Rising Card by Chris Kenner
The Official Spam-
Controversy-
As most of us already know, there was a lot of controversy surrounding this app and when it would be released, first being denied by Apple, then the review process taking an extraordinarily long time (as is tradition with Apple and their App store review process).
However, thanks to a lot of communication between theory11, Chris Kenner, and Phil Schiller, this App is finally on the market. And it was well worth the wait!
Price-
What better way to officially kick off a review than with the price!? I don't think this App is overpriced (although I'm sure many were expecting the traditional $.99 that the App store is known for). For the modest $2.99, you get a great app that is fully functional (no bugs as of yet), and does everything that it claims to do.
Quality-
Like I said before, this App does everything that it is advertised to do. Your spectator can name ANY card, they can open the app, and they can shake the phone. I'm a little, umm... "protective" of my phone, so I hold it, and I'm just very open about opening up the App and shaking it. I'm just not comfortable giving somebody my iPhone and having them shake it... thereby taking the risk of them dropping it.
Anyway, I kind of got off subject, but the point is- this App does everything it is advertised to do.
Method-
The method of this App is very close to being diabolical. I don't want to give anything away, but it doesn't rely on Voice Control, moving your fingers around on the screen to "write" the card, or anything silly like that. It's absolutely 100% fail-proof. Again, I don't want to give anything away, but there's really no way of screwing this up... at least not a way of screwing it up that you could blame on the App itself... or the developer for that matter.
Difficulty-
This trick couldn't be any simpler. They name a card, you bring out your phone, open the App, and the card rises out of the deck. There are no funny moves, no sleight of hand or anything that even resembles sleight of hand, and nothing to arouse suspicion from the spectators. This would be a good thing for a beginner magician to have. It's so easy that they could really concentrate on the performance.
Flaws-
As have been pointed out in other threads, there are a few flaws that come with this App. One big one is that they need to come out with an iPod Touch version, and an iPhone version. Or at least make it changeable from within the settings of the App. If you're using an iPod Touch, it might make it difficult to pull of with tech-savvy spectators.
Another minor, minor flaw that is personal to me is the picture of the deck of cards. It's very high quality, but I'm not diggin' the hand that's holding it. I would have preferred a deck of cards just "floating" there. Maybe in the next update they can lose the hand- I know that would make it better for me!
Possibilities-
Obviously, there is the standard performance for this App- spec names a card, you open the App and the card rises out of the deck. However, I bought this App for that reason, plus one other big one.
Number One- A lot of times I don't carry a deck of cards, coins, etc. around with me. Normally I have my iPhone, my wallet, my keys, and my Swiss Army Knife in my pockets... there's usually not even enough room for any magic props! Occasionally I carry a few rubber bands around my wrist for Crazy Man's Handcuffs, but not very often. This App provides me with a trick that I can show people any time, any where, whenever. That will definitely come in handy most days when I get requests for a performance, but don't have any magic props!
Number Two- A lot of magicians have been known to carry around an Invisible Deck to use as an "out". Meaning, if they say, "Is this your card?", and the spectator says, "No.", you can always whip out your Invisible Deck, and reveal that their actual card was the only facedown card in the faceup deck. However, I have never been a fan of carrying around 2+ decks of cards with me. That's where this App comes in. Instead of revealing the card in an Invisible Deck, I can reveal it through this App! Awesome!
Test Performances-
So far I have done 2 test performances with this App (one for a few friends, and one for my little brother). Both went over very well, although my performance wasn't the best that it could be, but of course that isn't any fault of the App's. So far, it gets my big ole' star of approval!
Overall-
This was a great purchase, and I recommend it to any and all magicians that have an iPhone or iPod Touch! It was well worth every cent, and I can tell a lot of hard work went into this! To everyone involved in the development, production, and release of this App: THANK YOU for finally releasing a quality magic Application for the iPhone/iPod touch! I have been waiting for this for a long time, and I am very satisfied with it!
The Official Spam-
As mentioned in the Wall Street Journal, TechCrunch, Gizmodo, AppleInsider, iLounge, and TUAW.
A simple, powerful magic trick that anyone can learn using your iPhone or iPod Touch.
Ask your friend to name any card in the deck, it can be ANY card. Then bring out your iPhone and let them open the Rising Card App. It displays a photo of a deck of cards. Ask them to think of their card, and then shake the phone. As they shake, the card they were thinking about VISIBLE RISES out of the deck.
This app showcases a brilliant method devised by critically acclaimed magician Chris Kenner (Executive Producer, David Copperfield). It is VERY easy to use, and it will work no matter what card your friend names.
The first time you open the app, you will see instructions in your choice of format- written, or a short video walking you through the method step by step.
-Simple to learn.
-Easy to perform.
-Can be ANY card.
-You friends will FREAK out.
SPECIAL introductory price of $2.99. Order now!
Controversy-
As most of us already know, there was a lot of controversy surrounding this app and when it would be released, first being denied by Apple, then the review process taking an extraordinarily long time (as is tradition with Apple and their App store review process).
However, thanks to a lot of communication between theory11, Chris Kenner, and Phil Schiller, this App is finally on the market. And it was well worth the wait!
Price-
What better way to officially kick off a review than with the price!? I don't think this App is overpriced (although I'm sure many were expecting the traditional $.99 that the App store is known for). For the modest $2.99, you get a great app that is fully functional (no bugs as of yet), and does everything that it claims to do.
Quality-
Like I said before, this App does everything that it is advertised to do. Your spectator can name ANY card, they can open the app, and they can shake the phone. I'm a little, umm... "protective" of my phone, so I hold it, and I'm just very open about opening up the App and shaking it. I'm just not comfortable giving somebody my iPhone and having them shake it... thereby taking the risk of them dropping it.
Anyway, I kind of got off subject, but the point is- this App does everything it is advertised to do.
Method-
The method of this App is very close to being diabolical. I don't want to give anything away, but it doesn't rely on Voice Control, moving your fingers around on the screen to "write" the card, or anything silly like that. It's absolutely 100% fail-proof. Again, I don't want to give anything away, but there's really no way of screwing this up... at least not a way of screwing it up that you could blame on the App itself... or the developer for that matter.
Difficulty-
This trick couldn't be any simpler. They name a card, you bring out your phone, open the App, and the card rises out of the deck. There are no funny moves, no sleight of hand or anything that even resembles sleight of hand, and nothing to arouse suspicion from the spectators. This would be a good thing for a beginner magician to have. It's so easy that they could really concentrate on the performance.
Flaws-
As have been pointed out in other threads, there are a few flaws that come with this App. One big one is that they need to come out with an iPod Touch version, and an iPhone version. Or at least make it changeable from within the settings of the App. If you're using an iPod Touch, it might make it difficult to pull of with tech-savvy spectators.
Another minor, minor flaw that is personal to me is the picture of the deck of cards. It's very high quality, but I'm not diggin' the hand that's holding it. I would have preferred a deck of cards just "floating" there. Maybe in the next update they can lose the hand- I know that would make it better for me!
Possibilities-
Obviously, there is the standard performance for this App- spec names a card, you open the App and the card rises out of the deck. However, I bought this App for that reason, plus one other big one.
Number One- A lot of times I don't carry a deck of cards, coins, etc. around with me. Normally I have my iPhone, my wallet, my keys, and my Swiss Army Knife in my pockets... there's usually not even enough room for any magic props! Occasionally I carry a few rubber bands around my wrist for Crazy Man's Handcuffs, but not very often. This App provides me with a trick that I can show people any time, any where, whenever. That will definitely come in handy most days when I get requests for a performance, but don't have any magic props!
Number Two- A lot of magicians have been known to carry around an Invisible Deck to use as an "out". Meaning, if they say, "Is this your card?", and the spectator says, "No.", you can always whip out your Invisible Deck, and reveal that their actual card was the only facedown card in the faceup deck. However, I have never been a fan of carrying around 2+ decks of cards with me. That's where this App comes in. Instead of revealing the card in an Invisible Deck, I can reveal it through this App! Awesome!
Test Performances-
So far I have done 2 test performances with this App (one for a few friends, and one for my little brother). Both went over very well, although my performance wasn't the best that it could be, but of course that isn't any fault of the App's. So far, it gets my big ole' star of approval!
Overall-
This was a great purchase, and I recommend it to any and all magicians that have an iPhone or iPod Touch! It was well worth every cent, and I can tell a lot of hard work went into this! To everyone involved in the development, production, and release of this App: THANK YOU for finally releasing a quality magic Application for the iPhone/iPod touch! I have been waiting for this for a long time, and I am very satisfied with it!