Has finally launched in the US, after already having a pretty stellar launch in EMEA, it was WEAK US launch, imho.  For those in those areas already using it, any tips and suggestions for new users?  It was CRAZY easy to get my hotmail and yahoo mail attached, which made it pretty simple to get my gamercard downloaded onto the phone.  I've downloaded some games trails, but I've not played any yet, or bought anything.  I really wanted the Dell Venue Pro, but Dell is screwy, and I when with the HD7.  For all the ballyhoo about M$ dropping $500 million to launch this phone, it was a WEAK LAUNCH...no signs and banners at the Best Buy at a store by a busy Metro, and only the Corporate T-Mobile stores had them...so where the heck is M$ spending this money?  Not on TV Ads, not on promo deals, and not on alot of in store promo...anyway, I've not really played with the phone, but I like what I see so far...oooh...there are only 28 games at my last count on the app store, not 50...groan...what a launch!  Regardless, I’m dumping my Zune HD, since I’ve also got an IPod Touch thru work…too many gadgets…

I thought the $500,000,000 was for Kinect?

It was suppose to be $1 billion...500 each.

http://techcrunch.com/2010/08/26/microsoft-half-billion-dollars-windows-phone-7/

"Microsoft has been offering financial support sometimes in the form of revenue guarantees to developers so that there will be enough apps in its store at launch, according to Microsoft senior product manager Anand Iyer"

Something isn't adding up to me...It take a few programmers a week at most to do an app, and given how easy it is to work in WP7, that's probably VERY conservative.  There were NO PROMOS for the phones on launch, so again, I think this was a smoke screen by M$, since I've seen zippo of this cash being spent.  I can assure you, COD has received a ton more ads, and they didn't spend anything near $200 million.  Just think about blocknuster movies...$85 maybe 90 million in promo budget.  The same goes for kinect...I've seen nothing over the top, and while I don't watch alot of TV, I do watch sports, and there weren't alot there.  I actually saw more AC:Brotherhood ads than Kinect or WP7.

http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/20101018/microsofts-billion-dollar-media-bailout-plan/

I've seen almost every other commercial on Fox tonight being a Windows phone 7 commerical from AT&T. I saw 3 differnt ones I think. 1 about the some guy being in a dance club, another one with the HTC Surround and another one with the Samsung Focus. Other than that, I haven' seen anything on TV before today.

I went to an AT&T today and they said that it didn't come out till tomorrow, meaning today. I called another AT&T and they said they didn't have any in stock. Called another one and they said they didn't recieve any in. The employees seem to not know about the phones and dont really seem excited about it.

Seems like AT&T isn't supplying any units for some reason. I went ahead and ordered one on the AT&T website, its in the mail now and I should get it tomorrow. I'm pretty excited to get the Samsung Focus.

As far as advertising.. I think M$ used most of it on Katy Perry...

http://pocketnow.com/windows-phone/katy-perrys-windows-phone-7-launch-party

Yesterday was the first day for U.S. availability of three devices running Windows Phone 7. If you were one of the lucky ones who went to a participating AT&T store, you may have also won admission to the free Katy Perry New York or Marroon 5 San Francisco Windows Phone 7 launch parties. We got to go to Katy Perry's party in New York City and it was pretty amazing. There were Windows Phone 7 decorations everywhere as well as a corner area where concert-goers could try out the HTC Surround, Samsung Focus, and LG Quantum. Towards the end of the party the Roseland Ballroom filled with confetti and two giant beach balls.

Does anyone feel a little offended by the type of device Katy Perry is tweeting from, though? Maybe she's just waiting for the Dell Venue Pro.

Its a pretty soft launch from what I can tell in terms of actually getting the units out there. Perhaps they are waiting for supply before they kick off more promotion?

the game harvest is AWESOME!!

From the UK here and loving the phone so far, so easy to use and it's my first ever smart phone. Everything is set up and I haven't even looked in the manual yet.

Downloading the Harvest trial now and Flowerz is a free Xbox Live game so free achievements ;)

I downloaded the trail...seems pretty cool, especially when it said...ching...you got an achievement..lol.  Of course, I need to get the full game to get it, and I will, but regardless...really was sweet to see. 

As for the launch...yeah...soft launch, weak launch...what ever the reason was or what to call it, it was pretty much a non-event.  M$ has ALOT of work to do in this area, and I really hope it isn't treated like Zune HD was.  I would listen to the Zune HD podcast, and it was host by 2 PM for Zune, and they were so geeked about the smallest new feature included...lol...while Android and iOS is launching updates every second...geesh.

Will be getting the phone this weekend. 99 in Canada bucks for an LG WM7 phone on a new contract...

Seems the right time to retire my beloved Nokia E71. :)

Just got my Samsung Focus in the mail. OMG.. this phone is freaken amazing. It's Zune HD phone. I keep getting confused on how to back out of menus. Usually on my Zune I would tap on the top of the screen to back out, but on Windows Phone 7, you need to press the back button.

I'm on a downloading spree in the marketplace ATM. I tried Netflix, it's shit on a 3G network. The only real way to watch Netflix on this app is off of a wifi to have decent quality. Bing is shit compared to Windows Mobile 6.5. Bing on 6.5 had voice navigation. Directions on this version look cool though.

Web pages load with the quickness. VGChartz looks amazing on this phone. Too bad I still can't reply to threads.

My next thing to do is to try some games.. right after I put my body glove case on and invisishield. 

The Samsung AMOLED screen is a treat. It's a Galaxy S with Windows Phone 7, pretty much.