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More magic for the iPhone
The iPhone and iPod touch have really attracted a lot of interest from the magic community, and we've reviewed some of the tricks you can get at the App Store here, and here, and here.Now things are getting more serious with the release of a DVD set called 'Magic with the iPhone' ($19.95 U.S.) created by Magic City in California, a large distributor of magic effects to pros and semi-pros.The 2 DVD set consists of 12 tricks you can do with your iPhone. One disc is a standard DVD which demonstrates the magic, and then explains how it is done. The second disc is a data DVD, which has picture and movie files that will set your phone up to do the trick. The package even contains a gimmick used to turn a penny into a dime.Like any collection, there are some strong effects, and some weaker ones, but most people will easily find 3 or 4 that are worth doing. In general, the effects are more polished than many of the tricks in the App Store, and the video instructions are more detailed.Stand out effects in my view were iHotrod, where a spectator chooses a color at random from 6 colored dots, and that turns out to be what you predicted in an iCal entry on your phone for the current date and time. I also liked Telecommunications, where someone selects a card, then calls a contact in your address book, and the person called tells the spectator exactly where the card is in the deck after it has been shuffled. It's a clever diversion, and should stun your audience.The disc is not sold by Magic City, but they distribute it to magic dealers and novelty shops. Here is a Google search that should help you find a copy.Magic City has also just released a second DVD of iPhone tricks. I did not think it was as strong as the first volume, and it tended to repeat the same card finding methodology over and over again. Gerald Kirchner, who created the DVDs says the products will be available at Blockbuster and from Netflix in mid April.I think the first DVD is worth a try if you are getting more serious about magic. Instead of carrying around a lot of props and equipment, you only need your iPhone and a deck of cards. It's amazing how a device that was intended as a phone has branched off into specialty areas like magic, medical technology, astronomy, photography and music. That is the true magic of the iPhone.
HTC has at least two more Android phones up its sleeves this year
While we've seen just about all there is to see regarding HTC's Magic (including the innards that make the magic happen), the company's latest foray into the world of Google's OS will unsurprisingly be far from all it its last. HTC's CEO Peter Chou was recently asked whether rumors of five Googlephones from the company in 2009 were true. He played coy, but only slightly, saying to expect "at least" three on top of all the other Windows Mobile handsets we've seen bandied about for release this year. Subtract the pearly white handset above and that leaves two more surprises in store for us before 2010, meaning its going to be a busy year for HTC -- and for our favorite little green mascot.
HTC's Magic manual exposed for your downloading pleasure
We've seen it in slimming black and striking white (way before Labor Day), and now we've got some titillating pictures of what's going on underneath courtesy of HTC's own service manuals, leaked in PDF form for both the G2/Magic and the T8290/Quartz. Both offer nearly 100 sultry pages of assembly and disassembly information, including a full photo spread showing the phones' naughty bits splayed to the winds. For those who read the articles, there are full descriptions on how to re-flash the pair, which should come in handy if you're never content to leave good enough ROMs alone. The only question now is: where can we get a pair of those dashing pin-striped gloves? [Via ModMyGphone; thanks, Meerhaj]
Legal tie-ups could delay Magic, other HTC launches in Germany
Anyone holding out for that April launch of HTC's Android-powered Magic in Germany might be in for a longer wait than they'd hoped thanks to -- you guessed it -- legal drama. It seems that patent holding company IPCom has gone after HTC over a series of patents related to UMTS in a Mannheim court; the legal eagles over there ruled late last month that there is some sort of violation taking place, so the targeted launch date could be in jeopardy if HTC doesn't come to the table and negotiate. For the record, this is the same IPCom that has a multi-billion dollar lawsuit pending against Nokia over the same patents, so HTC could be looking at some serious dough if they decide to play ball. Realistically, if we had to guess, this'll resolve itself quietly with a settlement totalling some small fraction of what IPCom wants, but it's something to keep an eye on.[Via Engadget Japanese]
HTC black Magic (Sapphire) hands-on: a Vodafone exclusive
Make no mistake, the all-black HTC Magic is for real. Separated here at CeBIT from its glistening white counterpart by an equally white G1, this near-final Magic looked just stellar in its glossy dark coat. We chatted it up with an on-hand representative who confirmed that the handsets on display weren't absolutely finalized, and that when launched exclusively on Vodafone in Europe (you read that correctly), the Voda logo would be proudly plastered on. He stated that there were no immediate plans for selling an unlocked one in Europe or abroad, but that's just the standard line given when a carrier has yet to get their special toy. He also affirmed that HTC "believed deeply" in Android, and that the world at large would be seeing a lot more where this came from in the near future. Have a look at what these lucky Europeans will soon have access to in the gallery below.%Gallery-46910%
HTC's black Magic (or Sapphire, if you prefer) spotted in the wild
We personally think it looks just grand in white, but we can understand that white isn't for everyone -- so for the rest of you, enjoy these shots of HTC's Magic in black spotted at CeBIT. Interestingly, this unit isn't Vodafone branded; instead, it's rocking the HTC logo, which might mean they're planning on offering an unlocked, unbranded unit at some point. Wouldn't that be... magical? It's not clear whether the "Magic" name is exclusive to Voda, so we might see this sucker under a different name if the unlocked thing actually happens -- maybe the "Sapphire" it went by in its codename days. Either that, or this is nothing more than a one-off used for testing, and we can all go back to dealing with Vodafone and T-Mobile contracts. Time'll tell.[Thanks, Andy]
HTC Magic stops by FCC for a quick 'hello,' no AWS in sight
After Google had accidentally dropped the T-Bomb during its offline Gmail demo, we'd half expected (okay, hoped) that the version of the Sapphire passing through the FCC would rock T-Mobile's 1700MHz AWS goodies for US 3G. Alas, it doesn't -- implying that there'll be at least two versions of the phone launched around the world, which really doesn't come as a surprise considering the G1 takes the same route. We figure this particular variant probably does 2100MHz HSDPA in addition to the usual array of GSM / EDGE bands, so rest easy, Vodafone customers, you'll have a perfectly legal handset should you decide to cross the pond.
Google's offline Gmail demo reveals seemingly US-bound HTC Magic -- is this the T-Mobile G2?
So is Vodafone's HTC Magic the same as T-Mobile's G2? Could very well be, considering Google's little slip-up during a demo of its offline Gmail support on mobile devices. What we have up there clearly ain't a Voda logo, and if our knowledge of T-Mobile logos around the world is accurate, this isn't a European T-Mobile logo, either -- it's straight-up Yankee. Would certainly make a ton of sense for this thing to shake out as the G2, and there's no shortage of folks holding out for a keyboardless Android device 'round there... so your move, T-Mob.
Amazon makes most of Master of Illusion's price disappear
Amazon.com has pulled a Deal of the Day out of its hat, in the form of Nintendo's Master of Illusion. The magic trick sim, er, magic training game -- or whatever you want to call this weird software -- has had its price halved today, and today only, to an impulse-level $9.98. That's very cheap for a first-party Nintendo game -- or very expensive for a deck of cards, if you choose to look at it that way!Much like Clubhouse Games and WarioWare: Touched, Nintendo of Japan plans to break out individual tricks from Master of Illusion for sale as DSi downloads. We figure that if you're into e-magic, you might as well grab the whole thing now instead of waiting for the DSiWare version that may not even appear in North America!%Gallery-10368%
HTC Magic in-depth hands-on, with video!
We only got a brief glimpse of this device before it was whisked away at the Vodafone press event today, so we tracked down HTC's megabooth and sat down for a much longer gander at the new HTC Magic. The unit we played with has a non-final button layout on the front -- we'd say the final version, reflected in official press shots, is much-improved -- but was raring to go otherwise. Check out our impressions, along with a couple of videos after the break!
HTC Magic first eyes-on!
Surprise, surprise! Vodafone and HTC launched a new Android set named the Magic today. We had a brief eyes-on with it, though the version we see above is not final hardware. If you peek at the slides in the gallery you'll notice that there are more buttons and they're laid out quite differently than what you see above. Of course, we plan a more extensive tour of the Magic and all its Cupcake goodness a little later on today. Pics and a shaky vid after the break.%Gallery-45004%
HTC Magic is official, bringing Android to Vodafone sans keyboard
Vodafone just scooped planet Earth with the first touchscreen-only Android phone: HTC's Magic. All the specs look to line up with what was rumored, with a 3.2-inch QVGA screen front and center (that resolution might be a typo, HVGA seems more likely), HDSPA, GPS, 3.2 megapixel camera (no flash), and a G1-style trackball. Details on pricing and availability will be unveiled for local Vodafone markets as they see fit, but pricing in Spain will be from 99 to 199 Euro, depending on contract. Initial markets to nab the phone will be UK (due in April), Spain, Germany, France and Italy, with more countries to follow, and the phone will be a timed exclusive with Vodafone. Crazily enough, the phone has a proprietary headphone jack, proving once and for all that HTC doesn't like you, but at least this one will ship with a touchscreen keyboard out of the gate -- it's running Cupcake.Update: We have confirmation that the device is indeed HVGA like the G1 before it, that's a typo on the original press release. More detailed specifications after the break.%Gallery-45024%
HTC's Magic appears for Vodafone in Europe, G2 moniker nowhere to be found
We can already tell that this naming thing is getting out of hand, but for all intents and purposes, the handset you see above is the same HTC G2 we've seen hosted up in T-Mobile documentation and those gnarly in the wild snaps. Now, according to some very believable Vodafone snippets, we're being told that this here handset will launch exclusively on the aforesaid carrier as the Magic, bringing with it a 3.2 megapixel camera, HSPA, WiFi and GPS. Also of note, Cupcake will be loaded on from day one, though there's no word on pricing and availability just yet.
The iPhone is magic
We love the iPhone, you love the iPhone (most of you do anyway) and so do millions of other users around the world. It's a great device that empowers users to do almost anything from making calls to checking email, from updating your status on Facebook and Twitter to sending text messages and running a host of cool applications. All of this shiny goodness is made possible by the vision and technological mastery of the engineers and designers at Apple. Or, so we thought. Turns out the iPhone's greatness has pretty much nothing to do with vision or the skills and intelligence of Apple's engineers and designers. It's all about the magic. Click through to see what I mean courtesy of the folks at G4's Attack of the Show.
A little more about Wizard101
There have been quite a few releases for magic-themed game Wizard101 of late as well as the preview of the first expansion. Enough so that WhatTheyPlay has posted an overview aimed at parents to explain the basis of the game and what they can expect if their kids play it. In a nutshell, Wizard101 is a world where players are students of magic. Combat relies on a trading card system and is turn-based. No one ever "dies" in the game. It's free to play in much the same way that Runescape is - meaning that many areas and quests are only available to paid accounts. The options are numerous in terms of membership levels depending upon what the players (or their parents) want to be able to do. For those parents worried about the community, they do discuss the limitations on communication and the average age of players (about 12). Then again, with family plan pricing available, parents could join their kids in the game and find out for themselves what it's all about.
All the World's a Stage: So you want to be a Priest
This installment of All the World's a Stage is the seventeenth in a series of roleplaying guides in which we find out all the background information you need to roleplay a particular race or class well, without embarrassing yourself. Priests in the World of Warcraft are a single class that incorporates a wide variety of characters. They are best known for casting spells that call forth the power of the Holy Light, but the priest using these spells in the game mechanics doesn't necessarily have much connection to the Light as such -- rather they have a connection with their own religion which grants them similar effects to those of the Light.When WoW was being developed, Blizzard realized that night elves and trolls, for instance, would not follow the Light in the same way humans and dwarves do, so they tried to represent a bit of this diversity through race-specific spells. It didn't work out, though -- some were too powerful, while others weren't worth reading about, much less putting on one's action bar. The end result was that they made some of these spells universally available to all priests, and completely removed the rest. Here the lore had to surrender to the game mechanics in order to provide the best game balance.In roleplaying, however, there is a lot of room for players of different races to behave differently, and draw their powers from totally different sources. Greater Heal, for instance, could come either from the Light or the power of Elune. A Shadowfiend could either be a spawn of the Forgotten Shadow, or a dark trollish voodoo spirit. If you are roleplaying a priest, the only thing that really matters is that your character have some sort of faith or profound belief, which could serve as the source of their divine magical power. A priest's magic revolves around his or her strong beliefs and ideas -- but what those beliefs are is entirely up to you.
All the World's a Stage: So you want to be a Mage
This installment of All the World's a Stage is the sixteenth in a series of roleplaying guides in which we find out all the background information you need to roleplay a particular race or class well, without embarrassing yourself. It's also the first installment with a title that rhymes! The Mage is the foremost master of magic in the Warcraft universe. Although all the other classes excluding the Warrior and the Rogue use magic of one sort or another with equally wonderful effects, the Mage is the class that's named after the stuff.But what is magic? What does it feel like to harness it? Does the mage have to do a strange ritual or utter incomprehensible words in an ancient language in order to cast her spells? Other fantasy settings often have one or more of these elements together, but as far as I can tell, Warcraft lacks them.Arcane magic in the World of Warcraft is an ever-present energy field surrounding the whole world. Mages access it by concentrating in the magic energy within themselves, feeling it rush through their body, and directing it as they please. Those spells that require reagents need an extra focusing item with magical properties of its own in order to bring about the desired effect, but for the most part, fireballs, frostbolts and arcane explosions can be created through the mere act of will on the part of a properly educated mind.
We know the iPhone is magic -- now it DOES magic
When I was growing up I used to do magic shows at kids parties to earn some extra money. It was fun for awhile, but those kids could be pretty rowdy. Now flash forward lots of years, and we can do magic tricks on our iPhones. Who'd have thunk it? Magic Show is an iPhone (or iPod touch) app created by a professional magician, Allen Valentine. He does an impressive stage show in Atlantic City, and he is passionate about the iPhone as well as his magic, so he combined the two. Here's how the trick works. You launch the app and the phone does some nicely rendered videos with a curtain opening and some show-bizzy music. Screen prompts ask your innocent assistant to pick one of three objects and say the name of the object out loud. Without further ado you hand the person your iPhone and with music, a puff of smoke and some suspense the phone announces the object the person picked. Yes, it can be repeated, and the effect would be pretty astounding for most people. Fun to try around the office cubicle, or at a bar, or anywhere really. It's $2.99 at the App Store and worth it for the fun and mystification it can provide. My only suggestion is that there shouldn't be an obvious link to the performance tutorial on the application's main screen. If someone is browsing through the apps on your phone, they are only one click and a 90-second video away from the secret.Try it and see if people are fooled. I predict they will be.
Know Your Lore: Dalaran
Welcome to Know Your Lore, where each week Alex Ziebart brings you a tasty little morsel of lore to wrap your mind around. Sweet, sweet lore. Mmmm. Have suggestions for future KYL topics? Leave a comment below! Dalaran has been one of the most prominent nations in the Eastern Kingdoms since its founding, though it's actually quite small. A nation only thousands strong at its height has perhaps held more sway over world leaders in its time than any other nation, and has attracted the ire of some of the most powerful entities Azeroth has ever seen.Dalaran, located in the heart of former Lordaeron territory, has been the center of Arcane knowledge since its creation, and could be considered the Humans' answer to Quel'Thalas, though the nation accepts Elves (and many others) in its ranks as well. Magic is Dalaran's lifeblood, and is even ruled through the strength and wisdom of its magi. Dalaran is a magocracy, a government ruled by a council of mages known as the Kirin Tor, elected by citizens of the nation. Their icon is the Violet Eye, with Violet being the motif used for the nation itself, and the color purple representing the Arcane as a whole in Warcraft (Arcane Missiles, Netherstorm).
Ask a Lore Nerd: So You Think You Can Dance, Naxxramas edition
Welcome to Ask a Lore Nerd, where each week blogger and columnist Alex Ziebart answers your questions about the lore and history of the World of Warcraft. Ask your questions in the comments section below, and we'll try to answer it in a future edition.Today's Ask a Lore Nerd is best read while under the influence of obscene amounts of caffeine and sugar, and while listening to catchy J-Pop (or similar music). Tsuguru is preferred, though most anything the Yoshida Brothers have created is acceptable.Bjara asked...When you are in the DK starting area, you can have a funny little chat with Noth at the plague cauldron and you find out he really, really hates Heigan from Naxx. Do you know why? I'm still trying to find a way to work "slime and crap filled dance studio" into conversations on a daily basis.
