This first paragraph from the NYT sums it up:

CAIRO — The political forces aligned against President Hosni Mubarak appeared to strengthen sharply Monday when the Army said for the first time that it would not fire on the protesters who have convulsed Egypt for a week demanding his resignation. The announcement was shortly followed by the government’s first offer to talk to the protest leaders.

Bam.

Somewhere, Mahmoud "AJ" Ahmadinejad is cringing.

And, for background information, this interview with young Egyptian journalist, blogger, and videographer Noha Atef is excellent and includes a history of media resistance to the regime, from YouTube clips to Twitter feeds and online posters: