[whym]

HN thread on the announcement (May 1): https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16967865

Has preorder been open since May 1? At least I see domains created as early as May 2:

    $ whois mail.app

    Domain Name: mail.app
    Registry Domain ID: 2CA663491-APP
    Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.nic.google
    Registrar URL: https://www.godaddy.com/
    Updated Date: 2018-05-02T16:15:05Z
    Creation Date: 2018-05-02T16:15:04Z
    Registry Expiry Date: 2019-05-02T16:15:04Z

[thisisit]

Yes.

Mar 29 - May 1: Trademark holders can register .app domains (known as the "Sunrise" period).

May 1 - May 8: Anyone can register available .app domains for an extra fee (known as the "Early Access" period).

May 8 and onwards: Anyone can register available .app domains (known as “General Availability").

https://www.registry.google/

And they started auctioning domains starting May 1st.

[scottydelta]

Yes, I bought emails.app on 3rd may. They had different pricing based on how early you were registering as compared to public release date of 8th May.

[heyoni]

Domains here require a trademark. Maybe you could contest it?