Ultimate Book Test

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theamazingsteveo
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Ultimate Book Test

Postby theamazingsteveo » May 3rd, 2012, 6:41 am

In the making since 2007 (was used on windows phones back then) ... now updated for the Ipod and Android phones (480 x 800 resolution - or ipods or Samsung 4 or 5 players).

The Ultimate Book Test was just placed in the Android Store and the Apple Store (this is the book test that Dick Christian used before he died late last year ... in teaching deception to gov agents in DC in his lectures -- the only electronic device Dick used in his mentalism):

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ubt

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ubt-for- ... ?ls=1&mt=8

This was written up in the book that Dick was going to publish on book tests (he had over 1000 different book tests). He told me that out of all the book tests he ever used that mine was the only one that met 4 of his 5 criteria for a perfect book test -- the 5th criteria would mean that you were a true psychic. Dick purchased my book test for $1100 in 2008. This is a new generation of the book test where you don't need to know the line number ... you guide the spectator where you want them to look and start reading ... giving them back an image of context of what they are looking at.

Here is a direct quote that Dick wrote July 2, 2009:
"As one with a more than passing familiarity with book tests (e.g., approx. 1,000 book tests in my collection, 20 years experience performing book tests, etc.) let me dispel the major concern about this test as expressed by some. THE PERFORMER NEITHER ASKS FOR NOR DICTATES THE BOOK, PAGE OR LINE to be in play (unless of course the performer is one who should never be doing a book test in the first place). Properly presented it is SEVERAL AUDIENCE MEMBERS, each of whom is CHOSEN AT RANDOM by other audience members, who determine by TOTALLY FREE CHOICE the page, line and, if desired, the word to be divined by the performer. This procedure makes it abundantly obvious to all but the densest observer that the performer has absolutely no control over which book, page, line and word will be chosen. Coupled with the fact that the performer NEVER HANDLES ANY OF THE BOOKS combine to make this one of the cleanest book tests ever devised."


Here is the support site with a user forum:
http://www.skindellmagic.com/ubt.htm

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mrgoat
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby mrgoat » May 3rd, 2012, 7:40 am

I don't get it.

You give the spec one of 4 real physical paperback books, you then get out your iPhone, play with an app, and you can see on the iPhone the page they are looking at in the real book?

Is that meant to be done covertly, or do you just sit there with your phone out during the trick?

Wouldn't people assume you have a ebook version of the book and are looking at it?

I'm obviously missing something here, because for 55 you must get more than 4 old ebooks...

Could you elaborate...

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Bob Cunningham
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby Bob Cunningham » May 3rd, 2012, 9:08 am

It's all in the presentation ... "And now I shall consult the mystic Kindle app"

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mrgoat
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby mrgoat » May 3rd, 2012, 10:22 am

Although, thinking about it, I've had an idea.

Thingymabob is now using the iPhone screen as a display for his imp pad. Pop that in a bag, put screen never to lock, hey presto. Nice. What if you gave someone an iPhone/iPad and had ibooks open, they picked a book, opened it to any page, moved their finger along and stopped at any word they wanted, and you then got sent that word to your iOS device in your bag...

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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby Jonathan Townsend » May 3rd, 2012, 10:27 am

You can present the phone book as theater. Presentation is how you arrange the stuff on the plate to look pretty. It still needs to smell good and taste good.

Advertising copy: The part of the trick's presentation that's meant for the audience of magic shop customers.
Mundus vult decipi -per Caleb Carr's story Killing Time

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Bob Cunningham
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby Bob Cunningham » May 3rd, 2012, 11:16 am

I don't understand? How do you make an iPhone "smell good and taste good"?

theamazingsteveo
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby theamazingsteveo » May 3rd, 2012, 11:54 am

There is a lengthy thread on themagiccafe regarding UBT ...
it is in the Inner Thoughts section

- Steve

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby Richard Kaufman » May 3rd, 2012, 11:57 am

Provide a link if you want people to read it.
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby Jonathan Townsend » May 3rd, 2012, 12:53 pm

Bob Cunningham wrote:I don't understand? How do you make an iPhone "smell good and taste good"?


Would someone kindly post a definition of presentation as it pertains to our craft?

thanks in advance,

Jon

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mrgoat
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby mrgoat » May 3rd, 2012, 1:48 pm

theamazingsteveo wrote:There is a lengthy thread on themagiccafe regarding UBT ...
it is in the Inner Thoughts section

- Steve



Good marketing and PR. Ignore my valid questions and provide a link to a forum that one needs to be registered for and validated before reading.

55 bucks for 4 ebooks still seems steep to me.

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby Richard Kaufman » May 3rd, 2012, 2:20 pm

It's only steep if you're not going to use the information. If you get one item that you actually use out of it, then it's inexpensive.
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Brad Henderson
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby Brad Henderson » May 3rd, 2012, 2:40 pm

I had an idea for an ereader built into a notepad. There were pressure sensitive "buttons" on the outside of the pad that your fingers rested on when casually holding it. Loaded onto the ereader were all of the top sellers of the day. If you had your pad, you could do the booktest. They select the book and the page, you code this using the buttons on the pad. When you open the pad, you are looking at the page.

The spec has placed his finger on the page. you get a generally idea where. And write the word/words in that area.

never built it, but it seemed like a workable idea.

theamazingsteveo
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby theamazingsteveo » May 3rd, 2012, 3:24 pm

Brad,

That same thing is now available today (but with some preloaded classic books -- more are going to be added in the future) ...
for the ipod/iphone (5.0 and above) or android devices (480 x 800 and Gingerbread os 2.3.3 and above)

Here is a demo of the ipod/iphone version:
http://www.skindellmagic.com/ipodvideo1.mov

(for Mac/Quicktime)

and

http://www.skindellmagic.com/ipodvideo1.wmv

(for windows users)

You direct the spectator where you want them to look .. using paragraph indentations as your guide ... then rather than providing a word .. you have the spectator read the paragraph and then you give them an image back of what they are reading .. then have them read the paragraph outloud. You are giving CONTEXT back ... very very hard hitting ...

- Steve

Brad Henderson
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby Brad Henderson » May 3rd, 2012, 4:48 pm

Does this come with a device that allows you to secretly code the information into the ereader? That seems to me to be key and the thing that needs to get built. That way you get all your info in a single glance and there is no futzing around.

i also like the idea of it being new books, bestsellers.

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mrgoat
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby mrgoat » May 3rd, 2012, 5:52 pm

Richard Kaufman wrote:It's only steep if you're not going to use the information. If you get one item that you actually use out of it, then it's inexpensive.


True enough.

I still fail to get the "hang on, I will just look at my iPhone for a minute and then tell you what word you are thinking of" part.

Obviously I'm being stupid, and obviously the seller doesn't want to address that misconception I have. Totally fair enough, but I'm not going to the cafe to find out.

I'd pay 4 times that if it was workable, but I just can't see how you surreptitiously look at a mobile device and then 'read' their mind...

My failing and I am sure he will sell loads.

Personally, iDoodle is still the best iPhone mind reading app I've seen. And only a couple of bucks.

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby Richard Kaufman » May 3rd, 2012, 6:59 pm

I saw an incredible mind-reading app at Magic-Con, but I'm on hold with United right now and can tell you the name. John Lovick did it to me and it was mindboggling.
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Timothy Hyde
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby Timothy Hyde » May 3rd, 2012, 7:42 pm

I'm still a bit stuck at this line from the original post..


theamazingsteveo wrote: (this is the book test that Dick Christian used before he died late last year ... in teaching deception to gov agents in DC in his lectures -- the only electronic device Dick used in his mentalism):


I didn't know Dick very well
but we had met and corresponded a few times
and I saw him perform once.

Didn't he have a keen interest
and quite a collection of
Anverdi products?
The Secret Notebooks of Mr Hyde - Vol 1 & 2 - http://www.MagicCoach.com

theamazingsteveo
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby theamazingsteveo » May 3rd, 2012, 9:57 pm

Hi Timothy,

That's what Dick told me on the phone. I wasn't sure about the Anverdi stuff .. maybe he had it as a collection.

Dick's stuff is going to be auctioned on ebay I think June 2.
I emailed back and forth the person who is running the auction enquiring about Dick's book on book tests because Dick told me on the phone at one time that he had my book test in one of his chapters. Perhaps they will be auctioning off the book test I sold Dick for $1100.00 on a Windows phone .. came with the books too for that price in the late 2007+ and beyond ... now you have to find and buy your own books ... but the price of the app is significantly smaller.

He actually wrote an email and sent it out to 100 of his closest friends recommending my book test.

Some people on themagiccafe are recommending using this with a portfolio.

Have a great day!

- Steve

theamazingsteveo
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby theamazingsteveo » May 3rd, 2012, 10:02 pm

MrGoat: I pm'd you with some secret information about UBT that I can't talk about on an Open Forum ... 18 minutes after I post here the info is searchable by google text robots / engine ... I have checked.

Brad: I must put the books in the database myself .. it is a very tedious process ... that's why I use public domain books that are out of copyright and popular ones that people have heard of before.

- Steve

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mrgoat
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby mrgoat » May 4th, 2012, 3:39 am

theamazingsteveo wrote:MrGoat: I pm'd you with some secret information about UBT that I can't talk about on an Open Forum ... 18 minutes after I post here the info is searchable by google text robots / engine ...


Thanks. And now I know what it is you are selling I'm not surprised you don't want people to know about it.

theamazingsteveo
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby theamazingsteveo » May 4th, 2012, 1:50 pm

Just added a new domain name for UBT:

http://www.ultimatebooktest.com

I'm advertising it in Genii for July and August 2012.

- Steve

theamazingsteveo
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby theamazingsteveo » May 4th, 2012, 5:34 pm

BTW, the sale for UBT on Apple Devices ends tomorrow Sat.

- Steve

theamazingsteveo
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby theamazingsteveo » May 13th, 2012, 3:12 pm

UBT was just updated with 2 new books on the Android.
The update for the iPod/iPhone version is being processed by Apple for approval.

- Steve

theamazingsteveo
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby theamazingsteveo » May 17th, 2012, 10:49 am

Another book was added Persuasion by Jane Austen (a love story) .. this was done based on the recommendation of current users.

- Steve

theamazingsteveo
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby theamazingsteveo » May 21st, 2012, 4:07 pm

The latest version 1.1 just went into review with Apple ... those that purchased the program will see an update on your device when it is available (3 books were added in this update that you can find at the Barnes and Noble stores).

Have a great day!

- Steve

theamazingsteveo
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby theamazingsteveo » May 22nd, 2012, 3:33 pm

UBT Version 1.1 is now in the Apple Store.

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mrgoat
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby mrgoat » May 22nd, 2012, 4:03 pm

I believe you can buy adverts here from RK very reasonably.

theamazingsteveo
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby theamazingsteveo » May 22nd, 2012, 4:51 pm

I have ads coming out in Genii as well as Magic Mag for July and August 2012.

theamazingsteveo
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby theamazingsteveo » May 23rd, 2012, 7:55 am

A full review will be coming out this friday in Paul Romhany's publication.

- Steve

theamazingsteveo
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby theamazingsteveo » May 31st, 2012, 1:59 am

You can download Vanish Magazine (both 1 and) from:

http://www.vanishmagazine.com/

The review about UBT is in Volume 2.

theamazingsteveo
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby theamazingsteveo » June 2nd, 2012, 1:56 pm

Version 1.2 is now available in the Apple Store -- contains the new book Treasure Island. - Steve

theamazingsteveo
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby theamazingsteveo » June 5th, 2012, 3:21 am

Adding a new book .. Scarlet Letter. About 1/2 through now formatting it. This will make 9 books after it is submitted. Will be in Version 1.3

- Steve

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mrgoat
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby mrgoat » June 5th, 2012, 4:40 am

Do let us know when you are 3/4 way through formatting it. These [s]obvious spam posts[/s] updates are the only reason I come to the forum now.

El Harvey Oswald
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby El Harvey Oswald » June 5th, 2012, 1:54 pm

Wow; more iterations than nearly any other magic trick on the market. Please continue to provide exhaustive detail of trivial improvements.

El Harvey Oswald
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby El Harvey Oswald » June 5th, 2012, 1:55 pm

Richard: Is the app. Handsome Jack showed you available? If so, what's it called?

theamazingsteveo
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby theamazingsteveo » June 5th, 2012, 4:35 pm

El Harvey,

The app is called "The Ultimate Book Test" .. it is on the Apple iTunes store as well as the Google Play Store.
Just finished The Scarlet Letter.

Have a great day!

- Steve

theamazingsteveo
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby theamazingsteveo » June 5th, 2012, 7:41 pm

For all the UBT users:

The latest version 1.3 was submitted to Apple which contains "The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne" ... ISBN-13: 978-1-59308-207-9 and ISBN-10: 1-59308-207-X

The app update is currently available now in the Google Play Store for Android.

This is the larger paperback book and is in Barnes and Noble Stores.

Page 54 on the first line contains:
books. And who, by your favor, Sir, may be the father of yonder babe---

Page 153 contains:
was a disease, and but the reflex of the wild energy with which Hester

- Steve

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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby theamazingsteveo » June 13th, 2012, 6:39 pm

UBT Version 1.3 is now in the Apple Store

- Steve

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mrgoat
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Re: Ultimate Book Test

Postby mrgoat » June 13th, 2012, 7:00 pm

Jesus? Really? That is the best news ever! Thanks so much for the update!

Do you have a twitter account or rss feed I can subscribe to in case I miss one of these awesome posts?


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