Hurricane by American Red Cross tops iOS Apps of the Week

This week’s top iOS apps have an eye on the latest newsmakers, from hurricane coverage to American economic and political outlooks to college football, we’ve got the cultural landscape covered no matter what your interests. There’s even an app for young kids in the mix this week.

Hurricane by American Red Cross

This year’s hurricane season is half over already, but given the recent landfall of Isaac, it seems appropriate to highlight Hurricane by American Red Cross this week. Hurricane functions not only as a set of disaster preparedness instructions, but also as a weather app of sorts. It provides step-by-step instructions detailing what to do in the event of a hurricane, regardless of whether or not your iPhone has a data signal. It also monitors current weather conditions and sends alerts based on the locations you tell the app to monitor. Hurricane also comes with a messaging system via Facebook, Twitter, email and text so you can let your loved ones know you’re safe in the event of a weather emergency.

America’s Economy for iPhone

If you’re tired of worrying about the daily status of the economy without having all the facts at your disposal, America’s Economy for iPhone was built for you. Developed by the U.S. Census Bureau, America’s Economy looks at 16 key indicators of economic health and provides charts and stats so you can see whether the United States is on the rise or not. Key indicators include advance monthly retail sales, advance reports on durable goods, construction spending, the home ownership rate, international trade and more.

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ESPN College Football (update)

ESPN has rebranded their college football app. No longer Bowl Bound, the new ESPN College Football packs a new look and a few extra features just in time for the 2012 season. The design has been overhauled to include breaking news and team alerts in addition to nearly instant video highlights. ESPN College Football also lets users sync their favorite teams with those they have listed at the ESPN website.

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: Play at Home with Daniel

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood ($1.99) is a fun app for kids that helps them learn as they play. The app is split into sections emphasizing various activities that can be completed at home. Kids play “doctor” with Daniel Tiger as they learn what various medical instruments are used for, or help Daniel Tiger get ready for bed as they learn about their own bedtime routines. Children can also practice good hygiene with Daniel Tiger as they wash up and brush and floss their teeth. There is also an in-app sticker book with which kids can play.

CNN App for iPhone (update)

CNN App for iPhone has been updated with a few new features as we approach the November election season. Political junkies can now follow every step of the 2012 elections with the app’s “Election Center” feature, offering all the latest news and video clips related to the 2012 election. The app’s navigation has also been improved to make it easier to view stories.

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