For example, the best WP7 apps are (or "panes") that can be moved backwards and forwards from side to side, as well as scrolled up or down to get to all the content on one "pane." The best apps have a "hub" on the WP7 home screen that displays dynamic information from the app (e.g. "The Weather Channel" app).

Microsoft has a booth set up on the fourth floor of the conference center here in Austin, near the press room, where it is showing off its best .

The company has been to to write apps for the platform. Microsoft has that the most popular apps on the Android and iPhone platforms are available on WP7; to consumers considering the leap of faith to WP7.

The gaming line up on WP7 is shaping up nicely, possibly because of the platform's close tie with Xbox Live. Angry Birds, I'm told, is coming to WP7 in April.

Microsoft says its now contains nearly 10,000 apps. A spokesman told me that Microsoft's app approval requirements are Google's "pretty much anything goes" policy and Apple's fussy "no riff raff" approach.