Totally is a calculator with a scrollable, editable history. Which is actually a lot cooler than it sounds.
It’s not just a line printing calculator and it’s not quite a spreadsheet. What it does offer is a great way to perform arithmetic involving a large amount of operations, such as adding up a long restaurant bill.
The app’s interface is straight-forward, presenting a familiar calculator button layout beside a scrollable list of operations.
To change an operation you tap it and then make changes by tapping the corresponding buttons on the keyboard. You can add digits to the number, backspace, or change the operator.
If the last item in the history is selected, tapping an operator adds a new line to the sum. Double tapping an operator elsewhere in the list adds a new line to the bottom.
Though the features available in the app are already worth the $0.99 South African developer Peter Pistorius is asking for it on the Apple App Store, it would be remiss not to point out what it lacks.
Totally can’t copy results to another app and it isn’t tablet optimised. It can also only sensibly display a 16-digit result (which probably isn’t too big a deal).
Totally is only available in the iTunes App Store for the moment, but Pistorius said he has completed an Android port which has been submitted for approval to the Amazon and Samsung markets.
Totally: iPhone screenshots
Pistorius answered questions around his platform choice in an interview with MyBroadband, which is reproduced below:
Are you developing full-time? If not, what’s your day job?
I’m a full-time programmer working for Praekelt where I mostly build apps as well, but Appfactory is something that keeps me busy during the nights and weekends. I like to think of it as my train set.
Why iOS?
It’s actually an HTML5 app that’s just wrapped in PhoneGap. I released it first on iOS because it’s the platform that I’m most comfortable with it.
Although it’s hard not to love Android and I’m working on making it available for Android as well. I only wish that I could sell it on Google Play.
Peter Pistorius
How much money have you made from your apps? Has it been worth the time you invested in developing the apps?
My personal apps have made enough money to sustain it as a hobby. Of course I’m always hoping to “strike it rich,” but I wouldn’t recommend quitting your day job.
Getting your app discovered has become increasingly difficult.
How do you feel about Apple bundling apps and features similar to ones already in the App Store? Should they be competing with their developers? Your previous app, for example, allows wirelessly copying files – something Apple added with Wi-Fi sync.
I both dislike and understand it at the same time. Apple has to keep improving their platform to make it enticing for consumers but it’s terrible that they kill off a few startups with each iOS update. On the other hand they’ve also created many opportunities for entrepreneurs.
Do you plan to target other platforms in future? If so, which ones? If not, why not?
I’ll make Totally available on Android soon. I’m still mulling over Windows Phone and BlackBerry. Possibly even Nokia.
I try not to be biased to any platform – if there’s a market and the development tools aren’t too horrific then I would like to build for it.
Most of the time it’s the development tools that make me not want to build for a platform.
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