Microsoft lifts veil on software's inner works - The Boston Globe

Check the full article for what imho is a fairly balanced recap of yesterday's Microsoft announcement

Microsoft Corp. says it will publish more information about how its products work, a move that will help competitors do a better job of building Microsoft-compatible software products.

It's a major shift for Microsoft. The company's Windows software holds a global monopoly on desktop computer operating system software and its Office program is just as dominant in the office productivity software market. Microsoft has maintained its hold partly by limiting access to vital technical information on how its software works, thus making it harder for rivals to build competing products.

Microsoft lifts veil on software's inner works - The Boston Globe