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]
posted Jul 9th 2009 7:47PM
Maybe its running Android.
har har.
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.
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.
the reason is simple: because their own phone is shitty as hell
You go with the best I guess.
apparently android phones aren't the best or at least the ceo of google thinks so.
Maybe Google is about to buy out Blackberry....
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.
my beliefs... shattered.
Get this man a HTC Hero ASAP!
Thanks for making a shit post like this right after the actually useful one about Dolby.
It was an honor and a pleasure.
Seriously, though, sorry we continued to write stories after Dolby... scrolling sucks, doesn't it?
I don't get it Chris.. This is a pretty snarky article. Is the guy only allowed to touch Google related products?
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).
Of course not -- it's just a nice, ironic picture... a fun little bit of color to end your Thursday with. That's all.
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
@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.
Speaking of a touch of color, I just saw one of those new samsung OLED screens at the mall. Super thin. Simply awesome.
@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.
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
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.
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.
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?
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.
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 ;)
Hiya, Chris! *waves*
At least it's not an iphone...
and he's also holding a PC.
i would have no respect if he uses an iphone. seriously.
no surprise with Obama with a blackberry.
iphones are for kids.
Now I want to see Steve Jobs caught using a WinMo phone =)
what's WinMo?
@ mingers
Crap.
Like the guy who sold me my Mac Book used a win-mo phone to check me out?
He must really hate T-mobiles coverage...
he should unlock and root his phone and run a cooked rom. or maybe he needs better battery life, heh.
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.
You gotta admit that BB is still tops for email.
Business email, that is. Gmail, not so much. How ironic.
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.
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
@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.
He only uses when his android runs out of battery , i.e after 12 in the noon.
He also sits on the board of another company which produces phones...
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.
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?
I mean, I want some journalising in my infotainment, damnit!
It's probably why MSOutlook sync with GoogleApps mail now works better. LOL
Well if Obama has one, why not the world?
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.
As the sticker shows, it's a "with Google" BlackBerry, so it's fine. (but does it have exchange support?)
He was more than likely using BB before IP or AN were, well anything
I read some years ago that Bill Gates used a pair of Apple 30" cinema displays.
Just use what's best for the purpose. An email centric person who's given up learning might stick with BB, it has got a great keyboard.
An interesting thing I saw in a Telstra shop was their point of sale computers. Apple keyboards and mice hooked up to an Acer running a custom web front on massive NEC touch screens. People get too hung up on the ONE and forget that all is One.
Some photos of Bill Gates in his office showed him using a trio of 20" monitors. Couldn't tell the brand, but they weren't Cinema Displays.
Microsoft doesn't make monitors, so who gives a shit what brand of monitor Bill Gates uses?
@Jeremy the tool
Ahh, Google doesn't make phones so who gives what brand he uses. The article is a loose ramble about an Exec using something from a competitor, far as I was aware, Apple and MS are, especially from the carry on by people such as yourself. In fact it is dubious that Google and RIM are even competitors.
Far as any of us plebs know its a BB running a prototype Android
@futurepastnow
Yeah, I read it in a Wired article years ago when the 30" displays came out. Probably FUD.
Maybe its the easiest way to get to his backend corporate data, no need for vpn, secure e-mail, and the only device that can be configured to wipe itself if out of contact with BES for specified period of time
Considering he's on the board of directors at Apple and received the original 1G iPhone for free (and it's not too farfetched to believe board members also received their 3GS for free), it wouldn't be unusual to see him using one.
I think it's great to see him use something that works for him. It only helps them learn how to improve their platform.
Agree, while yes, Google does do Android, it may not have what he wants in a phone. The Blackberry is advertised as a business phone and I'm sure that's why hes using it. Don't flame someone because they don't use their own product. And I also agree with sr in the idea that other products give you insight on how to improve yours.
Does gmail not work on blackberry or something? Apparently my blackberry didnt follow suit.
It's a PR blunder, but I'm not that surprised. Many CEOs like the fact that Blackberry's proprietary messaging system is not stored on company servers and is thus much harder for people to dig through and subpoena later.
Actually, you can log that... You can log anything done on a blackberry.
The point of the matter is, Blackberries are the best devices in a business enviroment. REmote locking/disabl;ing of phones, logging of everything, push email. I could go on and on.
They simply.. Just work.
brix would have been shat if it was an iphone
Not really, he's an apple executive as well as CEO of google.
The phone is too small to be an 8900.
so i assume you guys expect the CEO at Levi's jeans to wear Levi's jeans to go out jogging, or the CEO at Nike wear sneakers to a business meeting...let's not forget this man is a business man. he's simply using the best tool for the job. get over it.
[robot greggo] ABOUT SCHMIDT [/robot greggo]
Just because he works at a certain company doesn't mean he needs to use every product they make over another company's product. He is a consumer as well he can buy whatever he wants.
this is a stupid article. engadget, you're becoming a tabloid.
yeah that is totally a photoshopped blackberry.
I worked on this research project at my school for Motorola. The vice president of there home electronics devision came to see the status of the project and just talk to our group in general. To cut it short, he had an iphone, but said he was gonna have to give it up because other management didn't see to highly of that.
He needs an iPhone
I bet he has like, 5 phones...
haha!
This is his official F*** You to Apple. He has left the board.
When Google products VP Bradley Horowitz came to my university for a talk, he used a MacBook, Safari and an iPhone. Used his iPhone to take few pictures too. Strange.
It's a STORM!
Perhaps that Google "sticker" on the back of his phone is an RFID profile/identification for him AT Google. I know my school uses Heartland by GSB Network RFID tags to let us buy soda and candy from vending machines as well as use them for laundry instead of using our school IDs if we want to -- and my tag of similar size to that Google sticker could serve the same purpose! It looks a bit thicker than a flat, paper-thin sticker after all.
Yeah he got a curev 8900.. I have it:)
maybe the G1 didn't have enought battery life XD
YO schmidt. I have the storm. it is laggy as fuck. You should get the tour like i am, next week. CEO of google and using the storm. jesus.
Well, it looks like he's up to something pretty sneaky. Maybe the Blackberry is his disguise?
Um... no he probably doesn't use gmail.com... maybe google.com since he owns the company and all. besides just because it is a blackberry shell doesn't mean it is actually running RIMOS. Maybe he hacked it, customized or otherwise modded it as only a google exec could. Okay so it probably is RIMOS and he is just that addicted.
as i am sure other comments have said there is no andriod based phone built for a CEO/Business man. It's an awesome OS but i been you can't mess with the best!
So that means he is smart since HTC hardware sucks, no matter what OS it is running.
who uses the flash function in front of a glass window like that unless you want a self portrait?
The standard issue company phone for Googlers is the BlackBerry.
Why is this a surprise? The G1 doesn't support encrypted mail and remote wipe capabilities. And the G1 is targeted at the consumer market, not the enterprise market. And, it is only available on one carrier, and the smallest one at that. I am pretty sure that with the amount of travel the CEO of Google does, he needs to be on Verizon to maintain a good signal.
I was under the impression that for corporate e-mail all google employees used BB. Remember last year when google gave all of their employees a G1 for christmas and told them they weren't allowed to take the SIM cards out of their BB's to put into their fancy new G1? Well that was the case back in December, so I'm sure that's still the case today.
It means that, unlike Microsoft, people are free to choose the tools that work best for them, not just conform to the corporate dictates "thou shalt only use our products."
I have one of those stickers on my 8900 - they are no slip stickers with the google logo on it. They actually come in pretty handy.
He simply can't stand the idea of being without his Google Branded egrips Non-Slip Strip ... and we appreciate his loyalty!
http://www.egrips.com/brandedkits
http://www.egrips.com
We could brand an Android kit for him ... or the Curve 8900 if he refuses to change:
http://www.egrips.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=1
Photoshopped!!! That flash is fake! How could you, Engadget! Nicely done but you can't hide that sun-ray vector shape from me...