Apple highlights language learning, visual design with its top app store picks

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Apple’s iPhone App of the Year is Duolingo, one of the first and best in a number of apps that are revolutionizing language learning by making it more accessible.   King’s Candy Crush Saga scored the most downloads; it was the top free iPhone and iPad app, as well as the top paid iPad app. Minecraft, published by Mojang, was the top paid iPhone app.

In terms of non-gaming apps, both Vine and Snapchat placed fourth and sixth respectively on the Top Free iPhone Apps chart. In iTunes, pop music and rap dominated, with Justin Timberlake taking Artist of the Year with The 20/20 Experience and The Heist scoring Album of the Year for Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde’s “Royals” was dubbed Song of the Year, while Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City by Kendrick Lamar took the Breakthrough Album nod.

Gravity was deemed best movie by Apple, while Despicable Me 2 was the best animation. 12 Years a Slave was noted for “Best Male Performance” by Chiwetel Ejiofor, while Blue Jasmine’s Cate Blanchett got “Best Female Performance.”  The TV Show of the Year was the final season of Breaking Bad.  Cult favorite Orphan Black was named Best Discovery, while season 3 of Duck Dynasty got Best Reality TV.