If an Xbox One was on your wish list this year, and you were very good (or have generous friends), you'll want to rip into that bad boy as soon as you can. But before you pop in Dead Rising 3 for some zombie mayhem, take this opportunity to introduce yourself to your new console and all its features. You'll be spending a lot of time together, after all.
Setup doesn't end with pressing the power button — there are plenty of new features to master before you can move around your new console as quickly as you did with the previous generation. Luckily for you, we've created this handy little guide with everything you need to get started.
See also: Xbox One: Gaming, Streaming and Live TV in One Powerful Package
First things first: Unbox and set up that new console. Confirm that you have everything you'll need, then remove that ugly warning sticker and position the console near your TV on a stable surface that's free of clutter and well ventilated.
Next, you'll want to connect your console to your TV and set-top box using the HDMI cables included in the Xbox packaging. If you're using a wired Internet connection, connect to your router. You can set up a Wi-Fi connection after you turn on the console.
Image: Mashable, Christina Ascani
Microsoft has excellent step-by-step instructions on the more detailed aspects of the setup process, so we won't cover that here, but check them out if you're having trouble figuring out which cable goes where.
Now you're ready to turn your Xbox One on for the first time. Revel in its glory for a moment or two before you go through the process of setting up your Xbox Live account, connecting to Wi-Fi and other basic tasks. We trust that you can handle those on your own.
The Xbox will also prompt you to download an update before you're truly up and running. Once all that is completed, you can move on to phase two: making it awesome.
Your Xbox will walk you through the setup process for connecting to your television, but one thing that you shouldn't forget to do is to set up your surround sound in your home theater (if you have one). Go to the Settings menu and select "TV and One Guide," then "Troubleshooting." There will be an option to tick "Surround Sound (Beta)." As noted, this function is still in beta, so you may experience some problems depending on your setup and device.
You might also want to reconfigure your living room. Those who used the Xbox 360 with Kinect will be happy to note that they need about a foot-and-a-half less space than with the last gen console — 4.59 feet as opposed to 6 feet of space to run in place, jump or dance. If this requires a new living room arrangement, start thinking of alternatives while you move onto the next step.
Your new Xbox One is an entertainment hub, home to all of your movies, TV and music, but most of these features require an app download. We recommend the following:
Blu-ray Player to play your Blu-ray discs
Xbox Video so you can browse the latest movies or shows to rent or buy
Audio CD so you can play your extensive Kenny G collection at your leisure
and, of course, all the web apps you'll need: YouTube, Skype, Hulu, Netflix, etc.
Another app you'll definitely want to install is the Upload Studio app, which allows you to edit and share your recorded gameplay clips to Facebook or YouTube. Since Xbox will easily record impressive gameplay with a simple voice command, you'll be able to show off your skills almost instantly.
Even if you're not playing them at the moment, installing your new games to your hard drive will ensure that you're not thwarted by a scratched disc (or a long download) when it's time to actually play. Games will install as soon as you place the disc in the console.
Image: Microsoft
In the future, however, you have a choice to make: Are you sticking with physical discs or opting for digital releases? There are pros and cons to each. A digitally downloaded game means that you will save tons of physical space by not storing games and cases, and that you'll never deal with a scratched or lost disc. However, an actual disc can be traded back for credit.
Xbox One's voice recognition feature makes it easy to control your console using only vocal commands, allowing you to switch quickly between apps or pause a TV show without messing with the controller. But first, you need to learn the language of the gaming console.
Don't worry, this is going to be much easier than your high school Spanish class. If you want to learn by the book, try downloading the Speech Tutorial app from the App Store. It's free and won't take up too much space on your hard drive, and you can always delete it when you've mastered the commands.
Here are a few basic commands for those who want to dive right in:
Xbox, on: "Xbox, on" will turn on your console, but "Xbox, off" will never turn it off (you need to say Xbox turn off). The world may never know why.
Xbox: Saying "Xbox" at the dashboard essentially tells your Kinect, "Hey, listen up," and you'll see the console listening for a further command. It will also bring up a list of basic, global console commands for you to choose. If you accidentally say "Xbox" in normal conversation, just say "Stop listening."
Xbox, Select: When said at the dashboard or one of the sub-menus, this command brings up an overlay so you can select the onscreen tile you want.
Xbox, start a party: This will bring up your party menu. Unfortunately, it will not supply the Doritos and Mountain Dew.
Xbox, go home: Go back to the Xbox One dashboard immediately, no matter where you are.
Xbox, go to settings: If you need to access your settings on the fly, this will do the trick. You can also access the settings by hitting the Menu button, which is located on the controller where the 360's Start button used to be.
Xbox, watch [channel name]: Now we're getting into the good stuff. Assuming you've connected your cable box, your Xbox One will keep track of your local TV listings. No need to remember the channel number, just say "Xbox, watch Food Network" and the console's IR blaster will take care of it for you.
For those of you who fear the Kinect and all its power, you can disable the Kinect from the Settings menu by deselecting "Kinect On." You can also disable Kinect for voice chat if you prefer the headset, or see exactly what your Kinect is seeing by checking out the various camera shots.
Image: Microsoft
Snap is one of the most exciting new features of the Xbox One. It allows you to open certain apps in a small side panel on the righthand side of the screen, without leaving the game or app you're currently using. Just say, "Xbox, snap [app name]" to open, and "Xbox, unsnap" to close. The "Xbox, switch" command will allow you to toggle when using two apps simultaneously.
You'll also want to customize your dashboard by pinning all of your favorite apps to your homepage. Create a new pin by pressing the Menu button while highlighting the app's tile, then selecting "Pin to Home" from the pop-up menu.
You can also change the tiles on the Home screen to one of the 21 available colors by going to your Profile on the Home screen, clicking "My Profile," and then "Choose Color."
Finally, you can upgrade that tiny Gamerpic to a fullscreen, 1080p version by going to your profile settings and selecting "Set Gamerpic." You can choose from a selection or build around your current avatar.
The most important aspect of setting up your Xbox One properly is that you're taking the time to make it yours. Microsoft has added plenty of features to ensure that you're able to use the console for all of your entertainment needs; it's up to you to customize it.
If you have any tips for Xbox One n00bs, be sure to leave them in the comments.
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Image: Mashable, Christina Ascani