You can review the printed information to make sure you'll obtain useful information. Sometimes printed conference presentations amount to little more than copies of overhead slides. If the proceedings include complete papers, at least skim the relevant ones to be sure you will benefit from the content. Also, by reading the papers, you'll be better prepared to ask the presenter questions. Check the credentials of the presenters.
Some conferences let marketers and salespeople make presentations about their products.
The application information you expect could turn into a sales pitch for a product. Marketers can provide useful overview information, but you'll gain more application information from fellow engineers who talk about what they have done and how they did it. Make sure you balance your schedule between conference sessions and time on the exhibit floor. The latest information about conference sessions should also list companies that will exhibit their products. At the least, obtain a list of exhibitors with booth numbers, and a site map of exhibits.