The ultimate alternative to social media

It's completely free!  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Cool Tools, by The Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: ​ We've been talking a lot about cool AI tools here lately. But what about the content AI was trained on — the whole archive of human knowledge? If you'd like a break from social media, I recommend diving into that instead. Like social media, it's free! It's all available at your local library, but that doesn't mean you have to head to a building. No — you can use a simple, easy-to-install app to get access to endless ebooks and audiobooks on your phone, tablet, Kindle, or PC, absolutely free. Plus, there are lots of other ways to get all kinds of free things from your library — and unlock ebooks and audiobooks you're already paying for. [Chris Hoffman, Author of Windows Intelligence] Chris Hoffman​ Author of [Windows Intelligence]()​ --------------------------------------------------------------- Unlock free digital goodies (thanks to your local library) Your local library likely offers ebooks as well as audiobooks, and magazines. It's all free of charge, and you can access it with a single, easy-to-use app on your phone or tablet. (Prefer an ereader? My Kindle is [one of my favorite gadgets]() — and this app lets you get free stuff on your Kindle, too.) ➜ It's called Libby, and it's long been an app I recommend to everyone. 🌎 Libby is widely available in the U.S. and Canada, with many libraries supporting it. It's available in 78 countries around the world — you'll have check the Libby website to see whether it works with your local library. ⌚ You can get started in a minute or two — as long as you have a free library card. You can [download the Libby app for Android from Google Play](), get it for [iPhone or iPad on the App Store](=), or [use it online on the Libby website](). You'll just need to provide a library card to continue. Don't have one? The app will help you find your nearby library — and you may even be able to sign up for a library card online. [The Libby app's start screen.] ​ Then, browse or search for an ebook you want to read or an audiobook you want to listen to. You can check it out for free — or place a "hold" and get a notification when it's available. Libby will let you read books on your phone — a great alternative to scrolling social media when you have some time to spare — and it can play audiobooks in your car with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, or Bluetooth, too. [Searching for a book in the Libby app.] You can also use a "Send to Kindle" feature to send library books to your Kindle ereader and read them there, but for some reason this feature is only available in the U.S. Libby is great — and, unlike a lot of tools out there, it is a no-questions-asked, totally free service. Give it a try! 🎁 Want more ebooks, audiobooks, or other free goodies courtesy of your library? Check this stuff out: - ​[Kanopy](=): Ad-free streaming movies, documentaries, and video series. - ​[Hoopla](: Movies, TV shows, comics, music, and more. - ​[Freegal Music](): Streaming music and music downloads. These services are all brought to you by your local library, so not all libraries may offer them. They were suggested by our pal Jared Newman in his excellent [Advisorator newsletter](. 👀 Or, check out some bonuses from services you may already be paying for: - ​[Spotify audiobooks](): Do you pay for Spotify Premium? If so, you should be aware that Spotify now offers audiobooks! You get 15 hours of audiobooks included with your subscription each month. - ​[Prime ebooks](): Do you pay for Amazon Prime? If so, you have access to a free catalog of ebooks with Prime Reading. (For example, you can read [The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People]() for free with a Prime membership.) 📌 You can get Libby's [Android app from Google Play](), grab the [iPhone or iPad app from the App store](=), or just [use Libby on the web](). 💰 Libby is 100% free. 🕶 The service's [privacy policy](=) says your lending history is confidential. Now, speaking of excellent tech tips... ​ SPONSORED MESSAGE Don’t miss these Google Sheets tips! [Gif of Google Sheets showing how you can add conditional formatting.]()​ Whether you’re a Google Sheets pro, or don’t even know what a ‘shortcut’ is, the [Google Sheets Tips newsletter (subscribe with one click!)]() will skyrocket your skills with handy tips ‘n’ tricks! Each week, the experts at Google Sheets Tips drop highly-useful and *gasp* user-friendly tips directly into your inbox — for free! “These Google Sheet Tips are fantastic!!! Every week, I try to use the new tip / idea / code in one of my projects. Great stuff!” says reader Chip D. Why else you'll dig Google Sheets Tips: 🧠Useful for both novices and experts 📈 Grab ‘n’ go templates 💰 Costs you nothin’ and only takes a few minutes to digest Plus, they’ll even toss in the invaluable Spice Up Your Sheet Life ebook! ➜ [Join 50,000k others and subscribe today with just 1-click!]() [​ UPGRADE YOUR TOOLKIT HERE ➜]() ​ This Week's Cool Tools Quiz Which feature did Amazon’s first-generation Kindle ereader not have when it launched in 2007? Remember: NO CHEATING! Anyone can look up info on the web. Stick with the spirit of the game and test your actual knowledge without searching. It's just for fun, anyway! [Full keyboard](=) [Free cellular data](=) [Color screen](=) [SD card slot](=) Answer correctly before next Wednesday and secure your spot on the [Cool Tools Leaderboard](=)! 👉 Last week's question and answer: Which Google Calendar fact is actually true? It was created during an engineer’s free time. An early Googler took on the task as part of his “20% project,” a way Google used to encourage employees to come up with new ideas and work on side projects during their at-work hours. 🤚 Wait! Before you go: What'd you think of this issue? [Thumbs Up](=) [Thumbs Down]( Hit the thumbs-up or thumbs-down to cast your vote and let us know. ​ Want less email? [Update your reading preferences](=) to opt out of any individual publications or unsubscribe entirely. New here and not yet subscribed? Take two seconds to [sign up for our newsletters](): Cool Tools, Android Intelligence, or Windows Intelligence (or all three!). Hungry for even more? [Become an Intelligence Insider](=) to upgrade your newsletter and access our one-of-a-kind community, power-packed advanced resources, an on-demand help desk, and tons of free apps and services. Independent journalism relies on you. 🤝 [Upgrade to an Intelligence Insider membership](=) to support our work and keep this newsletter sustainable! # #