Best new Android, iPhone, iPad and Windows Phone apps for November 2012

After we saw Google Play even out with the App Store in terms of the sheer number of apps in October, it is time to move the focus of the conversation away from numbers and into quality. And that is good news.

Luckily, November saw no shortage of great new apps on both application stores. We tried to pick only the best new apps, trying to squeeze the number to less than a dozen. Interestingly enough, we are starting to see some of the first successful Android apps arrive on iOS (like FxCamera), in a migration that used to be only the other way around. A tribute to Android’s popularity? Maybe.

This month Windows Phone 8 has finally had a full month to get developers’ attention, and we’ve included a few neat applications for those of you sporting a WP8 device. Still, the platform clearly has a lot of catching up to do.

To avoid all confusion and flamewars in the comments, this month we are again separating the iOS, Android and Windows Phone apps. First come 9 best new iPhone and iPad apps, then - starting from number 10 - we have listed our picks for Android, and finally - starting from number 21 - a few neat new Windows Phone applications.

Take a look at all those new apps in the slideshow, and don’t hesitate to let us know about your favorites in the comments section right below.

Best new Android and iPhone apps for November 2012

1. Fantastical - iOS - $1.99

”Fantastical is the fastest and friendliest calendar app. Just type in "Lunch with John in Cupertino on Friday" and Fantastical will schedule it! If your device supports dictation you can also speak the details for your event and Fantastical will handle the rest. Best of all, the beautiful interface makes using your calendar fun and easy.”

Download Fantastical for iPhone

2. Robots for iPad - $4.99

”Discover the amazing world of robots with this fun and engaging app. Check out the most advanced robots on the planet with 360-degree views, interactive images, detailed specs, and hundreds of photos and videos. Learn how robots work and enjoy countless hours of exploration with this unique, breakthrough app.”

Download Robots for iPad

3. Etsy - iOS - Free

The Etsy app for your iPhone and iPad, allows you to discover 17 million unique items on the Etsy handmade and vintage marketplace, coming from over 800,000 shops across the globe.

Download Etsy for iPad

4. FxCamera - iOS - Free

After becoming hugely popular on Android, image manipulation FxCamera app arrives on iOS. It features Instagram-like vintage effects.

Download FxCamera on iPhone, iPad

5. Fodor’s City Guides - iOS - Free

You have seen the books, and now you can have the same high-quality city guides on your iOS device.

Download Fodor’s City Guides for iOS

6. 500px - iPhone - Free

500px is a network for photographers, and after first debuting on Android and iPad, in November it finally got an iPhone app.

Download 500px for iPhone

7. Bet You Did Not Know This - iPad - Free

A History Channel project, this iPad app will inform you about entertaining facts like: “In ancient Rome, gladiators were so popular that their sweat was collected, bottled and sold as an aphrodisiac, and some women even used it in their beauty products.”

Download Bet You Did Not Know This for iPad

8. Photos to Art - iOS - Free

”Create canvas and custom framed photo prints from your Instagram and Camera Roll photos. The Photos to Art application enables the artist in you by transforming your favorite photos to art on canvas, wood mount, or poster print. You can frame and visualize the art on your wall – right from your phone.”

Download Photos to Art for iPhone, iPad

9. Space Place Prime - iOS - Free

”Space Place Prime is a content presentation app that gathers some of the best and most recent offerings from NASA. A spinoff of NASA’s popular kids’ Space Place website (spaceplace.nasa.gov or science.nasa.gov/kids), Space Place Prime has intergenerational appeal.”

Download Space Place Prime for iOS

10. ForeverMap 2 - Android (tablets) - Free

ForeverMap 2 brings absolutely free offline maps for one country, and the option to load up more for cash.

”Search and browse worldwide online and offline maps. You have unlimited online access to all citymaps, country-maps, and continent-maps. PLUS you can also opt to upgrade to offline map access without internet connection for any city, country, or continent within the app. Including search and route display.”

Download ForeverMap 2 on Android

11. Color Blindness Test - Android - Free

”This app tests your color vision to determine if you have color vision deficiency (also called color blindness). If so, it measures the type and extent of the deficiency. 8% of men and about 1% of women have red-green color blindness. Among those with red-green color blindness, there are two types: 75% are deutans, and 25% are protans. Deutans have an anomaly in the green-sensitive cone cells, and protans have an anomaly in the red-sensitive cone cells.”

Download Color Blindness Test on Android

12. AdBlock Plus - Android - Free

”Adblock Plus blocks all annoying ads on your Android device. NO ROOT REQUIRED! Adblock Plus blocks: mobile ads, video advertising, banners, push notifications, display advertising, HTML5 advertising, and much more.”

Download AdBlock Plus on Android

13. Echofon Pro for Twitter - Android - Free

”Echofon is the easy-to-use, super fast Twitter app that smartly syncs across all your devices. Wrapped in a beautiful, clean interface, Echofon for Android packs a punch, featuring gorgeous desktop widget, instant notifications, light and dark color themes and more – all the Twitter features you need to bring order to your busy social media life.”

Download Echofon Pro for Twitter on Android

14. 3D Image Live Wallpaper - Android - $1.49

”Creates the illusion of a 3D image when tilting the phone.”

Download 3D Image Live Wallpaper on Android

15. 365 Scores - Android - Free

”Did you miss the game? No problem, catch the latest highlights, breaking news, tweets, and scores from all your favorite teams from over 1000 leagues.”

Download 365 Scores on Android

16. Todoist - Android - Free

”This sleek Android todo app keeps you organized, focused, and more productive. The perfect todo productivity app is there wherever you need it: on your mobile device, desktop, browser, Gmail, and more.”

Download Todoist on Android

17. Recipe Search - Android - Free

”Easily scan through 150k recipes just by saying ingredients you have and discover great recipes! Use the search filters.”

Download Recipe Search on Android

18. PSY Gangnam Style Live Wallpaper and Tone - Android - $1.99

”The live wallpaper contains the legendary elevator scene from the music video. Tap on your screen and the elevator doors open to reveal the famous dance performed above PSY’s head.” No further comments needed.

Download PSY Gangnam Style Live Wallpaper and Tone for Android

19. Battery Stats Plus Pro - Android - $2.49

”Battery Stats Plus detects and notifies battery draining apps. It collects and analyzes battery usage per app basic on your Android devices. Usage attributes include CPU, CPU foreground, network, GPS, sensor, wake lock, and battery information. ”

Download Battery Stats Plus Pro on Android

20. Xbox Smart Glass - Android - Free

”Xbox SmartGlass lets your phone work with your Xbox 360 console to bring rich, interactive experiences and unique content about what you’re watching or playing, right to the device that’s already in your hand. Interact with your favorite TV shows, movies, music, sports, and games, and bring remote control to a whole new level.”

Download Xbox Smart Glass on Android

21. Bing Translator - Windows Phone - Free

”Use your phone's camera to make translating signs, menus, newspapers, or any printed text a snap. Just aim the camera at the text and see the translation in seconds.”

Download Bing Translator on Windows Phone

22. glƏƏk! - Windows Phone - Free

A fast, clean and actually good Twitter app for Windows Phone.

Download glƏƏk! on Windows Phone

23. Fhotoroom - Windows Phone - Free

”Fhotoroom is a pro camera, photo sharing network and professional mobile photo editor. Our Pro Camera is focused on achieving the absolutely best results that your camera can produce. Utilizing technology like our custom EV (Auto Exposure), Grid and Level all come together to extend the ability of your camera.”

Download Fhotoroom on Windows Phone

24. SkyDrive for Windows Phone 8 - Windows Phone - Free

Suspiciously missing for Windows Phone 8, the app that is the gateway to Microsoft’s cloud storage system, is now finally here.

Download SkyDrive on Windows Phone

25. Battery Level for WP8 - Windows Phone - $0.99

”The app provides "missing feature" of Windows Phone 8 - the battery level percentage on the main screen and the lock screen. Pin the app to see Live Tile with battery status and remaining charge percentage on Windows Phone 8 main screen and lock screen.”

Download Battery Level for WP8 on Windows Phone