The Omni Group apparently isn't the only long-time Macintosh developer looking to
bring their software to the iPad. Mariner Software has decided to throw their hat in the ring as well and develop iPad-optimized versions of most of their Macintosh software, starting with
Mariner Calc.
Mariner Software has been developing Macintosh software for about 20 years, with most of it being created for the productivity, writing, and creative markets. These are just the kinds of apps that many future iPad owners are hoping for in order to make it more than just another mobile media consumption device, and Mariner Software is aiming to please.
The company is currently working on an iPad-optimized version of their spreadsheet software,
Mariner Calc, which we have been told should be able to do about 75% of what the Mac OS X version is capable of doing. After
Mariner Calc is finished and released, the company intends on bringing the rest of their writing software over to the iPad, such as
Mariner Write and
MacJournal.
Mariner Software was unable to provide any more details, including a possible price or release date, but they were able to send us a concept screenshot of
Mariner Calc for you to gawk at. The screenshot is relatively raw, so things may change by the time the app hits the App Store.
We will definitely try to provide you with more information regarding Mariner Software's iPad app development as it becomes available.
