Our favorite apps, games, and entertainment from 2021 for all of your new tech – The Verge

10 great games to play on your new VR headset

2021-12-31T09:00:00-05:00

With the advent of platforms like the Oculus Quest 2, VR has never been more accessible. Setups that once required a massive commitment of time and resources - not to mention space - have become remarkably easy to use. While the Oculus Quest 2 is one of the more popular options when it comes to VR headsets, we've included titles that use HTC Vive, Steam VR, and Oculus Rift headsets as well.

Once you get past the fact that you're going to look silly, no matter what game you're playing, you're bound to have a great time with our list of the best titles you can play with your VR headset of choice. While the majority of our top picks for this y …

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12 great apps ready for your new 2021 Mac

2021-12-30T10:30:00-05:00

With Apple's fancy new MacBook Pros, its colorful new iMacs, and of course, 2020's still-excellent M1 MacBook Air all offering incredible performance and battery life, it's never been a better time to give (or receive) a new Mac.

And as more and more people are shifting to remote work, that laptop or computer you buy has to do more than ever. So we've rounded up some of our favorite Mac apps, designed to help you be more productive or to simply just make using your computer and navigating day-to-day life and Zoom calls a little more enjoyable.

Pixelmator Pro

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Adobe Photoshop is a key tool for image and photo editing, but it's super expensive …

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11 great apps for your new Windows 11 PC

2021-12-30T09:00:00-05:00

This year marked the launch of Windows 11. Stock permitting, there are a variety of PCs and laptops available with Microsoft's new operating system, and while the updated Microsoft Store fills out with apps, we figured we'd put together a list of our 11 favorite apps for a new Windows 11 PC.

We're covering productivity, gaming, and media playback, so there should be an app for everyone here. There are even some options to bring back Windows 10 functionality if you're missing some of the features and customizations Windows used to have.

EarTrumpet

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Microsoft's built-in Windows 11 audio management still isn't great. EarTrumpet overhauls it com …

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10 Apple Arcade games for your new iPhone or iPad

2021-12-29T09:00:00-05:00

Apple Arcade is a gaming subscription service that offers a wealth of great titles with no ads for $4.99 per month. Some great new games were released for it this year, but there are also many Apple Arcade-exclusive versions of some of the biggest App Store hits, and they're just as fun as when they first came out. We've compiled a mix of new and classic games you might want to check out if you're a new subscriber.

Fantasian

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Fantasian is a mobile JRPG from Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Final Fantasy. It takes cues from many classic JRPGs, features a soundtrack from another recognizable name to Final Fantasy fans, Nobuo Uematsu, and take …

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9 great games for your new Android phone

2021-12-28T09:00:00-05:00

In addition to being a popular mobile OS, Android is one of the most bustling gaming platforms on Earth. If you have a recent Android phone or tablet, or even one that's a couple of years old, you should be able to run a majority of the games available in the Google Play Store. That's good because there are some stellar, console-quality games that you should be aware of, if you aren't already in the know. Whether you just got a new Android phone, or you just want a few recommendations to use with your current phone, we've got you covered with the list below.

Among Us

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There's a chance you've heard of Among Us even if you aren't that tapped in …

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10 great games for your new gaming PC

2021-12-27T09:00:00-05:00

Getting a new gaming PC is a bit like opening Pandora's Box when it comes to deciding what to play. With frequent releases on Steam, a never-ending flow of free games on the Epic Games Store, a plethora of indie arthouse games on itch.io, and countless other launchers and storefronts to install and choose from, it can feel like the Netflix effect of paralysis by choice.

So if you got yourself a new PC for the holiday, or even earlier, this list of excellent games released this year is a primer on what to consider. Some may be no-brainers because they are the biggest releases of the last few months, but others should not be overlooked.

Many …

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10 great apps for your new 2021 iPhone

2021-12-26T10:00:00-05:00

So, you just unwrapped a shiny new iPhone this holiday season. A new year is around the corner. And while you could just migrate over all the same apps you've always used, now is also a good time to try something new. It doesn't matter whether you're rocking a new iPhone 13 or a new iPhone SE - here's a list of some apps that are handy, fun, or just way better than whatever came pre-installed on your iPhone.

Spark Mail

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Listen, Apple's Mail app is fine. Gmail is marginally better. Microsoft Outlook is a classic for a reason. But Spark Mail is a simple, solid, and free option that packs in a lot of customizability. You have the option of toggl …

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9 great apps for your new 2021 Android device

2021-12-26T09:00:00-05:00

Congratulations on your new Android device! After going through all the legalese to set up your Google account and services (and probably doing the same with your phone manufacturer and carrier), you're finally ready to make your phone or tablet your own. As you populate your email app with new emails and purge useless apps from your device, now is the time to install some better apps that will improve your life. Here are nine Android apps that made me happier and more organized, without being overly demanding of my user data or annoying with ads.

ColorNote Notepad Notes

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My home is full of post-it notes strategically placed on multiple sur …

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8 great games for your new Xbox

2021-12-25T11:00:00-05:00

The latest generation of Xbox consoles recently celebrated their one-year birthday, though like the PS5, your chances of easily buying one aren't so great (the $300 Series S is far easier to find in stock than the $500 Series X is). Nevertheless, there have been some must-play games released on Xbox in the past year that make searching for one of these consoles worth the effort.

We've pulled together a handful of great games. Thankfully, many of them are available through a Game Pass Ultimate subscription. That gives you access to online multiplayer, along with access to a library of games for a flat monthly fee.

Of course, you can still p …

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8 great games for your new PlayStation 5

2021-12-25T10:00:00-05:00

The PlayStation 5 was released in November 2020, but it's still incredibly hard to get. The chip shortage has rendered it nearly impossible to log onto your favorite retailer's site and order one. In other words, among the no-doubt massive amount of people who want a PS5, very few are actually able to get one these days.

But if you are one of the lucky people who have just got one (or are hoping to get lucky soon), or if you have a friend who was able to score one, we've put together a list of great PS5 games to play this holiday and beyond. If you take our recommendations, you'll have so much gameplay to enjoy that you probably won't need …

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