Image via Chrome Web Store, Discord, and Duolingo
Staying home is not too difficult to do. But of course, going from our previous lifestyle to this “new normal” still takes some getting used to…
… which is why you should make that Dalgona coffee or attempt that TikTok dance challenge so boredom doesn’t take control of your life.
It’s important to keep learning, keep working and keep going to maintain a sense of normalcy during this Movement Control Order (MCO). And to help you with that, here are six apps/sites—that are free!—that can come in handy when you’re looking for things to do at home:
#1 Online Town
Can’t have the usual hangout sesh with your friends at the mamak? Go to Online Town instead. You can gather your friends in a password-protected ‘town’, and “walk in, out and around conversations just as easily as [you] would in real life”.
Image via Online Town
The moment you enter the town, you’ll each get an avatar, which you can use to move around the town. When you’re all together, you’ll be able to see and hear each other (like a normal video call). If you choose to ‘walk away’ from the group, you’ll start to lose visual contact then audio contact with them.
So if you’re bored of the group topic, or suddenly have a secret you only want to share with one person, just ‘walk away’ from the group to have a private chat further away!
#2 Duolingo
Learn how to say more than just “oppa”, “kimchi” and “annyeonghaseyo” as you brush up your Korean on Duolingo.
Image via Duolingo
If you’re not into Korean, the language-learning tool also has Italian, Japanese, and High Valyrian (from Games of Thrones!).
#3 Discord
If you’re a gamer, you’re probably already aware of Discord, that lets you create a server to communicate with your friends while you’re battling enemies on dotA (or any other game you’re playing).
Image via Discord
However, non-gamers can also use the app for video chats with friends. Besides having good video quality, it’s also especially useful for assignment or work purposes since you can ‘categorise’ your chats into different channels.
#4 Bombsquad
For some good ol’ competitive fun, round up your squad and challenge each other on Bombsquad.
Image via Bombsquad
In this party game, you’ll have to attack your opponents by throwing bombs at them—or you can just toss them off a cliff too.
#5 Virtual Disney World
Did you have to cancel a holiday due to the MCO? Well, technically, you can still visit Disney World… virtually!
The YouTube channel lets you go on the theme park’s rides via an interactive 360˚ environment. Okay, it’s not as amazing as being on the actual ride lah, but since we can’t travel, layan jer lah.
#6 Free PC Games
The popular game, Assassin’s Creed II, is now available for free on this video game developer’s site.
Image via Ubisoft
There are other options to choose from too as the list of free games changes occasionally. You can also do a quick Google search since other video game developers are also offering some of their games for free.
Now, whether you want to work or play, it’s important to be well-equipped—because it’s easier to get the job done when you have an efficient sidekick aka laptop.
If you’re looking to upgrade your current one, HP has the HP Spectre x360 and the HP Envy 13.
Small and light, the HP Spectre x360 is the world’s smallest convertible—with multiple convertible modes too—and has a battery life of up to 22 hours!
Image via HP
Image via HP
Meanwhile, the HP Envy 13 is 14mm thin, weighing 1.18kg and comes in a gorgeous wood cover (perfect for all your IG flat lays). More impressively, you can power-down your device and go from 0% to 50% charge in 45 minutes!
Image via Anandtech
Image via HP
Both the laptops are powerful tools, packed with Intel’s 10th generation quad-core processors. And if you’re worried about security, you don’t have to. The HP Spectre x360 and the HP Envy 13 come with a fingerprint reader, webcam kill-switch, HP BIOS protection and if you want to add on, an HP sure-view privacy screen.
For those of us who use our laptops to for college or work, the laptops also come pre-installed with Microsoft Office Home & Student worth RM529.
For more details or to buy the laptops, head over to the HP online store.