When Apple’s App Store was first announced, many of us envisioned a fleet of applications that would turn the iPhone into a mobile computing powerhouse - any functionality that Apple neglected to include would be quickly introduced by third party developers. Unfortunately, the store has largely failed to deliver on that potential, as developers have shied away from full-featured, useful apps in favor of flashy novelties that are cheaper to produce and more profitable. There may be a few diamonds in the rough, but you’d never know it - 75% of the top apps list (which is the first thing most people look at) consists of games.
Today sees the launch of an iPhone app that attempts to fulfill the store’s original promise by adding a truly useful feature to the iPhone that many have longed for since its introduction: modifiable spreadsheets. The iPhone has allowed users to view Excel and Numbers files since its launch, but until now users have been unable to create or edit them. The aptly named Spreadsheet application is available for $7.99 here, claiming to be the first Excel-like program on the platform. And it delivers, but with one deal-breaking caveat.
Included among Spreadsheet’s features are:
-Multiple cell types, including Numeric, Date, Time, Currency, Percentage and Text
-Cell formatting options, including bold, italic, text and background color, cell sizes and alignments.
-Copy/cut/paste operations.
-A range of functions, including date/time, math, statistical, string and trigonometric functions.
-Export (via email) to external spreadsheet applications.
The program’s most glaring flaw is its inability to import Excel spreadsheets - something the developer promises to release in the next update, but should have been included from the start. This oversight will make the program nearly useless for most professionals, but if you’re only looking to make basic spreadsheets on the fly it works as advertised. Files made on the phone are saved in the standard XML format, and can be Emailed for further modifications on PCs. The interface will be familiar to anyone who has used Excel or a similar program before - you use your finger to select cells, and can enter numbers and equations using the same syntax.
Spreadsheet may be the first app available in this space, but a number of other offerings are on the way, including Mariner.
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Interesting that there was the same expectations on the Facebook Platform of Apps which would improve the user experience and be useful. Instead we got lots of spammy applications.
This application looks definitely useful. I wonder how it’ll be received comparatively.
Really?
Certainly so…
i think, all i iphone urgently needs are “useful apps”. Especially, apps to improve the phone-side.
neat feature.
http://gatesandjobs.blogspot.com/
I agree, that really is a glaring flaw. I’ve often viewed and edited spreadsheets on other devices, but never felt the need to create a spreadsheet on a mobile device.
Building feature-ful applications takes time. The iPhone SDK has been available for, what, 6 months? And it has been a confirmed success (in terms of attracting paying customers) for, what just over 2?
I think that given the short lead time the quality and breadth of apps in the App Store is amazing, and as long as Apple continues to punish spammy developer behavior it will likely get better. The biggest App Store change announced today that will likely lead to more feature-ful apps is that only users who pay for apps will be allowed to review them (so no more 1 star reviews from people whining about the “high” cost of an application, even if that cost may be worth it considering the features that you get for the money)
-Alan
At last… I was searching for something like this…
Might want to hold off for now — there seem to be some issues with basic math functions. We’ll have a review up soon at http://148apps.com
I’ve been using spreadsheets on the iPhone for months, using editgrid.com . It’s a Web app, but very powerful and works well. Sometimes I think a Web app is better than native apps for a number of reasons.
gosh!
This is the difference between “May” and “Can”. Just because there is a new iPhone app, that does not mean that people can create a spreadsheet. Spreadsheets a largely a lost art and an artifact of a more elegant age of DIY application development. There are so few people that can create an operational spreadsheet with a full copy of MS Excel that this new iPhone functionality is almost entriely irrelvant. Lotus 123 changed my life and I miss it and the discipline of 1986. It’s these kids today, they wouldn’t know a spreadsheet if it bit ‘em.
The lack of USEFUL business apps is my biggest complaint about the iPhone… seeing as that is the reason I bought it.
Still waiting for a worthwhile contact manager, as the stock “Contacts” app from Apple is complete and utter shite.
The App Store is full of shite.
WOW! One at a time crApple is adding features that my phone has had for YEARS! Revolutionary indeed (that’s sarcasm.. for anyone dumb enough to buy an iphone).
When I use my iphone, the greatest joy was working without the ability to use excel… thats gone….
That should be incredibly helpful. I can use that for punching in my mileage for the year. Way more convenient then writing it down, then transferring to the computer. I’m really happy I bought that phone!
Jake
NoteScribe: Premier Notes Software
“Unfortunately, the store has largely failed to deliver on that potential, as developers have shied away from full-featured, useful apps…”
I doubt that. Unless you were one of the original annointed ones, you’ve probably only had the SDK for a few months now. And “full-featured, useful apps” take time to develop.
Still early days yet.
Finally.
/sarcasm.
I’m not too keen on work being able to follow me around.