Top apps for Christmas

With only about a month to go until 25 December, it’s time to think about having a very ‘appy Christmas. Whether you own an Apple iPhone or iPad, BlackBerry, Android device or Windows Phone, there’s an app for every potential festive problem or wish.

So as the Christmas Day countdown begins, here’s our pick of some of the best on offer right now.

Great British Chefs
iPad - £2.99

Turkey, roast potatoes, parsnips and those little sausages with the bacon wrapped around them. Let’s face it, most of us make Christmas dinner the same way every year. But this appetising app – which also has a cheaper iPhone version – features 60 recipes from some of the biggest names in cooking including Theo Randall, Marcus Wareing and Tom Aikens, complete with mouth-watering HD pictures. Whip up some roasted venison or coconut pistachio snowballs and those relatives may never want to leave. On second thoughts, where’s that instant gravy?

Talking Santa
iPhone/iPad – from 69p
Android – free

No one has more Christmas spirit than Father Crimble himself, and keeping Santa on your mobile or tablet ensures one thing – Scrooge-like misery for all those around you as he pipes up with more Christmas cheer than the real Santa himself. Speak into the mic and this virtual Father Christmas will repeat what you say. If you’re lucky he’ll even open his sack and give you a present. You can even use it to send animated cards or videos to friends via email, MMS or Facebook. Now Santa really has entered the 21st century.

Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure
iPhone/iPad - £1.99

Keeping the kids quiet once they’ve opened all their presents is never easy. So if they’re bored of the annual TV repeats of ‘Mary Poppins’ and ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’, hand them your iPhone or iPad for some fun and games with every child’s favourite adventurer Dora The Explorer. She’s travelling through time to learn the true spirit of Christmas and the app is packed with activities, songs and Dora narrating it. It teaches kids all sorts of festive lessons and like other Dora episodes, helps them learn Spanish. Feliz Navidad to you all!

Christmas List
Android – Free

Mum, check. Dad, check. Grandma, check. Brother… d’oh! I knew I’d forgotten to buy a present for someone. Planning your present purchasing is tough, unless you’re one of these very organised people who starts getting gifts in the January sales for the following year. The Christmas List app allows you to track what you want to buy for everyone and how much it’s going to cost you. If you upgrade by paying for the Pro version you’ll also lose all the ads. Best of all, you can even password protect it so the kids can’t snoop on what Santa is bringing them.


Christmas Tree Live Wallpaper
Android – Free

Get into the spirit of the season by carrying around a Christmas Tree on your mobile. Obviously it’s a lot better than having one at home because there are no needles on the carpet and you don’t get caught up in the leads from the lights. Select different trees, falling snow, lights, sound effects and much more. There’s also an upgrade due for it on 11 December, just in time to relax as the final fortnight of madness kicks in.

BBC iPlayer
Most app stores – Free

Not strictly a Christmas app but boy, will it come in handy. With so much festive television to watch, this ensures you’ll never miss a Christmas special on the Beeb throughout the whole holiday period. And just as well, because how could you cope not seeing what’s happening on ‘EastEnders’ or in the latest ‘Doctor Who’ adventure? Watch whatever you want, wherever you want, on your mobile or tablet and you’ll never have a festive fight over the remote control again.

Christmas Countdown 2011
BlackBerry - £1.99
iPhone, Android and Windows phones also offer similar apps

If you’re really a glutton for punishment or love Christmas so much that you’re counting down every moment until the end of Christmas Eve, then this app is perfect. It’ll help you monitor the exact number of minutes or seconds until 25 December arrives in any place in the world – whether in Britain or even Christmas Island. And when the big day is over it will count down to New Year’s Eve. You’ll find yourself checking it every five minutes - to find it’s five minutes nearer than when you last looked.

Good Food Christmas Food
iPad - £3.99

Food is one of the defining features of Christmas, so forgive us for featuring another eating app. This one from the BBC has seen all 100+ recipes triple tested in the Good Food kitchen and there are plenty of gorgeous pictures to whet your appetite. This one is a bit more traditional than the Great British Chefs app above but there are a lot of choices and, most importantly, plenty of desserts. The makers have even thrown in some New Year party nibble ideas – just in case you haven’t already started the diet by then.