By Soli Moshfeghian, information architect
If James Franco walks into a party and you can’t tweet about it, will anyone believe you? Use these tips to avoid a dead phone disaster:
Turn off Geo-location apps
If you are lost or confused, ask a friendly Austinite for directions. We generally don’t bite.
Settings > Privacy > Location Services > Off
Tame your notifications
Twitter, Calendar, and text are the only notifications you need.
Settings > Notification Center > Scroll down under each category and select ‘None’
Disable iMsg
We used to send regular ol’ texts back in the day anyway.
Settings> Messages > iMessage > Off
Say No To Siri
Siri uses GPS or Wifi to work, so disable her if you can get by.
Settings> General > Siri > Off
Dim your Screen
The hot Texas sun is bright enough.
Home Button > Slide Finger Up from Bottom of Screen > Lower brightness
Disable WiFi and Bluetooth
Kill WiFi and Bluetooth if not in use as they are battery drainers.
Home Button > Slide Finger Up from Bottom of Screen > Wifi and Bluetooth off – unless you are using accessories
Stop Unnecessary Vibrations and Sounds
You’ll be checking your phone for secret show updates every five minutes anyway.
Settings> Sounds > Vibrate > Off
Settings > Sounds > Keyboard Clicks > Off
Stop Motion
Background motion does not come without a price.
Settings > General > Accessibility > Reduce Motion > Move slider to Green/On
Disable Diagnostics
Apple doesn’t need to know what you’re up to for the next few days.
Settings > General > About > Diagnostics and Usage > Don’t Send
Kill any unused apps
The worst are the ones that use location services.
Double click the home button, slide apps up off the screen to kill the unused apps.
Disable iPod EQ
All the good music is on stage anyway.
Settings > Music > EQ > Off
Go Airplane
If you are in a low coverage spot, tune out and turn on Airplane mode for a bit.
Settings> Airplane Mode > Off
Set Auto-Lock Timer to 1 Minute
This will save your battery and your butt from making unwanted calls.
Settings> General > Auto-Lock > 1 minute
Cheat. Buy A Backup Charger.
How To Charge Forward
If you need a quick charge, and especially if your battery is running uber low, avoid using macbooks or a desktop. Charge either via an iPad or a wall adaptor.
Charge up your Smartphone and your Body
A few sponsors offer secure charging stations where you can charge up your gadget. Did we mention that you can lounge on one of massage chairs nearby?
Last but not least, don’t be shy. Plug in to a stranger’s macbook or iPad. Just make sure you buy them a drink after.
