It’s the holidays, which means new gadgets for everyone! Whether you’re rocking a new PC or trying to get a handle on what the Amazon Echo really does, we’ve got you covered. Here’s how to set up all your new tech gifts (and, let’s be honest: your family’s).
A New Windows PC
When it comes time to install your favorite apps, make sure you get them from reputable sources that don’t bundle their own crapware. There aren’t many trustworthy sites left, but here are a few—we recommend Ninite, which can install most of your favorite free apps in one click. And don’t forget antivirus, either! Here’s what we recommend in that department.Whether you’re unpacking a shiny new laptop or building yourself a kickass new gaming PC, we have you covered with everything you need to set it up. While we don’t recommend transferring your old Windows installation to your new PC, you can migrate the necessary files pretty simply. If your new PC comes with a lot of bloatware, you may want to start by reinstalling Windows without the junk—it’s much easier than it used to be thanks to Reset This PC.
Whether you’re new to Windows 10 or have had it for a while, be sure to check out its best overlooked features, as well as all the features of this year’s Fall Creators Update. As you set up your new computer, be sure to take good security practices into account, and be on the lookout for all the new customization options, from the Start menu to the taskbar and even to File Explorer’s folder views. Check out our Windows portal for even more Windows goodness as you get up and running.
A New Mac
So you’ve unwrapped a shiny new MacBook (or iMac, or iMac Pro, if you’re really lucky. Start by migrating your files with the Migration Assistant, then start getting to know the best features of macOS High Sierra. You’ll be able to find most of the apps you want in the Mac App Store, but be careful, because it’s full of scams just like the rest of the internet. If you have any Windows programs you need to run, you can do so in a few different ways.
As you get acquainted, check out all the different ways you can customize and set up your Mac—the Dock, the menu bar, and even Mission Control have a lot of settings you can tweak. If you have a new MacBook, you’ll probably need a few adapters to connect all your stuff, so see our guide to using it with the fewest amount of dongles. Check out our Mac portal for even more.
A New iPhone or iPad
If a new iPhone or iPad is in your future, your job is easy. Just copy everything from your old iPhone or iPad to the new one using iTunes, and restore any in-app purchases you may need (if they don’t copy over). Then, take some time to learn all about the new features of iOS 11, if you haven’t already.
Of course, there may be some growing pains. If this is your first iPhone without a headphone jack, you may be wondering how to listen to music and charge at the same time—but we’ve got you covered. You may also want to learn more about wireless charging, including how fast it is and how it works with a case. And of course, every phone has its battery life problems, so now’s a good time to learn about how your iPhone’s battery works and adjust your usage accordingly. Check out our iOS portal for even more tips.
A New Android Phone or Tablet
There are more Android phones and tablets out there than we can count, and setting each one up will be a little different. But you can start by migrating your data from a previous Android device, if you had one. If you’re new to Android, though, check out our huge first-timer’s guide to Android, our list of the best Android shortcuts, and the best features of Android’s latest release, 8.0 Oreo.
If you have a phone that doesn’t run stock Android—like a Samsung Galaxy or an LG device—we recommend these tweaks to make it more like pure Android (the best version of Android, in our opinion). There are also a ton of ways to customize Android from top to bottom, so tweak as much as your heart desires—especially when it comes to the new Google Feed, and the voice-controlled Google Assistant. Just make sure to squeeze as much battery life out of it as possible. Check out all of our other Android guides for even more tips.
A New Kindle (or Fire Tablet)
If you’re more of a bookworm, a Kindle may be right up your alley. If you’ve unwrapped a brand new ereader, it’s time to start filling it up with books. You can obviously buy ebooks from Amazon, but you can also grab ebooks for free from your local library, borrow books from your Kindle-using family members, and even create digests of articles you find on the web for easy Kindle reading.
But your Kindle can do more than just read books. Check out these hidden features for even more ideas, but make sure you optimize its battery life, too. And if you got a Fire tablet instead of a Kindle, you’ll want to read our guide to making it more like a regular Android tablet—it’s actually pretty capable with a few small tweaks. Check out our old Kindle articles for more.
A New Camera
So you’ve got a brand new camera—perhaps even your first high-quality DSLR or mirrorless. If so, you’re in for a treat—but only if you’re willing to learn the ropes. Start with this explainer on how cameras and lenses work, then move on to learning about its most important settings (like shutter speed and aperture). Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be able to get out of Auto mode and get a lot more out of your camera. Just remember: knowing how to use your camera is one thing, but learning to develop a good eye for photos is what will really take your pictures to the next level.
till not sure what the point of Amazon’s voice-controlled assistant is? Well buckle up. First, check out our guide to setting it up and getting started, and train it to your voice if you want it to work as well as possible (you don’t need to, but it’s handy). Then get ready to play around—ask it anything that comes to mind, and find out what Alexa knows. The Echo can give you weather, traffic, and sports updates, or be the ultimate kitchen companion. It also had loads of third party skills that can do everything from order you an Uber to deliver pizza.
Got a Google Home instead? It’s very similar, though excels in different areas. Here’s our guide to setting up Google Home. At the end of the day, these devices can do a lot, but they really start to shine when you combine them with smarthome products. Speaking of which…
Smarthome Gadgets of All Kinds
We’ve been decking out our homes with all sorts of technological advances recently. If you got a Wi-Fi thermostat or light kit, but aren’t sure what the big deal is, we’re here to help.
Smart lights like Philips Hue are one of the more useful smarthome gadgets, in our opinion, and we have a ton of information to help you get started—from setting them up to the differences between all the bulbs and even clever uses to make them worthwhile.
We also have guides on making the most of the Nest thermostat, the Ring Doorbell, Belkin WeMo switches, and your smarthome hub of choice (which can have many clever uses of its own). And that’s just the beginning. No matter what gadget you got, we probably have a guide to it, so check out our smarthome portal or search our archives using the instructions in the next section for more.
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