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| Developer(s) | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Initial release | August 2000; 24 years ago (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 (withOrigami Experience Pack or Touch Pack)) 2.4.2(Windows Mobile 6) |
| Operating system | Windows |
| Type | E-book reader |
| License | Proprietaryfreeware |
| Developer(s) | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Initial release | October 2012; 12 years ago (2012-10) |
| Operating system | Windows (8/8.1/10),Windows 10 Mobile |
| Type | Document viewer |
| License | Proprietaryfreeware |
Microsoft Reader is a discontinuedMicrosoft application for readinge-books, first released in August 2000, that used its own .LIT format. It was available forWindows computers andPocket PC PDAs. The name was also used later for an unrelated application for readingPDF andXPS files, first released withWindows 8 - this app was discontinued in 2018.
| Filename extension | .lit |
|---|---|
| Developed by | Microsoft |
| Initial release | August 2000; 24 years ago (2000-08) |
| Latest release | 2.4.1 August 2012; 12 years ago (2012-08) |
| Extended from | .chm |
| Standard | No |
The e-book reader was available for download from Microsoft as a free application for computers runningWindows and on PDAs runningPocket PC, where it has been built into the ROM sinceWindows CE 3.0.[1] Microsoft Reader was compatible withWindows Mobile, but was not supported on newerWindows Phone 7 devices.
Microsoft Reader displays books in the .LIT (shortened from "literature") format, an extension of theMicrosoft Compressed HTML Help format to includeDRM.[2] These e-books can be purchased and downloaded from online stores.
The notable features of Microsoft Reader areClearType for increased readability on small screens, highlighting and doodling designed for quick note-taking, text notes, and searching. The PC version also has an optionalplug-in fortext-to-speech, enabling books to be read out loud.
Companies such asBarnes & Noble andAmazon.com partnered with Microsoft to provide books in the format when released in 2000.[3]
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.[4]
| 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 (withOrigami Experience 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 |
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 theirPassport account. Only six Reader installations can be activated per account, after which, Microsoft requires the user to request further activations.
Read in Microsoft Reader is an add-on, available from Microsoft, that can be used with Microsoft Word (versions 2000, 2002 and 2003) to create .LIT extension e-books.[5] This software is not fully compatible with Office 2007.
| 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 (withOrigami Experience Pack or Touch Pack) | 2007-07-09 | Audible support for newer audio formats Security and performance updates |
| 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[clarification needed] |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Version | Operating systems | Release date | Major changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | Windows NT 4,98,2000,Me,XP,2003,Home Server | 2005-05-19 | Initial version |
Notable third-party apps and tools to convert and read MS .LIT format on various devices include:
In 2012, Microsoft released a Microsoft ReaderMetro-style app withWindows 8 for reading documents in PDF, XPS and TIFF formats. Reader was included inWindows 8.1 and was a free download from theWindows Store for Windows 10. Support forWindows 10 Mobile ended in 2016 in favor of opening PDF documents within theMicrosoft Edge [Legacy] browser.[6] Microsoft discontinued the application in February 2018, as PDF reading functionality was moved to Edge [Legacy] on desktops as well.[7]