At a conceptual level, the basics of reading haven't changed much through the centuries. Words or symbols embedded on a solid surface -- whether stone tablets, scrolls or paper -- carry a fixed message. One year ago, however, the fundamentals of reading did change. The eBook industry was then little more than an idea, a pinch of experiment, a dose of research and a lot of vision. When Microsoft Reader was first released as an application for the Pocket PC, and, a few months later, for the desktop PC, a new era in reading began.

"In one year, we've demonstrated that electronic reading and building a market for eBooks is a practical reality," says Dick Brass, vice president for Technology Development Relationships at Microsoft. "All along, we've said that building the eBook business is a long-term proposition. And we're a company that builds for the long term."

In the first year, according to Brass, there have been more than 1.5 million downloads of Microsoft Reader -- with a total installed base of more than 2.5 million. Now, with improvements based on input from reading enthusiasts, partners, and publishers, Microsoft is set to unveil Microsoft Reader 2.0 in October, underscoring Microsoft's commitment to eBooks. Key features in the new version of Microsoft Reader include a new user interface with design improvements that enhance how the reader interacts with the book, improved content availability across multiple devices, and the addition of text-to-speech features, Brass says. Brass says that Microsoft Reader 2.0 also gives eBooks a new voice. The product features improvements in accessibility with the new Text-to-Speech 1.0 Package. A separate download lets readers of non-Owner Exclusive eBooks listen with a synthetic speech engine. An optional verbosity feature provides voice support for navigation throughout the program. Moreover, Brass says, a new user interface offers easier navigation for any of the 12,000 audio titles available at Audible.com, from which audio files can be downloaded and stored in a library with other titles.