I’ll be attending Android Dev Con and the Grace Hopper Conference this year and taking these 5 conference survival items with me (click on the pics for more info):
I heard good things about the first AnDevCon in March and I’m excited about sessions related to using advanced layout techniques, building a business around mobile apps, and productivity/testing. I’m bummed that I will be missing all of Wednesday’s sessions, but I’m heading to Grace Hopper that morning. I agonized over the decision, but went with long-term career aspirations (Attending the workshop: Building Your Brand as a Technical Expert or Leader) over short term technical information (awesome information about the Android platform).
Grace Hopper is a perennial favorite and may just be the only reason I’m still in tech. I met my future manager at the first one I attended in 2007 and my second job came through a posting on systers.org (run by the Anita Borg Institute who puts the conference together). The inspiration you experience at this conference is hard to put into words (Check out my article in Linux Pro Magazine!), but I always leave energized about my career!
I’d love to hear what’s essential to your conference experience in the comments!
Being Canadian, and not wanted to get raked over the coals on data charges, I’ve picked up a T-Mobile 4G Hot Spot for my data needs in the U.S. It’s *much* cheaper than any data plan. Plus conference WiFi always seems to fail part way through.
Another essential is my hip flask. Nobody seems to serve good single-malt scotch during the sessions. 🙂
Corey, I really enjoyed talking to you at Grace Hopper! In terms of conference stuff, if I had it to do over again, I’d leave my laptop at home 🙂
I hope your pendulum photos turned out great!