matrix, History — Option for inserting number
You can have ‘+’ automatically inserted when inserting a number.
This behavior is similar to Excel or Numbers.
Furthermore each drawer has its own setting.
You are in complete control.
Data, 2D data, Matrix, History — A little more forgiving
If you accidentally deleted something, you can undo immediately. Currently the undo is limited to single-level. At least you have bit more safety.
Other changes
- Lion: Sadly the option ‘Clear History at Startup’ will no longer be available. This is to avoid conflict with Lion’s Resume feature.
- Fixed: The result copied from history now has the correct format and precision.
- Fixed: Cosmetic issue with the degree sign in a complicated expression.
- Fixed: A rare cosmetic bug that entering a number is not updated on the display instantly.
- Fixed: A very rare issue that calculator’s display does not show the input unless AC is pressed.
★ Look for the star
In case you don’t know, we are planning to make Magic Number 2.
If you want to get notified, go to menu ★ and choose Notify Me of Magic Number 2. Knowing that you are interested really lifts our spirits.
Keep the Magic alive
Given Apple offers a free calculator and there are hundreds of calculators out there, we have an uphill battle to keep Magic Number going.
If you like Magic Number, show your support with a good rating. All you need to do is to click the stars. (See here.)
1.1111013
History remade
The new history drawer.
Going back was just the beginning. The result matters too.
See the result.
See the sum.
Or the difference…
Have it your way.
General improvements
- Option to automatically open the last used drawer. (It's the last checkbox under Preferences → General)
- Minor UI changes across the drawers for more consistency.
- Fixed a rare formatting bug in Standard Digits when the number of digits are set below 4.
- Fixed an issue with shift-3 on the Swiss keyboard.
(Thanks to Christian for reporting.)
Lion improvements
- Improved the resizing of calculator from other edges.
- Support for sandboxing for better security.
- Fixed the cosmetic issue with some menus in the drawers.
- Fixed a rare issue that the calculator window is not selected at startup.
1.0.9110720
Introducing Double Key
Easier and faster access to other functions.
Instead of: |
 |
With Double Key: |
 |
| (i.e. by tapping the same key twice, you get the 2nd function.) |
To enable Double Key
Go to: Preferences → Shortcuts → Use Double Key
(Deutsch: Einstellungen → Kurzbefehle → Doppel-Taste verwenden)
Let’s get one small thing out of the way
They have been reminding us for years.
The truth is,
when you are in degree, you just know.
Polar form for complex numbers
(Something for the electrical engineers :-)
Polar, rectangular, or both.
See the result in polar form.
Shortcut: ⌘ <
(Press the shortcut again for rectangular.)
Enter complex number in polar form.
Shortcut: <
For (r = 23, θ = 45°), enter 23 < 45
What’s good to know
- If you prefer polar result with angle from 0° to 360°, go to: View > Complex Result
(Darstellung > Komplexe Ergebnis). - Polar works equally well in radians.
- The shortcut for imaginary part has changed to B.
(It was D previously).
No bracket required
You can treat polar form almost like a number. Generally no need for parentheses as the polar operator’s precedence is higher than +, –, ×, ÷.
Here is a brief summary order of operations:
1. Exponents, roots (xʸ, ⁿ√… etc)
2. Polar operator
3. Multiplication, division (× , ÷)
4. Addition, subtraction (+ , –)
Sweet π with Radian
Want a piece of π for trigonometry? Magic Number slices it beautifully.
Previous versions: |
 |
Version 1.0.9: |
 |
Of course this works for polar too.
(If you want the previous behaviour, just tap ÷ twice, i.e. sin π ÷ ÷ 6)
Other improvements
- Improved compatibility with Mac OS X 10.7 Lion.
- Added the extra functions: Quotient and Rounding.
- Ability to rename tax; e.g. you can rename it to TVA, 税, or whatever.
- Ability to paste numbers with currency format.*
- Refined various UI including Preferences and Extra Functions menu.
Changes
- Combinations and permutations are relocated under Calculation > Extra Functions.
- Improved the accuracy of percent change function.*
- Fixed an issue with ‘Fixed Decimal Places’.*
(* Thanks to Manny for helping out.)
1.0.8110518
Extra Functions
New functions including % change, modulo and more.
New interface for finding and applying these functions.
Click the Extra Function button to begin.
Shortcuts
F = Apply the Extra Function
⇧F = Open the Extra Functions browser
Via the menu:
Calculations > Extra Functions
What’s good to know
- Whatever function you choose, ƒ will become that function. You can press F to use it.
- Whenever we add a new function, you will find it in the Extra Functions browser.
Bitwise Operators
— Shortcut changes
They are more JavaScript like. In fact, they are based on C. We have also added a NOR operator.
— Button changes
Bitwise buttons only appear in binary, octal, or hexadecimal. They are relocated on the left.
Improvements
- Faster startup.
- Smarter at pasting numbers:
You can copy numbers formatted as 1,234.56 or 1.234,56 into Magic Number. - button for hypotenuse.
- for hyperbolic too. See here.
- Friendlier help — Cheat sheet to make it easy to learn the shortcuts. Check it out here.
- Star menu (★) for you to provide feedback and rate Magic Number on the App Store.
- Fixed a crash when using Rank Regression on X.
- Many non-critical and cosmetic fixes.
1.0.7110203
Better trigonometry shortcuts
— Inverse functions made easy
Traditionally you hold shift (⇧) and press s for sin–1.
It requires two fingers at the same time.
If we think of sin–1 as 2 parts:
You can now press , then
Summary
| sin–1 | |
| cos–1 | |
| tan–1 |
Easy hyperbolic shortcuts
— Use h for hyperbolic
The old way via the option key will not be supported in the next upgrade. It’s time to do it the easy way.
Again think of sinh as 2 parts:
And for sinh–1:
I’m sure you know the rest.
Refined number formats
German version
(Special thanks to Mike for the German translation.)
French keyboard fix
Fixed the problems where some shortcuts would not work on the French keyboards (and presumably on the Belgian keyboards too). We are sorry for the inconvenience.
(Thanks to Philippe for helping out.)
Other Changes
Significant figures and number of digits can now be as low as 1. Go to View > Precision Options.
1.0.6110106
The standard calculator.
The buttonless calculator.
h is for hypotenuse
The hypotenuse is the diagonal side of a right-angled triangle. This function calculates its length from the lengths of the other two sides:
The formula to calculate h is:
h = √ a² + b²
So if a = 3 and b = 4, you enter (via the keyboard):
34
Hit return and you’ll get:
Note:
3 ⊿ 4 is really just a shorthand for √ 3² + 4².
For example: 2 x 3 ⊿ 4
2 x 3 ⊿ 4
=
2 x √ 3² + 4²
=
2 x 5 = 10
Certainly ‘2 x 3 ⊿ 4’ is not ‘6 ⊿ 4’.
P is for…
or , you decide.
More about %
How will Magic Number calculate:
5 + 40 + 10%
Will it calculate 5 + 40 first, or 40 + 10% first?
Let's re-phrase the calculation closer to real life:
What is the sum of a $5 ticket and
a $40 meal with 10% service charge?
Magic Number will always do the % part first:
5 + 40 + 10%
5 + 44
= 49
Even when there is multiplication or division:
40 + 10% ÷ 2
(i.e. even when there are 2 people sharing a meal, the service charge remains the same.)
Changes
User Interface
- Added a topic for using percentages in help.
- Updated help pages with new shortcuts and features.
- Fixed an issue when entering a number after percentage. Magic Number now inserts a multiplication operator between the percentage and the new number.
- Fixed an aesthetic scaling issue with items in the history drawer.
Technical
- Magic Number is 64-bit ready.
- Magic Number no longer supports PowerPC.
- Mac OS X 10.6 or above is recommended.
Mac App Store
- Starting from this version, Magic Number is only available in the Mac App Store.
- Future software updates will be handled by the App Store.
- New addresses for email and website.
1.0.5101020
More Functions
There are 10 new arrivals. Let’s have a summary with examples. Hope you find it useful.
log 2 — base 2 logarithm
| example | log 24 |
| via mouse | 4 |
| via keyboard | L4 |
x1/ n — inverse power
| example | 51 / 6 |
| via mouse | 5 6 |
| via keyboard | 5 N6 |
n√ — n-th root
| example | 7√ 8 |
| via mouse | 7 8 |
| via keyboard | 7 N8 |
3√ — cube root
| example | 3√ 8 |
| via mouse | 8 |
| via keyboard | J8 |
sin 2 — sine square
| example | sin 29 |
| via mouse | 9 |
| via keyboard | S29 |
cos 2 — cosine square
| example | cos 29 |
| via mouse | 9 |
| via keyboard | C29 |
tan 2 — tangent square
| example | tan 29 |
| via mouse | 9 |
| via keyboard | T29 |
Also — sinh 2, cosh 2, tanh 2
These hyperbolic square functions work the same way as their trigonometric counterparts.
% Calculations
Here’s a quick overview. We will include more details in help for the next 1.0.6 release.
% increase
| example | What is $50 with 10% increase? |
| enter | 50 +10 |
| result | 55 |
% decrease
| example | What is $60 with 10% discount? |
| enter | 60 –10 |
| result | 54 |
% of
| example | What is 10% of 70? |
| enter | 70 x 10 |
| result | 7 |
Tax Calculations
The first time you click on the tax button, you will be asked to set up the tax rate. You can do this anytime by choosing the menu Calculation > Tax > Tax Options.
For illustration, we will set the tax rate as 10%.
Price with tax
| example | What is $200 with tax? |
| enter | 200 + |
| result | 220 |
Price without tax
| example | What is $220 without tax? |
| enter | 220 – |
| result | 200 |
Tax amount
| example | What is the tax on $200? |
| enter | 200 |
| result | 20 |
Refinements
- Further improvements on the presentation of calculation; making them as clear as possible at various calculator sizes.
- Tooltip for history now shows the result.
- View > Show Status to show the angle unit and precision setting on the display.
- Better visual feedback when saving a number to memory or data drawer.
- Improved the formatting for scientific notation.
- Simplified the design and interface for Shortcut preferences and Precision Options.
Fixes
- Fixed an issue where couple of keyboard shortcuts were not working.
- Fixed 12 other minor glitches.
- There's a lot of polishing work in this release.
1.0.4100621
Drawer enhancements
Now you can see the sum of the selected numbers in the drawer:
How to add numbers to data drawer:
- Open the data drawer.
- Enter the number.
- Press the spacebar.
Changes
- The shortcut for negative number is now ⌘– (previously ⇧–); it’s easier to press with one hand.
- Radix and precision now use function keys as shortcuts. See Help > Keyboard Shortcuts > Full List.
- Improved the layout of expression for divisions and complex numbers.
- Better legibility for small calculator display.
- More predictable when entering expression in other precision modes like Significant Figures and Fixed Decimal Places.
- Entering and deleting exponents is more intuitive and natural.
Fixes
- Fixed an issue with entering negative exponent that has 2 or more digits.
- Fixed an issue with copying complex numbers.
- Fixed an issue where complex numbers would not display properly in the data drawer.
- Fixed an issue with the error
value too long
that happens with small numbers in the Fixed Decimal Places precision option.
1.0.3100512
Better shortcuts
Especially for MacBooks or anyone with a compact keyboard. Basically we have added a lot of one finger shortcuts. Here are the ones that are good to know:
You can now press
to multiply
Optionally you can use
to add
Yes, we know it’s painful to press those parentheses. Now you can use the square brackets instead:
Choose Magic Number > Preferences and select Shortcuts to customise these options.
1.0.2100501
The Back-bracketing Technique
While entering a calculation…
You realise what you want is:
You are in luck : )
Bingo!
Leaner Window
1.0.2
Previously
Other refinements
- The radix indicator now sits on the top right of the window. It is a menu too.
- Made some shortcuts easier to remember.
Resolved
- Fixed a rare startup crash that happens when the function 'arg' was used in the last session.
1.0.1100419
The Evolution Continues
Truth be told, this release is mostly engineering refinements. It’s about making the app healthier, fitter, and faster.
You’ll notice:
- Faster autosave due to better code and optimization.
- A new help. Check out the shortcut summary to get productive.
- Automatic software update.
What’s good to know:
- Improved support for 64-bit Macs.
- Going forward, Magic Number will be more optimized for Mac OS X 10.6 or above.
- We are planning to discontinue support for Mac OS X 10.5 and PowerPC in 2011.
Auto Copy
If you find yourself repeatedly copying result from the calculator and pasting it to another application, this feature is for you.
Under Magic Number > Preferences, there is an option to do this automatically.
1.0100301
A New Beginning
Magic Number began as a remake of the discontinued Magic Number Machine. Remake not only to keep its spirit alive. But also to make it a great calculator.
What’s New
- Reengineered for Mac OS X 10.6.
Tuned for today’s Macs. Ready for tomorrow. - Completely redesigned. It’s like a new app.
Everything is easier and more accessible. - Every part of the app is enhanced: Functions, shortcuts, drawers, preferences, and more.
- The new history drawer works like Safari.
- Like an iPhone, everything is autosaved:
Calculation, history, data, and the rest. - Ability to display special constants as symbols.
- Result button for inserting the result from last calculation. A new memory button too.
- A lot of refinements. A lot of bug fixes too.
