Alakazapps! | Blog
iphone magic
Amazing Magic Notes
Magic works best when it's unexpected. It's for this reason that I try and make my apps look inconspicuous. In a way, making apps look inconspicuous is easy. Apps are a relatively new phenomenon, there is no template for a 'normal' app. More so, as Apple keeps telling us, there's an app for just about anything.
It's with this in mind that I developed Amazing Magic Notes. It looks like a typical notes app, the sort of app people are now familiar with, but hides an incredibly deceptive secret. It allows you to read minds!
Download it today for iTunes App Store.
It's with this in mind that I developed Amazing Magic Notes. It looks like a typical notes app, the sort of app people are now familiar with, but hides an incredibly deceptive secret. It allows you to read minds!
Download it today for iTunes App Store.
Amazing Magic Strength
I'm very excited to announce the latest addition to Alakazapps - 'Amazing Magic Strength'!
One of the design goals I set myself was to bring classic magic tricks to the iPhone and iPod touch. Magic Strength is very much inspired by the Excalibur Sword myth.
You show a digital nail hammered deep into a block of wood. However hard you, or the spectator tries, the nail can only be nudged ever-so-slightly from the wood.
With one magical gesture you gain the 'strength' to easily flick the nail from the wooden block.
You then invite the spectator to try and flick the nail free - they still fail! Even more magically, by simply touching the spectator they impossibly gain the strength to remove the nail.
It's really great to perform the trick while the spectator holds your iPhone - the illusion works even with very controlled test conditions.
Have fun.
One of the design goals I set myself was to bring classic magic tricks to the iPhone and iPod touch. Magic Strength is very much inspired by the Excalibur Sword myth.
You show a digital nail hammered deep into a block of wood. However hard you, or the spectator tries, the nail can only be nudged ever-so-slightly from the wood.
With one magical gesture you gain the 'strength' to easily flick the nail from the wooden block.
You then invite the spectator to try and flick the nail free - they still fail! Even more magically, by simply touching the spectator they impossibly gain the strength to remove the nail.
It's really great to perform the trick while the spectator holds your iPhone - the illusion works even with very controlled test conditions.
Have fun.
Magic Wallet and other news.
The holiday season is a super busy time for everyone! Here at Alakazapps I've been putting in crazy hours to make sure it's a magical time too! Plenty of ground to cover in the post so here goes…
First a quick mention of 'Magic Beer Bottle'. When I released 'Magic Bottle Cap' a couple of months ago it was always my intention to release an adult version. See, if I included alcohol in 'Magic Bottle Cap' it would have been subject to age restrictions. Since I want my apps to be open to as many people as possible, it seemed sensible to make two versions. Magic Beer Bottle also has slightly different graphics to give it a more 'bar-like' appearance. Magic Bottle Cap and Magic Beer Bottle are available now on the app store!
You may have already noticed that Alakazapps newest release is 'Amazing Magic Wallet'. The trick is simple but visually stunning. You open a digital wallet, shake out a couple of coins, then slide one out - it becomes real! I really do think Amazing Magic Wallet is the perfect pocket magic trick because everything you need to perform the trick is already in your pocket. It currently supports UK, US and EU coins but I'll be adding more with updates! The app is live now, so go grab it for the introductory price.
Finally, a little bit of background on Alakazapps website. I've been working hard to re-imagine the site for the last few months and the final changes will be revealed before the end of the year. When I launched Alakazapps I only had time to design a very simple site, a temporary home for my apps. Though the site was functional, it never captured the fun of magic. To this day seeing a magic set takes me to a happy place, they're treasure-troves of excitement. Since apps don't come in fantastic boxes, I thought my website could be a virtual box of illusions.
I've got another app due out before xmas that is really very special, and a slew of updates due for the New Year so stay tuned.
First a quick mention of 'Magic Beer Bottle'. When I released 'Magic Bottle Cap' a couple of months ago it was always my intention to release an adult version. See, if I included alcohol in 'Magic Bottle Cap' it would have been subject to age restrictions. Since I want my apps to be open to as many people as possible, it seemed sensible to make two versions. Magic Beer Bottle also has slightly different graphics to give it a more 'bar-like' appearance. Magic Bottle Cap and Magic Beer Bottle are available now on the app store!
You may have already noticed that Alakazapps newest release is 'Amazing Magic Wallet'. The trick is simple but visually stunning. You open a digital wallet, shake out a couple of coins, then slide one out - it becomes real! I really do think Amazing Magic Wallet is the perfect pocket magic trick because everything you need to perform the trick is already in your pocket. It currently supports UK, US and EU coins but I'll be adding more with updates! The app is live now, so go grab it for the introductory price.
Finally, a little bit of background on Alakazapps website. I've been working hard to re-imagine the site for the last few months and the final changes will be revealed before the end of the year. When I launched Alakazapps I only had time to design a very simple site, a temporary home for my apps. Though the site was functional, it never captured the fun of magic. To this day seeing a magic set takes me to a happy place, they're treasure-troves of excitement. Since apps don't come in fantastic boxes, I thought my website could be a virtual box of illusions.
I've got another app due out before xmas that is really very special, and a slew of updates due for the New Year so stay tuned.
Pro Tip #4 Always Ready
27/06/09 15:24 Filed in: Pro Tips
Even with the new Spotlight feature of iPhone OS 3.0 getting to an app can take a few clicks. These clicks can really upset the flow of a magic performance so here's a solution.
Launch the app before performing then lock your device using the button on the upper edge - simple!
Now all you have to do is unlock your device and you're ready to perform.
Depending on your audience you might want to consider what you have as your wallpaper. Just a thought.
Launch the app before performing then lock your device using the button on the upper edge - simple!
Now all you have to do is unlock your device and you're ready to perform.
Depending on your audience you might want to consider what you have as your wallpaper. Just a thought.
Fry Mentions Magic
National treasure Stephen Fry recently wrote a fantastic review of the new iPhone 3GS. Along with detailing the technological advancements he devoted a paragraph to the variety of treats offered by the App Store, he wrote:
"Apple has shown that a mobile phone can be a pedometer, a restaurant guide (one which can make the reservation, direct you there and let you know which kinds of sustainable seafood you can order with a clear conscience), an ensemble of musical instruments that can be blown down, tapped and strummed, a library, a periodic table, a performer of magic tricks, a translator, a Skype phone, a Twitter client, a radio, a games platform and a device that can set your home satellite TV to record any programme you like wherever you are in the world."
Magic tricks are on his list next to musical instruments and games platform, that's a pretty impressive distinction.
I don't for a second think Stephen Fry had time to use one of my apps, if he even knows Alakazapps exists. Still the recognition of the genre is great for all those who develope and perform magic tricks on the iPhone and iPod touch.
"Apple has shown that a mobile phone can be a pedometer, a restaurant guide (one which can make the reservation, direct you there and let you know which kinds of sustainable seafood you can order with a clear conscience), an ensemble of musical instruments that can be blown down, tapped and strummed, a library, a periodic table, a performer of magic tricks, a translator, a Skype phone, a Twitter client, a radio, a games platform and a device that can set your home satellite TV to record any programme you like wherever you are in the world."
Magic tricks are on his list next to musical instruments and games platform, that's a pretty impressive distinction.
I don't for a second think Stephen Fry had time to use one of my apps, if he even knows Alakazapps exists. Still the recognition of the genre is great for all those who develope and perform magic tricks on the iPhone and iPod touch.
Welcome to Alakazapps!
26/02/09 23:59 Filed in: General
Well, it's been four months since I released my first iPhone app and I've not yet properly introduced myself! My name is Matt, I work n' play in Notting Hill, London and I develop apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
I've resisted starting a blog for Alakazapps because I didn't want to write unless I had something interesting to say. I'm still not sure that I have anything interesting to say but, at least I can use this space to thank the users of my apps.
Thank you!
Thank you to the many thousands of you who have seen some worth in my apps. Special thanks are extended to those who have taken the time to write nice things about what I do.
To keep this first entry as concise as possible I'll do the rest of it as a series of questions to myself.
Why develop magic apps?
I have been studying magic for about fifteen years and designing magic tricks for about the last eight. The iPhone and iPod Touch are pretty amazing on their own so it wasn't a huge leap to bring magic tricks to these devices.
Magic apps allow me to fuse my love of magic with my love of showing off my favorite piece of technology. I hope they can do the same for you!
What is your favorite app?
I personally love ESP Vision, which interestingly is the least popular on iTunes. I think the idea of a randomly chosen symbol appearing on my palm is about as strong as magic gets.
Will you only make magic apps?
For the moment, yes. I do have a few non-magic ideas in the pipeline but for now, I'm committed to bringing magic to the iPhone.
What's next?
I'm constantly trying to get the most out of the apps I develop. This means I can hopefully get at least one update out each month. New apps will be released as-and-when they're developed.
I think I've covered a lot of ground in this introductory post. If there's anything else you'd like to know feel free to e-mail me.
I hope you'll come back again soon!
Finally, as thanks for the support, here are ten promo codes for ESP Vision. (Sorry these codes only work in America)
If you use one, say so in the comments. Oh, and feel free to leave a review on iTunes!
ESP Vision Codes:
X6MYWLXKWXJN
J64MM9R9XY9M
FJTP3AKWRA4P
WYT3YRXP73LR
J33WPHFFH4MN
TT3FWREPEWAE
TXT4KTP4NXLJ
MXFXN7XJLKTE
JX3R7EM6FJLK
KAMNKPFH4FRT
I've resisted starting a blog for Alakazapps because I didn't want to write unless I had something interesting to say. I'm still not sure that I have anything interesting to say but, at least I can use this space to thank the users of my apps.
Thank you!
Thank you to the many thousands of you who have seen some worth in my apps. Special thanks are extended to those who have taken the time to write nice things about what I do.
To keep this first entry as concise as possible I'll do the rest of it as a series of questions to myself.
Why develop magic apps?
I have been studying magic for about fifteen years and designing magic tricks for about the last eight. The iPhone and iPod Touch are pretty amazing on their own so it wasn't a huge leap to bring magic tricks to these devices.
Magic apps allow me to fuse my love of magic with my love of showing off my favorite piece of technology. I hope they can do the same for you!
What is your favorite app?
I personally love ESP Vision, which interestingly is the least popular on iTunes. I think the idea of a randomly chosen symbol appearing on my palm is about as strong as magic gets.
Will you only make magic apps?
For the moment, yes. I do have a few non-magic ideas in the pipeline but for now, I'm committed to bringing magic to the iPhone.
What's next?
I'm constantly trying to get the most out of the apps I develop. This means I can hopefully get at least one update out each month. New apps will be released as-and-when they're developed.
I think I've covered a lot of ground in this introductory post. If there's anything else you'd like to know feel free to e-mail me.
I hope you'll come back again soon!
Finally, as thanks for the support, here are ten promo codes for ESP Vision. (Sorry these codes only work in America)
If you use one, say so in the comments. Oh, and feel free to leave a review on iTunes!
ESP Vision Codes:
X6MYWLXKWXJN
J64MM9R9XY9M
FJTP3AKWRA4P
WYT3YRXP73LR
J33WPHFFH4MN
TT3FWREPEWAE
TXT4KTP4NXLJ
MXFXN7XJLKTE
JX3R7EM6FJLK
KAMNKPFH4FRT
