Free apps and sales through the new year [updated]

Christmas has come and gone, but not all of the sales have ceased. Many of the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad app and accessory developers have been kind enough to let their sales roll into into 2011, including some freebies. So whether you’ve been an iDevice owner for a while now or just got your gadget this holiday season, here’s a great way to get it loaded up early and cheaply.

Games:

• New – As you get ready to celebrate the end of a great year and the start of another, PlayFirst has made its flagship game, Diner Dash, free on the App Store, for three days—today through January 2nd. Reaquaint yourself with an old friend, this genre-defining time management game, on your iPhone and iPod touch. Take a cup of kindness, and enjoy Diner Dash for free before the grand opening of new restaurants that will be added to the game in 2011.
• New – G5 would like to inform you that Virtual City, a massively popular mix of transport strategy and city simulator is on sale. The game is available for $4.99 on iPad and for $2.99 on iPhone until January 10. And to celebrate the sale, they are running a contest on Facebook, Sarah’s Christmas Vacation.
• Xachi: Command, a classic missile-style game with a line drawing twist, is free until January 1, 2011. Time your splashes right to help Ika, a young Xachi, eliminate the evil parasites with Pickle Potion, the one thing that scares them away. The app features Classic Mode, Blitz Mode, online multiplayer with fun items to stump your opponent, cartoon graphics with original characters, and an illustrated storybook.
• On the occasion of Christmas and New Year, all the Microïds and HdO Adventure heroes decided to end 2010 in the blaze of glory. From December 20th until January 2nd, many of their iPhone and iPad games are on sale for $0.99, including the Dracula and Egypt: The Prophecy series, as well as Frankenstein, A Vampire Romance, Jack the Ripper, The Three Musketeers, and many more.
• To commemorate the holidays, SEGA of America, Inc. has announced a sleigh full of discounts for their digital titles on iPhone, iPod touch and Pad. This Holiday SEGA Mega Sale will run from today through Jan 3, ensuring that players can ring in the New Year on the platform of their choice with plenty of gaming cheer. Potential digital stocking stuffers include hit titles like Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I, ChuChu Rocket! / ChuChu Rocket! HD, Phantasy Star 2, Gunstar Heroes, and Altered Beast.

Apps:

• New – To celebrate the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011, indie iOS developers have banded together to bring the world a little bit of holiday cheer. They’re all heavily discounted their apps as their gift to you! There are 25 apps in the sale, and 7 of them are being offered for free. The special new year sale runs for at least 48 hours from December 31st 2010 to January 1st 2011. Act fast to get these deals.
• New – JellyOasis has announced that Ninja Bounce, their exciting new game application will be available for a limited time at 50% off the original price. Ninja Bounce incorporates challenging elements of reflexes, timing, and classic rhythm game play, giving it a fun twist to the survival game genre. In addition, JellyOasis is offering prizes in US iTunes Gift Cards to the three highest game scores.
• New – OneLamp Studios has announced the release of Math Easy HD for the iPad. Developed to provide young children with a digital arithmetic learning utility that is as fun to use as it is informative, Math Easy HD uses entertaining games with vibrant graphics to teach users basic math skills. To help celebrate the winter holidays, Math Easy HD will be discounted by %40 percent for both Christmas as well as New Years.
• Potrus Publishing Interactive today announces that their series of classic fable iBooks will be offered at a discount for the duration of the holiday season. Comprised of six timeless Grimm Brothers fairy tales, these interactive children’s iBooks for the iPad will be offered on discount until January 1st, 2011. This includes developers’ interactive iPad optimized renditions of Thumbelina, The Ugly Duckling, The Three Little Pigs, The Frog King, Little Red Riding Hood, and Puss in Boots.
• From 22nd December, Nozbe Simply Get It Done, a superb productivity app for iPad, iPhone and iPod will be available in App Store for nearly half price. Offer ends on 1st January 2011. You’ll get a powerful, integrated with Evernote application that not only helps you manage tasks, but actually get them done. And if you have Nozbe account, you also get full cloud sync and teamwork support.
• MacPhun LLC has announced a sale for its 10 top products from December 21st, 2010 till January 3nd, 2011. With some extra savings over 75%, for those who own iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, this is a good chance to pack their iDevices with some really nice photo and entertainment applications. Apps include FX Photo Studio, FX Photo Studio HD, PhotoPal, Predator Vision, Doodle Cam, iRetroscope, Real-Time Distorter, PopArt VidCam, Amazing Facts HD and ArtPuzzle HD.
• Time to get ready for the new year. MileBug for iPhone is on sale at 33% off for Christmas through the end of December. MileBug helps those driving their own vehicles for business, or other reasons receive their reimbursement and/or tax deduction, and was featured in What’s Hot last January as it rose to #2 in Finance. From small to big business, from realtors to direct sales consultants, MileBug continues to serve those needing a mileage tax break.
• As we approach the Holiday season, Mobickus would like to offer the opportunity for you to share Kemba with your friends and family. For a limited time between now and Dec 31st 2010, they are offering everyone an upgrade to the full version of Kemba for $0.99 instead of the regular price of $4.99. Just download the free version of Kemba. After a successful download, tap “Info,” then tap “About,” then tap “Upgrade to full version.” Instead of being charged for the regular price of $4.99, the price of the full version is only $0.99 for the promotion period.

Accessories:

• New – Fusion of Ideas has announced a New Year’s Sale on all of their iDevice covers. From December 31 through January 9, all covers will be $20.11.
• New – Save up to 80% and get free shipping on Case-Mate’s favorite iPhone 4, iPhone 3G / 3GS and iPhone 1st gen cases with their end of the year clearance sale.
• GelaSkins is offering free UPS shipping on all orders of $50 or more (U.S. and Canadian customers only). The special only lasts until December 31st, 2010. You have until the end of time, however, to take advantage of their buy three, get one free deal.