Filed under: Macworld, Analysis / Opinion
Five ways to prepare for Macworld
Some believe that the Macworld anticipation is as fun as the show itself; others find it stressful and unpleasant. This list has something for members of both parties, from stress reducers to getting the most out of the show. Let's get started.1. Prep your iPhone. You'll be bringing your iPhone, right? Of course you will. Here's how you can get it ready for the show.
- Install the San Francisco BART information. BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) is San Fran's public transportation system. People visiting the show from out-of-town may want to install a BART subway map or add http://www.bart.gov/wireless as a bookmark to Mobile Safari. The latter offers real-time arrival times and advisories, point-to-point travel planning, an interactive map and even bike rules.
- Set up bookmarks in Google Maps. Before traveling to a new city, it's a good idea to create relevant bookmarks in Google Maps. Your hotel, the expo center and the location of the party you'll be attending are a good place to start. That way, when you're in front of the hotel and need to find a Starbucks or bike rental place (see above), you'll have your starting point ready to go.
- Create a travel playlist. Waiting for planes, trains and automobiles is annoying. Organize your favorite tunes into a stress-reducing playlist that you can access when needed.
- Subscribe to relevant RSS feeds. Use Mobile Safari to follow feeds rich with expo info. Might we suggest our Pingie page? Just enter your phone number and email address to receive updates from us via SMS.
- Bookmark iZami.com. This cool iPhone-optimized website lets you browse exhibitors (sorted by name and aisle), rate exhibitors via a message board and share your ratings with other iZami-using attendees. Plus, you can search local restaurants, hotels, and other points of interest.
- Engage airplane mode. Because you don't want to get arrested.
2. Prep your iPod. Don't let your iPhone have all the fun. Here's how you can get your iPod ready for the big day.
- Install the Official BART QuickPlanner. The QuickPlanner provides schedules (sorted by station, including addresses and cross routes), a color map optimized for the iPod's screen, and update notifications.
- Install Mactracker. New hardware will be introduced at Macworld. That's a given. What's uncertain is if you should ditch the machine you've got for something new. With Mactracker, you can refer to your machine's info instantly for an on-the-floor comparison.
- Install Mogopop's Unofficial Macworld Guide. The Mogopop Guide lists exhibitors, schedules, presentations and keynote info plus local restaurants and more.
Why not make things easy and set up a gallery before leaving the house? Give the address out to friends and family so they'll know where to find your photos.- Flickr. If you're a Flickr user, you can easily post photos to Flickr with your phone or even to your blog. If you really want to keep everyone in the loop, set Flickr to notify Twitter whenever you post a picture with a certain tag (say, macworld08).
- .Mac Web Galleries. These are super simple to create. If you're a .Mac member with iLife '08, you can create a gallery with iPhoto. Choose a single photo to represent the start of your gallery - say your ticket or pass - and select it in iPhoto. Next, select Web Gallery from the Share menu. Publish and mail the URL to your intended recipients. Now you can update your gallery at the hotel with photos you pull off of your digital camera, or from the floor itself using photos you take with your iPhone.
- Backpack. 37signals' Backpack is a great way to create an online photo album. As you did with .Mac, you can upload your photos when you get some time with your computer, or directly from your phone by emailing photos to your gallery's special email address. Set your page as public, distribute the address and you're in business.
ngements and so on. Get on top of things with your Mac before you walk out the door.- Enter pertinent information into the Mac OS X Flight Tracker widget. Most airports offer free Wi-Fi. Now you can view your flight's status without leaving your seat.
- Upload PDFs of paper documents. Chances are some of you will lose that printout for the hotel, the driving directions to your buddy's house, etc. Some time this week, scan these documents and upload them to your online storage, web host or service like Box.net.
- Coordinate with friends. If you're going to meet with friends, family or co-workers while in San Fran, make use of free online collaboration tools. PBWiki, Jottit, Google Docs and Writeboard are convenient ways to keep everything straight.
- Bring your favorite movies, music and photos. All that running around can make a person frazzled. Make sure you schedule some down time. Why not create a calendar event that will beep and remind you, "Take five minutes to breathe"? Listen to some music you love, look at photos of your family or friends or unwind with a favorite movie at the end of the day.
- Send a quick video home. Whenever I travel, I use my digital still camera to record a 30 second video of myself saying hello to my kids and my wife, which I send to them via email. It's something they love to receive, and I like to think of them watching it.
- Prepare yourself for disappointment. Every year, there's a large part of the Mac Faithful who are terribly disappointed by Steve's Macworld keynote. That's because (in part) we hear rumors that we want so desperately to be true, and we're bummed when they aren't. Try to enjoy the experience, the city and the interesting people you meet. In other words, let Steve's Reality Distortion Field convince you that you didn't really need a touch-enabled, flash-based Mac tablet, anyway.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Batman said 8:08PM on 1-10-2008
So what about us poor souls who can't make it to MWSF? What do we do?
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antiorario said 8:15PM on 1-10-2008
We stay home and, on Tuesday, get ready to hit "Refresh" a lot ;-)
Chris Thomson said 8:23PM on 1-10-2008
Well, some of us are even less lucky. I have a french exam at the same time as the keynote (booooo!!!!!).
Cycomachead said 8:50PM on 1-10-2008
We get to do homewrok and study for finals! >:(
Well I'll be using my (WinMo-closest-I-can-get-to-an-iPhone with Verizon) phone at school to check things out.
Michael said 8:56PM on 1-10-2008
Chris: Wow I have a French test right after the keynote. lol
Sucks for the distractions. I've had tests during MW/WWDC/special keynotes and they're always the worst for concentration.
Luigi193 said 11:34PM on 1-10-2008
I'm DVD home schooled (dorky, i know), so ill just take a break and watch the Keynote!!!
maz said 8:25PM on 1-10-2008
BARt is pretty damn useless in SF. It's MUNI. Unless you're in the east bay or something.
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Kuy said 11:05PM on 1-10-2008
If you want to get anywhere around SF without being gouged by taxi fare, use 511 (http://www.511.org/). I use it exclusively from my iPhone and 'Touch, and it works really well.
Oh, and come visit us at the Adobe booth.
-Kuy
oaklandgaymac said 12:14AM on 1-12-2008
Yes, traveling from the heart of the BART system (Oakland) is great, but it's also a great way to get from SFO directly into the City. It's not a bad option from the Oakland Airport either (which most of the low cost airlines serve).
antiorario said 8:14AM on 1-11-2008
Eh. San Francisco is so walkable that unless you're very far from the Moscone Center it's just nice to walk there.
Unless it rains.
Last year the weather was quite nice during Macworld. Good times.
Alan said 9:01PM on 1-10-2008
"Most airports offer free Wi-Fi"
Ahaha. Clearly, you haven't been in any airports in a long time. Everything is for-pay now.
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Beau said 5:56AM on 1-11-2008
oh damn.
Jeff said 9:01PM on 1-10-2008
even if you do put your iphone into airplane mode, you could get arrested. that's what happened to that guy, even though he put it in to that mode.
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Andrew Danks said 9:04PM on 1-10-2008
Why is there a picture of an iPod nano? Correct me if I'm wrong, but the apps listed under iPod, are they not exclusive to the iPod touch specifically? I just found the picture to be deceiving.
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midbach said 9:32PM on 1-10-2008
Wow, this isn't the dumbest post I've seen on TUAW but it's close...
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Tyler said 10:29PM on 1-10-2008
Can you make a "not attending" prepare list pl0x?
Kthx.
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Dripps said 10:59PM on 1-10-2008
It's i.zami.com but now that I found it---great site!
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pozzy said 4:54AM on 1-14-2008
Also try http://macworld.tapandgo.com for an interactive map of the show - uses Google Maps engine.
Raikage (Wii FC 5508 0487 4434 0992) said 4:06AM on 1-11-2008
Nice reference to a certain movie.....
Am I the only one who got it?
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mcddjj said 4:47AM on 1-11-2008
SF Muni maps for traveling within the City
http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mmaps/official.htm
http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mmaps/metromaps.htm
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