Today in the App Store -- the best free apps, new apps and app updates

Here are some of the best free apps, app updates and new apps that have landed in the App Store recently. All app prices are USD and subject to change. Some deals may expire quickly, so grab them while you can.

Apps Now Free

myCal PRO: Calendar & Event Organizer [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $2.99] No more dots in your calendar! myCal PRO displays what you need to see, your events!

True Skate [iOS Universal;Now free, down from $1.99]The most authentic skateboarding game ever.

Trail Tracker GPS [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $0.99] Whether you're biking, hiking, skiing, walking, running, or driving, Trail Tracker will track your entire trip and all kinds of statistics that you can use to analyze it when you're done!

Counters• - Colorful Tally Counter for Simply Keeping Count of Things [iPhone; Now free, down from $0.99] The most beautiful and polished tally counter app!

The Descent HD [iPad; Now free, down from $3.99] The ancient legends are true. No one will believe them until they have the misfortune of coming face to face with them.

UpWord Notes [iPhone; Now free, down from $0.99] With UpWord saves your notes, lists, and reminders - all in one place. Get more done.

LEX [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $0.99] LEX is more than a word game. It's an edge-of-your-seat experience of colorful glyphs and breath-taking music that you create as you play.

Mental Hospital II HD [iPad; Now free, down from $3.99] Are you ready to accept the gift of madness and understand the secrets of the deep? If yes - "Mental Hospital" is waiting for you.

New and Notable Apps

The Daily Beast [iPhone; Free] The Daily Beast's original reporting and sharp opinion, now available in a custom application designed for savvy mobile users and news consumers.

Commander the Great War [iPad; $19.99] Commander The Great War is a turn-based strategy game that captures this time of war with unprecedented realism and accuracy.

Jolly Phonics [iOS Universal; $4.99] Join Bee and her friends as they explore the enchanting letter-sounds garden and discover the main 42 letter sounds of English through a series of captivating games.

Teach Your Monster to Read [iPad; $4.99] Teach Your Monster to Read: First Steps is a phonics-based reading game for children aged 3-6.

Together for iOS [iOS Universal; $9.99] Notes, documents, images, movies, sounds, web pages and bookmarks can all be kept in Together, tagged, previewed, collected together in different ways and found again instantly.

Spillo [OS X; $14.99] Take full control over your bookmarks on Pinboard! Spillo is a powerful, magnificent and amazingly fast Pinboard client for OS X.

Updates you don't want to miss

This American Life [iOS Universal; $0.99] Official app for the public radio program This American Life. Version 3.0 brings the following changes:

• Brand new design

• Download more episodes for Offline Listening (up to 5)

• 24 hour live stream

• Universal app now runs on iPhone and iPad

• Improved iTunes support

Firehose Chat [OS X; Free] Chat with visitors on your website.Version 1.2 brings the following changes:

• You can now edit/delete messages.

• You can hit the up arrow key in the write message box to "unsend" your last message and continue writing it.

• Check boxes in preferences let you hide the chat box on your site is no agents are available or if no agents are online

• Better share options for chat transcripts. Copy entire transcripts to your clipboard.

• Fixed: New visitor chats make a sound even if the app isn't active.

• Fixed: Various other fixes.