Our Windows Phones and Windows 10 devices already have a decent calculator app pre-installed. But if you are looking for an alternative with more features or that can be personalized, both Stores have plenty of options. Calculator Power is one such option that hopes to catch your eye with its accuracy and personalizations.
The app lays a nice foundation and overall, it has the potential of being a decent calculator option. However, the app needs a little fine-tuning with the design and functionality first.
Calculator Power is fairly basic with regards to its mathematical operations. You can add, subtract, divide and multiply values. The layout of the Windows Phone version is in panoramic fashion with pages for the calculator and your calculation history.
The Windows 10 version is laid out on a single page with your calculator positioned to the right of the screen and your history lining up on the left side. The Windows 10 version also adds a percentage, square root and +/- buttons.
Both versions can be personalized with a series of pre-loaded backgrounds or images from your Pictures Hub. You can also customize the colors of the calculator keys and value fields. While I can appreciate the customizations Calculator Power offers, I could not get the background image to appear with the Windows 10 version. I tried un-installing/re-installing, re-launching, each with no success. The background image worked like a charm with the Windows Phone version.
As far as the calculator function is concerned, Calculator Power does a good job with the arithmetic. However, the layout of the calculator is a little on the odd side with both versions. For example, the Windows Phone version lacks a clear button. The Windows 10 has a Clear button but it is in an odd position and the sum field is terribly small.
I do like having the calculation history available but, unfortunately, it is only available for viewing. The app lacks the ability to copy the equation. The Windows 10 version will allow you to copy the sums, but alas, the Windows Phone version will not.
While I like the concept of Calculator Power and believe the app has potential, I couldn't help but feel the app was a work in progress. First, the bug blocking the background image with the Windows 10 version needs fixing.
Next, I think there needs to be better consistency with the two versions of the app with respect to features. Granted the Windows 10 version has a little more elbow room for more keys, the sum field needs to take advantage of the larger screen and be large enough to read.
The Windows Phone version needs at least the Clear button. I can live without the percentage, square root and +/- buttons. You also need the ability to copy the equations from the history with both versions of Calculator Power.
I do think Calculator Power has potential but as is, it can be a little frustrating. Luckily, Calculator Power is a free, ad-supported app that you can test and judge for yourself. Personally, until some of the kinks are ironed out, the personalizations aren't enough to pull me away from the native calculator or a third-party alternative like Calculator Toolbox
- Download Calculator Power from the Windows 10 Store (Free)
- Download Calculator Power from the Windows Phone Store (Free)
