Moving into Level two means kiwis are cautiously sliding out of hibernation and into physical socialising. An eye-opener over this period has been the innovative way we have all managed to communicate and stay connected with one another.

The value of technology and creative applications have been widely showcased and these communication tools are here to stay. Whether we’re still restricting socialising, in isolation, or on the other side of the world, we can always connect. We’re not just making a phone call to our friends and family anymore. We can now have a virtual house party, watch a movie together or catch up for a weekly quiz night. Check out some of the cool apps that you need on your download list to help you stay connected and social online.

GET THE PARTY STARTED

The Houseparty app allows up to eight people to connect online in a video chat “room.” There’s no need to call people (like on FaceTime) – you get a notification when friends are online. Plus, you can switch between rooms easily. It’s like wandering from the kitchen into the backyard.

Zoom is another app that lets you have a virtual get-together. Only the host needs to have a Zoom account, and the other participants follow the link to the video conference. Free meetings are capped at 40 minutes, though, for groups of three or more.

If your friends and family are on Google, you can bring up to 150 of them together in a Google Hangout.

Why not have an all-out virtual dance party with Rave! You can sync music videos from YouTube, Vimeo, Reddit, Google Drive, Dropbox, and Viki with friends in real-time, or create a playlist of songs, then text and video chat simultaneously.

MORE THAN JUST CHAT

Maybe you want to catch up but really don’t need to see each other’s faces. Perhaps you don’t want to have to get dressed! Take texting up a notch with Slack, which can keep clubs and teams connected. You can easily share files, instant message, share gifs, and also jump on a video call.

MOVIES WITH FRIENDS

Another way to chill together online is by enjoying a movie or binge watching a TV series. With Watch2Gether you can create a room and invite friends and family to watch YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, and SoundCloud. You could even use this app to replicate the group gym class experience. PopSugar, for instance, offers a wide range of free videos available on YouTube.

If you have a Netflix account and a Google Chrome browser, you can tune in together with Netflix Party. The app lets you chat back and forth while viewing. The best thing is that all party members are watching the video in sync. No one ruins that big moment by texting a response a few seconds early!

Next time you’re struggling to get family and friends together for a catch up, make it quick and easy for everyone to join with a virtual get together – guaranteed fun and laughs!

If you need help setting your devices up, or need an upgrade, our experts can help. Send us an email or give us a call today. You can find our contact details here.

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