It's Official - Windows Phone 7 is Here

[Fingolfin269]

**EDIT for Launch Event**

Launch Day Event:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/11/live-from-microsofts-windows-phone-7-launch-event/

Launch Device Hands-On:

HTC 7 Surround: http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/11/htc-7-surround-first-hands-on/

HTC HD7: http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/11/htc-hd7-first-hands-on/

HTC 7 Mozart: http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/11/htc-7-mozart-first-hands-on/

LG Quantum: http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/11/lg-quantum-first-hands-on/

Samsung Focus: http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/11/samsung-focus-first-hands-on/

LG Optimus 7: http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/11/lg-optimus-7-first-hands-on/

HTC 7 Trophy: http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/11/htc-7-trophy-first-hands-on/

Samsung Omnia 7: http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/11/samsung-omnia-7-first-hands-on/

HTC 7 Pro: http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/11/htc-7-pro-first-hands-on/

Other Launch Day Info:

AT&T U-Verse Mobile: http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/11/atandt-u-verse-mobile-preview/

Apps: http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/11/windows-phone-7-launch-day-app-roundup/

Copy/Paste not available at launch; will be ready early 2011: http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/11/copy-and-paste-coming-to-windows-phone-7-in-early-2011/


I will keep updating as much as I can today...

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Or well, it will be in about a month...

http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/09/windows-phone-7-ads-reveal-samsung-focus-for-atandt-november-8th/

We'd heard November 8th was AT&T's Windows Phone 7 launch date, but this makes it real -- Microsoft advertisements on Microsoft's page, pointing to a brand-new Windows Phone website. And unless we're completely mistaken, the Samsung Cetus finally has a name -- it'll be called the Focus when it comes to AT&T on the specified date. We're not seeing any other spilled beans at Microsoft's new launch page, but we're digging the upbeat tune -- let us know if you find anything intriguing buried in the Silverlight source code on that "new phones" page, will you?

I'm pretty excited about this even though it won't be on my carrier (Sprint) for quite awhile. At least we'll have a chance to see the final build on a real device very soon.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

This actually looks better than android or iOS right now, I wonder how devs will support it though.

 

[Deeko]

This actually looks better than android or iOS right now, I wonder how devs will support it though.

Reportedly, Microsoft has been working very hard to get the big name stuff ported over. Having used the SDK, I gotta say I much prefer it to Android's, too.

It will take time though. Its not going to have 100,000 apps at launch.

 

[Blueychan]

I have been waiting for this platform, it's good to hear that they are launching soon.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

If it launches with angry birds, im down.

 

[dougp]

Samsung better not be the only handset available at launch - I will not purchase. I'm hoping the HTC model will be available though, and I'm planning on dropping my Captivate on eBay as soon as we see a firm launch date.

 

[Deeko]

Samsung better not be the only handset available at launch - I will not purchase. I'm hoping the HTC model will be available though, and I'm planning on dropping my Captivate on eBay as soon as we see a firm launch date.

There have been HTC filings with the FCC for both AT&T and T-Mobile, and the LG model with a hardware keyboard was one of the earliest leaks. I imagine those three companies will be the launch devices.

I'm praying that even though we haven't heard about it since April, that the Dell Lightning is there too. Man that phone looks awesome.

 

[TheStu]

I am kind of annoyed that Ballmer said that Microsoft is not going to release its own handset. I really like the industrial design of the Zune HD (except for the absurdly small home button)

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

i'm really looking forward to it, kinda bored with my DX

 

[judasmachine]

I'm willing to give it a look, but I have a feeling the specs will rock but the carriers will neuter them with proprietary crap. I'd love to see them fully integrate with all my TV, PC, netbook, and laptop. So far the DX has kind of fallen short of that promise. I'm suspecting it is more VZW's fault, than the phone, Android, or Moto.

 

[swerus]

I am kind of annoyed that Ballmer said that Microsoft is not going to release its own handset. I really like the industrial design of the Zune HD (except for the absurdly small home button)

Me too, and I think they could have done away with oem's and taken it straight to the market with a partnership with HTC.

If it would have been an awesome design like the zune hd I would have loved it. Marketing is where MS failed with the zune imo. Its better than any other product out there, and the software is 10x better than itunes.

 

[WelshBloke]

Me too, and I think they could have done away with oem's and taken it straight to the market with a partnership with HTC.

If it would have been an awesome design like the zune hd I would have loved it. Marketing is where MS failed with the zune imo. Its better than any other product out there, and the software is 10x better than itunes.

And the fact they only ever released it in the US.

 

[QueBert]

Me too, and I think they could have done away with oem's and taken it straight to the market with a partnership with HTC.

If it would have been an awesome design like the zune hd I would have loved it. Marketing is where MS failed with the zune imo. Its better than any other product out there, and the software is 10x better than itunes.

The software isn't better, it's rating system sucks and it's smart playlist capabilities are laughable at best. For a power user the Zune software isn't that great, it looks a lot nicer and does do a few cool things. But overall I'd never pick it over iTunes, and truth be told iTunes isn't my favorite software out there. MS needs to fix the rating system and get smart playlists up to snuff before I'd want to use it. I own a Zune HD though so I have no choice, another strike against MS. I'm interested in a WM7 phone, hopefully it won't require me to install some software I don't want in order to sync my contacts and email.

 

[Deeko]

The software isn't better, it's rating system sucks and it's smart playlist capabilities are laughable at best. For a power user the Zune software isn't that great, it looks a lot nicer and does do a few cool things. But overall I'd never pick it over iTunes, and truth be told iTunes isn't my favorite software out there. MS needs to fix the rating system and get smart playlists up to snuff before I'd want to use it. I own a Zune HD though so I have no choice, another strike against MS. I'm interested in a WM7 phone, hopefully it won't require me to install some software I don't want in order to sync my contacts and email.

The industry as a whole is moving to the thumbs up/thumbs down rating system, this isn't a uniquely Microsoft thing. I have no issues with smartdj, maybe you should rate more songs?

 

[swerus]

I don't have a problem with smart DJ either, and thought it was a cool feature. I use it all the time. I sold my ipod because of how bad itunes on windows was/is, and used winamp with the cheap player I had for years

I don't exactly know what a power user of a media program would be? Maybe a DJ? Maybe if you posted better software as a comparison I could take your argument serious.

 

[QueBert]

The industry as a whole is moving to the thumbs up/thumbs down rating system, this isn't a uniquely Microsoft thing. I have no issues with smartdj, maybe you should rate more songs?

You mean Youtube? I can't think of any other places that use a thumbs up thumbs down. Except for sites that rate comments, where thumbs up/thumbs down makes sense. Imagine if Amazon or Newegg did for reviews? What if I looked at just the review score on a game Gamespot reviwed and it was just a thumbs up. It's not a good rating system for anything outside of rating other peoples comments. If Amazon and other places start to adopt it, it'll be a damn shame. There's a ton of space between hating something and loving something. A 2 rating system is fail. I even wish the 5 star rating system of iTunes let you rate in 1/2 star increments, single stars are too limiting when you have a gigantic music collection.

 

[Deeko]

You mean Youtube? I can't think of any other places that use a thumbs up thumbs down. Except for sites that rate comments, where thumbs up/thumbs down makes sense. Imagine if Amazon or Newegg did for reviews? What if I looked at just the review score on a game Gamespot reviwed and it was just a thumbs up. It's not a good rating system for anything outside of rating other peoples comments. If Amazon and other places start to adopt it, it'll be a damn shame. There's a ton of space between hating something and loving something. A 2 rating system is fail. I even wish the 5 star rating system of iTunes let you rate in 1/2 star increments, single stars are too limiting when you have a gigantic music collection.

Are you brushing off Youtube? They're a pretty big player. Along with, as you mentioned (and attempted to discredit), virtually every social platform out there. I'd say Youtube and Facebook (who doesn't even give you a thumbs down option) are enough influence to say "thats the direction things are going". You can dislike it, but the point stands that a lot of rating systems are going that way. Hell, Ebert has been using thumbs up/thumbs down to rate movies for ages now.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Anyone watching the MS live address?

 

[Demo24]

I was skeptical of the OS before watching the live address, and I'm still not a huge fan of the 'start screen' area with the tiles. However everything else looks quite promising.

I'm thinking android is going to need to step up.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I think this is the new platform for "power" users. Goodbye RIM.

I am impressed with WinMo7 and congratulate MS for thinking outside the box and not just trying to copy Apple.

 

[Fingolfin269]

I 'watched' the live blog of the event and am looking forward to actually watching the event when I get home tonight and going over the hands-on previews at lunch. What I saw looked pretty dang impressive. If they can get mass app support and all apps look as seamless as the ones they showed this is going to be a win.

 

[dougp]

Well, pisses me off that Samsung is going to be the first device launched on AT&T with the LG and HTC "a few weeks later." FUCK SAMSUNG. I am getting the LG device, but I need to throw my Captivate on eBay now.

 

[MrX8503]

I probably wont watch the event until I get out, but what MS needs is developer support. If they can get that I don't see how WP7 wont be successful.

UI Design wise, I hate the home screen, I hate the keyboard, but the Lock screen and everything else looks pretty good.

Well, pisses me off that Samsung is going to be the first device launched on AT&T with the LG and HTC "a few weeks later." FUCK SAMSUNG. I am getting the LG device, but I need to throw my Captivate on eBay now.

This is just me, but I would stick with the Captiviate and wait for a second iteration of WP7. WP7 is a brand new OS, who knows what problems could be lurking ahead.

 

[boomhower]

How are they not launching a CMDA phone this year? Their two launch partners are the iPhone crazed AT&T and the smallest carrier T-Mobile? Seriously, how in the hell are they not launching a Verizon phone?

 

[Deeko]

dellvenueprodellvenueprodellvenuepro....

the lightning lives!!!