Best iPhone and iPad Apps on Sale Through the Holidays

[MacRumors]

Today marks the first day of Apple's annual iTunes Connect holiday shutdown, meaning the App Store will be void of any new or updated apps between now and Tuesday, December 27. In the meantime, iPhone and iPad users have plenty of time to capitalize on holiday sales for a number of popular apps.

Alto's Adventure
$3.99 -> 99 cents
iPhone and iPad
AppShopper | App Store

Editor's Note: A beautiful endless runner with procedurally generated terrain based on real-world snowboarding.

Day One
$4.99 -> $2.99
iPhone and iPad
AppShopper | App Store

Editor's Note: A popular journaling app for capturing everything from once-in-a-lifetime events to everyday moments.

Tweetbot
$9.99 -> $4.99
iPhone and iPad
AppShopper | App Store

Editor's Note: A popular Twitter app with granular mute filters, support for multiple accounts, timeline syncing across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and more.

djay Pro for iPad
$19.99 -> $9.99
iPad
AppShopper | App Store

Editor's Note: A popular app for DJs that integrates with your media library and Spotify. 2016 Apple Design Award Winner.

Byword
$5.99 -> $2.99
iPhone and iPad
AppShopper | App Store

Editor's Note: A popular app for writing with text-to-HTML tool Markdown.

Duet Display
$19.99 -> $9.99
iPhone and iPad
AppShopper | App Store

Editor's Note: Turn a plugged-in iPad or iPhone into an extra display for your Mac or PC. Praised for lag-free experience in reviews.

Don't Starve: Pocket Edition
$4.99 -> 99 cents
iPhone and iPad
AppShopper | App Store

Editor's Note: MacRumors sister website TouchArcade called this game a masterpiece of horror, humor, and hunger.

Broken Age
$4.99 -> 99 cents
iPhone and iPad
AppShopper | App Store

Editor's Note: A popular animated puzzle-filled adventure game. Apple Editors' Choice Winner.

Pandemic: The Board Game
$6.99 -> $1.99
iPhone and iPad
AppShopper | App Store

Editor's Note: An award-wining board game in which players are put in an apocalyptic situation where they must work as a team to save the world.

Out There: ? Edition
$4.99 -> 99 cents
iPhone and iPad
AppShopper | App Store

Editor's Note: MacRumors sister website TouchArcade gave this galactic adventure game 5 out of 5 stars.

NBA 2K17
$7.99 -> $2.99
iPhone
AppShopper | App Store

Editor's Note: The latest iPhone version of the popular NBA 2K franchise.

More deals can be found on AppShopper and through the ongoing App Santa promotion, which in addition to some of the apps above, includes discounts on Vee, Screens, Soulver, Pennies, Launch Center Pro, Drafts 4, Interact, Deliveries, Castro, Group Text+, Star Walk, Rando Emoji, and PCalc.

The annual App Store holiday shutdown has also provided TouchArcade with an opportunity to finalize its list of the 100 best games available this year. Nintendo franchises ruled with Pokémon GO and Super Mario Run this year, alongside popular titles like Clash Royale, Lumines, and Deus Ex GO.

Article Link: Best iPhone and iPad Apps on Sale Through the Holidays

 

[LordQ]

Clearly "Best Apps" is subjective.

 

[theheadguy]

Excitement about announcements in the Jobs era: Apple > Apps
Excitement about announcements in the Cook era: apple < Apps

Thank you developers. You don't get enough credit.

 

[appleunderpants]

Anyone ever try the Duet Display app? Can't believe I've never seen it before.

 

[ziggie216]

Anyone ever try the Duet Display app? Can't believe I've never seen it before.

yup. use it all the time when I travel and I need a second monitor. Just for kicks once awhile, I use my iPhone Plus as a display too.

 

[balconycollapse]

Does iOS Universal mean there is an AppleTV version?

For example yesterday I grabbed Broken Age, Alto's Adventure, Heroki, Lara Croft Go and Hitman for 99c on the AppleTV and they all auto installed on my phone. But it doesn't seem to be listed in iTunes if there is an Apple TV version in all cases of iOS universal.

 

[citi]

Anyone ever try the Duet Display app? Can't believe I've never seen it before.

Don't think about it. Buy it immediately.

 

[Joe Rossignol]

Clearly "Best Apps" is subjective.

Of course it is. If you have any personal suggestions, feel free to share!

 

[CanadianGuy]

Does iOS Universal mean there is an AppleTV version?

No, universal means iPhone and iPad. Apple TV is listed separately if available.

 

[iStillMac]

Prices are NOT locked by the way.

Source: https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=12152016a
I can also confirm it as I just changed the price of one of my apps.

 

[chrismail627]

Anyone ever try the Duet Display app? Can't believe I've never seen it before.

Definitely a must have app. Great for productivity, and can't beat the $10 price for a second monitor. Also, using touch screen macOS on an iPad is a neat feature.

 

[ReneR]

for Mac: ExactScan Pro: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/exactscan-pro/id410310670 and OCRKIt, too: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ocrkit/id410309628?mt=12

 

[Skoal]

What about The Mac App Store? There are a few apps I wouldn't mind getting if the price is right. Gonna have to dig around and see!

90% of the apps featured in this article are games, ugh! To bad there aren't more productivity etc all apps available in the article.

 

[pat500000]

Of course it is. If you have any personal suggestions, feel free to share!

Thanks for sharing some discount apps! Bring in some more like this due to negative articles as of late.

 

[6836838]

Anyone ever try the Duet Display app? Can't believe I've never seen it before.

Years ago. It's fantastic. Even on a MBP Mid-2010. Didn't realise it had double in price since I bought it. It's like a standard Apple app.

 

[Joe Rossignol]

Prices are NOT locked by the way.

Source: https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=12152016a
I can also confirm it as I just changed the price of one of my apps.

Whoops! You are right. I've updated the article to correct this error.

What about The Mac App Store? There are a few apps I wouldn't mind getting if the price is right. Gonna have to dig around and see!

90% of the apps featured in this article are games, ugh! To bad there aren't more productivity etc all apps available in the article.

This is false. 6 are games. 5 are not.

In terms of Mac apps, check out: http://appsanta.co/

 

[6836838]

Does iOS Universal mean there is an AppleTV version?

For example yesterday I grabbed Broken Age, Alto's Adventure, Heroki, Lara Croft Go and Hitman for 99c on the AppleTV and they all auto installed on my phone. But it doesn't seem to be listed in iTunes if there is an Apple TV version in all cases of iOS universal.

Alas not. It's annoying there isn't an icon for universal+TV. A Few apps do also include an inclusive TV app.

 

[Larry The L]

Clearly "Best Apps" is subjective.

Are you serious? Are you saying that not everyone likes or dislikes the same things? I wasn't aware of this. Thanks for the enlightenment.

 

[appleunderpants]

yup. use it all the time when I travel and I need a second monitor. Just for kicks once awhile, I use my iPhone Plus as a display too.

Well isn't this just amazing...

Thank you!

 

[6836838]

A

What about The Mac App Store? There are a few apps I wouldn't mind getting if the price is right. Gonna have to dig around and see!

90% of the apps featured in this article are games, ugh! To bad there aren't more productivity etc all apps available in the article.

Always buy games on Steam else you are locked to Apple. They are often cheaper too.
[doublepost=1482537217][/doublepost]

Well isn't this just amazing...

Thank you!

Also you need now is a decent set of headphones.

 

[Jefe's MacAir]

A

Always buy games on Steam else you are locked to Apple. They are often cheaper too.

What is Steam and what do you mean by 'locked'. I saw a similar reference above and don't know. Are you both referring to the same thing?

 

[TheIntruder]

Space Marshals 2 is also 99 cents.

The original was fantastic, but isn't on sale. The main thing the sequel lacks is the relatively scarce number of missions, but that should improve over time.

 

[panjandrum]

You know what needs to be developed for iOS (and Android I suppose);

Life Is Strange.

A perfect title for touch-devices - the kind of story-driven-game that requires minimal controls.

(BTW, if you haven't played this game, and like story-driven-games, then definitely play it. There is a reason it won so many awards. I thought it didn't sound all that interesting at first - like it was aimed for a younger audience with a young-adult high-school-age protagonist, but I was wrong. It was one of the most engaging games I've ever played. Only good for a single play-through really, but still very, very well worth it IMHO.)

 

[neuromajor]

Nice article, Macrumors. Just picked up Duet, which I've been eyeing for the past several months.

 

[bmac89]

Interested in Duet app but have some questions:

How does duet compare to other similar apps which stream a screen? I have never used anything like this before but I am interested. I don't think I really need this app but it certainly could be handy in the future (& sounds very cool ) ....and better to buy while on special.

It appears the positives is that it does not lag or pixelate (which I believe is a common issue) due to direct connection via lightning to usb, however it would be nice to have a wifi option as well for more portability when at home but away from the desk.

I know there are other apps which can mirror the active screen, but is this the only app that actually acts as a second display with seperate mission control desktop space?

Also can you use the Apple Pencil as a stylus to navigate and do general photo editing in Lightroom without buying the pro app / upgrade. I am happy drawing on iPad with the iOS software so I don't really need the drawing support which the pro app provides.

And finally can you switch back and forth between using Apple Smart Keyboard and the Mac keyboard as though you had two keyboard connected to the Mac?

Thanks

P.S. I wonder how long it will be on special for!?