Texas Instruments has long resisted the call of smartphones and tablets, even holding off on adding color to their calculators until recently, but it has now joined us in the 21st century with its TI-Nspire app for the iPad, TechPoweredMath reports.
There are currently no plans to release the app for smartphones or Android, but Dale Philbrick, TI's Digital Content Manager, told TPM that the company is always open to suggestions and may consider the possibility given enough demand.
The app costs $29.99, which makes it unappealing for students who have access to many free or cheaper graphing applications already on the market, says Casey Jonston at Ars Technica. In addition, students woon't be allowed to use it during tests because of its unconstrained environment. Philbrick stressed that although TI went out of its way to make the application work seamlessly with the iPad's user-friendly OS, it also made that sure students could use the application as a standalone calculator.
Still, iPads and smartphones are banned from ACT, SAT and other standardized tests.
Philbrick also said that its full integration with TI-Nspire free files resources and lessons, plus Dropbox integration, differentiates it from other math apps and could be incentive for educators and students to pay $30 for an application in a market dominated by apps that usually run for $.99-$4.99. Buying the app also nets you a one-year subscription to the TI-Nspire Teacher Software.
Other math apps also do not have the same functionality as the TI-Nspire, which offers a high-end package that includes "dynamic geometry software, spreadsheets, statistics software, and a touch interface gaming environment."
TI made the app available in the App Store briefly before pulling it due to a security issue.
“Immediately after the TI-Nspire Apps for iPad were posted on the App Store, we discovered an issue with App Store settings and have temporarily removed these apps from the store. We are working to update these settings and will repost the apps as soon as possible,” the company said in an official statement.
The other big news for TI is the TI-84+ C color graphing calculator, which is due for release in the next few months.
