Apple's "Best of 2014" App List, Part 1/2
As the end of the year approaches, Apple has released the Best of 2014 App Store applications, all separated in different categories. Each category includes the chart-toppers of 2014.
The categories that are included in this 1st part are: “App and Game of the Year”, “App and Game Runner-Up”, “Top Paid” and “Best Apps”.
Let’s take a look on each category separately:
App and Game of the Year
The two apps that earned their place on this category are:
1. Replay – Video Editor for Instagram by Stupeflix
Replay is an app that allows the user to create amazing short films from photos or videos by using any of the 22 available styles. It also allows you to import music, add text and shar your work on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or Youtube. From my own personal experience with video editing app, I believe that it is deserves its place in this category.
2. Threes! by Sirvo LLC, $1.99
Threes! is a puzzle game about matching numbers which are multiples of three, and although the premise sounds easy and nothing exceptional, it’s extremely challenging and pushes the player’s brain skills beyond their limits. It includes many challenges, all of which are found in the same game mode. It’s not a free game, but it doesn’t include IAP and it doesn’t cost much either. The fact that it was chosen as game of the year says a lot about the impact it left on the players.
It’s also available for Android and is one of the top ones in our chart of Top 20 Android Games of 2014.
App and Game Runner-Up
1. Peak – Brain Training by brainbow
Pick is a personalized self-improvement app with the main purpose of helping the user train their Memory, Focus, Problem Solving, mental Agility and Language skills. To achieve that, the user has to play games and reach the goals set by the app. Peak offers a variety of games that count up to 21. Apart from that, it offers performance reviews, brain maps, data visualizations and pre-category graphing. For each user a personalized workout is created, as well as daily goals. The app is free but a Pro version is available as well, which offers unlimited access to all games and more statistics than the free version.
2. Leo’s Fortune by 1337 & Senri LLC, $0.99
Leo’s Fortune is a platform adventure game in which the player is tasked with hunting down the thief that stole Leo’s gold. Each of the 24 levels is unique, beautifully designed and detailed. It includes various traps and physics-based puzzles. Leo’s Fortune is not a free game, but certainly worth buying.
Similarly to Threes!, Leo’s Fortune is available for Android and made it in our Top 20 Android Games of 2014 too.
Top Paid
1. Flightradar24 – Flight Tracker by Flightradar24 AB, $3.99
This app works as an air traffic radar and shows all flights in real-time on a detailed map. Despite the fact that it's relatively costly (but you can see that its cost is justified by its unique functionality), it's an app that could be useful in some occasions, although these occasions are probably very rare and you could possibly find an alternative way to get the information this app provides you, without paying for it.
You can find it in Google Play as well.
2. Pou by Paul Salameh, $1.99
A game app that feels like Tamagotchi. It is played like this: you adopt an alien pet, which is called Pou (not to be confused with Poo, even though its appearance resembles one… >_>) and you take care of it, its daily needs, and its appearance, and watch it grow. There isn't much of a goal in this game, or any sort of mental reward; in my own opinion, it's quite a waste of both money and time.
3. Sleep Cycle alarm clock by Northcube AB, $0.99
An alarm clock that does things a bit different than your normal alarms. This app analyses your sleep patterns and wakes you up when you’re at the lightest sleep state.
It’s available for Android OS too.
4. Cut the Rope 2 by ZeptoLab UK Limited, $2.99
Om Nom is back in this new adventure with new characters, gameplay elements and missions. This highly popular game made it to the top paid apps category and it’s not surprising at all.
Get it for Android here.
5. Minecraft – Pocket Edition by Mojang, $6.99
I’m sure you’re all familiar with the Minecraft phenomenon and it comes with no surprise that it dominated the iOS and Android markets as well. So now you’re able to place blocks and built what your heart desires in your device.
Its Android counterpart made it to our list of Top 20 Android Games of 2014.
6. Plague Inc. by Ndemic Creations, $0.99
Do your best to erase the human species by infecting them with a virus that can adapt to all defenses made by humans. Create a Plague that will put an end to human history once and for all. Based on the famous Dawn of the planet of the apes movie, you take the role of an ape working to bring a plague to humans.
A version for Android is available as well, which is found in the Top 20 Android Games of 2014 too.
7. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas by Rockstar Games, $6.99
What would this list be without the most famous game of 2014? And how would the success be complete without a mobile device version? The developers of GTA put all their skills into creating the mobile version of GTA and as expected the result was more than overwhelming. Join the infamous gang and go in weird and comical adventures in 3 of the most famous cities that exist in the PC and console versions of the game.
Get it in Google Play, and find out its rank in our Top 20 Android Games of 2014.
8. Afterlight by Afterlife Collective, Inc., $0.99
An amazing image editing app with a variety of filters and edit tools that will transform your photos fast and easily.
Get the Android version of Afterlight here.
9. Worms 3 by Team17 Software Ltd, $0.99
Worms has been around for some time now and the new game made it to the top paid apps for its fresh gameplay and many additions. As usual, you're in control of a squad of four worms, fighting to wipe out your opponents before they do.
And here’s the Google Play link.
10. Facetune by Lightricks Ltd, $0.99
Facetune is what some people would call Photoshop for iPhones/iPads. It allows you to retouch photos with various tools in an easy way.
It’s available for Android too.
11. Smart Alarm Clock by Plus Sports, $1.99
Similar to the aforementioned alarm app (Sleep Cycle alarm clock), it analyses your sleep patterns and wakes you up at the best time.
Android users can find it in Google Play too.
12. Angry Birds by Rovio Entertainment Ltd, $0.99
This list wouldn’t be complete without Angry Birds, a franchise that even after all these years still finds itself at the top of game apps and it doesn’t seem like it will leave its spot anytime soon.
Of course, it’s available for Android devices too.
13. Camera+ by tap tap tap, $2.99
Another photo editor with various tools and filters that can transform your regular photos into masterpieces. Features include various shooting modes (e.g. Stabilizer to take non-shaked photos, Burst to take continuous photos, or Timer to take high-quality selifes), up to 6x digital zoom and of course, Clarity; this feature will being your photos to life by making several automatic adjustments.
14. iTheme by novitap GmbH, $1.99
iTheme is an app that allows the user to customize the home screen and lock screen of their phones using various themes. The included themes can be customized as well; for instance, the user can change the theme's colors, saturation, brightness, contrast, add calendars, frames, overlays, bookshelves, special effects and perform many other actions.
15. Garmin víago™ by Garmin, $1.99
A navigation app that provides turn-by-turn navigation and lane assist (which lane you need to take) all around the globe. For some peculiar reason it made it to this list, even though its current version has only 3 stars (and 2 stars in all versions).
Get it for Android here.
16. Threema by Threema GmbH, $1.99
A messaging app that takes privacy very seriously. Its encryption method doesn’t allow anyone else other than you and the recipient to read messages.
And here is the link for Android users.
17. Blek by kunabi brother GmbH, $2.99
Shape lines as you wish, and collect the colored circles while avoiding the black holes. An elegant and beautifully designed game.
Get the Android version of Blek here.
18. Infinity Blade III by Chair Entertainment Group, $0.99
The final installment of the Infinity Blade series. Infinity Blade III is an action role-playing game that has been extremely successful because of its unique gameplay. Infinity Blade III continues the story of hero Siris and Iza, on a mission to defeat The Worker of Secrets.
Following is the “Best Apps” list, with which we will end the first part of this article.
Best Apps
1. Hyperlapse by Instagram, Inc.
A video creator with time-lapse support. The app helps the user create awesome videos ready to be published in social media with its countless features, such as video creation with stabilized image while moving, or speed increase of up to 12 times in the hyper-lapses.
2. Musement by Musement Srl.
This app is very useful for those who enjoy travelling as it allows the user to find and book tours, tickets to museums or other exhibitions, city passes and other useful information about destinations. Its database is not very big for the time being, but hopefully it will pick up and it will grow even more. A good choice nevertheless, worth trying out if you ever find yourself in the need of a digital guide in a foreign place.
3. Wunderlist: To-Do List & Tasks by 6 Wunderkinder
Wunderlist is an app that helps the user create and share their lists with others around the world. It connects automatically with the user’s device and PC so they can access their list from anywhere.
Get it for Android here.
4. Heyday Photo Journal by Hey, Inc.
Heyday collects the photos taken daily by the user and creates beautiful stories with them. Don't worry, it doesn't need much user interaction; the stories are created by Heyday Photo Journal automatically, and can be shared with other just as easily. It's a unique app that could reserve some space in yor phone for some special occasions in your life.
5. Post-it Plus by 3M Company
With this awesome app the user can capture sticky notes with their phone camera, and Post-it Plus will detect them, organize them (individually or in groups) and share them with others (although that's not the point of sticky notes, but that's one of the app's features too). If you're looking for a unique sticky-note app, then give this one a try.
6. SwiftKey Keyboard by SwiftKey
Swift key is an app that replaces your device’s built-in keyboard with one that adapts to the way you type by learning your writing style.
You can find it in Google Play too.
7. Litely by Litely LLC
Litely is an app that makes your photos more interesting by adding beautiful tones to them, allowing cropping, exposure, sharpness, vibrancy and vignette. Regardless of the fact that it's free, there are many nice filters in the form of In-App Purchases, which could be available to everyone and not just the ones willing to pay for them.
8. Camu by Sumoing Ltd
As it's stated in the official description of the app, "Camu makes you look great!". If that's all you want, then this app is a fine choice. It includes live filters that are applied when you take photos, plus offers high-res video recording.
Get the Android version of Came here.
9. Storehouse – Visual Storytelling by Storehouse
Storehouse allows the user to combine photos, videos and text in order to create a story through an easy yet interesting process. The photos and videos can be imported directly from your Camera Roll, Instagram, Flickr, Dropbox or Lightroom, and once the stories are created, they can be shared in social networks or in the Storehouse community, in which you can also access Storehouse stories shared by others.
10. Fly – A fast video editor by Fly Labs Inc.
Fly is a video editor that transforms your videos by offering dissolve transitions, split screen, music and voiceover, trimming and other tools. It has unique features indeed, which can be useful in many occasions; this video editor is in fact has great functionality, is easy to use and can be your sidekick when you need to make all sorts of video edits in your iOS device.
11. Learn Languages with Babel by Lesson Nine GmbH
This app offers a variety of languages for the user to choose from and helps them learn through a daily training that takes only up to a few minutes.
Its Android counterpart can be found in Google Play.
12. Tunepics by Tunepics Ltd
This app offers countless tunes that you can attach when sharing photos with others. In addition to the main functionality of Tunepics, you can also add weather effects (such as snow, rainbows, rain, sunshine, etc.) and use the "emotion wheel" to show how you're feeling. Last but not least, the app has a very nice design and is certainly a nice addition to your list of apps.
13. Runtastic Me by runtastic
Runtastic helps you keep track of your daily movements and habits, plus monitors your progress in exercising and provides you with an overview of your overall fitness, giving you a handicap in improving your physical wellness.
Get it for Android here.
14. Cinematic by Hipstamatic, LLC
Cinematic allows you to create great short films by connecting clips and adding several filters.
As you may have noticed many photo editors have made it to the list and it’s no wonder considering the huge popularity of selfies and the huge tendency of taking photos everywhere in general.
And this concludes the 1st part of the article.
Click here for the 2nd part, with the Best Games of the Year category!
