With it you can view and annotate all PDF files, sign documents electronically, and access optional Adobe Online subscription services directly from inside its interface. We looked at the latest version of Reader, Adobe Reader X. Despite competition from simpler tools, Reader remains the standard the others are judged against. To open, view, and edit PDFs, you need a PDF reader - for example, Adobe's free Reader. PDF, the file format that carries the business world on its back, is everywhere, from product manuals to legal documents. Adobe developed the Portable Document Format to standardize electronic document handling.