Google CEO Schmidt avoids the dog food, captures memories with BlackBerry

Investment firm Allen & Co's Sun Valley, Idaho media summit is a place for the world's wealthiest and most influential decision-makers to chill out, enjoy a couple double Macallans on the rocks, and talk shop. It might even be a rare opportunity to escape to the comfort of a competitor's product -- a guilty pleasure you wouldn't dream of indulging in more buttoned-up environments. Google CEO Eric Schmidt was caught snapping a candid shot from a BlackBerry (we're pretty sure it's a Curve 8900) at the event -- and yes, granted, Google makes apps for BlackBerrys, but when there's a phone that bears your company's own name, it feels just a little bit like cheating, doesn't it? We guess the big, ratty Google sticker adds back a sliver of street cred, but it's not like this thing's packing some furiously awesome camera that a Magic, Dream, or Hero doesn't. How's Gmail treatin' you there, Eric? You're using that, at least, right?

[Via CNN]

[Sisyphus @ Jul 9th 2009 7:54PM]

Maybe its running Android.

[D @ Jul 9th 2009 7:57PM]

har har.

[dan @ Jul 10th 2009 12:34AM]

What the hell? It would be stupid to think that Google made ANY phone targeted at the "CEO" market. There are like what, four CEOs to every fifty million middle-class Americans? Where's the market share unless you can get quadruple the price of a Vertu?

It is perfectly logical that a CEO would not be using the phone his company made, especially when vendors are giving these people ridiculous amounts of crap (with free service etc) free every day.

[AlCapa @ Jul 10th 2009 3:18AM]

Irrespective of whether the phone is running android or not, doesn't means that he doesn't like blackberry. Blackberry has been around for a long time and it is entirely acceptable that he is hung onto it. CEOs are just like people in a way, old habits don't go easily.

[arash @ Jul 10th 2009 9:44AM]

the reason is simple: because their own phone is shitty as hell

[Iceman @ Jul 9th 2009 7:57PM]

You go with the best I guess.

[commenter @ Jul 9th 2009 8:23PM]

apparently android phones aren't the best or at least the ceo of google thinks so.

[nikster @ Jul 9th 2009 9:46PM]

Maybe Google is about to buy out Blackberry....

[Ordeith @ Jul 9th 2009 9:47PM]

GoogleTech spys on you and they categorize and analyze all the information telemetry they receive.

What CEO would use such tech for possibly confidential corporate information?

GoogleTech may be free, but it comes at a high price.

[Ben @ Jul 9th 2009 7:58PM]

my beliefs... shattered.

[Look_Around_You @ Jul 9th 2009 8:04PM]

Get this man a HTC Hero ASAP!

[SABRAGE @ Jul 9th 2009 7:59PM]

Thanks for making a shit post like this right after the actually useful one about Dolby.

[Chris Ziegler @ Jul 9th 2009 8:01PM]

It was an honor and a pleasure.

Seriously, though, sorry we continued to write stories after Dolby... scrolling sucks, doesn't it?

[killermojo @ Jul 9th 2009 8:09PM]

I don't get it Chris.. This is a pretty snarky article. Is the guy only allowed to touch Google related products?

[Templarian @ Jul 9th 2009 8:13PM]

Would you rather have a company force their employees (he would still probably do what he wants) into certain products. Most business people are still going to choose a certain devices over Android (this will change once they get better business oriented phone designs and wider business applications).

[Chris Ziegler @ Jul 9th 2009 8:13PM]

Of course not -- it's just a nice, ironic picture... a fun little bit of color to end your Thursday with. That's all.

[john @ Jul 9th 2009 8:18PM]

Chris,

Every time you jump on and stick to one of your readers you lose a little bit more credibility.

Don't get me wrong, I actually appreciate that you take the time to engage with the community but I wouldn't respond if you are going to be snarky

[fistpittingnork @ Jul 9th 2009 8:18PM]

@killermojo

Certainly not allowed to only touch Google branded phones, but for someone who's in a position to represent the products and services that make him money, it just doesn't make sense to see him with anything but.

It also reminds me of something that I witnessed a few years ago. I live in OKC, about 10 or so miles away from Toby Keith's stupid ass. Anyway, we had a party one night and one of the people who showed up was friends with his daughter. This was during his Ford commercial days. What did his daughter show up in? a GMC Sierra.

[all things considered @ Jul 9th 2009 8:19PM]

Speaking of a touch of color, I just saw one of those new samsung OLED screens at the mall. Super thin. Simply awesome.

[Chris Ziegler @ Jul 9th 2009 8:22PM]

@John - I appreciate criticism, I really do. I'm convinced it makes me a better writer. But dismissing this as an "(expletive) post" isn't the way to go about it -- and yes, I'll admit, I lash out sometimes when we get really uncalled-for stuff like that.

[pedro @ Jul 9th 2009 8:49PM]

This article me LOL, these comments made me LOL even more...

Keep up the good work Chris, some others need to remove the sticks from their behind

No offense guys

[Sameer Surampalli @ Jul 9th 2009 8:52PM]

While I agree this post may not be the best of content, I still stand on Chris' side here. "Shit" or not, it's still news and since apparently you've never worked in a journalistic environment, guess what? It still will make the site. So instead of bitching on Chris and calling it a "shit" post, let's either see you produce something of higher quality or find another gadget blog that doesn't put out what you consider "shit" posts.

[SABRAGE @ Jul 9th 2009 9:01PM]

This is really just my release after months and months of pointless, asinine "news" items on this website. The Dolby post was useful and informative, and then it was right back to the pointless crap. So, yes, this is a shit post, and I wish that Engadget would focus more on finding worthwhile news items (e.g. not the latest Wiimote hack or KIRF) and creating content that isn't aimed at the lowest common denominator of the Youtube commenter.

And you ridiculous logical fallacies do not warrant a direct response, Sameer. Go home.

[Adderz @ Jul 9th 2009 9:20PM]

Im with you Chris

I found this article quite interesting, because if the staff of a company cant get behind their own product, why should the general public?

[Dr. steve brule @ Jul 9th 2009 9:26PM]

when did a blog about tech stuff become a news blog? its articles related to the tech world and this was a quirky, ironic little FUNNY jab. it must suck going through life being such an asshole and having everything bother you sabrage.

but then again i would much rather read a site with only informative information and never anything funny end sarcasm tag or whatever.

oh and one last thing, you're a douche nozzle sabrage.

[pedro @ Jul 9th 2009 9:29PM]

I do see your point, but stories like this give this site its character.

I dont particularly like their sometimes seemingly anti-Microsoft stance, but I skip past the stories I dont like the look of and move onto something else, or just join the guaranteed flamewar in the comments.

I just had a look at the Dolby story and this one has more comments? There are more stories like it at other sites, where the news is not as good.

While we are here, I will moan about EngadgetHD and EngadetMobile being seperate sites, it drives me up the wall, please combine them guys ;)

[sweet greggo @ Jul 9th 2009 10:08PM]

Hiya, Chris! *waves*

[Razloga @ Jul 9th 2009 7:59PM]

At least it's not an iphone...

[FNG @ Jul 9th 2009 8:00PM]

and he's also holding a PC.

[darkstar @ Jul 9th 2009 9:52PM]

i would have no respect if he uses an iphone. seriously.
no surprise with Obama with a blackberry.
iphones are for kids.

[Jeff @ Jul 9th 2009 8:00PM]

Now I want to see Steve Jobs caught using a WinMo phone =)

[I hate mingers @ Jul 9th 2009 8:15PM]

what's WinMo?

[fistpittingnork @ Jul 9th 2009 8:24PM]

@ mingers

Crap.

[Willis @ Jul 10th 2009 2:28PM]

Like the guy who sold me my Mac Book used a win-mo phone to check me out?

[B3astofthe3ast @ Jul 9th 2009 8:01PM]

He must really hate T-mobiles coverage...

[Dr. steve brule @ Jul 9th 2009 9:29PM]

he should unlock and root his phone and run a cooked rom. or maybe he needs better battery life, heh.

[Greg @ Jul 9th 2009 10:09PM]

Yeah, no reason he couldn't/wouldn't have the unlocked/"jailbroken" (because I can't think of any better word for it) dev phone version of the G1.

[oghowie @ Jul 9th 2009 8:04PM]

You gotta admit that BB is still tops for email.

[Gad Get @ Jul 9th 2009 9:46PM]

Business email, that is. Gmail, not so much. How ironic.

[Rob @ Jul 9th 2009 10:25PM]

Why's that Gad Get? I have Gmail push on my BB and it's been flawless. Email, sent and received instantly and it's never been unreliable...going on 24 months now.

[216 @ Jul 10th 2009 10:02AM]

push works yes, but access to labels/stars/etc sucks. I use the gmail app for my gmail, altho when the new gmail plug-in for BB gets released i'll be happy

[Rob @ Jul 10th 2009 12:28PM]

@216,

I see. I thought the reference was to Gmail's core email functionality. The new GMAIL app for BB should solve all the rest, hopefully.

[tamoghno @ Jul 9th 2009 8:04PM]

He only uses when his android runs out of battery , i.e after 12 in the noon.

[Flo @ Jul 9th 2009 8:08PM]

He also sits on the board of another company which produces phones...

[Pies @ Jul 9th 2009 8:10PM]

This gentleman in the picture is worth $6.2 billion and is the Chairman and CEO of Google. He might have more than one phone.

[Pies @ Jul 9th 2009 8:20PM]

But when you think about it, why exactly is he showing off a Blackberry to the press? Geek pride? A friendly call-out to RIM? Next gen Blackberry will run Android?

[Pies @ Jul 9th 2009 8:22PM]

I mean, I want some journalising in my infotainment, damnit!

[dk @ Jul 9th 2009 8:10PM]

It's probably why MSOutlook sync with GoogleApps mail now works better. LOL

[Bash2cool @ Jul 9th 2009 8:12PM]

Well if Obama has one, why not the world?

[nick @ Jul 9th 2009 8:17PM]

I would have to assume he's using the new gmail plugin for blackberry that is coming out soon.

He could be using T-mobile with an 8900.