Price$44.95
Media TypeTrick
CategoryGeneral, Close Up
Date AddedSep 01, 2015
Phone Phreak
Prace, Jeff
Paul Harris
(Based on 4 reviews)
Phone Phreak
Created by Jeff Prace
The PHREAKY automatic bill change!
Nothing to palm, ditch, or steal. Everything can be examined!
"This is literally the best idea involving a cell phone I've ever seen. Versatile, visual, and the method is revolutionary. If you have an iPhone, you need this... you know you do."
-Dan Harlan
You show a folded $1 "emergency" dollar (or other currency) stashed under the clear iPhone case that protects your phone. Everyone can clearly see the single dollar bill through the back of the case. Of course, for a bigger emergency you require a bigger bill... a quick wave of your empty hand and the dollar instantly changes to $5! Or if you feel like it, use no cover at all: just a quick shake and the $1 changes to a $5 in full view!
You then drop the cased phone with the changed $5 onto a spectator's hand, and the $5 instantly changes to a $20 bill (or any other bill you would like)!
She can immediately pop off the phone case and remove the $20 bill herself. And there's genuinely nothing else there! Just the phone, the case, and the bill.
EVERYTHING IS EXAMINABLE: The bill, the case, the phone, your hands, your clothes, your body, the room... EVERYTHING! There are no other bills, bits, or gimmicks anywhere to be found.
Or, if you prefer, make a stashed bill instantly vanish under the spectator's hand in a modernized handling of PH's classic "Whack Your Pack!"
You can even use the same PHREAKY method to perform the world's cleanest and EASIEST torn and restored photo!
And for a final Phone Phreak bonus: point out the Apple logo on the back of your iPhone and then magically (and automatically) slide the Apple logo from one end to the other.
This is a brand new PHREAKY method with no shells, palming, or extra stuck on bits. No moves or sleights. Nothing to load, steal, or ditch. Your hands are always empty and EVERYTHING CAN BE EXAMINED. Resets INSTANTLY Everything is 100% examinable No sleight-of-hand No magnets, wires, threads, shells, sticky stuff, extra bits, etc. No palming, loading, stealing, or ditching Adapts to most foreign currencies (see list below)
US, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Europe, Hungary, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Macau, Norway, Russia, Turkey, UK, Uruguay If you have your iPhone, you can get PHREAKY anytime, anywhere, whenever you feel like it!
*IMPORTANT: Phone Phreak will work with any iPhone 4, 4s, 5, 5s, and 6. You must own one of these iPhones to perform Phone Phreak. (Please specify which phone you have when ordering.)
Complete with custom Phone Phreak gimmick and downloadable instruction.
Experience the PHREAKY automatic bill change today!
"This is THE modern way to perform a bill change!"
-Dalton Wayne
"It looks great! I will actually do this and I'm not a fan of phone tricks."
-Nathan Kranzo
"THE most clever use of an iPhone case... EVER!"
-Greg Rostami
"Innovative. Visual. Fooling. Prace is in top form!"
-John Guastaferro
"I saw Jeff performing this on laymen and the reactions were incredible."
-Dave Penn
"Phone Phreak phooled me!"
-Angelo Carbone
"I love it! It's practical, resonant, practically self-working, and so clever that it's just fun to perform."
-Alex Linian
"Jeff Prace is the millennial magic mind for modern mystery."
-Michael Carbonaro
Reviews
(Top ▲)
“Phone Phreak” by Jeff Prace is a method allowing the performer to perform one of three effects with an iPhone. First, a bill trapped beneath the transparent back cover of an iPhone visually transforms from a one to a five to a twenty, which the audience can then remove from the case themselves. Second, a torn photo trapped beneath the transparent cover of an iPhone visibly restores itself, after which the audience can remove the restored photo themselves. And finally, the performer can visually move the Apple logo on the back of an iPhone (again beneath the transparent back cover), which the audience can then examine after.
The effects themselves are great ideas, and are clever, organic uses for an iPhone that don’t lead the viewer to credit the magic to an app. The concept behind the method is also fantastic, and allows for some incredibly visual magic that ends with completely examinable props. The unfortunate problem is the execution of the idea. First and foremost, the actual method is not convincing. The concept is wonderful, but the way it looks in practice just isn’t particularly believable. Maybe future versions will appear as they should, but at the moment this one does not.
In addition, the supplied iPhone case is not well made. It must be adjusted with supplied tape in order to stay on (or be held in place with rubber bands), and even then it fits poorly. It also all but makes the phone useless for day-to-day use. The home button is covered by the case, as is the lens for the camera, so it’s clearly designed for performance only. What this also means is that the effect is not particularly practical. If you keep your iPhone in a case you must, prior to performance, remove your normal case, set the phone for performance, then place the Phone Phreak case on it. For one-off performances this is viable, but for casual performers this may be frustrating. And for most, I imagine, the effect isn’t strong enough to warrant the effort.
“Phone Phreak” comes with the necessary props, as well as access to both downloadable and streaming versions of the instructions. The props include a case (the purchaser chooses the type when buying, based on the model of their own iPhone), a sample photo, plus some additional items. The instruction is clear, if a little incomplete. The handling is a little finicky, and Mr. Prace doesn’t fully demonstrate and explain the various options he offers. Instead he offers a basic explanation, then suggests some alternate approaches, but doesn’t cover them in depth. The instructions for set up also require some in-app installations that weren’t well explained and were somewhat counter-intuitive, which could have been easily avoided with a complete tutorial. However, the video offers something I haven’t seen before, which is bookmarks, allowing the viewer to instantly find the exact section of the training they would like to view, which I very much appreciated.
At the end of the day, “Phone Phreak” is a wonderful idea in theory whose execution did not live up to its potential, both in actual method as well as prop. The illusion isn’t particularly convincing, and the included case could have been much better made. Had more development and time been put into the project, it’s entirely possible this could have been an outstanding release. But rather than try and solve some basic problems, this appears to have been sent out the door with less than exacting standards. I rarely say this, but I simply do not recommend “Phone Phreak.”
The effects themselves are great ideas, and are clever, organic uses for an iPhone that don’t lead the viewer to credit the magic to an app. The concept behind the method is also fantastic, and allows for some incredibly visual magic that ends with completely examinable props. The unfortunate problem is the execution of the idea. First and foremost, the actual method is not convincing. The concept is wonderful, but the way it looks in practice just isn’t particularly believable. Maybe future versions will appear as they should, but at the moment this one does not.
In addition, the supplied iPhone case is not well made. It must be adjusted with supplied tape in order to stay on (or be held in place with rubber bands), and even then it fits poorly. It also all but makes the phone useless for day-to-day use. The home button is covered by the case, as is the lens for the camera, so it’s clearly designed for performance only. What this also means is that the effect is not particularly practical. If you keep your iPhone in a case you must, prior to performance, remove your normal case, set the phone for performance, then place the Phone Phreak case on it. For one-off performances this is viable, but for casual performers this may be frustrating. And for most, I imagine, the effect isn’t strong enough to warrant the effort.
“Phone Phreak” comes with the necessary props, as well as access to both downloadable and streaming versions of the instructions. The props include a case (the purchaser chooses the type when buying, based on the model of their own iPhone), a sample photo, plus some additional items. The instruction is clear, if a little incomplete. The handling is a little finicky, and Mr. Prace doesn’t fully demonstrate and explain the various options he offers. Instead he offers a basic explanation, then suggests some alternate approaches, but doesn’t cover them in depth. The instructions for set up also require some in-app installations that weren’t well explained and were somewhat counter-intuitive, which could have been easily avoided with a complete tutorial. However, the video offers something I haven’t seen before, which is bookmarks, allowing the viewer to instantly find the exact section of the training they would like to view, which I very much appreciated.
At the end of the day, “Phone Phreak” is a wonderful idea in theory whose execution did not live up to its potential, both in actual method as well as prop. The illusion isn’t particularly convincing, and the included case could have been much better made. Had more development and time been put into the project, it’s entirely possible this could have been an outstanding release. But rather than try and solve some basic problems, this appears to have been sent out the door with less than exacting standards. I rarely say this, but I simply do not recommend “Phone Phreak.”
(Top ▲)
PROS
I really love this effect. I have been doing something similar for years. The effect is tremendous, and has great potential. It is also tons of fun!
The effect is sold for the particular iPhone you have. You get everything you need for a specific iPhone to perform the effect. These effects use an IPhone app as well has some devices that form an IPhone case and attach to your phone.
The instruction is very good.
He covers several effects, from a bill production to a bill change. Another really cool effect is a photo of a dog that is in pieces that restores piece by piece and ends with you removing the restored photo. Another effect is a moving iPhone logo.
CONS
The biggest issue is this effect is only for one specific iPhone. This may or may not work with future releases of the iPhone.
Another issue is the props don’t seem to hold together well. The gimmicks is in essence, an iPhone case made up of a front and a back. However, the front and back don’t stay together well. You can perform with this, but you will need to hold it together and you can’t just use this as your regular iPhone case.
Another issue is that with some of the effects, the bill that is on the app looks so real that I have had participants not realize that magic happened when the real bill is pulled from the case. If this seems like a problem for you, you might want to do some of the other effects it does, such as a bill change.
The ad is pretty accurate, but I wouldn’t hand this out for examination, so I wouldn’t say “everything is 100% examinable”. It’s not that they are going to find something, it’s just that people expect cell phone cases to be very sturdy and tightly attached to the phone and this isn’t the case with this. I would be concerned about it falling off the case and perhaps breaking or getting damaged.
Finally, for me, I have performed a similar effect to the primary bill production from a smart phone using the photo gallery feature on any smartphone and a bit of sleight of hand. The downside to the “gimmickless” approach is it take a bit of prep to get the bill into play. Also, Jeff teaches several other effects that are just built into the app.
AT A GLANCE
The skill level required: 1 of 5.
Audience management skill required: 1 of 5.
Performance angles: 360 degrees
The reset time required: 2 minutes (Note: You are not likely to reset in front of your audience)
The DIY time involved in advance: 15 to 30 minutes
VERDICT
I really love this effect and I think this is something that many magicians would carry with them everywhere they go. It makes for a great impromptu effect. The biggest potential downside is that it may or may not be compatible with future iPhones, and the gimmick does not fit completely securely on the phone.
I really love this effect. I have been doing something similar for years. The effect is tremendous, and has great potential. It is also tons of fun!
The effect is sold for the particular iPhone you have. You get everything you need for a specific iPhone to perform the effect. These effects use an IPhone app as well has some devices that form an IPhone case and attach to your phone.
The instruction is very good.
He covers several effects, from a bill production to a bill change. Another really cool effect is a photo of a dog that is in pieces that restores piece by piece and ends with you removing the restored photo. Another effect is a moving iPhone logo.
CONS
The biggest issue is this effect is only for one specific iPhone. This may or may not work with future releases of the iPhone.
Another issue is the props don’t seem to hold together well. The gimmicks is in essence, an iPhone case made up of a front and a back. However, the front and back don’t stay together well. You can perform with this, but you will need to hold it together and you can’t just use this as your regular iPhone case.
Another issue is that with some of the effects, the bill that is on the app looks so real that I have had participants not realize that magic happened when the real bill is pulled from the case. If this seems like a problem for you, you might want to do some of the other effects it does, such as a bill change.
The ad is pretty accurate, but I wouldn’t hand this out for examination, so I wouldn’t say “everything is 100% examinable”. It’s not that they are going to find something, it’s just that people expect cell phone cases to be very sturdy and tightly attached to the phone and this isn’t the case with this. I would be concerned about it falling off the case and perhaps breaking or getting damaged.
Finally, for me, I have performed a similar effect to the primary bill production from a smart phone using the photo gallery feature on any smartphone and a bit of sleight of hand. The downside to the “gimmickless” approach is it take a bit of prep to get the bill into play. Also, Jeff teaches several other effects that are just built into the app.
AT A GLANCE
The skill level required: 1 of 5.
Audience management skill required: 1 of 5.
Performance angles: 360 degrees
The reset time required: 2 minutes (Note: You are not likely to reset in front of your audience)
The DIY time involved in advance: 15 to 30 minutes
VERDICT
I really love this effect and I think this is something that many magicians would carry with them everywhere they go. It makes for a great impromptu effect. The biggest potential downside is that it may or may not be compatible with future iPhones, and the gimmick does not fit completely securely on the phone.
(Top ▲)
Overview
One set of gimmicks, 45 minutes worth of streaming instructions, $45 bucks and one Phone Phreak Review. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.Phone Phreak: Note/Disclaimer
About 2 years ago, Paul Harris Presents commissioned me to write some ad copy for them. One of the products I was asked to write for was Phone Phreak. Jeff Prace sent me a video showing me the method and effects. Based on that I wrote some ad copy. By looking at the current ad copy, it does not seem that they kept much (if any) of what I wrote. However, to be fair, it was so long ago that I have no idea, what I wrote.
Secondly, unfortunately, I made the mistake of writing the ad copy based on seeing it on video (fully exposed and revealed, mind you) and not in person. Based on what I saw in the video from Jeff, however, I had no reason to believe that there was anything to be concerned with because the method is incredible.
Lastly, I should mention that I tested this with both the iPhone 5 (first gen) and two different iPhone 6's, a black one and a rose one.
Effect
A handful of effects are possible with this "system." All of the effects take place underneath your phone case, between your case and your phone. A bill changes from a $1 to a $5 to a $20. Or A torn photo (under your case) restores itself. Or your Apple logo moves from its normal position to the bottom of the phone. In each case, the phone can be handed out at the end for examination.Method
The method uses a special phone case and another secret something that I wish I could tell you about, but I can't. Due to the nature of the method, your phone can only be set up to do one of the three effects. You have to decide in advance if you're doing the bill change, the photo restore or the moving logo. You can change it between tables/groups, but before putting the Phone Phreak case on, you must chose which effect you are doing. Then you are committed to that one effect until you remove the case.Also, due to the steps required to set up for another effect, you can't do it in front of your audience. So in other words, if you just did the bill change and had the spectator remove the $20 from the case, you would not be able to go into the torn and restored photo with that same spectator/group. To change the set up for the torn and restored photo only takes a few seconds, but you cannot do it in front of the spectator.
The question I always try to answer in the "Method" section is whether or not the method is legit, doable and practical. Well . . . in this case, I can't really answer that question without first discussing product quality. So until we get to that section, let me just say this. The method, conceptually, is nothing short of brilliant. The implementation of said method is nothing short of disastrous.
Product Quality
Holy crap . . . where . . . where do I start!? This is one of the most poorly executed things I've reviewed in a long time. First, the method relies on a phone case that is supplied, and a little extra something that (theoretically) turns your phone into a double backer. Let's start with the case.Phone Phreak Review: The Case
In the video, Jeff mentions that you must use double stick tape or a rubber band to hold the case in place. First, let's assume that those are acceptable things to do, he never showed where or how to handle the rubber band . . . where on the case works best, how to take it on and off during the performance without fumbling, etc. But, let's be realistic. Every time you perform this effect you need to remove the case when you're done. Having to add and remove a rubber band every time is not exactly the smoothest thing to do.
However, I can admit that maybe you don't mind that. I'm okay with that. Let's dive in a bit further. The case is made up of four parts, a front and back outer shell and then two plastic covers that go inside of the outer shell. You are supplied with four of the covers and are told that two of them are darker than the other two and that the darker ones are for one type of phone and the lighter ones are for another type of phone. All for looked identical to me in both the iPhone 5 and 6.
Next, the case is so thick that you cannot use the home button on the phone with any reliability while the case is on the phone. It works sometimes and other times not, and the times that it does work you have to push so hard that you will feel slight pain on your finger/thumb, and you will feel like you're about to break the case. In the case of the iPhone 6 with fingerprint recognition, it does not sense the finger print and the button cannot be pushed. Also, with the design of the iPhone 6, the location of the on/off button has moved to the side of the phone rather than the top. This changes the handling of the routine, but Jeff never discusses that. Further, due to the poor quality of the case, it's very difficult to get to the power button with the case on.
Further, if you happen to have a screen protector on your phone, you won't even be able to use your phone at all when this case is on. Part of the routine requires you to operate your phone while the case is on. Well, you can't if you have a screen protector. You may say "Hey Jeff Stone, why don't you just remove the screen protector? Since you have this new Phone Phreak case on, you don't need the screen protector." That's a legitimate question. However, the answer is simple. The case is terrible quality. As previously mentioned, when it's on the phone, you can barely operated the on/off switch, and you CANNOT operate the home button.
This means that if you want to perform this effect — there are plenty more reasons why you should NOT perform it coming up — you have to put the case on right before performing it, and the whole time the case is on, it's not usable as a phone. If that's the case, then you have to remove your normal case (if you use one) and remove your screen protector (if you use one) which is a pain in the butt as you know. Those things are meant to stay on your screen relatively permanently.
The case does not fit snugly onto the phone and requires you to use tape or a rubber band to just keep it in place. There are so many reasons why this case is pretty much useless. If, somehow, none of the above seems to be a problem for you, keep reading.
Phone Phreak Review: The Other "Gimmick"
The other thing that I cannot reveal is something, as mentioned, that essentially turns your phone into a double backer. This part is just as bad as the case itself. First, the instructions tell you where to go to get this "thing" and that all iPhone styles and colors are covered. So I went there, and they do not have one for the first generation of iPhone 5 — mine was white with a silver/grey back. Next, they have ones that they claim are for my iPhone 6 which is black with a charcoal colored back, and they claim that they have one for the rose colored iPhone 6 — my wife has this phone.
However, the "thingies" that they had didn't even come close to matching the backs of our phones. Supplied with the Phone Phreak is a black sticker that looks like the back of the phone that you can apply to the back of your phone thus making your phone back completely black. The idea there is that you've converted your phone into a black phone so that you can use the black version of the "thingie" that makes your phone a double backer. However, this black "thingie" doesn't look ANYTHING like the black sticker. There are two black "thingies." One is the default one that comes with the Phone Phreak, and the other one is the one that you have to "go get" as I mentioned before.
The one you have to go get is not even black. They claim it's black, but it's not even close. It looks NOTHING like the black sticker that it needs to match. The default "thingie" matches the back of the phone in color (i.e., it's black). However none of the written text (i.e., the word iPhone, etc.). So this solution does not work.
Even if it did work (with the black sticker), you now have a black sticker permanently attached to the back of your phone. It looks okay when the Phone Phreak case is on, but not when the case is off. So Jeff offers a solution. Put the sticker on a screen protector, and then put the screen protector on the back of the phone. Not a bad idea. However, now your phone as a screen protector on the back, a sticker on top of that, a screen protector on the front (assuming you use one), a plastic cover (from the Phone Phreak case) on the front and one on the back, and a folded up $20 on the back of the phone under the Phone Phreak case.
Now the case is even thicker and even harder to keep clamped shut. The entire method depends on the "thingie" looking like the real back of your phone and thus creating the double backer phone. If they were similar, I'd be okay with this. However, they're not even close. Further, I told Jeff via FaceBook PM about the missing iPhone 5 "thingie" and he said he'd check, but never got back with me. That was 2 months ago to the day.
Phone Phreak Review: The Training Site
Talking about this seems almost pointless since the gimmick itself is so poorly made. However, I wanted to point out some things that I liked about the streaming video. First, it was downloadable. Second, the streaming one has chapters, and links to each chapter so you can click to whatever section you want to watch. Also, the training site with where you can get all the "thingies." Of course, that's kind of pointless since the thingies really do not match the phones at all.
Phone Phreak Review: The Teaching
Just briefly if the effect was actually doable, you'll learn almost everything you need to know to do this effect. There was one part about the "thingie" that he did not cover that I had to discover on my own, and even then, it happened by total accident. If I had not figured out that part, I'd have a totally useless gimmick. I watched the training video 3 times looking for where he covered it, and I never saw it covered. I've already mentioned that he gave zero detail about the rubber band usage.
Other than that, he actually does a really good job teaching the method, concept, etc. It's just such a bummer that the execution (i.e., the deliverable that you're paying for) is so poorly done.
Phone Phreak Review: Bonus
A bonus effect is taught that you may be interested in. The effect is not iPhone specific. It works with any smart phone. The effect is that you have someone use your ear buds on your phone. They listen. Then you unplug the ear buds from your phone. The music, of course, stops. However, you magically cause it start playing music again while they're wearing the ear buds, even though they are clearly not plugged into anything.
This will require you to spend somewhere around $30 or so bucks. However, this very effect is written up in the February 2015 issue of The Linking Ring, so if you're interested in this, I'd recommend you get it there.
Ad Copy Integrity
There are tons of claims made that may seem outrageous, but they're all true.Nothing to palm, ditch, or steal. Everything can be examined! - TRUE
Resets INSTANTLY - TRUE
Everything is 100% examinable - TRUE
No sleight-of-hand - TRUE
No magnets, wires, threads, shells, sticky stuff, extra bits, etc. - TRUE
No palming, loading, stealing, or ditching - TRUE
Adapts to most foreign currencies - TRUE
When it comes to the effects working as stated, they do . . . if you can get the gimmick to properly work (more on that in the ad copy). However, even if/when the effects work, they're nowhere near as deceptive as they need to be to fool anyone.
The claim that it works with any iPhone is the only thing that I'd say is not true. More on that in the Product Quality section.
Final Thoughts
When Jeff first started doing this, he was using the iPhone 4. Maybe it works with the iPhone 4 still. However. I checked, and they do have the black "thingie" for iPhone 4's that looks a lot more like the black sticker, so it may work. However, I can't prove that. I've only tested the 5 and 2 6s phones for a total of three different phones and 2 sets of gimmicks. The results were the same.Phone Phreak Review: Final Verdict:
Half Star with a Stone Status of complete and utter rubble.
(Top ▲)
THIS REVIEW IS BASED UPON AN IPHONE 6 GIMMICK WITH AN IPHONE 6. RESULTS MAY VARY WITH OTHER IPHONE MODELS.
Phone Phreak is a Jeff Prace creation that is marketed by Paul Harris Presents. The idea is awesome, the execution is poor. I was very excited about this trick after watching the promotional video and was even more disappointed when I received it and performed a few times. Perhaps the next generation (if there is one) will be upgraded and worthwhile. This trick is available for various models of the iPhone 4, 5 and 6. It is not available for other phones.
The trick comes in a small white cardboard box with everything you need to perform. The items included are a two piece plastic iPhone case and various pieces that are necessary to use the case. The 44 minutes instructional video is a download/steaming video that is taught by Prace.
The teaching is good and very detailed. Prace has thought out every aspect of the trick and teaches three tricks. The instruction is clear and very detailed. The video production is excellent.
My problems with this trick are as follows: the gimmick is so poorly made, it is not realistic looking on my phone (an iPhone 6) and it cannot be performed in a very dim room.
The two piece case is so cheap and surprising for a PHP product. The case does not lock and it comes in two pieces that need to be held together or taped to your phone so it does not fall off. That is unacceptable. It also does not fit snugly like a case should. This trick has so much potential and if the accompanying case had quality production (or even just slightly better), it could have been a decent trick.
The main trick allows you to show a one dollar bill under the case, change it to a five dollar bill and then again change it to a twenty dollar bill. The problem with this, at least on my iPhone, is that the first two bills look larger than regular U.S. currency. Perhaps this issue does not exist on all iPhones, but on my 6 it was a major issue. By the time you reveal the $20 bill, it looks small compared to the first two bills that the spectator saw. Also, this is not fooling in a dark or dimly lit room, for reason that I will not describe. It just looks too fake.
The barrage of top-notch magician’s endorsements does not reflect reality. See above.
It is hard to discern my criticisms from the promotional video, but in person these three weaknesses are conspicuous and very noticeable. My test spectators knew the method and were underwhelmed.
The ad copy claims the following: “Resets Instantly”. This is not 100% accurate, but it can reset within a few seconds. This does not matter because you would not do the trick a second time in front of the same spectator. You will need a second or two of privacy to reset. It also claims that everything is 100% examinable. That is true. There is no sleight of hand needed and the angles are very good so that you can perform this trick surrounded. You can do this trick with currencies from many different countries, but I did not try them out. If the other currencies have the same size display issues then magicians in other parts of the world will also be upset. It is possible that the issues that existed for me do not present on other iPhone models.
The trick also comes with a few other routines: 1. A torn and restored photo that is under the case display plastic and a trick where you can move the Apple logo. There is also a bonus do-it-yourself trick that is probably pretty cool, but I did not try it and it requires you to buy a piece of electronic hardware that will cost more than $30.
Overall, I was very disappointed with this trick. It had such great potential. I will wait for version 2.0 and review it again. Until then, I am skipping this version.
Phone Phreak is a Jeff Prace creation that is marketed by Paul Harris Presents. The idea is awesome, the execution is poor. I was very excited about this trick after watching the promotional video and was even more disappointed when I received it and performed a few times. Perhaps the next generation (if there is one) will be upgraded and worthwhile. This trick is available for various models of the iPhone 4, 5 and 6. It is not available for other phones.
The trick comes in a small white cardboard box with everything you need to perform. The items included are a two piece plastic iPhone case and various pieces that are necessary to use the case. The 44 minutes instructional video is a download/steaming video that is taught by Prace.
The teaching is good and very detailed. Prace has thought out every aspect of the trick and teaches three tricks. The instruction is clear and very detailed. The video production is excellent.
My problems with this trick are as follows: the gimmick is so poorly made, it is not realistic looking on my phone (an iPhone 6) and it cannot be performed in a very dim room.
The two piece case is so cheap and surprising for a PHP product. The case does not lock and it comes in two pieces that need to be held together or taped to your phone so it does not fall off. That is unacceptable. It also does not fit snugly like a case should. This trick has so much potential and if the accompanying case had quality production (or even just slightly better), it could have been a decent trick.
The main trick allows you to show a one dollar bill under the case, change it to a five dollar bill and then again change it to a twenty dollar bill. The problem with this, at least on my iPhone, is that the first two bills look larger than regular U.S. currency. Perhaps this issue does not exist on all iPhones, but on my 6 it was a major issue. By the time you reveal the $20 bill, it looks small compared to the first two bills that the spectator saw. Also, this is not fooling in a dark or dimly lit room, for reason that I will not describe. It just looks too fake.
The barrage of top-notch magician’s endorsements does not reflect reality. See above.
It is hard to discern my criticisms from the promotional video, but in person these three weaknesses are conspicuous and very noticeable. My test spectators knew the method and were underwhelmed.
The ad copy claims the following: “Resets Instantly”. This is not 100% accurate, but it can reset within a few seconds. This does not matter because you would not do the trick a second time in front of the same spectator. You will need a second or two of privacy to reset. It also claims that everything is 100% examinable. That is true. There is no sleight of hand needed and the angles are very good so that you can perform this trick surrounded. You can do this trick with currencies from many different countries, but I did not try them out. If the other currencies have the same size display issues then magicians in other parts of the world will also be upset. It is possible that the issues that existed for me do not present on other iPhone models.
The trick also comes with a few other routines: 1. A torn and restored photo that is under the case display plastic and a trick where you can move the Apple logo. There is also a bonus do-it-yourself trick that is probably pretty cool, but I did not try it and it requires you to buy a piece of electronic hardware that will cost more than $30.
Overall, I was very disappointed with this trick. It had such great potential. I will wait for version 2.0 and review it again. Until then, I am skipping this version.