In the three-and-a-half years since Apple opened the App Store’s virtual doors, App-mania shows no signs of abating. The concept of an Apple-managed software store has become so widely embraced, that the company even created a Mac version of the App Store this past January.
But the original iOS store isn’t ready to cede the spotlight, not even to its Mac counterpart. And that’s readily apparent as we unveil the 2011 edition of our App Gems Awards. A quick glance at the 32 winners of this year’s honors reveals that developers continue to roll out stellar software that pushes the limits of just what your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad can do. And with half-a-million apps to choose from in the App Store, we expect plenty of good things still to come on the iOS front.
The App Gems Awards recognize apps released or updated between November 1, 2010 and November 1, 2011. Here are our favorite iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps from the past year.