Android App for Mathematics documents ?

[sgiridhar007]

I am a mathematics teacher. I use MS word on my desktop PC to type all my math expressions with all those Greek symbols - vectors, matrices,determinants,differentials, integrals etc.

I am looking to buy a tablet or a smart phone. Can some one tell whether there is any app in Android that can help me to type complex math expressions & equations with ease, as in MS Word ?

I have been researching on this for the last many days. Any help is appreciated.

PS: Tried KingSoft Office - it does not have the capability to handle math.

Thanks

 

[h4x0rj3ff]

quick office pro will handle ms office documents... not sure if its what your looking for or not tho

 

[jae_63]

I think this is an area where ipads are stronger. I too have looked for android solutions over the years and thought about developing my own.

For android, start with detexify and search from there. There are some kludgy latex based solutions, but nothing adequate that I have encountered.

 

[jae_63]

Your query caused me to look again at what is out there. Take a look at MathMagic Lite. It could use some improvement, but is a starting point. It took me about 15 minutes to enter the quadratic formula on my small phone (Kyocera Rise), which is about 3 times longer than I think it should take.

http://www.mathmagic.com/android/

 

[sgiridhar007]

Your query caused me to look again at what is out there. Take a look at MathMagic Lite. It could use some improvement, but is a starting point. It took me about 15 minutes to enter the quadratic formula on my small phone (Kyocera Rise), which is about 3 times longer than I think it should take.

MathMagic for Android, the ultimate Equation Editor Android tablets!

Thanks to all of you who have replied !!

The link for mathmagic shows an equation editor window. It also says that "MathMagic is a WYSIWYG math editor with Graphic user interface,
with support for MathML, LaTeX, MS Equation Editor, and more."

Does it mean that whenever i need to type Math expressions & Equations, i just need to do it on the editor window of mathmagic , then copy-paste them onto the MS Word documents editor in , say POlaris Office on my android phone ?

Will copy-paste work ? If you have any idea, kindly share. Your effort is appreciated.

PS: I do not want to feel after buying a product that i could have a better product - currently thinking of buying Samsung Galaxy Note 2.

 

[sgiridhar007]

Kindly go through the file attached. This is a typical question paper that i prepare for my students.

My question is : Can i do it on my Samsung Note 2 phone with any office software for the android?

Kindly help.

 

[jae_63]

It is certainly possible to prepare these equations on the android device (I only have android phones, but no tablets). But at present the free software will only export them as PNG files or in their proprietary text format. The android version cannot export mathml or latex. There is no paid android version which presently supports this.

If PNG is acceptable to you, then I think you can achieve what you want, copyng and pasting your PNG equations into an editor such as DocumentsToGo.

If not, then you would need to transfer your equations to your desktop and import them using their paid software.

I find this situation sufficiently annoying that I am considering writing my own android software to convert MathMagic's fairly simple-looking format into LaTeX, which I could then natively incorporate into a document on the android. But this is not very high on my priority list, and the MathMagic folks might be litigous.

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Since you are considering a tablet, I wondered whether you could do what you want using a tablet browser in desktop mode (there are several which support this) along with the Google Doc equation editor. But that editor apparently doesn't support matrices.

There are some solutions to view a desktop screen on your tablet, in which case you could use Word in that environment. But this doesn't seem very attractive, and requires a data connection at all times.

I really think that an iPad is the way to go, for now.

 

[sgiridhar007]

It is certainly possible to prepare these equations on the android device (I only have android phones, but no tablets). But at present the free software will only export them as PNG files or in their proprietary text format. The android version cannot export mathml or latex. There is no paid android version which presently supports this.

If PNG is acceptable to you, then I think you can achieve what you want, copyng and pasting your PNG equations into an editor such as DocumentsToGo.

If not, then you would need to transfer your equations to your desktop and import them using their paid software.

I find this situation sufficiently annoying that I am considering writing my own android software to convert MathMagic's fairly simple-looking format into LaTeX, which I could then natively incorporate into a document on the android. But this is not very high on my priority list, and the MathMagic folks might be litigous.

----------

Since you are considering a tablet, I wondered whether you could do what you want using a tablet browser in desktop mode (there are several which support this) along with the Google Doc equation editor. But that editor apparently doesn't support matrices.

There are some solutions to view a desktop screen on your tablet, in which case you could use Word in that environment. But this doesn't seem very attractive, and requires a data connection at all times.

I really think that an iPad is the way to go, for now.

Thanks Jae, tx a lot for your reply !!

I mailed Polaris company (Polaris Office software). They replied saying that Polaris office presently does not have capability to include math equations in their document handling software.

jae, now that you have mentioned ipad twice in your replies :

What office software does ipad use? can it handle math equations as easily as MS Word does. In MS Word, there is no copy-paste business. There exists an option to simply insert equations. Lemme tell you man, there is nothing like MS Word that i have seen with trespect to the ease with which it can handle complex math expressions.

Can ipad DO THIS WITH THE SAME EASE? I am a dumbo when it comes to ipad & ios operating system. Kindly enlighten me, please.

 

[jhawkkw]

Thanks Jae, tx a lot for your reply !!

I mailed Polaris company (Polaris Office software). They replied saying that Polaris office presently does not have capability to include math equations in their document handling software.

jae, now that you have mentioned ipad twice in your replies :

What office software does ipad use? can it handle math equations as easily as MS Word does. In MS Word, there is no copy-paste business. There exists an option to simply insert equations. Lemme tell you man, there is nothing like MS Word that i have seen with trespect to the ease with which it can handle complex math expressions.

Can ipad DO THIS WITH THE SAME EASE? I am a dumbo when it comes to ipad & ios operating system. Kindly enlighten me, please.

Since you're use to writing them on your desktop, one option I haven't seen mentioned is the use of a remote desktop client like Splashtop to use your Android device to remotely type on the computer.

 

[sgiridhar007]

Since you're use to writing them on your desktop, one option I haven't seen mentioned is the use of a remote desktop client like Splashtop to use your Android device to remotely type on the computer.

Hearing of splashtop for the first time.

I intend to type all my math question paper documents on a machine (tablet or smartphone)other than my desktop (causes back pain) , then put those documents on a storage like dropbox or skydrive etc. To print them, i would simply login to my desktop skydrive/dropbox & then do it. This is my objective.

Need guidance, esp for mathematics equation editor in iOS or android.

 

[phsopher]

VerbTex is a LaTeX editor that can compile a pdf using an online TeX distribution (so you need an internet connection). TeXPortal is apparently a LaTeX compiler that can work offline provided that you have the necessary packages installed on your phone but I haven't had a chance to test it out yet.

LaTeX takes some getting used to but it produces prettier equations and overall layout as well as allows more functionality than MS Word and their ilk.

 

[jhawkkw]

Hearing of splashtop for the first time.

I intend to type all my math question paper documents on a machine (tablet or smartphone)other than my desktop (causes back pain) , then put those documents on a storage like dropbox or skydrive etc. To print them, i would simply login to my desktop skydrive/dropbox & then do it. This is my objective.

Need guidance, esp for mathematics equation editor in iOS or android.

The idea behind Splashtop or other remote desktop clients is that application gives you the ability to use your desktop through your tablet. It even lets you use your desktop when you're not home as long as you have access to the internet. It actually displays the exact screen that your desktop monitor shows right on your android device, and gives you complete control of it. For this purpose, I recommend the Asus Transformer Series tablets with keyboard dock because it is the closest to a laptop experience possible (full keyboard and touchpad mouse). This is exactly what I do when I type up my documents for the the classes that I teach, except I do it in LaTeX instead of Word.

Check out their website and see if you're interested: Splashtop

 

[jae_63]

Cloudon is another possibility. As I understand it, you are using a remote Windows machine, but that machine doesn't belong to you. This has pros and cons. See the second link below. Android is only supported on a few devices, but that may not be a problem in your case.

Regarding the ipad, Googling for "ipad equation editor" returns numerous results, in contrast to the same query for android. My wife has an ipad2 but I haven't ever tried any of these solutions. But here are some links that I found interesting.

http://www.futurebird.com/2011/usin...-best-and-worst-apps-for-writing-mathematics/

http://paulhami.edublogs.org/2012/02/13/math-on-an-ipad-with-free-equation-editor-in-cloudon/

 

[sgiridhar007]

The idea behind Splashtop or other remote desktop clients is that application gives you the ability to use your desktop through your tablet. It even lets you use your desktop when you're not home as long as you have access to the internet. It actually displays the exact screen that your desktop monitor shows right on your android device, and gives you complete control of it. For this purpose, I recommend the Asus Transformer Series tablets with keyboard dock because it is the closest to a laptop experience possible (full keyboard and touchpad mouse). This is exactly what I do when I type up my documents for the the classes that I teach, except I do it in LaTeX instead of Word.

Check out their website and see if you're interested: Splashtop

Thanks buddy ! I shall check this out for sure !!

Cloudon is another possibility. As I understand it, you are using a remote Windows machine, but that machine doesn't belong to you. This has pros and cons. See the second link below. Android is only supported on a few devices, but that may not be a problem in your case.

Regarding the ipad, Googling for "ipad equation editor" returns numerous results, in contrast to the same query for android. My wife has an ipad2 but I haven't ever tried any of these solutions. But here are some links that I found interesting.

Using LaTeX on the iPad: A review of the best and worst apps for writing mathematics. | futurebird

Math on an iPad with Free Equation Editor in Cloudon | Free Resources from the Net for EVERY Learner

Hey jae !! Tx for the 2 links , especially the 2nd one !! I found it great !! Cloudon screen is just EXACTLY same as the desktop MS Word screen. In fact, this is the screen i am used to , for typing my question papers !!

I would like to know one thing. Is Cloudon available for Android phones like Samsung note 2??? ( saw this phone today, held it in my hands & boy, im impressed !!). If Cloudon is available the way as it is shown in the screen shots, then well, i can easily get my job done !!!! This is because, i have wifi facility at home.

How do i do it on android? Is it like this - I first download Cloudon for android on the phone; type MS Word documents in Cloudon; then upload it in my drop box account. Is that it? Does it require that my desktop be up & running at the same time - no, right? After uploading the doc, i can login into my desktop & drop box account & print it if necessary, am i right here ?

Finally, is the Cloudon for android or iOS available in full version or some ****** up uselesss trial shit versions? I do not want to be duped after buying my new phone or tablet.

PS: While typing math documents using Cloudon, if it requires that i be online , it is not a problem for me, as i will be buying a machine that has wifi as well as cellular 3G/4G.

pls help..

 

[jae_63]

It seems that you are in luck, since the Samsung Note 2 is indeed one of the supported phones for cloudon.

http://site.cloudon.com/help/knowledgebase/articles/169777-which-android-phones-are-supported-

That rather large phone seems like a nice match for your requirements.

Your understanding of Cloudon matches my own, and you are correct that your PC needn't be online while you are working on your android device.

As far as I know there are no limitations on Cloudon's free service, although I don't understand their business model. You probably want to do a bit more research on this.

I think that Cloudon is more attractive for your needs than a generic desktop viewer, since apparently they do a nice job of allowing you to control a particular windows app (in your case, MS Word) rather than the entire desktop.

 

[sgiridhar007]

It seems that you are in luck, since the Samsung Note 2 is indeed one of the supported phones for cloudon.

Which Android phones are supported? | CloudOn

That rather large phone seems like a nice match for your requirements.

Your understanding of Cloudon matches my own, and you are correct that your PC needn't be online while you are working on your android device.

As far as I know there are no limitations on Cloudon's free service, although I don't understand their business model. You probably want to do a bit more research on this.

I think that Cloudon is more attractive for your needs than a generic desktop viewer, since apparently they do a nice job of allowing you to control a particular windows app (in your case, MS Word) rather than the entire desktop.

Thanks Jae !!!

The 2nd link that u sent ( in the post much earlier)was that of a youtube video of a math teacher who says that she has used Cloudon successfully on ipad and Nexus 7. Though she says the same thing (as what u say) that Cloudon is available in Googleplay, she does not make it clear whether it runs successfully on Note 2. Sadly, no information is available on the net, as there are few math teachers writing reviews.

& ya, I can comfortably work with Cloudon on Note 2(assuming it works without any problems ) , upload it on dropbox & then get into my desktop. the fact that Note 2 has both Wi-fi as well as SIM 3G is comforting ; it means i can b online whenever i need to which means i can work with Cloudon whenever i want to

Will research more & share it here about Cloudon on Note 2

 

[sgiridhar007]

I had the opportunity for a hands-on on ipad 4 yesterday. Discovered a lot of things that i never knew before !!

1. Cloudon is absolutely FREE for ipad4 (iOS). with a net connection (iPad4 supports 3G+Wi-Fi), i can edit & create math documents as the interface of Cloudon is THE SAME AS that of MS Word !!

2. By getting Apotop Wi-reader, i can connect my 500GB Seagate HDD to the 16GB iPad 4 !!! Which means, i needn't spend cash on 32GB ipad4. All media content can be streamed from HDD instead of storing on the ipad 4 itself.

So, in the situation that Cloudon is facing problems on many android devices including Note 2, i have decided to go for iPad 4.

Thanks all ,, especially jae , for your quick replies. You all have helped me a lot !

 

[ari-free]

Any software will have its own unique set of issues.