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

The Bearded Hero [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $0.99] Follow the Bearded Hero on a clay-made adventure where it is not unlikely to encounter sunbathing starfish, pipe-smoking mountains and sea monsters with bracelets.

I am a brave knight [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $0.99] Inspired by games like Journey or Cloud, I am a brave knight is a short interactive story based on our perspective of life.

Hyper Trip [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $1.99] Hyper Trip is a frenetic reflex game set in a futuristic 3D neon lit environment.

Pigs Can't Fly [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $2.99] And this little piggy went to Hell! Pig had the misfortune of crashing his holy bacon butt in Hell.

4444 [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $1.99] 4444 is a minimalist action puzzle with unique mechanics, designed for players of all ages.

RSSRadio Premium Podcast Downloader App [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $2.99] Download Podcasts to your device directly and stay up to date without ever having to sync to your computer.

Nimble Squiggles [iOS Universal; Now free, down from $1.99] Nimble Squiggles is a casual puzzle game for players of any age, where the player, with movement of his finger, has to help squiggles escaping by leading them to a funnel.

Iron Sea Defenders TD [OS X; Now free, down from $0.99] Man the guns! The enemy fleet is on the horizon!

New and Notable Apps

bit Dungeon II [iOS Universal; $2.99] bit Dungeon II is fast action roguelike game with a giant overworld to explore

Step Buy Step: A Pedometer Adventure [iPhone; $1.99] Normal pedometers count your steps. Step Buy Step is different. Each step you take in the real world earns you Stepps.

Photophore Synth [iPad; $4.99] Photophore is a unique instrument that uses flocks of up to 100 sound generators to create rich, organic synthesizer sounds.

Updates you don't want to miss

Running for Weight Loss: interval training plan, GPS, how-to-lose-weight tips by Red Rock Apps [iPhone; Free] The only running app in the App Store designed specially for weight loss. Make your running serve your goals! Version 2.0 brings the following changes:

• new app design

• new stylish app icon

• synchronization with Apple Health app

• application improvements for iOS 8

• graphic updates for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6+.

Image Bucket Pro [OS X; $6.99] Image Bucket Pro lets you resize, watermark, crop, transform and export photos (from a few to thousands) quickly and easily with its powerful batch/bulk features. Version 2014.2 brings the following changes:

• Improved quality of image watermark rendering when using the relative size option.

• Fixed rendering when using negative values for the image watermark offsets.

• Finder's "Open With" context menu item will now list Image Bucket Pro when selecting the supported file types.