Apple on Thursday published its best of 2012 selections on the iTunes Store, App Store, and iBookstore — and there are a few surprises. Last year, Instagram received iPhone app of the year, while Snapseed got the best iPad app.
The “Best of 2012” rankings include winners in a variety of mediums among multiple categories. Below are a list of the biggest overall winners:
iTunes Store
Music
Best Artist: Frank Ocean
Best Album: “Shields,” by Grizzly Bear
Best Song: “We Are Young,” by Fun.
Breakthrough Album: “The Lumineers,” by The Lumineers
Movies
Best Blockbuster: The Avengers
Best Director: Wes Anderson for “Moonrise Kingdom
Best Discovery: Beasts of the Southern Wild
Best Star-Making Performance: Jennifer Lawrence in “The Hunger Games”
TV Shows
Best Show: Breaking Bad
Best Episode: Homeland, “The Weekend”
Best Debut: Girls
Best Cast: Happy Endings
Best Of App Store
iPad App of the Year: Paper by FiftyThree
iPad Game of the Year: The Room
iPhone App of the Year: Action Movie FX
iPhone Game of the Year: Rayman Jungle Run
iBookstore
Best Novel: “The Dog Stars,” by Peter Heller
Best Nonfiction: “Beautiful Behind the Forevers,” by Katherine Boo
Best Young Adult Novel: “The Fault in Our Stars,” by John Green
Best Multi-Touch Book: “Fashion,” by DK Publishing
Podcasts
Best New Audio Podcast: NPR: TED Radio Hour
Best Audio Podcast: The Adam Carolla Show
Best New Video Podcast: MinutePhysics
Best Video Podcast: Sesame Street