[Gerard]

You have the advantage of actually using the iPhone, something I've not done. I was trying to think more about comparing the relatively un-washed, people who are making the jump from a 'dumb' phone to a smart one. After all, this is the crowd to whom both Apple and Microsoft are aiming commmercials such as this, right? It's not quite at the Coke vs. Pepsi stage yet, competing for existing market share. We're somewhat past the early adopter phase with smart phones, and just getting into establishing initial market share, at least when using blinkers a bit and looking only at Microsoft, Apple, and Google's Android. It's no longer the wild West but it's still frontier days...

So what I'm saying is that a new user coming in does not know that it's difficult to select options when choosing the version for a particular WM phone. Microsoft and many MS partner developers (award winners like Resco and SPB and such) have already begun efforts aimed at simplifying such choices, with Resco being rather obviously good at it already once a user has a single app installed from their vast selection. Their included 'Resco Update' app, which comes with everything they sell, automagically seeks out and lists any CAB files pertinent to the device being used. It's a 'no brainer' quite literally, involving a simple decision as to whether or not to download and install with a tap or two. I'm kind of confident that Microsoft's app store will continue this effort, making it far less daunting for users who are not yet familiar with installation protocols. Uninstallations are a bit fussier, and I certainly agree that there should be much more strict requirements placed upon WM developers forcing them to delete all related registry and file data on uninstallation. It should not be necessary to have such applications as 'Remover' or any other registry cleaning application, just to keep a device running smoothly after testing and dumping apps. This is one of the several themes I'll be bringing to the next conference call amongst MVPs and WM's developers if given the chance. The registry has long been a bane of Windows users' existence. It's long overdue, making keeping it clean a priority, as we all know how bogged down a device can get...

Your step 3 is not really relevant any more. By that I mean that downloading the CAB over a Wi-Fi or cellular data connection is simpler, and that many developers do offer CAB files. Or even standalone executables in some cases.

But I'll drop it, agreeing that it could be simpler, easier. I don't think it's quite as breezy as MS seems to be making out with these commercials, but perhaps that's quibbling.