Apptisan #009 — Calculator 1984
In homage to this groundbreaking design, Calculator 1984 meticulously replicates the UI style of the calculator on the first Macintosh, continuing its minimalist and elegant design language.
Name: Calculator 1984
Developer / Team: Xiaofeng
Platforms: iOS, macOS
Read this newsletter issue in Chinese (中文) .
Please describe your product.
Calculator 1984 is a very unique product, yes, a calculator.
To begin with, it emulates the design and interface of the iconic calculator from the first generation of Macintosh, which was released in 1984 and designed by Steve Jobs himself. The pixelated fonts, buttons, shadows and other features give it a distinct vintage and nostalgic aesthetic, serving as a tribute to the legendary Macintosh.
Moreover, I integrated various culturally significant pixel symbols and images (particularly iconic pixelated icons from the Macintosh) into the calculator design, in the form of stickers. This way, users can personalize and embellish their calculators akin to applying actual stickers, thereby crafting a unique calculator experience.
Was there a pivotal moment that inspired your product’s creation?
Several years ago, when I first saw a video of the Macintosh interface, I remember being captivated and playfully thought to myself, wouldn’t it be amazing if someone could bring this calculator interface to the mobile platform.
In 2024, as we marked the 40th anniversary of the launch of the Macintosh, I revisited the biography Steve Jobs: A Biography during the New Year, and realized that the calculator’s interface was in fact a personal creation of Steve Jobs. Despite my curiosity, I found no evidence of a previous attempt to replicate it. That’s when I considered making one myself, considering it’s just a calculator, it didn’t seem to be a very complex task.
What makes your product unique compared to others in the market?
Honestly, I perceive this calculator as a truly special app. Unlike similar products that emphasize functionalities, such as advanced scientific calculations or its ability to function as a desktop widget, it stands apart. It has distinct and clear characteristics; It’s a homage to timeless classics, striving to give people a sense of uniqueness.
Personally, I find the concept of this product remarkably cool, filled with an interesting blend and juxtaposition. For instance, you have an ultra "old-school" pixel-style app running on state-of-the-art, refined devices like the Mac and iPhone, or a calculator, usually seen as a functional, impersonal tool, adorned with artistic stickers reflecting personal tastes and cultural identities. This unique blend and contrast create a delightful appeal for me.
I hope this product will resonate with both Apple enthusiasts and aficionados of pixel-rich, retro-tech aesthetics. In the process of designing and developing this product, the biggest challenge was to preserve the integrity of the original design, and enhance functionality and user experience without disrupting the minimalist and coherent design, which was, for me, a significant task.
How have you marketed your product, and what key lessons have you learned?
So far, I have only introduced this product on Twitter, and I am pleased with the visibility it had, gaining approximately 100,000 reads and around 3,000 downloads. I enlisted the help of a few friends to beta test it, asking them to like and repost my tweets in the process. I’m truly grateful for their substantial support.
Despite the positive visibility from its inauguration, I notice a gap in attracting those deeply connected users that I was hoping to attract, which might have to do with the currently targeted audience. In my opinion, my target demographic should be drawn from Apple lovers, enthusiasts of retro style, and pixel aesthetics aficionados.
What has been some memorable feedback since your product’s release?
I was looking forward to seeing users personalize their calculators with stickers and sharing their unique take on the calculator interface. It was immensely satisfying to see some users do so.
Some of the most memorable feedback came from several users suggesting adding features, like advanced scientific calculations, which in my view is not aligned with the core essence of this product. In the market, there’s no shortage of calculators equipped with extensive functionalities, but in reality, the functionality most people utilize are basic arithmetic operations. An important aspect to consider is that introducing new features could potentially disrupt the original interface and interaction of the product, detracting from its simplicity. It’s crucial to me to maintain simplicity. I have a clear idea of what this product is and intends to be.
Are there any products out there that you feel deserve more recognition?
Indeed, I recently stumbled upon an extraordinary independent developer, a talented feminine figure from China. Her works, rich in artistic taste and aesthetic charm, have earned my admiration and respect. One of her works in particular, Tico!, a creative tool leveraging iOS’s smart image selection from photos to create collages, has made a significant impression on me because of its innovative design and interaction. I really hope more users will have the opportunity to discover and appreciate this talented woman’s work.
Can you name some products that have significantly improved your sense of happiness?
Software
ChatGPT, a product that has brought me immense joy over the past year and beyond.
Figma, an exceptional product that I am frequently amazed by. The fact that it offers its services free of charge to individuals and small teams significantly contributes to societal progress.
1Panel, an open-source tool for Linux server operation management, has greatly simplified my deployment of various services. It’s extremely beneficial.
Motronome, a professional metronome software with clear interaction and robust features is an essential part of our family’s musical practice.
Hardware
Ricoh GR3X, a magical camera that’s reignited my passion for photography and capturing life’s moments.
Vespa, a compact and versatile scooter. In addition to allowing me to bypass traffic congestion and embrace the freedom of the open road, it’s also my means of commuting and taking my child to and from school.
Google Pixel 5, an older native Android phone. It’s lightweight, elegant, and serves as the perfect secondary phone due to its sheer comfort.
How do you organize your day? Do you have any time management tips to share?
Being candid, it becomes quite a challenge at my age to balance work, family, and personal interests exceptionally. I sincerely value my time, often considering many things as a waste and excessive consumption of time.
My itinerary is usually packed, with various tasks enveloping my daily life. My strategy might not prove suitable for everyone because we all find ourselves at different stages in life.
However, for the ones more oriented towards development and product—possibly the primary audience of this newsletter—I do have some practical advice: Collaborate with professionals who supersede you in their field of expertise, and work towards the goal of completing the product you envision.
In numerous past projects, I’ve had the opportunity to work with incredibly talented developers and designers. Their professional abilities yield more refined results, and they manage to do so effortlessly and efficiently, which I found challenging initially.
In a certain sense, this strategy can be seen as a time management skill.
I wouldn’t recommend setting out to learn programming just for the sake of materializing a product, principally because coding is just one aspect of the process. Identifying your uniqueness and pairing with the best-suited partner to work on your product is, in my perspective, a more efficient strategy towards realization.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you envision for the future.
I’m a father of a 5-year-old child, deeply in love with my family, my life, and the joy of discovering beauty in everyday life.
In the past, I have developed a Chrome plugin named Speechless.fun to helps Sina Weibo users back up their Weibo posts, and an iOS App known as IELTScream which aimed to help IELTS tester to pratice IELTS speaking. Both have been instrumental in assisting numerous users and have garnered positive feedback. I deeply appreciate experiencing this.
The next project I’m working on is related to children’s growth, something I am excited to share with fellow parents.
About Apptisan
Apptisan is a portmanteau of “application” and “artisan”, signifying “a weekly exploration into the world of apps and the passionate artisans who create them.” Each issue is a conversation with global creators, aiming to uncover and present intriguing products to a wider audience.
For those who prefer Chinese, you can subscribe via Quail. Creators interested in featuring their products are encouraged to submit them through our form, and we’ll be in touch promptly.
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