The Apple logo Is Pictured Inside The Newly Opened Omotesando Apple Store
The Apple logo is pictured inside the newly opened Omotesando Apple store at a shopping district in Tokyo in this file photo taken June 26, 2014. Reuters/YUYA SHINO

Every year the tech giant releases a selection of favorites and it was no different for 2014. The top-picks was not necessarily based on the most amount of money earned or the highest number of downloads garnered in iTunes.

Apple's choice for the iPhone app for this year is Elevate's "Brain Training," which helps users improve their memory, focus and develop other cognitive skills with its mind-captivating mini games. On the other hand, "Threes" has been proclaimed as this year's best iPhone game. The game seem to be simple but it can be addictive and is perfect for killing dull and boring moments.

For iPads, topping the best app is "Pixelmator," which is an impressive photo editor that works well with the iPad and Apple's iPhoto desktop app. Its US$10 cost might be a big deal for some but for photographers this image editor is indeed a must have. Meanwhile, Apple's choice for the iPad game of the year is the minimalistic puzzler "Monument Valley."

For music and media, Beyonce hails as 2014's artist of the year, Taylor Swift's 1989 is the top album and "Fancy" by Iggy Azalea is this year's choice for top single. Top blockbuster film goes to the "Guardians of the Galaxy", while, "The Lego Movie" is the best family film beating the more popular "Frozen" by Disney. Finally, Apple chose "Fargo" as the top TV show for 2014, Tech Spot reports.

In addition, Anthony Doerr's "All the Light We Cannot See" is best fictional book. In another book category, Jef Hobb's "The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace" is this year's best non-fiction novel.

According to Today's iPhone, Apple has also come up with different choices outside of the U.S. The following are the selections for the UK and other European countries: iPhone app of the year is "Replay" which happens to be a video editing app, while, "X-Men: Days of Future Past" was named as this year's best blockbuster film. Paolo Nutini's "Caustic Love" is album of the year and Sam Smith grabs best artist crown.

In Australia, the tech giant has also released a localised list of the best of 2014. Based on Gizmodo's report, "Elevate Brain Training" is app of the year, while "Threes" is this year's best game. In the music category, Sia is Apple Australia's best artist, Chet Faker's "Built on Glass" is best album, "Stay with Me" by Sam Smith wins best song and the boy group 5 Seconds of Summer is 2014's best new artist.

Finally, the best Australian movie for this year is "Charlie's Country" and best family movie is "The Lego Movie". Australia also shares the same clamor for this year's best blockbuster movie, the "Guardians of The Galaxy."