One of the reasons Microsoft so rarely releases public APIs for a product is that when they do -- and they do more often than Apple -- they are well-developed and well-tested interfaces. This takes time, and just like Apple implements hackish software, hacks in Windows (like the recently-replaced TCP/IP stack) live long lives. It doesn't help a platform or "the community" to open a buggy, insecure or broken API. Any time is a good time.

As they still haven't finished implementing features they announced in 1995, I don't expect them to release their APIs until they are bankrupt and all applications are available for the Mac and Linux.

Like what? Oh, can we get on Apple's case for not releasing the Yellow Box for Windows? Or Copeland?

And Microsoft "pledges" not to sue anyone using technology in said APIs.

Well, I've seen no 'pledge' mention, but you can't sue someone for using your published API. Otherwise they'd already be suing them (since they already publish a slew of their APIs).

Oh, right, i get it now. You're trying to be funny. Yeah, you need to work on that.

"It also promised not to sue open source developers for making that software available for non-commercial use."

One reports "pledge", the other "promise", don't know what Ballmer actually said but, where did you look that you DIDN'T see this?

As the OOXML documentation has demonstrated, Microsoft is quite capable of publishing documents that are unimplementable. In addition, Microsoft has a history of deviating from their own published documentation when it suits them... which of course they have a right to do, since they're documenting software in a state of flux... but the bottom line is that publishing the docs is half the job. Committing to maintain them, clarify them, and retain compatibility with applications that come to depend on them is where the rubber meets the road.

OK, here's the hook:

"iii. Open Source Compatibility. Microsoft will promise not to sue open source developers for development and non-commercial distribution of implementations of these Open Protocols. Companies that engage in commercial distribution of these protocol implementations will be able to obtain a patent license from Microsoft, as will enterprises that obtain these implementations from a distributor that does not have such a patent license."

They're trying to make open source developers into an unpaid development team for Microsoft, by cutting off their air supply unless they provide Microsoft a cut from their use of protocols that we only have to use because of the Microsoft monopoly.

Forget it. Non Serviam.

"Like what? Oh, can we get on Apple's case for not releasing the Yellow Box for Windows? Or Copeland?" There was the database file system for one. I got the information at http://www.roughlydrafted.com/

As people love to berate Apple for not announcing anything ahead of time, they avoid doing the Microsoft approach which is announcing a product they never intend to deliver and use the announcement to kill off the competition.

You know it is commonly considered trolling to go into a forum and make comments that are always negative about what the subject. So your constantly berating Apple is not welcome. The vast majority of Apple users are very happy with their products. If Apple doesn't suit you, then go do Windows. We don't need troublemakers like you to buy Apple products and you can post your comments on the appropriate forums.