Monday Apple posted their Best of 2013 lists, including Music, Movies, TV Shows, Apps, Books, and Podcasts. The free Duolingo - Learn Languages for Free, was named iPhone App of the Year. And it's well deserved. Not only can you use it to learn Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, and English, but the app makes it fun. It uses gaming techniques to help you learn. And, interestingly, the app also has a crowdsourcing function, such that in the process of learning and doing translations, you are helping translate the Web into other languages.
Ridiculous Fishing - A Tale of Redemption ($2.99) got the nod as the iPhone Game of the Year. Receiving the award for Top iPad App of the Year is Disney Animated ($9.99), which gives an interactive in-depth look at Disney feature film animations. Badland ($3.99) was named Top iPad Game of the year.
In each app category (iPhone app, iPhone game, iPad app, iPad game) you can also view the runners-up, the top-selling apps of the year, and the top free apps of the year. In addition, the lists include trending apps in a dozen categories such as Stylish Photo Editing, Indie Games, Split-Second Video, and Bite-Sized News. You'll definitely want to spend some time browsing these lists.
Gravity was selected as the Best Movie and Breaking Bad as the Best TV Show of the Year. Tenth of December was named the best novel and Bill Bryson's One Summer was named best nonfiction book. AsapScience got the award for best new video podcast, and The Adam and Dr. Drew Show was named best new audio podcast.
Not only are these great lists, but overall you get a feeling for the rich and well-organized panoply of the iTunes Store. Apple has done well.