App up: The best software for tablets, smartphones

To get the most out of new mobile devices, do some downloading. If

you receive a smartphone or tablet for Christmas (or you’re setting up one as a gift for a loved one), you should know that out of the box, they come incomplete.

Sure, you can do a lot with what’s built into a new iPhone, iPad, Kindle Fire, Android tablet or digital music player. They typically already have a good built-in Web browser, a calculator, calendar and email programs, as well as ways to keep track of your contacts and send text messages. But the really great stuff is still waiting to be downloaded.

Apple’s App Store — for so-called “iOS devices” like iPads, iPhones and the iPod Touch — and the Google Play store for Android — devices like Samsung Galaxy phones and Nexus tablets — contain literally hundreds of thousands of apps (short for “applications”) that extend the capabilities of that new plaything. Choosing the right ones can make a gadget more useful and fun. And best of all, many of these apps are free or very cheap; less than $5 is typical for even the most elaborate ones.

Here are some suggestions for must-have downloads, starter packs of apps you should check out, especially if you’re new to the world of mobile touch-screen gadgets. Not all apps are available on every platform, but we tried to pick many that can be used across the board.

Utilities

Let’s be dutiful and start

Savant continued on D10