Windows Phone 7 Launch Event Coverage

Here is where to get the key information from Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 launch event.

• 9 phones available around launch time
• AT&T will be the first carrier in the US to launch the devices. First phone will launch on November 8th.
• Wide range of devices; music devices, large screens, rugged devices, physical keyboards, etc.
• HTC Surround (Music device with Dolby Surround Steeo speakers) will launch for $199.99
• Samsung Focus launches on the 8th for $199.99 (Super AMOLED device).
• LG Quantum for $199.99 (physical keyboard)
• Customizable tiles, hold down to get them to fall into the background so you can move the current one around.
• Fast camera loading from sleep mode and quick photo capture. Slide to the left to easily share the last photos you took to the internet.
• Email is very clean and can open attachments very easiliy.
• Powerpoint opens properly and it loads and runs the slides very much like you see on the computer. You can even edit them easily as well.
• Typing is pretty fast, and has a nice spell check feature that you can click on misspelled words and it brings up suggestions to click on to replace that word.
• Any events sent to the phone are checked through Outlook on the phone and let’s you know of scheduling conflicts.
• Bing maps automatically switches to satellite view when you zoom in close enough.
• Pictures hub allows you to see all the photos on your phone, and different cloud services as well (like Facebook, etc.)
• OneNote can be pushed to the device from the computer using a new, free program for Windows Desktop.
• A few major players have already made apps for the device; Netflix, IMDB, Slacker Radio, eBay etc.
• Xbox Live integration…
• Avatar customization; clothes, accessories, etc. All changes are visible immediately.
• Achievements can be seen, and friend’s achievements as well.
• Ilo and Milo:  Puzzle game where you have to get Ilo to meet up with Milo. Nice graphics, accellerometer is a separate control, you use it to move the camera not the characters.
• EA available at launch; Sims is coming at launch.
• You can earn achievements and earn gamerscore from the games on the phone and they add to your Xbox live game console.
• OTA updates for new versions. All phones will get the updates regardless of manufacturer.
• Copy and Paste will be sent out as an update in early 2011.

Here is the full video from Microsoft if you want to watch it start to finish (if you have time):

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/windowsphone/liveEvent.aspx

What do you guys think of Windows Phone 7?