# Reading Machine – Full Install > Educational app for decoding words using phonics and a word dictionary. (iPhone/iPad app by Diana Sharp Consulting.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-machine-full-install/id368974482 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Diana Sharp Consulting](https://appshunter.io/developer/368974485) - Category: Education, Reference - Price: Free - Rating: 3.80/5 from 12 App Store ratings · 12 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 8.0 · 107 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2010-07-29 - Data updated: 2026-07-30 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-machine-full-install/id368974482/reviews.md ## What is Reading Machine? Used by teachers, parents, and learners since 2010, Reading Machine is now available for free! This app for beginning and struggling readers is still 100% satisfaction guaranteed. If you have any technical issues with the app, or if the app does not meet your expectations for any reason, please email us so we can address your needs and strengthen our support for more readers and a better world. Email: diana@dianasharp.com or support@sharpcuriosity.com Reading Machine helps readers learn new words by seeing and hearing how the letters and sounds in a word go together. The app is perfect for times when readers can’t or don’t want to ask someone else for help on unfamiliar words. Like a personal reading tutor, the app guides readers into figuring out a new word based on the word’s letters and sounds. Readers can use the app while they read traditional books or other printed material. They can also use the app alongside e-books, websites, and other digital material on the iPad. The app is a fun addition to parent-child reading time, and it also works well for older readers who do not like to ask for help on words when they read independently. Developing readers of any age can gain self-confidence as they figure out new words on their own with the app’s support. Videos of how the app works are available at www.sharpcuriosity.com. Created by a parent, learning scientist, and reading researcher, the app’s underlying dictionary is powered by a real human voice with support for over 5,000 words, plus a text-to-speech engine for pronouncing all other words. As readers advance from simple to more complex words, the app dictionary provides tailored decoding support for each word, ranging from individual phonemes and letters, to multi-letter sounds, syllables, prefixes, suffixes, root words, and whole words within compound words. The app also includes suggestions for parents about fun books to get at the library or bookstore to match readers’ interests and skill levels. • The Reading Machine is like a secret decoder ring for unlocking printed words. Use it paired with real books – books you already own or books you’ve borrowed from the public library.  Or use it on the iPad alongside e-books or web pages. • Great for early or struggling readers. • Lets you have more fun reading with your child because your child can use the Reading Machine to figure out words instead of having to ask you for help. • Best for children who already know the sounds that go with each letter and can read some words, but still need help reading sentences and books. • Comes with full decoding and phonics support for all the words in over 125 well-loved early reader titles.  Older readers can even use the app with the first chapter of Harry Potter. • The app provides lists of suggested titles (“Book Sets”) for readers with different interests and skill levels.  This is a great guide for finding books your reader will enjoy. These books are easy to find for free at your public library.  Or head to your favorite bookstore.  • All the words in over 125 books, listed in the Book Sets, have phonics support provided by the app, with clear pronunciation recorded by a natural, human voice.  • For any word not in the app’s dictionary, readers can hear the whole word pronunciation with text-to-speech voice.  So they are never stuck on any word. • Among the words that have phonics and decoding support are the 300 most frequent words in the English language, which cover 65% of all English reading material. Many of these words are often called “sight words.” • When new Book Sets and new words are available for the app, they can be downloaded for free from within the app. For more info and videos, see http://www.sharpcuriosity.com ## Key features - Word decoding with phonics - Personalized reading tutor - Supports over 5,000 words - Text-to-speech engine - Book suggestions for readers - Full decoding support for early reader titles ## Recent user reviews (10 of 12) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-machine-full-install/id368974482/reviews.md ### 5/5 — The perfect app! *2017-10-14, version 1.3* I purchased the app for my 23 year old autistic son who has never been able to read more than a few simple words. He loves the app and uses it every day to de-code words. He is fascinated with "text to speech" and this app has provided a key link in developing word recognition. I would highly recommend this app, particularly for adults with developmental disabilities. ### 1/5 — Worse *2013-08-28* This is not a value for money product Please stay way from it ### 5/5 — Great for students!! *2012-07-04, version 1.1* This app is awesome for assisting students become independent readers. Initially I could not get the audio to work but I contacted the developer to help me figure out the issue. Seems the iPad has a glitch which MUTES some apps, even though the MUTE option is not selected. The way the app breaks down the words clearly showing the blends and digraphs enables students to learn not only the word but the sounds as well. The ability to download additional book titles makes it so that nearly every word my students come across is pronounced correctly in a realistic voice. Great filter for words which should not be said out loud!!! Kudos!! ### 1/5 — Do NOT Purchase! *2012-05-17, version 1.1* It's clear to me that the positive reviews must have been written by the developer since this is the worst application I have ever purchased. It does nothing at all. It is a waste of space. The input is spotty at best, it does not recognize common sight words, it's useless. ### 1/5 — Don't buy it *2012-05-04, version 1.1* Only break down a few words ### 5/5 — Missing link! *2011-10-15, version 1.1* This app is phenomenal! This is the missing link for my child. My child is autistic and over the years we have spent thousands of dollars on reading programs delivered as software or paper. None of these programs ever forced my child to pay attention to letter sequence nor did it force him to listen to the syllable sound out. This program does. The best thing is he can push the button a 1000 times during the sound out and the program ignores that input. I love this feature along with the ability to set the rate of the sound out. The only thing that I wish for is a larger database of sounded words for the 2nd grade level books that he is reading like the fly guy series. While most words are in the database a few are not. The words that are not sounded out are not as clear as the ones that are. Thank you so very much for this wonderful app it has already lead to improvement far beyond what I expected. I wish you could have witnessed the transformation from August to October that I have seen and it is 100% due to this app. Again THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH you have no how much this has helped us. we have worked on so many dolche words for so many years with no luck for memory or recall until now. I again have hope that my child will learn to read. ### 5/5 — Makes reading fun! *2011-07-10, version 1.1* My 6 year old had decided that reading was "boring" and we were struggling with getting her to complete her daily reading assignments. That is until we found the Reading Machine. This application allows our daughter to read on her own and independently type words into the application when she is struggling and learn how to sound it out. It has even helped her with spelling, as she likes to play with the App typing in words. If they don't sound out correctly she knows she has to try and spell the word a different way. Since using the Reading Machine our daughter is excited about reading again and has hooked her 4 year old brother too! Thanks for this wonderful tool!! ### 5/5 — Love it! *2011-04-14, version 1.1* My 6 year old loves to use this app. She is very independent and does not like mom's help when reading. With this app she can read easily on her own. She gets the help she needs while feeling proud and capable at the same time. Thanks Reading Machine! ### 5/5 — Got a beginning or struggling reader? This is what you are looking for. *2011-04-11, version 1.1* This app looks so simple, and it is. But it is incredibly powerful and effective. It works wonders with struggling readers and any child you want to give the ultimate school head start or boost. This new keyboard makes it a snap for young kids who can find letters the same way they do in the classroom- by looking at that big alphabet that runs around the room like wallpaper border. If your kids have trouble reading you probably feel like everything you try is tedious and makes their grind through the lessons like a bad day at work. But with this app you can find books about stuff they already think is cool and amazing. When they really WANT the information in the books, reading is a means to that very motivating end. This simple tool is like giving them a shovel at the beach. They don't think about the work of digging. They just dig like crazy to find out what's in that hole! So when they love what they are reading about this is a reading shovel and they'll dig like crazy to find out what's in those books. You will be amazed at how quickly they improve! Beginner readers will impress their teachers. Struggling readers will quickly get past their sense of failure and defeat and start to love reading. What more can you ask? ### 5/5 — An excellent invention *2011-03-23, version 1.0* This is a wonderful way to encourage reading in children. Learning to read in a way that also helps them love books will enhance their lives tremendously. It is one of the best things you can do for your children. I have seen this app make a real difference for my own grandson. ## Frequently asked questions about Reading Machine ### What is Reading Machine's learning methodology? Reading Machine helps users learn new words by seeing and hearing how letters and sounds combine. It provides tailored decoding support, ranging from individual phonemes to syllables and prefixes, to help users figure out new words independently. ### How does Reading Machine track user progress? The app focuses on building user confidence through independent word decoding. While specific progress tracking metrics are not detailed, it supports users as they advance from simple to complex words, indicating a progression in their decoding abilities. ### Does Reading Machine offer certifications? Reading Machine does not offer formal certifications. Its primary goal is to enhance reading skills and build confidence in users by providing tools for independent word decoding. ### What is the user sentiment for Reading Machine? The app has a rating of 3.8 stars from 12 ratings. While specific user sentiment details are limited, the rating suggests a generally positive reception with room for improvement. ### What are the pricing details for Reading Machine? Reading Machine is available for free. There are no mentioned in-app purchases or subscription fees associated with its use. ### Is Reading Machine safe for children? Reading Machine has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for young children. The app is designed to support early readers and is developed by a parent, learning scientist, and reading researcher. ### How often is Reading Machine updated? The latest version of Reading Machine is 1.3, last updated on September 29, 2017. This indicates that the app has not received updates in several years. ### What devices does Reading Machine support? Reading Machine is supported on iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It is designed to work with Apple's mobile operating systems. ## Version history (last 4 releases) ### 1.3 — 2017-09-29 This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon. • iOS 11 Optimizations ### 1.2 — 2016-07-27 • Support for additional books. • Automatic download of entire app dictionary and lists of suggested book titles. • Contains a greatly improved text-to-speech engine for unknown words • Fixed issues with app muting. • Improved graphics. • Optimized to work on iPad, iPod, iPhone devices in all device orientations. • Supports iPad "two apps on the screen at once" multitasking. Use the app alongside e-books or web pages on the same screen, without having to close them to get help on words. ### 1.1 — 2011-03-30 This app is 100% satisfaction guaranteed. This version includes an additional keyboard for younger users with color-coded, lowercase letters in alphabetical order. Older users can still use the traditional QWERTY keyboard. Also included are various user-experience improvements and an updated text-to-speech engine. If you have any technical problems or if the app does not meet your expectations for any reason, please contact the developer at diana@dianasharp.com for information on solving the problem or getting a refund. Please feel free also to contact the developer before making a purchase if you have any questions about the app. Videos of how the app works are available at www.sharpcuriosity.com. NOTE: A SMALL NUMBER OF USERS HAVE REPORTED INITIAL PROBLEMS WITH HEARING ANY SOUND. This is caused by a known issue in Apple’s design on some machines that causes kids apps (but not YouTube or some other apps) to be muted. For more information, see http://momswithapps.com/2012/06/10/using-the-ipads-side-switch-settings-to-bring-back-the-sound-in-your-app/ Apple is looking into the issue and a fix for it will likely be part of an upcoming iPad update. SO FAR ALL USERS WITH AUDIO PROBLEMS HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM WITH THE FOLLOWING STEPS. FOR NOW, THIS IS HOW YOU FIX THE PROBLEM UNTIL APPLE ISSUES AN IOS UPDATE TO FIX THE BUG: • Press the home button twice to bring up your application tray. • Slide it to the right to show your iPad controls. • Since the physical slide switch is bound to rotation, you should have a mute button on the far left of the iPad controls. • Tap it to deactivate muting. In step 3, if you see a device rotation lock control instead of the mute control, check the small (physical) switch near the volume control on the side of the iPad. Make sure it's not enabled. If the rotation lock is showing in the application tray, the physical switch by the volume control is configured to handle muting. IF THESE STEPS DO NOT WORK FOR YOU, PLEASE CONTACT THE DEVELOPER AT DIANA@DIANASHARP.COM NOTE THAT THE APP ONLY INITIALLY DOWNLOADS THE SET OF WORDS FROM THESE 10 BOOKS: GREEN EGGS AND HAM, HOP ON POP, GO DOG GO, ARE YOU MY MOTHER, THE FOOT BOOK, TEN APPLES UP ON TOP, PUT ME IN THE ZOO, THE BEST NEST, I WISH THAT I HAD DUCK FEET, AND SNOW. Getting the rest of the 4,000 words is free, but due to current download-size constraints, we had to design the app so that you download those words separately. If you want to download the rest of the words, here's the easiest way to do that: Touch the "book" icon in the upper right hand corner of the app. Touch the "Additional Book Sets" in the upper right hand corner of the next screen. Scroll through the list of book sets to "Combo Support Set 1" and "Combo Support Set 2". By downloading these two sets, you get all the words from all the booksets for a total of over 4,000. Once you download them, you need to go back to the main keyboard screen of the app again, and then depending on your connection it may take 15 minutes or more to download all the words. THIS APP WAS DEVELOPED BY RESEARCHERS WHO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE NEW WAYS TO USE TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT STRUGGLING READERS. ANY FEEDBACK WILL BE GREAT AND VERY MUCH APPRECIATED! Contact the developers at support@sharpcuriosity.com. ### 1.0 — 2010-07-28 No release notes. ## Apps similar to Reading Machine | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Lexy - Smart Literacy Learning](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lexy-smart-literacy-learning/id1564885095) | 4.5 (307) | Free | Education | | [DyslexiaBuddy](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dyslexiabuddy/id1565832172) | 3.9 (8) | Free | Education | | [Phonics Flashcards](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonics-flashcards/id6448996882) | 3.7 (3) | Free | Education | | [READING MAGIC 2](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-magic-2/id432526055) | 4.8 (21) | Free | Education | | [Unique Teach Reading Program](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unique-teach-reading-program/id1661999885) | 5.0 (2) | Free | Education | | [ABC SPELLING MAGIC](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abc-spelling-magic/id429301553) | 3.8 (40) | Free | Education | --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-30.*