With all the countless apps out there, what makes an app a favorite? After going through the TechCrunch list of the top 20 apps, the major factors that made these apps successful seemed evident.

First,  almost all the top apps had the word “fast” or “faster” in their company’s description. Users like to get things done quickly, and cherish an app that makes life easier in some way (who doesn’t?).

We share our location, our interests, we even share pictures of the food we are about to eat. Therefore, it makes sense that the two other wide-spread words were “sharing” or “social”. Users love to stay connected. An app that lets users share something and connect with the world around them is extremely appealing.

Finally, universality was another major factor. In order for an app to be successful it needs to be available globally, on all major operating systems and devices. With some apps, developers have launched on a particular device, gained success, and then launched on the remaining suite of devices and platforms. In order for an app to be widely received at some point it needs to be available to everyone. Dev teams can verify this through localization testing.

July marks the mid-year point of 2012. We are halfway through the year and there are now 1.2 million mobile apps available to users. Coming up with a list of the best apps becomes even more complicated when we look at the apps for different operating systems and platforms. Brad Spirrison of TechCrunch explains how he narrowed down “The 20 Best Apps… of 2012″ list:

“All apps picked were either released or significantly updated between January 1 and June 30 of this year. Titles that debuted on iOS or Android in 2012 that were previously available on another platform are eligible for inclusion. All of our selections were sourced, ranked and finalized by Appolicious Advisors and members of our community.”

Below are the apps that Spirrison and his team felt ranked supreme. The list is categorized by the top iOS apps, Game Apps, and Android apps. In case you haven’t heard of them, included is a brief company description.

Top iOS Apps

• Camera Awesome (iPhone, iPod Touch: free)- Camera Awesome takes your photos to the next level by shooting fast and taking sharper, better exposed shots.
• Pocket/Read It Later (Universal: free, also available for Android)- When you find something you want to view later, put it in Pocket.
• Khan Academy (iPad: free)- A free world class education for anyone, anywhere.
• Touch TV (iPad: free)- Bringing TV to your iPad.
• Any.Do (iPhone, iPod Touch: free)- Any.DO helps you get things done with your friends in a simple & elegant way.
• Highlight (iPhone, iPod Touch: free)- Highlight gives you a sixth sense about the world around you, showing you hidden connections and making your day more fun.
• Viggle (iPhone, iPod touch: free, also available for Android)- Check into your favorite TV shows with Viggle and get great rewards such as movie tickets, music, gift cards and much, much more.
• LinkedIn Update (Universal iOS: free)- Now compatible for the iPad.
• Clear (iPhone, iPod Touch: $2.99)- Keep it together with Clear, an amazing new app for list-keeping that is unbelievably simple, quick and satisfying to use.
• HomeSnap (iPhone, iPod Touch: free)- HomeSnap’s unique technology was built to do one thing: instantly tell you all about any home you snap.

Best Games of 2012

• Draw Something by OMGPOP (Universal: $2.99, also available for Android)
• JAZZ: Trump’s journey (Universal: $2.99, also available for Android)
• Angry Birds Space (iPhone and iPod Touch: $0.99, iPad: $2.99, Android smartphones: $0.99, Android tablets: $2.99)
• N.O.V.A 3 (Universal: $6.00, also for Android)
• Spellsword (Universal $0.99)

Best Android Apps:

• Flipboard (Free)- Your social magazine.
• Instagram (Free)- Fast, beautiful photo sharing.
• Google Drive (Free with subscription, also available on iOs)- Google Drive lets you store and access your files anywhere. 
• Airbnb (Free)-  Airbnb is a trusted community marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodations from around the world.
• Chrome (Free on Ice Cream Sandwhich devices only, also available on iOs)- Google’s free web browser. 

Surprised by any of these apps? Are there any apps you believe should have made TechCrunch’s list? Let us know in the comments section.