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Google search's new basic calculator

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Re: Google search's new basic calculator

#53
post #36

I noticed there is also a new visual interface for unit conversions. e.g. https://www.google.com/search?q=1kg%20in%20lbs

That is to say there was one earlier. It used to be just result, no interface.

That's still an interface (perhaps I'm being a bit too technical).

Re: Google search's new basic calculator

#54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You get a different result if you click the buttons versus performing a google search.

which I think it is exactly how I would expect it to work: If I ask a question, I expect the system to guess what I really want to know and give me an answer. But a calculator should work like a calculator.

Still a pretty big inconsistency.

500 + 1% typed right in calculator displays "500 + 1% = 500.01" in the calculator.

500 + 1% typed in the search box displays "500 + 1% = 505" in the calculator too.

It's probably due to the search result being returned by some server at Google while the other one is computed locally through some client-side JS logic. I think they'll notice and unify the behavior at some point.

Re: Google search's new basic calculator

#55
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can type your calculation as a google query and you'll get the result. This calculator is designed for people looking for a mouse- / touch-based UI.

Note that the iPad doesn't ship with a calculator app. (Equally annoying, Android doesn't have a simple stopwatch/timer built in.)

iPad also doesn't ship with stopwatch/timer/alarm like the iPhone does. The lack of these Apple apps is always sad to me.

Re: Google search's new basic calculator

#56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Note that the iPad doesn't ship with a calculator app. (Equally annoying, Android doesn't have a simple stopwatch/timer built in.)

iPad also doesn't ship with stopwatch/timer/alarm like the iPhone does. The lack of these Apple apps is always sad to me.

iOS 6 brings those over (at least on the iPad 3, presumably because it made more sense than #ifdef'ing those bits out of Siri). I keep meaning to just write a non-crap Android stopwatch, because using my iPad as a 10" stopwatch is just silly.

Re: Google search's new basic calculator

#57
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can type your calculation as a google query and you'll get the result. This calculator is designed for people looking for a mouse- / touch-based UI.

Note that the iPad doesn't ship with a calculator app. (Equally annoying, Android doesn't have a simple stopwatch/timer built in.)

Google Now has a timer built in

Re: Google search's new basic calculator

#58
post #11
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't get it either. Maybe only US IPs?

It's working for me from the UK. I can't imagine why Google would want to geolocate this. Perhaps they've only partially rolled it out to some of their datacenters?

As you say was probably a rollout lag. Working here in UK now.

Re: Google search's new basic calculator

#59
post #21

Interesting, works for:- http://www.google.com/search?q=9/10 But not:- http://www.google.com/search?q=9/11 Also seems like it could be much smaller, since it's following this increasing trend to devote less and less screen real-estate to search results.

This is Google trying to outsmart you. It thinks you're searching for Sept. 11 if you type 9/11. It happens quite regularly with other queries, add a = sign to force the calculator.

Re: Google search's new basic calculator

#60
post #45

Shameless plug: I would like you to check out the calculator I built: http://herocalc.com It's pure Javascript, has a full parser/tree-builder to process equations, allows you to define functions and variables, and is very fast. It also installs a search handler so you can do calculations from your search bar.

So 299+5% and/or 299+(5%) to figure the sales tax does not work at all, it just says "Your equation has an error. Please correct it." and no hint to what the error is.

Sorry, not ready for prime time

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