Free (or nearly free) Resources accessible from Home

[JCon]

I’m working on a list of free (or nearly free) resources to help everyone keep engaged and entertained over the next while. I’ll continue to add things as they are mentioned or as I think of them. 

I realize that not everyone on here is from Winnipeg, so if you would like to provide a link, I can update this to add other regional “free resources”.

 

FREE

 

Winnipeg Public Library: https://wpl.winnipeg.ca/library/

All libraries are closed starting Monday March 16th. You cannot return books as the chutes will be closed. There will be no fines or penalties during the closure. 

 

OverDrive: https://winnipeg.overdrive.com/

 

Libby (from OverDrive): https://www.overdrive.com/apps/libby/?utm_origin=lightning&utm_page_genre=tout&utm_list=meet_libby&utm_content=libby_tout_learnmore_06019018

Did you know your local library has thousands of ebooks and audiobooks?

You can borrow them, instantly, for free, using just the device in your hand.

Get the app for your phone or tablet!

 

Hoopla: https://www.hoopladigital.com/

Your public library at your fingertips.

Anytime. Anywhere.

hoopla is a groundbreaking digital media service offered by your local public library that allows you to borrow movies, music, audiobooks, ebooks, comics and TV shows to enjoy on your computer, tablet, or phone – and even your TV! With no waiting, titles can be streamed immediately, or downloaded to phones or tablets for offline enjoyment later. We have hundreds of thousands of titles to choose from, with more being added daily. hoopla is like having your public library at your fingertips. Anytime. Anywhere.

 

RB Digital: http://winnipegmb.rbdigital.com/

Magazines. eBooks. Audiobooks. 

 

Scholastic - Learn At Home: https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html?caching

Scholastic has made their Learn At Home program free during the shutdown. 

Even when schools are closed, you can keep the learning going with these special cross-curricular journeys. Every day includes four separate learning experiences, each built around a thrilling, meaningful story or video. Kids can do them on their own, with their families, or with their teachers. Just find your grade level and let the learning begin!

 

Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/

Project Gutenberg is a library of over 60,000 free eBooks. Choose among free epub and Kindle eBooks, download them or read them online. You will find the world's great literature here, with focus on older works for which U.S. copyright has expired. Thousands of volunteers digitized and diligently proofread the eBooks, for enjoyment and education.

 

Tubi: https://tubitv.com/

Thanks @Jpan85

Watch amazing movies and TV shows for free. No subscription fees, and no credit cards. Just thousands of hours of streaming video content from studios like Paramount, Lionsgate, MGM and more.

 

TVO - tvo.org

Thanks @Eternal optimist

Current affairs, Documentaries and Education.

 

FREE TRIALS

 

Streaming Services

Not free but often these streaming services have free previews

 

Netflix - new upstart. I predict big things. https://www.netflix.com/ca/

Free Trial: One month. 

 

Disney+ - Disney movies, shows, Marvel, National Geographic: https://www.disneyplus.com/

Free Trial: 7 Days.

 

Prime Video - included in your Amazon Prime subscription. Amazon.ca

Prime Video keeps getting better. They have several original series and a growing list of other content. They recently added Battlestar Galactica, if you’re of the SciFi persuasion. 

Plus, you get Prime Music. Not as large of a catalogue as Spotify or Apple Music but it’s included for free. 

And you get Prime Reading. Lots of ebooks included with your Prime membership. 

Free Trial: 30 Days

 

Crave - HBO, Starz, Showtime, etc for your TV, tablet or mobile device. https://www.crave.ca/en

 

Free 30 day trial (normally 7 Days). Get caught up on Rupaul's Drag Race! 

Edited March 25, 2020 by JCon

[johnzo]

https://buynothingproject.org/find-a-group/

The Buy Nothing project is a thing I'm familiar with here in Seattle, my neighborhood has a long-running successful one.  It's neighbors sharing stuff with neighbors.  Just gave away a bunch of old D&D manuals and Xbox games to some folks who are shut in here and needing some fun.

I see there are listings for Winnipeg, but I have no idea about how well organized or good those groups are.

[Jpan85]

Tubi is a free streaming service has tv and movies 

[FrostyWinnipeg]

1 hour ago, JCon said:

Netflix - new upstart. I predict big things. https://www.netflix.com/ca/

 

Edited March 16, 2020 by FrostyWinnipeg

[nate007]

15 hours ago, Jpan85 said:

Tubi is a free streaming service has tv and movies 

and they are all terrible...

[FrostyWinnipeg]

Fongo is an app that gives you a local number and allows you to call anywhere in Canada for free... from anywhere... in the world... as long as you have wifi.

Turn that tablet into a phone LOL.

Edited March 16, 2020 by FrostyWinnipeg

[FrostyWinnipeg]

Curious if anyone on a BellMTS Evolve(pay as you go) phone is now getting free data?

 

Edited March 17, 2020 by FrostyWinnipeg

[JCon]

For some short distractions, check out this thread of live animal cams.

[Jpan85]

58 minutes ago, FrostyWinnipeg said:

Curious if anyone on a BellMTS Evolve(pay as you go) phone is now getting free data?

 

I think the free data only applied to home internet but could be wrong.

[Eternal optimist]

For people in Canada, tvo.org is a free website that has some pretty good documentaries on it, it is a non-profit funded by the province of Ontario. Any talk shows, though interesting usually focus on problems in Ontario, but sometimes are nation-wide as well. They also have a kids section with educational programming, though admittedly my daughter is still too young for that so I can't really comment on that.

https://www.tvo.org/

[JCon]

I'll add TVO and I'm also adding Crave up top. They're offering a free month for new subscribers. It's normally a week.

 

[FrostyWinnipeg]

2 hours ago, JCon said:

I'll add TVO and I'm also adding Crave up top. They're offering a free month for new subscribers. It's normally a week.

 

Netflix still free for a month but who does that when u use your friend email to log in.

[JCon]

32 minutes ago, FrostyWinnipeg said:

Netflix still free for a month but who does that when u use your friend email to log in.

You're my friend. What's your login info? Thanks. 

[Tracker]

3 hours ago, JCon said:

You're my friend. What's your login info? Thanks. 

Ambrose Bierce in his book, "The Devil's Dictionary" described a friend as someone you know well enough to borrow from but not well enough to lend to.