Top 5 iPhone and iPad Apps of the Week (9/20/12)

We are back again with another set of 5 top apps. Kicking off our list with a 90 AppScore is School Notes - an app that does exactly what its name says, it helps you take class notes. Tied for second with an 85 AppScore are Final Draft Writer, an app that helps you create entertainment scripts (I might try this app to write my first script), and BeingDifferent which teaches kids about tolerance (technically it is listed as a game but it seems more like an interactive book so we took a little creative license and put it in). In fourth with an 83 AppScore is Etchings - an app that allows you to create etched illustrations from photos. Closing out our top 5 with a 75 AppScore is Lift™ - an app that helps you break your annoying habits through goal setting. Hmm...maybe I could use this app to break my habit of shopping too much! As always let us know what you decide to download and give us your thoughts on any of the apps in our rankings. We love to hear from you!

As always our iPhone and iPad app rankings are based on aggregating professional review scores from around the web.

1.		School Notes	90
		$1.99: iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch (Universal App)
		From the app description: "The ULTIMATE note taking app for secondary and post-secondary students and teachers is now available for your iPad and iPhone/iPod. School Notes will help you take notes in MANY different formats that make sense and be fun at the same time." Check out a quote from iPhoneGlance: "Overall School Notes is a great tool to help students in high school or university to organize their study notes and class schedules" (August 31, 2012).

T2.		Final Draft Writer	85
		$29.99: iPad
		From the app description: "Final Draft Writer lets you write, edit and read Final Draft scripts on your iPad. Create new scripts or edit existing ones with easy-to-use features such as Tab and Enter navigation, ScriptNotes™, SmartType™, and more. Easily move your Final Draft v.8 scripts from desktop to iPad and back again. Your scripts will appear perfectly paginated and formatted to industry standards every time." Check out a quote from What's On iPhone:"This is software for the serious screenwriter" (September 10, 2012).

T2.		BeingDifferent	85
		$2.99: iPad
		From the app description: "The pages are beautifully illustrated, with amazing sound effects and music which will keep your children enthusiastic, entertained and the most importantly educated. Your children will love the emphatic and tolerant story line of “Being Different” They will learn a great moral, which they will keep inside all their life. They will also have so much fun exploring, as every page has lots of interactive elements as well as some hidden ones too! There are also four fun packed games and activities for your child to enjoy." Check out a quote from BestAppsForKids: "Bottom line: Being Different is a lovely little eBook that shows that it’s okay to be different and it’s important to be a friend. The extra activities make this an enjoyable all round app for $2.99" (September 6, 2012).

4.		Etchings	83
		$0.99: iPhone
		From the app description: "Instantly create beautiful etched illustrations from any photo! Experiment with eight stunning styles you can tweak to fit your image perfectly — it's easy and fun to turn your photo into a unique work of art. Once you have created your beautiful etching, share it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more." Check out a quote from 148Apps: "This app has found a nice home in my “Photography” folder on my iPhone and I’m excited to use it to share more pictures. I’d recommend it to anyone looking to add some new flare to their photos" (September 4, 2012).

5.		Lift™	75
		FREE: iPhone
		From the app description: "Lift helps you overcome complacency by enabling you to declare your habit goals and see when you're actually making progress on them. And since Lift is social, you'll get to enjoy the support of your peers and friends, many of whom are trying to form the same sorts of habits! The key to success is paying attention and taking one step at a time. Simply check into your habits on the days that you do them, and perhaps record a note about how it went. You'll be surprised at how a bit of motivation can go a long way." Check out a quote from AppAdvice: "Lift features an incredibly clean and elegant interface that is very responsive, and it is definitely a great way to track daily patterns. The communal element is definitely handy in helping you keep motivated, and I would recommend trying to get this app on your home screen to amplify Lift’s effectiveness" (August 31, 2012).

For more of the Top 5 series, check out past Top 5 Apps and Top 5 Games posts. Also, check out our other series Favorite iPhone and iPad Apps and Games, Best Free iPhone and iPad Apps and Games, Best iPhone and iPad Apps and Games for Kids, The AppScore 100, iOS Interviews and iPhone and iPad App Giveaways.

Notes: Top five is based on apps released two weeks prior, 8/26/12 - 9/1/12, to the current week to allow for reviews to come in. AppScores, prices, ranking, and availability are accurate as of 9/19/12. To make the list an AppScore of 75 or above is needed and the primary app category cannot be "Games". The top 5 apps ranked by AppScore that meet these criteria make the list.