Samsung Focus (Windows Phone 7)

I picked up a Samsung Focus at the Microsoft Store in Bellevue on opening day. I had originally planned to stick with T-Mobile and the Dell Venue Pro, but after getting the runaround on the ETA for my pre-ordered device and some photo quality issues with the Dell, I decided to jump ship to AT&T and the Samsung Focus. After more than a year fiddling around with Windows Mobile 6.5 and then Android, I was itching for a phone that was a little simpler, and a bit more polished. I think I’ve found it in Windows Phone 7.

It’s still too early to pass final judgment on the hardware or software, but the core functions I need, great email, calendar, messaging, web browsing, and mapping, are all there. The device itself feels better than the ‘plasticky’ description I’d read in a couple reviews, which had initially scared me away from the Focus. It’s a thin, light device that slips into one’s pocket, unobtrusively.

3-shot HDR from Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park.

The weather over the past few days has been absolutely phenomenal, so I set out on Saturday to Olympic National Park. I had originally planned to drive down to Oregon for the Historic Columbia River Highway, but I realized I hadn’t visited the much closer Hurricane Ridge, yet.

No longer used to catching ferries since many, many years ago on Prince Edward Island, we ended up missing our target sailing, so had to wait about 40 minutes in the lineup for the next one. The trip from Edmonds to Kingston was aboard the MV Walla Walla, which brought back a ton of memories from before the Confederation Bridge was built, connecting PEI to the mainland – we stood out on the bow of the ship the entire time, where it was frightfully chilly at times.

Our first stop was Port Angeles, for a quick lunch, then we set off for the mountains. From sea level, we climbed (or rather, the car climbed) about 5500 feet over a span of 17 miles. It was a mainly clear day, although some moisture trapped in the mountain valleys created a few low-altitude clouds. All along the road, wherever we saw a turn-off, we prepared ourselves for awe-inspiring vistas. Although there was some haze, we could first see down to Port Angeles, then the open water, and eventually, when we got high enough, Vancouver Island. Mount Baker loomed far in the background, wreathed in clouds.

The drive was a ton of fun, with very twisty roads, climbing and wrapping around the mountain ridge, and when we burst out to the top of the ridge, we were greeted with what I think is best described as a miniature version of the Alps. There were 180 degrees of uninterrupted mountains to the south, and 100 yards across the ridge, you could look north to Canada. Breathtaking.

It was Octoberfest in Leavenworth this weekend, so, along with some friends, I set out through the Cascades on Saturday. I’ve undertaken the drive when I interned at Microsoft, but back then it was a pretty dreary day. Yet, the views across the mountainous valleys were astounding. Unfortunately, this time around, we drove through fog and rain, so there really wasn’t much to see. We stopped at a cafe in Monroe, where we scarfed down some breakfast around 1pm. I’ve always loved the cozy feel of small town cafes, where the rich culture just envelopes you. It’s probably the thing I miss most about growing up in a small town. Every place I’ve lived since has been too commercial, too hectic. Sometimes it’s nice to slow things down.

Leavenworth is quite the place. I knew the town was styled in a ‘Bavarian’ fashion, but I didn’t realize it had seeped so deeply. The architecture, the signage, and even the dress to an extent exuded the style. It was great fun to see Starbucks and Bank of America built like something you’d see in the Sound of Music. Octoberfest was great fun – although Kitchener-Waterloo, where I went to university, holds a giant Octoberfest each year, I had never been, so this was my first taste. Just imagine thousands of people singing, laughing and dancing, while holding large steins of beer!

For a much tamer Sunday, I went curling. I must say it’s rather ironic that I end up curling for the first time in the United States, when I grew up in Canada. A few weeks ago, a friend at work suggested I try it out at the annual Open House. Having enjoyed that immensely, I signed up for the novice league, along with three other friends. We played an informal match today, and the first official game will be next week. I recall thinking how easy the athletes made it look during the Olympics. Out there on the ice, I can see it’s an enthralling and challenging game of strategy, not to mention you actually have to be able to execute on the strategy. I was also surprised to find out how social of a sport curling is. It’s customary to sit down and have drinks with the opposing team after the match. I think it’ll be a great experience.

It’s been a fun weekend, and now I have tomorrow’s early morning launch of Windows Phone 7 to look forward to! By the time I wake up, there should be news on some of the real hardware that will be launching around the world. I remember thinking how difficult it would be to wait nearly a year for the real thing, when Windows Phone 7 was first talked about early in the year. In a few short weeks, I’ll be grinning from ear to ear as I pick up a device for myself. Happy 10/10/10, no matter where you are in the world!