I am very excited because I was asked to be a judge in the Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine’s 8^th annual Best Software Awards (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/awards).  This marks the second consecutive year I am involved with the awards, which, “help users select the best Windows Mobile applications, utilities, and games, while honoring companies that produce outstanding software.”  I know what you are thinking…but Doug, you are so busy.  How can you possibly have time for this?  Well, the truth is I just really enjoy it.  I spend all year reviewing mostly fantastic Windows Mobile software.  In a lot of ways, these awards feel like the culmination of that year of work. Now is the time when I get to sit down and recognize the programs that really shined during the past year. 

Before I get to that though, it is time for all of you to step in and help us out.  Over the course of the last month or two, Nominations Manager, Werner (“Menneisyys”) Ruotsalainen, and the rest of the 2008 Board of Experts (myself included, and for the first time, JAMM’s very own Lauren Weigand), developed the nominations list. Now, the preliminary list of Windows Mobile Windows Mobile nominations is ready for public viewing and comment.

That is where all of you will come in.  We need you, the Windows Mobile end-users and Windows Mobile developers to help us out by making some nominations suggestions.  Nominations will be open until July 16, 2008, and all nominations will be frozen on July 21.

You can nominate a program, suggest a new category, or un-nominate it if you feel it is not worthy by completing the Nominations form.  You can also discuss the nominations, awards, or anything else relating the this year’s awards by visiting the Awards Forum.  For more information about this year’s awards, check out: www.pocketpcmag.com/awards