Tag: apple
ABCey’s Tech Tuesday: Top 10 Event Tech Trends of 2019
It’s Tuesday! ABCey presents #TechTuesday as we highlight the best and brightest ideas in the event tech industry. For today’s #TechTuesday, we feature ten event tech trends to look for in 2019.
1) Mobile Charging Stations
Full charge ahead! Having a convenient and reliable way to charge mobile devices is one of the top amenities event attendees crave. By incorporating charging outlets into themed décor to your next event will not only satisfy their craving but also make it more trendy. goCharge is a great source to rent or buy a charging station for your next event!
2) 5G
Verizon and AT&T have both launched preliminary 5G services, but neither one is broadly available yet. With 5G, it’s fast, more responsive and able to connect a lot more devices at once. The speed and reliability of your venue’s Wi-Fi will become less important, as attendees will already have high-speed internet available to them on their devices, allowing for more opportunities.
3) Event Diagramming
Event diagramming tools are constantly improving. With the ability to lay out your event in any way you want, it allows for better planning and better control. Additionally, it helps planners and venue management save time. Forbes has used the software since 2013 to improve the efficiency of their events by visually verifying the placement of every piece as well as the viability of venues. We recommend MagicPlan or SocialTables Check in to make your planning a breeze!
4) Facial Recognition
Identifying and verifying an individual by using their faces has never been easier. With facial recognition, we can easily check in and register guests, reach new audience members and most of all, improve on site security. Apple and theme parks, like Disneyland have already take on facial recognition and have integrated into their systems with the IPhone and tickets respectively.
5) Beacons
A great companion for your event app- Beacon’s bluetooth technology send signals to other smart devices nearby using small, wireless transmitters. . One of the most useful benefits of beacon technology is that it has the capability to help attendees navigate from point A to point B. AppAtlas, powered by the mobile event app provider MeetingPlay, recently launched indoor wayfinding throughout enourmous ropms. By downloading an app, venue guests can easily navigate throughout these mega complexes with turn-by-turn directions right from their mobile or smart devices..
6) Event Applications
Event applications are a great tool for listing your event info, schedules, performer information, and more all in ONE place. Their flexibility makes them a perfect fit for almost any type of event. Pathable and Guidebook are just a few! Built with ease of use and design in mind, both event apps are great at being simple and convenient!
7) Event Automation
Event automation gives event planners the ability to create personalized experiences for all attendees. By sending out information tailored to each person to their own interests, it could also help prevent attendees from getting slammed with information overload. GEVME, Silverpop and HubSpot are some trending event automation platforms that will get you started!
8) Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
Waiting in line for an event? Say no more! With RFID, you can set up a faster entry process and store payment, all in one with this tool. Furthermore, you can significantly cut down on your day-of staff or reallocate your staff into more engaging roles at your event venue. Xylobands, made popular by Coldplay is a great source of RFID coming into play. During the concert, it lights up during the musical acts and is a beautiful sight. Not only is it mesmerizing, but it will be a factor in getting people to come back.
9) Artificial Intelligence (Chatbots)
If you had questions about an event, don’t fear! With chatbots, you are able to get your question answered in a few seconds, relieving overwhelmed staff. In addition, chatbots are virtual meaning they could be on different social media platforms anytime and anywhere. There are numerous chatbots all over the internet including Spotify, Uber, Nike and more!
10) Augmented Reality
In simple words, augmented reality is a combination of our real and computer-generated worlds in the form of live video imagery. With this technology, events planners can utilize the capabilities of computer-generated display text, sound and effects to enhance attendees’ real world experience. Attendees can experience AR through headsets or through displays on mobile devices. When Apple announced the ar feature at Apple’s annual conference, Worldwide Developers Conference, it changed everything for years to come!
Have you tried any of these event tech trends? Which one is your favorite? Let us know what you think in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
If you’re interested in learning more about events we’ve done for otherSan Francisco startups or other fortune 500 companies, click here.
Startup Monday: Bannerman
Startup Monday is ABCey’s weekly post that features some of the best and brightest companies in the Bay Area. They are often companies that we have our eye on or have worked with in the past & would like to share with friends and followers of ABCey Events!
Bannerman is an events service that allows businesses to book security guards on demand. With on-call security guards (trained to arrest, control crowds, and take action in an emergency) your event is sure to flow smoothly. Bannerman allows help within 30 minutes of a request and guarantees trust and safety as their main priority!
With the Bannerman app, booking is made easy in 3 steps. Simply type in the date and time of your needed service, select the number of guards, and place the location of your event.
At ABCey we love Bannerman because of their awesome features! Flat hourly rates are provided through the app so there is never a question on how much your security will cost. Free online signup and 24/7 customer service help cater to an event’s specific needs. In addition, background checks are available for businesses to ease the stress on booking the right guard!
The struggle to find security for your business conference or personal party is no more. With Bannerman, booking a reliable security guard for your event is fast and easy! Now available for download on the App Store. What do you think about this startup? Let us know with a comment or message us on Facebook or Twitter!
Seasonal Fall Foods for Our Tables
ABCey Events loves using the freshest fruits and vegetables to feed our guests! We are super excited to welcome a new season of food to spice up our event menus! Squash, apples, pears, sweet potatoes and other Fall foods are making their way onto our tables in the coming months. Here are some fun recipes to incorporate into your fall festivities!
Festive Pumpkin Dip
This spiced delicious Festive Pumpkin Dip is the perfect use of seasonal fruits and vegetables, like pumpkin and peppers, to serve to your guests as an appetizer. Just be warned, they may not want to stop for the main course!
Pork Roast with Sweet Potatoes, Apples, and Onions
While the turkey might be the protein of choice in November, we think pork roast goes pretty well with classic Autumn vegetables. In this Pork Roast with Sweet Potatoes, Apples, and Onions, you’ll be able to experience all of the Fall flavors in one delicious dish. Did we mention this recipe is gluten free?
Apple Bundt Cake with Caramel Glaze
Apples, spices, and caramel glaze; what is more Fall than an Apple Bundt Cake? We’re sure we won’t be able to leave the table after having a slice of this festive cake, but it’ll be worth it!
Spiked Mulled Apple Cider
Cozy up with a spiked mulled apple cider on a chilly Fall day. Basically the Autumn version of sangria, this hot drink has orange zest, cinnamon, cardamon, nutmeg and apples of course! Just keep them coming.
What are your favorite foods to eat this season? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
Apple’s September iPhone 6 and iWatch Event Launches Exciting New Tech
Big news! Yesterday, Apple hosted its September 2014 iPhone 6 and iWatch Event! We can’t wait to try out all of the new tech products below! Especially the new app Apple Pay which could come in handy on small purchases at big events!
iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
When we look at the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, the first thing that we notice is the significantly larger screen size with iPhone 6’s 4.7 inch screen and the iPhone 6 Plus’s 5.5 inch screen with rounded edges and a camera lens which protrudes the phones body. We can also note the phone’s thinner and lightweight body!
New Camera Specs: include an 8MP iSight camera with 1.5 micron pixels and a f/2.2 aperture. The new camera has the capacity to shoot 1080p videos at 30-60fp using continuing auto focus, perfect for covering live events on social media! The front-facing camera feature offers users a burst mode and single shot HDR and HDR videos.
Both phones will come with iOS 8, with the iPhone 6 starting at $199 for 16GB and the 6 Plus starting at $299. Both phones will be available to ship on September 19th, pre-orders starting on September 12th.
Apple Pay
Apple has introduced a new payment process called Apple Pay! Apple Pay uses NFC and Touch ID to confirm purchases, with users using their Passbook App to browse through their credit cards after verifying the card with their bank. Apple Pay creates a one-time device-only number which protects the user’s credit card number in the event of theft and allows the user to suspend payments without the hassle of canceling their credit cards. This tap-and-go style payment is similar to the R.F.I.D. style of payments used for a number of large events!
Introducing the iWatch!
The most exciting announcement at the Apple Event was the unveiling of the long awaited iWatch! The iWatch will act, not only as a watch (accurate within plus or minus of 50 milliseconds), but also serve as a competitor of popular fitness devices like Jawbone or Fitbit, with its equipped heart monitor, gyroscope and accelerometer. The iWatch will also include Siri and a navigation system known as digital crown. Apple will also open the WatchKit SDK allowing third-party developers to create additional functionalities on the Apple Watch.
Style: The iWatch will come with various customizable options including six types of strap and two metal frame colors, in three different collections: the original Watch, Watch Sports, and a 18k gold Apple Watch Edition.
The iWatch will be available early 2015 with prices starting at $349.
and since we love events!
Tim Cook wrapped up the unveiling declaring his profound love and involvement in music, before welcoming U2 to perform on stage as well as giving out the bands latest album “Songs of Innocence” free on iTunes (offer lasts until mid-October 14th).
Which products are you most excited about?! Our personal fave is the Apple Pay! Let us know on the links below or on Facebook and Twitter!
5 Summer Apps That Make You Want To Party!
Here is our salute to the summertime barbeques and outdoor parties that are taking the nation by storm! ABCey Events has found the five best apps to make any summer party kick it up to the next level.
1. First, and most importantly, download the SunSmart App. After recording your skin type, this app will tell you when it is time for another layer of the lotion! Everyones’ skin is different so what is good for someone else is not neccesarily good for you. Please be careful this summer and where the appropriate amount of sunscreen!
2. No summer party is ever complete without the jams pumping! To ensure your party is music filled with only the best tunes, check out TuneIn Radio, a free radio app that lets you broadcast your own music or pick and choose your favorite songs! One of the best and newest music apps we have seen in a while.
3. To add to the party vibe of your event, download the Mixology app to learn how to make yummy cocktails! This app explains how to create each drink so your party is a booze-filled success! Perfect for pool parties!
4. On to one of the most fabulous grilling apps you will find, GrillTime. GrillTime sets off alarms on your phone when to flip burgers, chicken or any other meat! Instead of guessing when the food is ready, or forgetting about it because of how much fun your party is, rely on this app to help you make the best tasting barbeque anyone has ever had!
5. Finally, what is a party without a little Karaoke? Karaoke Anywhere is a mobile app that, like its’ title says, you can take and rock out anywhere! What other game is more perfect for a pool party than a little friendly karaoke competition?
How will you be celebrating this summer season? Let us know below in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter!
Tech Tuesday: Pro Party Planner
Tech Tuesday highlights the best and brightest ideas in the tech world. ABCey would like to recognize these up and coming companies for their innovative ideas and ability to think outside the box!
If you’ve ever planned an event, then you can understand that it’s a massive undertaking. There are literally hundreds of things to organize, plan and create before the actual event. Here at ABCey, we’ve stumbled upon a new party planning app, Pro Party Planner that may help make this process a bit easier.
Regardless if you’ve ever planned a party or if you’re a professional, the Pro Party Planner App is an amazing tool. It helps keeps track of your guests, budget and logistics. Once an event is added, you can begin adding people to the guest list. The best part is you can add guests directly from your contact list or Facebook.
There are many other great features that come with this app such as a planning module that allows you to edit the menu, entertainment, and party favors. You can design a venue floor plan with drag-and-drop seating charts for attendees or delegate important tasks to your organizing team. There’s also a helpful party timeline that provides alerts and reminders as the event approaches and includes a unique Augmented Reality module that will let you visualize all your information directly on the location’s pictures!
With all these amazing features, it’s hard to believe this app only costs $4.99 at the Apple app store. Go ahead and give it a try! Leave us a comment below or on Facebook & Twitter. Tell us how this app worked for you!
Startup Monday: Sevenlogics
Startup Monday is ABCey’s weekly post that features some of the best and brightest companies in the Bay Area. They are often companies that we have our eye on or have worked with in the past that we would like to share with the friends and followers of ABCey Events.
When you’re planning for the big day, you need all the help you can get! That’s why we love Sevenlogics‘ wedding planning apps.
This LA-based company has been filling the Android and Apple app markets with its products since 2009! Sevenlogics focuses on problem-solving apps in categories including baby, lifestyle, finance, and (of course!) wedding prep. Since every app is free, there’s no excuse not to take them out for a spin!
Our favorite apps are the wedding-themed ones, like Wedding To-Do and Wedding Budget. Although these are obviously marketed towards brides and grooms, these apps are great for any upcoming project you have on your hands. Wedding Budget is our hands-down favorite because keeping track of the budget is always a huge concern, no matter the size! Set up strict allocations for each phase of the event planning process, including venue and catering costs. The clear calculations and graphics make it easy to see what’s consuming too much money and which areas came in under budget.
Would you use a Sevenlogics app for your next big project? Let us know in a comment or on Facebook & Twitter!
ABCey’s Weekend Line-Up 6.6.13-6.10.13
There are so many events happening around the bay this weekend! Only in the bay area can you choose between barrel tasting some of California’s best wines, learn how yachts are engineered for the America’s Cup, or chow down in a burger brawl. ABCey gives you the inside scoop from San Jose to San Francisco!
1. Chipotle Cultivate Festival | Saturday, June 8th | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | Golden Gate Park, Hellman Hollow | Chipotle is sponsoring a free event in order to engage people in conversations about healthy and sustainable food. You’ll need all day to take advantage of the wide array of activities in this festival, like the live music, chef tents, and the food and tasting halls. Make sure to try the Cultivate Farmhouse Ale, a special-edition beer exclusively available at the festival!
2. The Future is Electric: Plug in and Get There | Saturday, June 8th | 10:30 p.m.-2 p.m. | 100 Larkin St., San Francisco | Learn about the many advancements in plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) in an event that expertly combines the know-how of a workshop and the festivities of a street fair. Inside the event, held in the San Francisco Public Library, experts will discuss the environmental and financial benefits to owning a PEV.
3. The Tech Museum After Hours | Wednesday, June 5th | 6 p.m.-11 p.m. | The Tech Museum, San Jose | Here’s the chance to live your secret desire to be in a museum after it closes! At After Hours, peruse the scientific and technological exhibits with added nighttime entertainment. You haven’t seen a museum until you’ve seen it with a cocktail in hand!
4. Passport to Pinot | Saturday, June 8th- Sunday, June 9th | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | How does a drive through wine country sound? Visit the beautiful Russian River Valley and explore the over thirty participating wineries with your Passport to Pinot! You’ll be able to tour vineyards, barrel taste the 2012 wines before they are bottled, and pair your wines with local foods. Click here to buy your tickets!
5. Inside Social Apps |Thursday, June 5th- Friday, June 6th | 8 a.m.-6 p.m. | Hilton Union Square, San Francisco | Whether you’re an app fanatic or just an interested beginner, you’ll leave this event with a better understanding of how to work and benefit from apps. The all-star team of presenters are sure to capture your attention and relate to your business interests. Attend sessions on topics such as Trends in Social and Mobile Advertising, Maximizing Audience Participation, and Developing Cross-Platform.
6. Apple Worldwide Developers Conference | Monday, June 10th- Friday, June 14th | Moscone West Convention Center, San Francisco | This weeklong Apple conference will tell you everything you could possibly want to know concerning the latest developments in iOS and OS X. There are over 100 available sessions discussing Apple technology, lunchtime expert speakers, a “stump the experts” Apple trivia contest, and a huge bash at the end! Who said learning can’t be fun?
7. The San Francisco Burger Brawl | Saturday, June 8th | 12 p.m.-8 p.m. | Fort Mason, San Francisco | We live in a town full of foodies and chefs who all claim to know about the “bay’s best burger.” The time has finally come to dispel the rumors once and for all. At the Burger Brawl, the bay’s finest burgermeisters will battle it out for ultimate bragging rights. You get to reap the benefits with a full bar, live music, and all the burgers you can eat!
8. Baby Loves Disco | Sunday, June 9th | 12 p.m.-2:30 pm | Temple Nightclub, San Francisco | For once, your legal age will get you kicked out of a club! Families with children aged 6 months to 7-years-old are welcome to shake their booties together under the disco ball during this event’s brief time in the bay. Healthy snacks, kid-friendly entertainment, and diaper changing tables are readily available. And, of course, everything is baby-proofed.
9. San Mateo County Fair | Saturday, June 8th- Sunday, June 16th | 11 a.m.-10 p.m. | San Mateo Convention Center | Get a little taste of American summer with an old fashioned county fair! You’ll see all your old favorites like funnel cakes, the Ferris Wheel, and a petting zoo. Get nostalgic this weekend at the county fair!
10. 2013 America’s Cup: A Transformation | Tuesday, June 11th | 5:30 p.m. | South Beach Yacht Club | The whole city is excitedly awaiting for the bay to fill up with yachts for the America’s Cup. Learn about the tech side to the America’s Cup, from engineering the boats to the creation of mobile apps and games, at this unique and exclusive event.
What are you doing this weekend? Would you go to these events? Tell us in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!