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So you’ve unwrapped some new tech. Here’s where to start

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The holiday season has come, and that means that you’ve probably gotten some kind of cool gadget. Now that you’ve unwrapped your new tech, it’s time to use it! We here at The Verge have put together a series of guides to the best apps and games to get the most out of your new smartphone, console, or tablet.

  • Dec 25, 2017

    Andrew Liptak

    13 sci-fi series starters to break in your new ebook reader

    TIMN e-reader Kindle

    So you just got a new ebook reader for the holidays this year. Nice! Now, it’s time to find books to load it up with, which should give you plenty to read on your trip home, or if you need an excuse to avoid relatives for a couple of hours.

    Here’s 13 science-fiction books that kick off a series for you to break your new e-reader in, whether it’s a Kindle, Kobo, Nook, or other tablet.

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  • Shannon Liao

    Dec 25, 2017

    Shannon Liao

    The best games for your new PC

    wasd

    After many of us refreshed our hardware through Black Friday sales and now (hopefully) have the perfect mouse, mechanical keyboard, chassis, GPU, and the works, it’s time to d-d-duel — just kidding, it’s time to game. Now that the long stretch of the holiday weekend is ahead, you can break out the PC games, taking pride in how smoothly your new computer’s frame rate is. Some of these games rely on the player to have excellent reflexes, while others just require you to have a love of story.

    We've rounded up our favorite and most-used apps and utilities for the technology we use every day. Check out our other picks for iPhones, Android phones, PCs, and Macs. We've also listed our favorite games for iOS and Android from this year, and our top choices for PS4, Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch.

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  • Nick Statt

    Dec 25, 2017

    Nick Statt

    The best games for your new PS4

    So you’ve just unboxed that sleek new PlayStation 4 Slim, or perhaps you’ve now got your hands on a souped-up PS4 Pro ready to be plugged into an all-new 4K and HDR-equipped TV. But now is the slightly harder part: figuring out what to play, especially when you don’t want to further empty your bank account by putting down money on games you may not like.

    Fear not, for we’ve collected all the best titles to hit Sony’s home console these past 12 months, with a few favorites from years past. It’s been a great year for the PS4, as the platform has enjoyed hit after hit in the exclusive department and a widening lead over the Xbox. Here’s where to get started if you’re a lapsed PlayStation player and upgrading to the current console gen for the very first time.

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  • Ashley Carman

    Dec 25, 2017

    Ashley Carman

    These are the best games for your new Nintendo Switch

    Your family fought the good fight and got you a Switch. First things first: thank them. Go ahead, give them a big smile and a hug. Great! Okay! Time to get to gaming. We've included all the must-have games below along with a couple additional recommendations for when you want even more. These should last you a while and make the most use of your brand new Switch.

    We've rounded up our favorite and most-used apps and utilities for the technology we use every day. Check out our other picks for iPhones, Android phones, PCs, and Macs. We've also listed our favorite games for iOS and Android from this year.

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  • Chaim Gartenberg

    Dec 25, 2017

    Chaim Gartenberg

    The best games for your new Xbox One

    Photo by James Bareham / The Verge

    Whether its an original Xbox One, the slimmed down Xbox One S, or the ultra-powerful Xbox One X, Microsoft has tons of great options out there new and old for you to enjoy on your new console. To help out, here’s some of our favorite picks.

    We've rounded up our favorite and most-used apps and utilities for the technology we use every day. Check out our other picks for iPhones, Android phones, PCs, and Macs. We've also listed our favorite games for iOS and Android from this year, and our top choices for PS4, Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch.

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  • Jacob Kastrenakes

    Dec 25, 2017

    Jacob Kastrenakes

    The 11 best apps for your new Android phone

    Photo by James Bareham / The Verge

    So you just got a new Android phone. You’ve probably turned it on, logged into a bunch of apps, downloaded your favorites — Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. — and logged into all of them as well. But now it’s time to dive a little bit deeper. If you’re setting up a phone for the first time, here are 11 apps worth downloading that you might have missed.

    We've rounded up our favorite and most-used apps and utilities for the technology we use every day. Check out our other picks for iPhones, Android phones, PCs, and Macs. We've also listed our favorite games for iOS and Android from this year, and our top choices for PS4, Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch. 

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  • Chaim Gartenberg

    Dec 25, 2017

    Chaim Gartenberg

    The nine best apps for your new iPhone

    iPhone X between iPhone 8 and 8 Plus.
    Photo by James Bareham / The Verge

    Just unwrapped a fancy new iPhone X? Maybe a svelte iPhone SE? No matter what model, you’re gonna need some apps to go with your fancy new phone. Fortunately, we’ve already done the busy work for you and put together the best apps to get started with.

    We've rounded up our favorite and most-used apps and utilities for the technology we use every day. Check out our other picks for iPhones, Android phones, PCs, and Macs. We've also listed our favorite games for iOS and Android from this year, and our top choices for PS4, Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch.

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  • Chaim Gartenberg

    Dec 25, 2017

    Chaim Gartenberg

    The eight best apps for your new Mac

    Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

    Whether you’re unwrapping your first Mac, or getting an upgrade, you’ll need some apps for your new computer. We’re here to help, with some of our best picks to get you started.

    We've rounded up our favorite and most-used apps and utilities for the technology we use every day. Check out our other picks for iPhones, Android phones, PCs, and Macs. We've also listed our favorite games for iOS and Android from this year, and our top choices for PS4, Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch.

    Read Article >
  • Chaim Gartenberg

    Dec 25, 2017

    Chaim Gartenberg

    The eight best games for your new iPhone, iPad, or Android phone

    Photo by James Bareham / The Verge

    Alright, you’ve gotten your new Android phone or iPhone set up. Now it’s time for the important part: games. You’ll want something good to play on your new pocket supercomputer, especially if you’re stuck somewhere for the holidays away from your console or gaming PC. Fortunately, there’s tons of great games out there for mobile devices — here’s some of our favorites.

    We've rounded up our favorite and most-used apps and utilities for the technology we use every day. Check out our other picks for iPhones, Android phones, PCs, and Macs. We've also listed our favorite games for iOS and Android from this year, and our top choices for PS4, Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch.

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