But I figured that as long as I was using ToDo, I may as well take advantage of its other features. I created another list called Expo Booths Notable; when I found something especially interesting at a booth, I moved that vendor's entry to this new list. At the end of the show, I had a convenient list of all the vendors or products that warranted a follow-up. I also used the Notes field in each task to type brief notes about interesting products. Finally, if I saw something that was more appropriate for one of my colleagues, I used ToDo's Share Task button to send the task--vendor name, booth number, notes, and all--to him or her. I ended up using an actual paper notepad only once the entire week: to take detailed notes for my .

As for the iMacworld app, although it wasn't the most stable I've used--it regularly crashed on me--it was great for getting more information about a vendor, as well as for finding exactly where on the show floor that vendor or a booth number was located, taking the place of paper maps and show programs.

With all these tools and capabilities packed into my iPhone, I found myself carrying less than ever while being far more productive--it was the best Expo experience I've had as a journalist.

What didn't work

Not everything went as smoothly as it could have. The most obvious issue I experienced--along with other Expo attendees--was network coverage: there were a number of times last week when I couldn't get a data signal of any kind. Given that I've had very few signal issues with my iPhone outside Expo, even around Moscone Center, I blame most of this on the sheer number of iPhone users in such a small place, as well as that space being over-saturated with countless wireless signals--Wi-Fi, 3G, EDGE, CDMA, and various proprietary wireless networks.