This week’s apps: TouchCast, Anchor, Squrl, and more…

The weekend is finally here and, I don’t know about you, but I am ready to relax, have a beverage, and play some games on my iPad. Sure, there are people to see, parties to attend, and ruckuses to be had, but who needs social interaction when you’ve got apps and games like these?

Whether you’re trying to make it into the film industry, looking for something to watch on television, or getting back to your favorite TCG pastime, we’ve got a list of apps and games that will make you want to tell your brother you can’t babysit for him this weekend…

AOL: Mail, News, Weather, & Video

One of the oldest online software companies is treading water in the sea of technology startups. AOL’s newest addition to the industry is a multitasking app specifically for the iPad that lets users read the news, check their email, and track the weather without having to leave the app. It is your one-stop shop for the best things that AOL has to offer. You can customize your news stream, save articles for offline reading, and watch the latest videos. This app is available for free.

TouchCast

If you are tired of the same, boring, non-interactive videos that you view on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vine, and whatever other social networking site you go to, then you are in for a real treat. TouchCast for the iPad brings videos to life by letting you make them interactive. You can add webpages, images, and even video apps to create a fully immersive experience. You’ll feel like a professional editor with your very first creation. This app is available for free.

War of the Zombie

I know. You’re getting sick of zombies, right? Well, I’m not. So you are just going to have to deal with it. I just watched World War Z and, it may not have been true to the book, but it sure did have a lot of zombie action. So does this game. In this heavy strategy tactical game, you’ll be blowing brain-eaters to bits as you deploy marines into battle. You’ll be recruiting men, bribing officials, and even infecting countries you want to get rid of. As your command grows, the walking dead will too. They’re zombies. That’s what they do. This game is available for $2.99.

Digg

As the days tick by and our beloved Google Reader takes its last, few dying breaths, we are frantically searching for a new RSS reader that will make the pain go away. If you still haven’t found what you are looking for, then Digg might have your solution. The newly added Digg reader lets you import your Google Reader feeds with just a few simple steps. Once added, you can keep following your favorite blogs without missing a beat. You can also add new ones by browsing the recommended section, or just read top stories from Digg’s feed. This app is available for free.

Diner Dash Rush

Flo is back and has a whole new look. She may be sporting a new smile and a new style, but the red shoe-wearing work-a-holic is just as spunky as ever. If you are a fan of the ultra popular time-management original, then you won’t be disappointed with this newly remodeled update. Seat customers, take orders, grab food, clean up, and do it all with a smile in this fast-paced restaurant game. If you keep your customers contented, you’ll make it to the Happy Hour bonus round where the patrons dance until their pockets are empty. This game is available for free.

Anchor by Tomfoolery, Inc.

Some companies are lucky enough to have a comfortable social environment. Some businesses have employees who actually go out for beers together after work. If you are friendly enough with your co-workers that you feel you can post funny pictures of them to the rest of the team, then you need Anchor. It features a main posting section so you can put up announcements, like what time the in-office birthday party is starting. There is also a chat room section where people can either talk about nothing, or create a special chat room for a specific topic. You can share images, web links, and your favorite flavor of ice cream with this social app designed for work relationships. This app is available for free.

Squrl – Effortless video

If you oftentimes find yourself veg’ing out on the couch, flipping channel after channel on your television set, trying to find something to watch, but feeling too overwhelmed to know where to start, then you could benefit from Squrl. This TV and movie aggregator will create a personalized and customized list of shows, clips, and videos for you to watch. Instead of drowning in a sea of media, find what you are looking for on YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu +. You can also check out video streams from Bloomberg TV, the Huffington Post, and more. This app is available for free.

Magic 2014

Are you a “Magic the Gathering” gamer? If so, get ready for the digital version of Duels of the Planeswalkers. Wizards of the Coast just launched the newest edition of its popular trading card game on the iPad and you can start building your deck right now. The game comes with three decks, each with five rare cards to unlock. You can practice your abilities in single-player campaign mode, or compete against others in online multiplayer mode. In addition to the basic game you can unlock new decks, compete against powerful AI opponents, play various puzzle challenges, and more. This game is available for free.