Microsoft Reader

Microsoft Reader (E-book app)

Developer(s)	Microsoft
Initial release	August 2000(2000-08)
Final release	2.1.1(Windows 98,NT 4.0,2000,Me,XP)2.6.1(Windows XP Tablet PC Edition,Windows Vista(withOrigamiExperience Pack or Touch Pack)) 2.4.2(Windows Mobile 6)
Operating system	Windows
Type	E-bookreader
License	Proprietaryfreeware

Microsoft Reader (Document app)

Developer(s)	Microsoft
Initial release	October 2012(2012-10)
Operating system	Windows(8/8.1/10),Windows 10 Mobile
Type	Document viewer
License	Proprietaryfreeware

Microsoft Readeris a discontinuedMicrosoftapplication for readinge-books,first released in August 2000, that used its own.LIT format. It was available forWindowscomputers andPocket PCPDAs. The name was also used later for an unrelated application for readingPDFandXPSfiles, first released withWindows 8- this app was discontinued in 2018.

E-book Reader

Microsoft Reader file format

Filename extension	.lit
Developed by	Microsoft
Initial release	August 2000(2000-08)
Latest release	2.4.1 August 2012(2012-08)
Extended from	.chm
Standard	No

The e-book reader was available for download from Microsoft as a free application for computers runningWindowsand on PDAs runningPocket PC,where it has been built into the ROM sinceWindows CE3.0.Microsoft Reader was compatible withWindows Mobile,but was not supported on newerWindows Phone 7devices.

Microsoft Reader displays books in the.LIT (shortened from "literature" ) format, an extension of theMicrosoft Compressed HTML Helpformat to includeDRM.These e-books can be purchased and downloaded from online stores.

The notable features of Microsoft Reader areClearTypefor increased readability on small screens, highlighting and doodling designed for quick note-taking, text notes, and searching. The PC version also has an optionalplug-infortext-to-speech,enabling books to be read out loud.

Companies such asBarnes & NobleandAmazon.compartnered with Microsoft to provide books in the format when released in 2000.

In August 2011, Microsoft announced they were discontinuing both Microsoft Reader and the use of the.lit format for ebooks at the end of August 2012, and ending sales of the format on November 8, 2011.

Compatibility

Operating systems	Latest version	Release date
Windows 95	1.5	2000-08-08
Windows NT 4.0,98,2000,Me	2.1.1	2003-06-26
Windows XP,2003,Vista(withOrigamiExperience Pack or Touch Pack),Home Server,2008	2.6.1	2007-07-10
Pocket PC 2000	1.0 (in ROM)	2000-04-19
Pocket PC 2002	2.4	2005-03-24
Windows Mobile 2003,2003 SE,5.0	2.4.1	2005-11-23
Windows Mobile 6.0,6.1	2.4.2	2009-09-10

Copy protection

Books accessible by Reader can be protected, or unprotected, only allowing access to protected books if the user has activated the software. This can be accomplished by registering using theirPassportaccount. Only six Reader installations can be activated per account, after which, Microsoft requires the user to request further activations.

Creating.LIT files

Read in Microsoft Readeris an add-on, available from Microsoft, that can be used with Microsoft Word (versions 2000, 2002 and 2003) to create.LIT extension e-books.This software is not fully compatible with Office 2007.

Version history

Desktop

Version	Operating systems	Release date	Major changes
1.5	Windows 95,NT 4,98,2000,Me	2000-08-08	Initial version for desktops
2.0	Windows NT 4,98,2000,Me,XP	2001-10-03	Major overhaul Supports premium eBooks
2.5	Windows XP	2002-06-25	Support forTablet PC Pen and Ink features
2.1.1	Windows NT 4,98,2000,Me,XP	2003-06-26	Security update
2.6	Windows XP Tablet PC Edition,Vista Ultimate Edition(withOrigamiExperience Pack or Touch Pack)	2007-07-09	Audible support for newer audio formats Security and performance updates

Pocket PC

Version	Operating systems	Release date	Major changes
1.0	Windows Mobile2000	2000-04-19	Initial version for Pocket PCs.
2.0	Windows Mobile2002	2001-10-03	Compatible with Windows Mobile 2002 Major overhaul Supports premium eBooks
2.2.1	Windows Mobile2002,2003	N/A
2.2.2		2003	Compatible with Windows Mobile 2003
2.2.3		2004-02-04	Fixes activation problems
2.3	Windows Mobile2002,2003,2003 SE	2004-07-13	Compatible with Windows Mobile 2003 SE
2.4		2005-03-24
2.4.1	Windows Mobile2003,2003 SE,5,6.0	2005-11-23	Compatible with Windows Mobile 5 and 6
2.4.2	Windows Mobile2003,2003 SE,5,6.0,6.1	2009-09-10	Compatible with Windows Mobile 6.1

Read in Microsoft Reader

Version	Operating systems	Release date	Major changes
1.1	Windows NT 4,98,2000,Me,XP	2001-09-04	Initial version with support for Word 2000, 2002
1.1.3	Windows NT 4,98,2000,Me,XP,2003,Vista,Home Server,2008	2006-02-21	Conversion support for Word 2003. Supports Word 2000, 2002, 2003. Incompatible with Office 2007

Software Development Kit

Version	Operating systems	Release date	Major changes
1.5	Windows NT 4,98,2000,Me,XP,2003,Vista,Home Server,2008	2001-10-04	Initial version

Text to Speech

Version	Operating systems	Release date	Major changes
1.0	Windows NT 4,98,2000,Me,XP,2003,Home Server	2005-05-19	Initial version

Third party

Notable third-party apps and tools to convert and read MS.LIT format on various devices include:

• Calibre;anopen sourcee-book library manager that runs on many environments; it can convert.LIT format files
• Lexcycle Stanza(discontinued); a freeware program for reading eBooks; can read.LIT format, supportsiOS.

Document viewer

In 2012, Microsoft released a Microsoft ReaderMetro-style app withWindows 8for reading documents in PDF, XPS and TIFF formats. Reader was included inWindows 8.1and was a free download from theWindows Storefor Windows 10. Support forWindows 10 Mobileended in 2016 in favor of opening PDF documents withinMicrosoft Edgebrowser.Microsoft discontinued the application in February 2018, as PDF reading functionality was moved to Edge on desktops as well.