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The holiday shopping season has officially begun, and most shoppers are not only searching for the best deals, but they are also looking for the easiest ways to complete their shopping lists. iOS devices were once again the most popular tools for most Black Friday shoppers this year, and it's safe to assume the trend will continue throughout 2012. Here are a few apps that will allow you to gain an edge, save some money and keep organized this holiday shopping season.

FastMall - (iPhone and iPad) - Perfect for the reluctant shopper who hates navigating unfamiliar stores during the holidays. FastMall helps you get in and out of shopping malls quickly by giving you turn-by-turn directions to bathrooms, stores, and restaurants. It also helps you remember where you parked your cae, and can direct you to elevators and escalators for quick escapes from crowded shopping centers.

Angry Birds fans will be happy to know their favorite game has 25 new levels. Every few months developer Rovio Entertainment expands the lineup of themed Angry Birds Seasons levels and adds them at no additional charge. The Winter Wonderham update brings the total to over 300 levels!

Winter Wonderham features a snowy winter landscape with the aurora borealis, and each day leading up to Christmas means a new level will be unlocked. Newcomers to the game can still purchase Angry Birds Seasons from the App Store for only $0.99.

Apple has announced the next phase of its global iPhone 5 rollout. No less than 54 countries are on the list to receive the latest device before the end of this year. In a press release, Apple said the iPhone 5 will be available in South Korea starting on Friday, December 7th.

From there, it's on to two long lists of countries that will get the iPhone 5 on December 14th and December 21st. The iPhone 5 is already available in 47 countries, which means Apple will meet its goal of selling the iOS smartphone in over 100 countries before the end of 2012.

As expected, Apple has released iTunes 11 with major changes. The software has a redesigned edge-to-edge interface along with a long list of new features and improvements. Besides another icon update, Apple has included custom designs for each album, movie or TV show and a new library with simpler, more intuitive views.

iCloud integration is much improved, with playback syncing making it possible pick up where you left off listening on different devices. Purchases can also be streamed or downloaded to different pieces of Apple hardware immediately with your Apple ID. Speaking of purchases, the iTunes Store has been completely redesigned with a clean look that makes it easier to use.

Looking for more Lightning to USB options for your iPhone 5? Griffin has announced it will be the first to hit the market with official third-party Lightning cables for Apple devices. All of the options are designed to prevent tangles and kinks in the cord.

All of Griffin's cables will be fully compatible with the iPhone 5, iPad mini, 4th generation iPad, iPod touch 5G and iPod nano 7G. The products were announced in a press release and will be available starting the first week of December.