In this recently released AP photo Google’s CEO Eric Schmidt was caught using a BlackBerry to snap some pictures of reporters at Allen & Co.’s media summit in Sun Valley. They always say that leadership starts at the top so I will be really interested to see how Schmidt will explain his use of a non Android-based device. I’m sure the PR spin will be fast at work to let us know that Schmidt was merely “testing the BlackBerry for market research.”

This reminds me of a fairly recent story I read about Bill Gates’ wife Melinda Gates. In an interview with Vogue magazine she revealed that in their household iPhones and iPods are strictly banned. She went on to characterize those Apple devices as “forbidden fruit”. It will only be a matter of time I’m sure until the Gates’ children “pull a Schmidt.”

In any event, this photo is quite funny. I can’t wait to hear the spin.

AP Photo – Nati Harnik