The 12 apps you need first on your new iPad, Android or Windows tablet

Did you find a tablet nestled beneath your Christmas tree this morning? Lucky you! Unless it happened to be a secondhand BlackBerry Playbook, in which case you have our commiserations.

With any luck it was a shiny new iPad, Android slate or Microsoft Surface that you've now ogled enough to move onto the next phase: populating it with apps. But which App Store, Google Play and Windows gems should you download first? Here are 12 suggestions to help you get started.

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1. FACEBOOK

Available on: iOS, Android, Windows

Yes, we know, the Facebook app isn't the most inspired recommendation you'll ever be served, but you want to personalise your new tablet, don't you?

There's not much to say about Facey-B's tablet app except that it's a hell of a lot more convenient than using the web-based version of the service in your tablet's mobile browser. And it's probably full of cheery festive images right now. 

Also recommended: Twitter, Google+, Tumblr

2. SKYPE

Available on: iOS, Android, Windows

Video calling is something that tablets specialise in. With their generous display real estate, portability and built-in cameras, they're the ideal platform for a good Skype session.

Skyping is becoming a staple of the 21st century Christmas, so if you've got family who couldn't celebrate with you in person this year, why not fire this app up and wish them a merry one, all while subtly bragging about your new super slate.

Also recommended: Viber, Hangouts 

3. OFFICE 365

Available on: iOS, Android, Windows

Right, it's time to get off Facebook and get some work done because many tablets are now capable of serving as viable laptop replacements, with the right software installed.

Microsoft Office 365 - home of those three amigos Word, Excel and Powerpoint - will help you get super productive on your tablet, and Microsoft's love for cross-platform computing allows you to pick up your project from any device you own. Okay, maybe this one can wait until after Christmas.

Also recommended: Apple iWorks, Google Docs

4. NETFLIX 

Available on: iOS, Android, Windows

Smartphones are great for all kinds of things but streaming video, in most cases, isn't one of them. Tablets, on the other hand, with their extra screen space and couch-friendly forms, are perfect for this - so it's time to get your Netflix and chill on.

Slates of all shapes and sizes are ideal for a full-on binge session, so if you don't hold a subscription to the home of House of Cards, Daredevil and Orange is the New Black, signing up for one is a good way to get more out of your new tablet.

Also recommended: Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, All 4

5. SPOTIFY

Available on: iOS, Android, Windows

You know the drill: Spotify is the world's biggest music streaming service, home to millions of tracks delivered right to your ears - for free if you don't mind ads, or £9.99 per month if you do.

The tablet edition is just like its mobile phone counterpart, but bigger and better, and now is the perfect time to tune into Spotify because there's a trial on that gets you three months of Premium for just 99p. Bargain.

Also recommended: Apple Music, Google Play Music, Deezer

6. EVERNOTE

Available on: iOS, Android, Windows

Taking notes with a pen and paper the old-fashioned way? Those days are over - you're a tablet owner now, Harry. Better download Evernote while you save a few trees then, as you need a new means of taking notes.

It's among the market leaders in its category for good reasons, and it really shines on tablet, syncing with your other devices so those random scribblings and important reminders are never more than a screen tap away.

Also recommended: Microsoft OneNote, Google Keep

7. KINDLE

Available on: iOS, Android, Windows

Tablets might not be quite as good as e-readers when it comes to digital books, but they beat straining your eyes on a smartphone display or lugging a small library around on your back.

Any self-respecting literary type wants at least one good e-book app installed on their slate for those rainy afternoons on the sofa, and you can't go far wrong with Amazon Kindle. 

Also recommended: Google Play Books, Ebook Reader

8. POCKET

Available on: iOS, Android

Pocket is a simple yet effective app that empowers tablet users when they're at their most desperate - those times when there's no access to an internet connection.

This free software lets you save articles, videos and more for your offline enjoyment, making car journeys, waiting room stays and the odd open prison sentence a lot more interesting.

Also recommended: Instapaper, Box

9. TOVIEW LIVE TV

Available on: iOS, Android, Windows

Want to stream live TV straight to your tablet? Oh, go on, it's a lot easier than finding the remote.

ToView Live TV turns your slate into a portable gogglebox powered by internet connectivity. It's also bolstered by bonus features like social networking integration so you can share whatever you're watching, and a digital guide with listings for regional and national stations.

Also recommended: TVPlayer

10. DROPBOX

Available on: iOS, Android, Windows

Some tablets aren't blessed with a wealth of internal storage, and even if you're lucky enough to own one that is, you shouldn't turn your nose up to the extra memory cloud storage provides.

Dropbox is king in this sector. A free subscription might come with a paltry 2GB of cloud space, but there are all kinds of ways to earn more if you don't like the idea of shelling out £7.99 per month on a 1TB plan, such as referring friends. The editing features are the best around and the two-step verification should keep your files, photos, and videos safe and secure.

Also recommended: OneDrive, Google Drive

11. PIXLR

Available on: iOS, Android, Windows

If you're using your tablet to take photographs, someone needs to take it off you and break it over your head - but your slate is the perfect place to edit the results afterwards.

Photo editing apps are ten a penny on any platform, but many of them lock the best features behind a paywall. This isn't the case with Pixlr, the only tablet application you need for collages, effects, overlays, and filters - it's completely free, and even includes some of the more advanced editing features of Photoshop's premium apps.

Also recommended: Photoshop Express, Snapseed, Instagram

12. PERISCOPE

Available on: iOS, Android

Live streaming apps soared in popularity this year as users lined up to see the world through someone else's eyes and dabble in a bit of broadcasting.

Twitter-owned Periscope was Apple's app of the year for 2015, so why not use your new tablet to find out what all the fuss is about? Go forth and explore the world in real time.

Also recommended: Meerkat, Livestream