OT: Blog Tag Game

I rarely go off-topic on my blogs. But, I’ll an exception for this blog tagging game going on. I was blog tagged by Julie Van De Water from the Ilium Software Blog (Ilium produces outstanding products for Windows Mobile devices). I don’t know who originated this particular tree of the game, but here’s reference that explains what is going on: The Blog Tag Tree. There are two basic requirements after getting tagged: 1. Share five things about yourself. 2. Tag five other bloggers. So, here goes.

1. Although this blog tends to focus on Windows Mobile Pocket PC/Phone Edition and Smartphone devices (and an iPod reference now and then), I actually bought and still own a Palm OS device: A Handspring Visor from around, hmm, 1999 or 2000. I dusted it off, put in two fresh AA batteries, and, yep, it fired up right away (unlike all of the iPaqs I have which have all died – HP! Bring back the Jornada engineers!). You can see the photo I took today of the still functioning Handspring Visor above.
2. The reason I own one is that I briefly worked as a contractor for ZDNet from 2000 to 2001. Why? The whole group MSN ComputingCentral Online Managers had their contracts moved from the Microsoft Network to ZDNet when Microsoft tried to revamp MSN. Then, the whole group was disbanded in the Spring of 2001 as part of the great Dot-com Implosion period.
3. I prefer to use a Pocket PC because it has a much richer application universe but I generally carry around a Smartphone because it is easier to carry.
4. Although most people know me from the days I was a contractor for the Microsoft Network or as a proponent of Microsoft’s Windows Mobile Platform, the desktop or notebook in front of me is often a Mac. I pretty much use everything: Windows XP/Vista, Linux, and Mac OS X. And, I’ve really gotten to appreciate the Mac over the last two years.
5. I watch a lot of TV shows on the… Disney Channel (!?!)… with my daughter and actually enjoy a bunch of them. It is a nice change of pace from the often dark and grim shows on other networks. I don’t think I have yet sufficiently explained to her how Kim Possible is a descendent of the James Bond movies.

Now, here are the five bloggers I’m tagging…

1. Ryan & Jen Ozawa - The Transmission. Ryan and Jen became famous for their unofficial Lost Podcast. Ryan even made the front page of Wired.com after Ryan and Jen dropped the Lost Podcast at its height of popularity.
2. Burt Lum – Bytemarks. Burt’s one of the local uber-geeks in my hometown and gathers a group of other geeks for an extremely enjoyable in-person and informal monthly lunch gathering.
3. Derrick Story – The Digital Story. Derrick is an great professional photographer and the author of numerous photography and Mac-related books for O’Reilly Media.
4. Jaap van Ekris – Modern Nomads. Jaap, like me, has been recognized as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in the Mobile Devices area. You may have read some of the articles I’ve referred to in a couple of blog items here.
5. Frank McPherson – Pocket PC How2. Frank is the author of several editions (4th came out last year) of How to Do Everything with Your Pocket PC (renamed How to do Everything with Windows Mobile for the most recent edition). I had the privilege of helping a little by being a technical editor for the various editions.