All posts in Apple

My Beckinfield Character Followed Me to San Francisco

by Tracy Evans on January 23, 2012 in Apple, Theatrics with No comments

When you become a resident of Beckinfield (the world’s first Mass Participation web series) your character is always with you, and so is Beckinfield. Even if you are traveling, you can always find a room, a nondescript wall or an outdoor location that can pass for your beloved home town and keep those videos coming in without skipping a beat.

The inverse is also true. Beckinfielders may be small town hicks, but they do get occasionally get out and see the world. It can be a fun challenge to work your storyline around a trip you’re taking. And just like Beckinfield, it doesn’t have to be a real location. Headed to Florida? Find a beach and a palm tree and make everyone in Beckinfield jealous when you video in from Bali.

I am traveling to the Macworld|iWorld 2012 conference this week in San Francisco. I intend to make Beckinfield videos in airports, hotel rooms, San Fran streets, and the convention center. The fun part is I haven’t any idea where this may take my character yet. I have a basic premiss about Dylan Marks (Jonathan Frakes) asking me to help him with a trade show booth, but beyond that my plan is to have no plan at all. The audience wil find out what happens right along with Tag Z.

I used the two videos below to set up the premiss:

Continue reading →

Andy Ihnatko to Join Theatrics on the Main Stage at Macworld

by Tracy Evans on January 21, 2012 in Apple, Theatrics with 1 Comment

Late breaking news. Andy Ihnatko will be joining Jonathan Frakes, Bob Gebert and myself on the main stage at Macworld|iWorld 2012.

Theatrics.com, creators of Beckinfield, has been invited to speak at the Film Event of this years Macworld|iWorld conference. In addition to the presentation, we will be shooting a special episode of Beckinfield with Mr. Frakes. That episode will now also include a special appearance by America’s Most Beloved Tech Journalist, Andy Ihnatko.

Mr Ihnatko, technology journalist for the Chicago Sun-Times, is well known in the Macintosh community from his frequent appearances on podcasts such as MacBreak Weekly, This Week in Tech and his latest creation The Ihnatko Almanac.

In the increasingly special episode of Beckinfield, Mr. Ihnatko will play the part of Dr. David Forrester, Dean of Beckinfield State College. The Fr. Forester is introducing Dylan Marks (played by Jonathan Frakes) at a press conference being held on his campus. Attendees at Macworld will watch as the main stage is transformed into a college presentation room, and even be involved in shooting the episode by playing the parts of residents of the town of Beckinfield.

It is a real thrill to be working with both Mr. Frakes and Mr. Ihnatko on the project.

Transforming Macworld into Beckinfield

by Tracy Evans on January 20, 2012 in Apple, Theatrics with No comments

Beckinfield comes to San Francisco at next week’s Theatrics.com presentation for the Film Event at MacWorld l iWorld 2012.

The presentation will start with Bob Gebert and myself talking about all things Beckinfield; how the project began, the technology behind it, and how Jonathan Frakes became involved in the show. Next, Mr. Frakes will take the stage to announce the finalists and grand prize winner of the Ultimate Online Audition Contest.

For the big finish we will shoot a special episode of Beckinfield live in front of the Macworld audience, actually including the audience in the episode.

The presentation theater will be transformed into the main hall of Beckinfield State University. In the story, legendary stage director Dylan Marks (Mr. Frakes’s character) is holding an open press conference on the campus to announce the cast of his next production, The Legends of Beckinfield. The Macworld audience will play the part of Beckinfielders attending the press conference.

The audience will also interact with the story as they are directed to react to the speech in various ways. In addition, they are all encouraged to shoot the event on their cell phones (most likely iPhones), create a character in Beckinfield, and upload the video to Theatrics.com to tell their side of the story.

If you are in San Francisco next week, come to Macworld and be part of the fun.

Apple to make GarageBand for Text Books

by Tracy Evans on January 17, 2012 in Apple with No comments

The Apple rumor mill is grinding to a halt as more info leaks on the event this week in NYC. Fanboys worldwide are losing interest as loose talk zeros in on the presentation being about educational publishing. Certainly not as sexy as the next iPhone or tablet … or is it. Imagine if Apple were to bring rapid sweeping change to education at the level (and speed) they did to the stagnant mobile phone market and the until-Apple-showed-up-nonexistant tablet market.

Tools enable change in technology and society. If Apple does announce a super-easy to use digital text book creation tool – a “Garage Band for text books” – we can thank (among many others including Mr. Jobs) Roger Rosner (shown above), Apple’s vice president for productivity applications and one of the lead creatives on the iWork software team.

All will be revealed on Thursday.

Jonathan Frakes, Beckinfield and Macworld

by Tracy Evans on January 16, 2012 in Apple, Theatrics with No comments

Jonathan Frakes (Star Trek: TNG, Burn Notice) is knocking it out of the park with his work in Beckinfield – the first Mass Participation TV web series. He plays Dylan Marks, world-renowned director, who has come to Beckinfield to produce a community theaters play as a favor to an old friend. He is quickly caught in the bizarre SciFi craziness that is what Beckinfield is all about.

My business partners and I will travel with Jonathan to San Francisco next week to discuss Beckinfield at Macworld|iWorld conference. In addition to awarding the $10,000 prize for the Ultimate Online Audition Contest, we will be shooting Jonathan’s final episode in front of a live audience. Join us at Macworld if you would like to be part of the shoot.

You can also become part of Beckinfield by signing up for free at theatrics.com. Join the cast of Beckinfield (just like I did) and get involved in the story.

Theatrics at Macworld 2012 – The Booth

by Tracy Evans on January 10, 2012 in Apple, Theatrics with No comments

In addition to our main stage presentation, Theatrics.com will have a presence on the Macworld|iWorld show floor. Drop by for a visit in the OS X Zone, booth 228-33. Our mini-booth will look something like the photo on the left.

Our amazing video editor Jesse Garson is working on a customized video loop for the display screen, while I work on the graphics for a flyer. The photo above is a glimpse at my messy desk with some flyer work in progress.

Planning on attending? Be sure to let me know. Send me a tweet at @tracyevans.

Top 5 Steve Jobs Action Figure Alternatives

by Tracy Evans on January 8, 2012 in Apple, Reviews with No comments

Missed out on the first batch preorder of Steve Jobs collectible figures? Live in a US state where it’s legality is questionable? Fear not, we’ve collected a few alternatives simulacrums to address your 1/6th scale Jobsian obsession. Continue reading →

Planning the Macworld | iWorld Presentation

by Tracy Evans on January 5, 2012 in Apple, Theatrics with No comments

Bob Gebert and I have been working dilligently on our Macworld presentation. For me, it starts with pencil on paper. I like a messy erasable medium at this stage.

The presentation will include background on Beckinfield, the Theatrics production process, what it’s like to start a startup, and a few other behind-the-sceens items. Our special guest will announce the winner of the Theatrics Ultimate Online Audition Contest, then participate is a special surprise. More on this tomorrow.

Time-bomb Nano – Day 48

by Tracy Evans on January 4, 2012 in Apple, Gear with No comments

The 6th gen iPod Nano replacement arrived today. It is a very slick piece of tech, superior in every way to my old, scratched up, non-functioning 1st gen model. But I still miss that old guy.

To me, the older Nano represents an exciting technology time period. While iPods had been around for a few years, they still felt like an amazing achievement. Those were the days when carrying around a large music library in your pocket still felt special. These days, while still awesome, it just feels ubiquitous.

I’m speaking at Macworld/iWorld.

by Tracy Evans on January 2, 2012 in Apple, Theatrics with No comments

I am very excited to report that Bob Gebert and I have been invited to speak at Macworld/iWorld. We will be discussing MPTV, Theatrics.com and Beckinfield, the worlds first Mass Participation TV web series. We will have a special guest and will also be shooting a live segment of Beckinfield during the presentation, with the audience playing a part. It will be quite the unique event. More details to come. Stay tuned.

Time-bomb Nano – Day 34

by Tracy Evans on December 21, 2011 in Apple, Gear with No comments

The good news is that Apple informed me today that a 6th generation iPod Nano is winging it’s way to my door. The bad news is the same.

Thanks for the new gear Apple. I will miss my old classic 1st gen iPod. Please take good care of it.

Time-bomb Nano – Day 33

by Tracy Evans on December 20, 2011 in Apple, Gear with No comments

With all the talk today of 6th generation iPod Nanos showing up as recall replacements for 1st gen models, I called Apple to ask about my pending shipment. During my conversation with the AppleCare rep I was amazed to hear …

“Apple put the 1st generation iPod back into manufacture.”

It seems hard to believe that Apple could fire up a production line for a six-year old device. When the rep told me this, I re-asked the question two more times to preclude the possibility of misunderstanding. He assured me that Apple re-manufactured (not just refurbished) units to meet the needs of the Nano recall.

“It’s a customer satisfaction thing. People have accessories, arm bands and such, for this model and would not be happy to have to re-buy those items.”
– AppleCare Representative

He went on to remind me however that the terms of the replacement offer state that Apple can replace the unit with either the same unit or one with identical, or better, features.

I told the Apple rep that most people would not complain over receiving newer device as a replacement – had the 1st gen Nano not been so cool. I have a particular fondness for my scratched-up original – so much so that it was difficult to part with.

One never knows if these friendly front-line Apple reps have been provided with accurate or up-to-date information. As of today, it is still a suspenseful mystery as to what Nano may show up at ones door, and when it may arrive. I for one will be keeping a watchful eye out for UPS.