Release Notes

Mental Arithmetic© from Bubbling Limited: Educational software for Palm OS
Current version: 1.3 (12th August 2006)
Current release expires: never
Please send comments to: mental@bubbling.com
Program information: http://www.bubbling.com
Copyright © 2006 Bubbling Limited. All rights reserved.

What is it?

Mental Arithmetic© is an intelligent drilling and coaching system for adults. It is based upon research into current teaching methods.

Mental Arithmetic© learns your areas of weakness by asking questions of increasing difficulty. This enables it to provide relevant techniques for calculating problems mentally. These techniques or 'strategies' improve both speed and accuracy.

Mental Arithmetic© will then practise these pertinent strategies after which they quickly become automatic.

Good mental arithmetic is very much a product of familiarity and practice. Mental Arithmetic© combines drill with expert suggestions to improve ability in only a few sessions.

In a world increasingly dependent on computers, many people find essential skills become neglected. Mental Arithmetic© will exercise your mind and rejuvenate your mental arithmetic, as well as teaching techniques you may not have used before. Above all, the intention is to give you the confidence to tackle such calculations, whether in a business meeting, over a restaurant bill, or helping children with their homework.

Notes

Please make sure you read the information below about installing Mental Arithmetic©.

If you find Mental Arithmetic© useful, please take the time to enter a review at PalmGear HQ or Handango (links below).

Mental Arithmetic© is shareware, which means that you've downloaded it for free, but if you find it useful and want to continue using it then we ask you to register it. It only costs $25.00:

Register online now at PalmGear or at Handango .

Mental Arithmetic© learns from your answers as you proceed. The more questions answered, the more helpful Mental's coaching and drill. Registration will not affect such user data.

Installing Mental Arithmetic©

Mental Arithmetic© is available either as a compressed ZIP (for PC) or SIT (for Mac) file. The compressed files contain these release notes along with the .PRC file.

(N.b. it is always advisable to synchronize your device PRIOR to the sync which installs this file, in order to prevent any data loss). If you are installing over an older version, you may wish first to delete any previous versions of Mental from the device, although be warned that this will erase your current total score).

The .PRC file needs to be installed on your Palm or compatible handheld. First, locate and start up the 'Palm Installer' program. On Mac OS, this is in the green Palm menu at the top right of the screen. (Simply choose 'Install Handheld Files...' from the 'HotSync®' submenu or from inside 'HotSync® Manager'). On Windows this is in the 'Palm Desktop' menu in 'Programs' on the Start Menu. Using the Palm Installer program, select the .PRC file (you can also simply drag and drop). Put your handheld in the cradle (or use a HotSync cable) and press the HotSync button. During the HotSync, Mental Arithmetic© will be transferred to your handheld and will be available from the menu when you press the applications button. Tap the Mental icon, and you're up and running.

Registering

If you decide that you would like to keep Mental Arithmetic©, then you will need to register your copy. Registration is available online at PalmGear and Handango (see the links above). Registration for Mental Arithmetic© costs $25.00.

Registering removes the initial splash screen which pauses for longer before each unregistered session.

Version History

Version 1.3:     12th Aug 2006:  File size 59149 bytes
Made compatible with recent hardware.
Added Level selector command to menu.
Rearranged question categories and added several new ones.

Version 1.21:    24th Jan 2001:  File size 39048 bytes.
Fixed on-screen decimal button problem for international number formats.

Version 1.2:     23rd Jan 2001:  File size 39043 bytes.
Larger and clearer on-screen keypad.
Improved user interface.
Tick, cross, and brackets added.
Sounds added for correct or incorrect answers.
Extra question categories.

Version 1.14:    20th Dec 2000:  File size 38330 bytes.
Extra question categories.
Reduced length of initial pause for unregistered copies.

Version 1.13:    18th Oct 2000:  File size 34016 bytes.
Minor correction of splash screen.

Version 1.12:     4th Oct  2000: File size 34002 bytes.
Fixed bug which displayed division instead of multiplication in one category in Level 5.

Version 1.11:   26th Sept 2000: File size 34002 bytes.
Fixed problem with message field size.
Corrected lingering focus.

Version 1.1:    17th Sept 2000: File size 34244 bytes.
Added on-screen keypad as an alternative to Graffiti input.
Added Reset function.
Made last answer visible at end of level.
After time-out, display correct answer.
Time-out proportionally longer at higher levels.
Added Scores button to two 'Continue' dialogs.

Version 1.0.4: 21st June 2000: File size 31989 bytes.
Fixed problem occuring with Palm Vs running OS 3.1 relating to decimal input.

Version 1.0.3: 21st June 2000: File size 31973 bytes.
Fixed input of decmial separator without leading zero
Introduced maximum delay on pause screen and reduced rate of increase of delay.

Rectified possible creator ID clash.

Version 1.0.2: 5th  June 2000: File size 31946 bytes.
Fixed bug which prevented input under international number format preferences.

Version 1.0.1: 26th May 2000: File size 31868 bytes.
Added unlocking mechanism and related screens
Add encoding algorithm

Version 1.0b3: 19th May 2000: File size 30661 bytes.
Added splash screen while application is unregistered.
Changed case of 'Enter' text.
Removed certain lables before 'Enter' is tapped.
Removed possible memory leaks.

Version 1.0b2: 14th April 2000 : File size 28055 bytes.
Question alternates right and left.
Initial screen now blank apart from 'Tap ENTER...'.
Fixed problem where some blank input was being accepted (as zero).

System Requirements:

PalmPilot 1000, 5000, Personal, or Professional, Palm III, Palm V, Palm IIIx, IBM WorkPad, Palm Vx, Palm IIIc, or other PalmOS-compatible device
· OS 2.x, 3.x, 4.x, 5.x
~200k free memory

Thanks

Very many thanks to Keith and Howard, and above all Tammy.

Legal

Bubbling takes no responsibility for any adverse effect that this software could cause to your machine. Please make sure to backup important data before using Mental Arithmetic©.