Apps and Software

Between iOS 8 and a new lineup of tablets from Apple, iPad users got some pretty big updates in 2014.

Of course, major hardware and software updates also means a slew of new and better-than-ever apps. With all-new ways to tell stories, shoot and edit photos and create documents, iPad users can get more done than ever before

Check out our list, below, to see the apps that made our top picks and, if you're an iPhone user too, be sure to check out our list of top iPhone apps.

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WebOS is getting another update from LG

The company plans to launch the next version of its smart TV platform at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show.

If you remember, WebOS is the mobile operating system created by Palm to power the company's early smartphones. In 2010 it was acquired by HP for about $1.2 billion before being shuttered by the company a year later. LG resurrected the platform in 2013 to power its growing lineup of smart TVs.

LG says the latest version of WebOS improves on the features first introduced last year by giving viewers access to a wider variety of 4k ultraHD streaming options and making the platform faster overall. It also comes equipped with a new "My Channels" app that allows users to customize their favorite broadcast, cable or set-top box channels. ...

Instagrammers: You're getting new filters for the first time in two years.

The company rolled out a massive update to its iOS and Android app Tuesday that adds five new filters and the ability to rearrange how filters appear within the app.

Instagram's new filters, Crema, Slumber, Ludwig, Aden and Perpetua, will now appear first in the filter tray of the updated app. It also made the filter tray itself smarter as the filter choices now display mini previews of what that filter would like if applied to your photo.

Users also now have the ability to reorder the app's filters or hide the ones they don't use. Scroll to the end of the filter tray to find the new "Manage" setting, which allows you to quickly personalize how and where your favorite filters appear in the Instagram app ...