Alakazapps! | Blog
Mar 2009
New Release - Magic Rabbit
29/03/09 16:58 Filed in: News
My girlfriend Chloe is a constant creative sounding board. Aside from being a first class fashion graduate, she is also very good at cute illustrations.
We decided to extend our creative relationship to release an app for the Easter festival.
The app involves a cute little rabbit magically pointing his carrot at any object you place around the iPhone.
Here's the video demo:
We decided to extend our creative relationship to release an app for the Easter festival.
The app involves a cute little rabbit magically pointing his carrot at any object you place around the iPhone.
Here's the video demo:
You can order it here.
Putting faces to names
24/03/09 16:48 Filed in: General
While reading some of the reviews in iTunes I noticed one that said “It looks like you guys made another winner.” Flattering as it may be, the idea that my apps are the work of more than one person, I think it's worth setting the record straight.
To this end I've written a short introduction in the 'about' section and included a little snap of myself.
Here's the shot:
To this end I've written a short introduction in the 'about' section and included a little snap of myself.
Here's the shot:
Pro Tip #2 Be Clear about the Effect (iThought Receiver)
16/03/09 16:35 Filed in: Pro Tips
Separating the illusion from the secret is one of the most difficult aspects of learning a new trick - it's also one of the most important. It's important because when you have a solid grasp of the illusion, you then have a license to be very creative. Before delving into an example lets examine 'illusion'.
‘Illusion’ is basically an impossible story you create in the mind of the spectator. It's a story they then share, "yeah, this guy made his iPhone float!". Perhaps even more important, it's a story with huge pieces of information missing, now for the example.
With iThought Receiver you create the illusion that the iPhone reads someone's mind, telling them what color they're thinking of. This is exactly the story they'll tell their friends too "this guys phone knew what color I was thinking of!".
Just to re-cap - the secret behind iThought Receiver is that you (the performer) will be told what color they (the spectator) are thinking of before they even know the trick has begun.
Here's how to use presentation to solidify the 'effect' and hide the secret.
1) Performer: "Could you name any of these colors?"
Notes: The spectator is not expecting anything so this question seems innocent enough.
2) Spectator: "Um, blue."
Notes: They are just naming a color.
3) Performer: "Okay, if you could just think of your color, then when you're ready touch the iThought Receiver."
Notes: Now, this is when it gets interesting! Using the line "could you just think of your color" does multiple things. First you are planting the notion that they are 'just thinking' of a color, second you are personalizing the choice 'your color'. By using this dialog while asking them to do something 'touch the iThought Receiver' you are effectively creating distance from the first step where you ask them to name a color.
4) iThought Receiver displays the correct prediction.
Notes: The iThought Receiver guesses correctly.
When retelling the above story, the first step will probably be left out because it seems insignificant. The fact is, they touched your phone and it seemed to know what color they were thinking of.
Using presentation to control how people remember events is a key aspect of magic, this works best when you have a clear idea of the effect.
‘Illusion’ is basically an impossible story you create in the mind of the spectator. It's a story they then share, "yeah, this guy made his iPhone float!". Perhaps even more important, it's a story with huge pieces of information missing, now for the example.
With iThought Receiver you create the illusion that the iPhone reads someone's mind, telling them what color they're thinking of. This is exactly the story they'll tell their friends too "this guys phone knew what color I was thinking of!".
Just to re-cap - the secret behind iThought Receiver is that you (the performer) will be told what color they (the spectator) are thinking of before they even know the trick has begun.
Here's how to use presentation to solidify the 'effect' and hide the secret.
1) Performer: "Could you name any of these colors?"
Notes: The spectator is not expecting anything so this question seems innocent enough.
2) Spectator: "Um, blue."
Notes: They are just naming a color.
3) Performer: "Okay, if you could just think of your color, then when you're ready touch the iThought Receiver."
Notes: Now, this is when it gets interesting! Using the line "could you just think of your color" does multiple things. First you are planting the notion that they are 'just thinking' of a color, second you are personalizing the choice 'your color'. By using this dialog while asking them to do something 'touch the iThought Receiver' you are effectively creating distance from the first step where you ask them to name a color.
4) iThought Receiver displays the correct prediction.
Notes: The iThought Receiver guesses correctly.
When retelling the above story, the first step will probably be left out because it seems insignificant. The fact is, they touched your phone and it seemed to know what color they were thinking of.
Using presentation to control how people remember events is a key aspect of magic, this works best when you have a clear idea of the effect.
Users Video
10/03/09 10:12 Filed in: User Video
If you've made a video of yourself performing one of our apps, be sure to drop us a line.
We'll even send you a free promo code for your troubles (US only, sorry).
Here’s youtube user catsincourt performing Magic Match
We'll even send you a free promo code for your troubles (US only, sorry).
Here’s youtube user catsincourt performing Magic Match
Alakazapps Promo Video
02/03/09 23:51 Filed in: General
A test promo video for Alakazapps iPhone and iPod Touch magic trick apps.
Made using Lighwave 3D in one weekend.
Made using Lighwave 3D in one weekend.
Alakazapps Test Promo from Alakazapps! on Vimeo.
Pro Tip #1 Managing Expectations (Magic Match)
02/03/09 19:06 Filed in: Pro Tips
An oft repeated mantra in the magic community is that 'magic happens in the minds of the spectators'. Magic is not just about secrets or special props, it's about leaving someone with an impossible memory.
When showing people magic tricks it is very easy to focus only on getting the secret moves right consequently abandoning timing and presentation.
In the 'Pro Tips' posts I'll try and share some more insight into each app released by Alakazapps. The first app I'd like to discuss is Magic Match.
Pro Tip #1 Managing Expectations (Magic Match)
A key idea in magic is that you don't tell your audience what you're about to do. Imagine a magician saying "now watch me vanish this ball", aside from sounding corny, everyone would then be watching closely for a secret move.
The above idea is very important when performing Magic Match. When I show it to people I don't even tell them it's a magic trick, I just show them a digital matchbox. After I've played with the match for a second I then let the spectator play with it - by now their expectations are pretty low so I say "watch this" and I pluck the match off the screen. You introduce something pretty ordinary then, when your audience least expects it, you do something amazing!
Aside from creating a stronger magic trick, this performance tip will take the pressure off the secret move - since nobody is expecting it, nobody will be looking for it.
When showing people magic tricks it is very easy to focus only on getting the secret moves right consequently abandoning timing and presentation.
In the 'Pro Tips' posts I'll try and share some more insight into each app released by Alakazapps. The first app I'd like to discuss is Magic Match.
Pro Tip #1 Managing Expectations (Magic Match)
A key idea in magic is that you don't tell your audience what you're about to do. Imagine a magician saying "now watch me vanish this ball", aside from sounding corny, everyone would then be watching closely for a secret move.
The above idea is very important when performing Magic Match. When I show it to people I don't even tell them it's a magic trick, I just show them a digital matchbox. After I've played with the match for a second I then let the spectator play with it - by now their expectations are pretty low so I say "watch this" and I pluck the match off the screen. You introduce something pretty ordinary then, when your audience least expects it, you do something amazing!
Aside from creating a stronger magic trick, this performance tip will take the pressure off the secret move - since nobody is expecting it, nobody will be looking for it.
Magic Levitate
01/03/09 22:34 Filed in: News
An update to Magic Levitate is due out within the next few days.
The app was first released last weekend so as you can imagine, this is just a maintenance update. The software requirements have been dropped from 2.2.1 to 2.1 and the icon has been updated.
I don't normally push out updates so soon after release but the 2.2.1 requirement was unnecessary and potentially limiting.
Let me know in the comments if you update your device as soon as Apple releases the software.
The app was first released last weekend so as you can imagine, this is just a maintenance update. The software requirements have been dropped from 2.2.1 to 2.1 and the icon has been updated.
I don't normally push out updates so soon after release but the 2.2.1 requirement was unnecessary and potentially limiting.
Let me know in the comments if you update your device as soon as Apple releases the software.
New Icon
