If you've spent a lot of time cooped up at home this year because of the coronavirus outbreak, you're not alone: so have quite a few people who create apps for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and other Apple devices to keep people safe, healthy, and productive. Their efforts received special attention in Apple's 2020 App Awards, which Apple announces at the end of each year.

Apple announced the Best of 2020 winners today (December 2), and the prestigious list has a distinct "if you're stuck at home, you might as well do your best" vibe. More than half of the 15 winning apps are useful tools when trying to work or study remotely or maintain a good mental and physical outlook.

"This year, more than ever, some of our most creative and connected moments happened within apps. This is thanks to the amazing work of developers who delivered fresh and useful app experiences throughout the year," said Phil Schiller, former Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing and now an Apple Fellow, in an announcement introducing the winning apps. He stated.

Apple's choice for iPhone App of the Year is Wakeout. This is an app that encourages people to intersperse short periods of physical movement during the day to prevent excessive sitting; with the COVID-19 pandemic displacing people, Wakeout proved its worth by encouraging people to keep moving and reducing stress.

Zoom, the iPad App of the Year, became synonymous with teleconferencing and classrooms that were created for the pandemic. The well-established calendar app Fantastical won Mac App of the Year for its added features to make working from home easier. And the Apple Watch App of the Year was Endel, which offers personalized soothing sounds designed to help you relax, focus, and sleep.

As for Apple TV App of the Year, the award went to Disney Plus, which offered something for everyone to engage with over the past nine months.

Apple's Best of 2020 awards also include a category called App Trends, and the winners here also stick to the pandemic theme: Explain Everything is a whiteboard app that helps teachers teach students remotely, among other things. Caribu is a video calling app for kids that allows them to draw, read books, and play interactive games with distant family members. Past winners Shine was recognized for its efforts to promote mental health, and the charity app ShareTheMeal was recognized for providing an easy way to donate meals to those in need.

The Best of 2020 awards were not all about work; Apple also honored the best games for each device. Winners included:

Pokémon Go was also recognized in the App Trends category for its use of augmented reality.