ok - got it!
For those functions you do not need to actually run SmartAssistant. What you do is to go to the relevant file in File Manager(eg *zip or *.tar.gz) for compressed files or *.mtf and *.lin for themes and skins and hold the stylus on them until the popup menu appears then select "Open with..."
You should that SmartAssistant has already been selected (small green icon) so just open with it and file will be uncompressed or skin/theme will be installed.
Same with *.pkg or *lin scripts - they will be run.
I have not quite figured out how the text edit works yet however. The release notes for SmartAssist say "File edit: for txt, lin, sh, cfg etc" - but txt files always opened with Text editor (so no change there) and lin, sh scripts execute - they do not open in editor!!
FW1: R532_G_11.00.53P
FW2: Hybrid e16Xr
Service: T-Mobile