Apps

4 ways you can use TikTok to help during the COVID-19 crisis

You don’t need to dance sexily to help

Published

March 25, 2020

MJ Jucutan

As the coronavirus pandemic hits a fever pitch, the amount of TikTok users has been ballooning. A lot of people are currently stuck at home due to a quarantine and forced self-isolation, leading people to download the short-form video app to ease their boredom.

TikTok may be known for goofy and humorous videos but just like any other social media platform, it has other sides catering to different niches and personalities. From cooking, photography, and journaling, to sexy dance challenges, thirst traps, viral memes, and cringe-worthy videos bordering between silly and insanity.

And just like any social media platform, TikTok is also contributing to the fight against coronavirus, in its own, unique, entertaining way. If you spend a lot of time watching and/or uploading on TikTok, maybe it’s high time you participate in TikTok’s efforts seeing how you have a lot of time to do so.

Arm yourself with information

When somebody asks you about your ‘contribution’ in your government and your country’s fight against the coronavirus, you can always slap the taxes you pay, and the criticism and flaws you point out so the system can improve. But if you find it difficult to answer, you can respond with how you’re armed with information — which came from verified and trusted sources.

If you’re unsure where to access accurate and timely information, TikTok created a special page within the app for all things coronavirus — advisories, preventive measures, and Mythbusters debunking fallacies to fight misinformation. Yes, even as a TikTok user, you should be able to discern what is news and what is misinformation.

Don’t forget to wash your hands properly

If Mimiyuuuh can remind us to ‘drink your water’, you can be your own influencer and remind others to wash their hands properly. TikTok creators are using the platform to promote handwashing while singing their favorite songs for 20 seconds.

@tjmusicmonterde ##HandWashChallenge ##handwashtunes ♬ original sound – TJ Monterde

In Vietnam, the Ghen Cô Vy (English Version) was released to inspire hand sanitation. Through its groovy choreography, people have become cautious of the coronavirus. If you want to be an influencer, you can join TikTok’s #HandwashTunes challenge so you can encourage people to wash their hands properly. Remember, an influencer influences.

Spread love and happiness

This challenging time encourages us to spread positive messages of love and hope, not toxic positivity. Our social media feeds are always bombarded with news and the reality we live in.

If you find yourself scrolling on TikTok more often, take part in the #LoveInTheTimeOfCorona challenge instead of just dancing sexily. If you’re musically-inclined, you can bring some hope and compassion in your videos by using a new collaborative song entitled “Forever Beautiful: All for One Version”. The song features Eric Chou, Ben&Ben, and 13 artists across Asia.

@kuyaching ##loveinthetimeofcorona Good deeds should be done with intention, not for attention.@Swerab Smith @Keanne Go ##chingsters ##teamramen ##laughingjackz ♬ Someone You Loved – Lewis Capaldi

Keep your distance, but stay connected

If you’re reading this and you have a mobile phone, access to the internet, and you’re inside a house where you can sleep safe and sound, then congratulations! You’re blessed and you’re privileged enough compared to people who need to step outside for work so they can put food on their plates.

Use this privilege to stay at home because that will be your major contribution (if someone ever asks you again). Use this time at home to catch up with friends and family via social media, in case you’ve been ignoring them for weeks now. You can also try to improve yourself. Perhaps, you can learn a new language, a new recipe, develop new hobbies, and maybe do a home workout.

Whatever it is, don’t forget to share good vibes and entertain people, especially those who can’t handle self-isolation well. Maybe it’s also a good time for you to create more TikTok videos (which you can save as a draft for future purposes).

Let’s remember that we can maintain our distance to keep others safe while maintaining connections through social media platforms. Until then, stay safe!

As general rules, the CDC or The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention listed these to help with preventing the spread of COVID-19:

Stay home when sick
Cover coughs and sneezes
Frequently wash hands with soap and water
Clean frequently touched surfaces

Related Topics:coronavirus Covid-19 TikTok

Accessories

TicNote AI recorder launches in the Philippines

AI-powered transcription, translation, insights, more

Published

December 19, 2025

Manila Connoisseur

Mobvoi has officially launched TicNote, its AI-powered note-taking device in the Philippines for PhP 9,499. The thin and lightweight recorder is currently available offline and will soon roll out on Lazada and Shopee.

The pocket-friendly TicNote comes with 64GB of memory and offers up to 25 hours of continuous recording. Beyond these, it supports real-time translation in over 120 languages through the TicNote app.

Moreover, powered by Shadow AI, the device goes further with advanced insights, including Smart Summary, Mind Map View, Deep Research Reports, Aha Moment, and even AI Podcast Generation.

To complement the device, Mobvoi offers unlimited TicNote cloud storage and 600 minutes of free monthly recording time.

On paper, the TicNote AI recorder has several professional applications. It can be used for meetings, legal and medical consultations, and more scenarios to record high-quality audio.

Meanwhile, journalists can leverage the tool for press conferences and media scrums. Even content creators can use the tool as a microphone as TicNote can process high bitrate audio and save it to .wav format.

Still, there’s a catch. Users will still need a smartphone, tablet, or laptop to make the most out of TicNote’s AI-powered features.

And that raises the dilemma: modern phones already offer AI translation, real-time transcription, and audio-to-text uploads through popular AI assistants.

For consumers, the question becomes whether TicNote offers enough beyond what their phones already do — or if it will just make having both devices redundant.

Apps

Disney Plus: NBA Christmas Day games to stream live

More sports content also available on the platform

Published

December 19, 2025

GadgetMatch

Disney+ will stream the entire 2025 NBA Christmas Day games slate live on the platform for Philippine basketball fans to enjoy.

Fans can tune in to the anticipated matchups starting at 1:00 AM (Manila time) on December 26.

Here’s the full schedule:

1:00 AM: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks
3:30 AM: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
6:00 AM: Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors
9:00 AM: Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers
11:30 AM: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets

And in case viewers missed a tip-off, the full replays will also be available on the app. Worth noting is the second matchup, which is a rematch of the Emirates NBA Cup semifinals.

Meanwhile, the third pairing brings long-time former Golden State Warrior Klay Thompson back to the Bay Area in a compelling match.

Plus, the Rockets-Lakers showdown features two seasoned veterans and future Hall of Famers Kevin Durant and LeBron James in their latest meeting.

Beyond the NBA Christmas Day games on Disney+, fans can stay plugged in all day with ESPN’s NBA Tip-Off at 12:00 AM. Inside the NBA, on the other hand, airs at 8:30 AM.

In addition, for something totally different, check out NBA alt-cast, Dunk the Halls, the first real-time animated NBA game.

This playful showdown happening also on December 26 at 1:00 AM reimagines the Cavaliers-Knicks tiff on Main Street, U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom Park, with some help from Mickey Mouse and his friends.

In line with Disney+’s NBA Christmas Day games, the platform has also uploaded highlights of the 2025 League of Legends KeSPA Cup on the app. The tournament features top teams from Korea, Vietnam, Japan, and North America.

Disney+ continues to strengthen its sports offerings on the platform, with an all-new Sports Page for easier access.

Apps

Google Maps is finally getting a power saving mode

Waze needs this update, pronto.

Published

November 28, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

In a congested country like the Philippines, using navigation for shortcuts is a requirement. However, these apps can hog a lot of battery. If you forgot your car charger, it’s practically game over for your phone. Today, Google is shipping out a Maps update which can save your phone’s battery for those long drives.

Announced earlier this month, the update will include a Power Saving mode for Google Maps. The new mode will turn the normally colorful interface into monochrome with particular emphasis on black. The interface will reduce all interactable elements, so you can just focus on the display.

Presumably, it also reduces the power required by the app, while still prioritizing navigation. According to Google, smartphones will get up to four hours more juice when the mode is enabled.

Unfortunately, it’s not a widely released update yet. Google is limiting the update’s rollout to the Pixel 10 series for now. It’s also limited to driving mode; it won’t work if you’re just walking or cycling. The option is accessible through Driving options under Navigation in the settings.

In countries where Android Auto isn’t the norm just yet, a power saving mode for navigation is a godsend. Besides hoping that the update arrives on more devices, one can also hope that Google, who also owns the app, will introduce a similar mode to Waze. (To be fair, Waze did have a battery saver option, but it just dimmed the display for long straights.

SEE ALSO: Android now supports AirDrop!