ASC Manual vs Thorium Reader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ASC Manual
This comprehensive digital reference guide covers essential filmmaking techniques for both traditional film and modern digital cameras. It provides in-depth information on safety, equipment preparation, and camera operation, serving as an invaluable resource for professionals and enthusiasts alike.
- Digital camera equipment preparation
- Motion picture film camera preparation
- Safety on the set
- Camera section
- Lens list and formulas
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Known as the “Filmmaker’s bible,” for several generations, one of the world’s most widely used cinema reference books is more comprehensive than ever — moving into the digital side of image capture. Completely re-imagined to reflect the sweeping technological changes that our industry has experienced, this edition of the Manual is vibrant and essential reading, as well as an invaluable field resource, covering subjects such as: • Safety On The Set • Preparation of Motion Picture Film Camera Equipment • Preparation of Digital Camera Equipment • Camera Serction • Table Reference-Cine Lens List, Formulas
Thorium Reader
Organize all your ebooks, comics, and manga in a single app. Customize your reading experience with adjustable text, fonts, and themes. Listen to audiobooks and zoom into visual content with ease.
- Unified bookshelf for all content
- Adjustable text size and spacing
- Multiple font options
- Text-to-speech audio playback
- Zoom for comics and manga
- Offline dictionary and translation
- Import EPUB, PDF, CBZ files
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Looking for an app where you can bring all your ebooks, comics and manga in one place? That’s what we built Thorium Reader for. Read it your way Everyone’s different, that’s why we want you to be fully in control: • Adjust text size, switch between color schemes with themes and control spacing. • 10+ fonts available, including specialized ones. • You prefer audio? Listen to any ebook, whenever you want. We’ll remember your preference. • Zoom into comics, manga and magazines. • Add bookmarks with notes. • Use the built-in iOS dictionary and translation features, even offline. • Tweak your reading experience with reading options. Bring your own books A single bookshelf and reading application where you can bring all your content: • Download free books, borrow from your library or buy from your favorite retailer. • Support for ebooks, documents, comics and manga. • Import EPUB, PDF and CBZ files. • Support for Readium LCP, used by thousands of libraries and retailers. Thorium Reader is built by EDRLab, a non-profit dedicated to open standards, reading and accessibility.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Thorium Reader at 3.6 against ASC Manual's 2.8. Thorium Reader also leads on review sentiment (38% vs 0%) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). ASC Manual's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 26.1). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. ASC Manual sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Thorium Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.
Thorium Reader holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 11 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of ASC Manual's written reviews are positive against 38% of Thorium Reader's.
ASC Manual ships an update every 16 months, Thorium Reader every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ASC Manual | Thorium Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.8 (4 ratings) | 3.6 (11 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 37.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 11 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 16 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 26.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 37 MB | 46 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | ASC Holding Corp | Readium |
Customer experience
ASC Manual
Thorium Reader
In-app purchases
ASC Manual
- Selected Tables, Charts And Formulas - 3rd Edition$9.99
- 4th Edition$9.99
- ASC Manual 10TH Ed. Vol. I$39.99
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- ASC Manual 10TH Ed. Vol. II$39.99
Thorium Reader
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is ASC Manual free?
Is Thorium Reader free?
Which has better reviews, ASC Manual or Thorium Reader?
Do ASC Manual or Thorium Reader have ads?
Which is updated more often, ASC Manual or Thorium Reader?
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