4 Tech Tips to be Prepared for Expo 2015 (Plus Bonus Tips!)

Expo is our biggest event of the year and every minute counts. Here are some of the best tips to be "tech ready" as well as a few bonus tips to make your trip valuable.

1. Keep your cell phone working and charged

a. Upgrade to the latest operating system

i. IOS - go to SETTINGS and GENERAL and click Software update (or plug into your iTunes computer and update)

ii. Android - It should prompt you automatically

b. Turn off Bluetooth

c. Turn off location services (warning: find my iPhone won't work if you do this) (Settings > Privacy > Location Services.)

d. Turn off background activity (Settings > General > Background App Refresh and set the switch to Off.)

e. Dim the screen (This is the biggest battery hog)

f. Turn on airplane mode inside the convention center - This is important because the reception is so spotty that it will constantly search for a connection and drain your battery. You will not be able to send/receive calls/text messages if you do this, but it is a great way to extend your battery life when you can afford to be offline.

g. Charge and bring your battery recharger from your favorite industry supplier.

i. If you don't charge it before the day, it's worthless. If you forget it, it's worthless too!

ii. Pictured below is my current favorite because it charges my phone multiple times, since it is 10400 mAh (which makes it a bit heavy but in a bag it is fine. Thanks to Sweda Company, who gave this to me!).

2. Schedule appointments in the right time zone

Most people schedule appointments in their local time zone and when they get to Expo their mobile device changes the time zone to the Vegas time zone (PST). The next few days, they do the math and try to move things around. There are two simple ways to fix this, but they are best done BEFORE going to Expo.