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Project-based businesses have many options for software products that claim to help them do their work more efficiently. Many of those are Microsoft products, such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations. They could have come up with a more efficient name, but, more importantly, does it actually help businesses manage their projects better? There’s only one way to find out. Let’s put Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations to the test and even explore modules of the software, such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Project Service Automation. We’ll detail the key features, advantages and disadvantages of using Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations. As with all Microsoft products, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations is no exception, there are critics of the complicated user interface, pricing plans and lack of collaboration. That begs the question: Are there any Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations alternatives? Yes, and it has Microsoft beat, but more on that later. What Is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations? First, let’s define the product we’re testing. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations is software designed to manage and streamline project-based businesses. It does this through the integration of Microsoft Dynamics 365’s suite of applications. These provide a unified approach to project management. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations is a relatively recent addition to Microsoft’s suite of project management software products. It began as Microsoft Dynamics AX, with project management features, but part of a broader enterprise resource planning (ERP) suite. After acquiring Project Service Automation (PSA), the two software products were integrated and evolved into Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Service Automation. It finally transitioned into Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations, which was released in late 2001 or early 2022. Even after all that revision, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations is still complicated to learn. Add to the expense of licensing and, understandably, users would be looking for a Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations alternative. ProjectManager is a more flexible project and portfolio management software solution. Our software is easy to use, won’t break the bank and has portfolio management capabilities not found in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations. Organizations run more than one project and need powerful roadmaps to manage resources across multiple projects and real-time portfolio dashboards to monitor resources, costs, progress and more. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2024/02/light-mode-CTA.jpgLearn more Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations Benefits & Features Yes, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations doesn’t have project portfolio management features, but it does have a comprehensive set of project management tools. It wouldn’t be fair to dismiss the project on this one point. Let’s look at what Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations does right and the tools it has to do that. Project Planning and Management: Gantt charts visualize timelines, tasks and dependencies Resource Management: Allocate resources to projects based on availability and manage resource capacity to avoid overloading Financial Management: Create and manage budgets, including cost estimating and tracking as well as create invoices based on project progress, time entries and expenses Time and Expense Tracking: Record time spent on project tasks, track and manage project-related expenses Collaboration Tools: Integrates with Microsoft Teams for project chat, file sharing and meetings Reporting and Analytics: Has dashboards and customizable reports for project performance Workflow Automation: Set up automated workflows with process standardization Risk Management: Identify, manage and track project risk Cons of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations Those features bring a lot to the table and the benefits are self-evident. But that doesn’t necessarily make it different from other Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations alternatives with robust feature sets. It also doesn’t mean that there aren’t some things that need to be recorded for a more realistic view of the product. Here are some of the disadvantages of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations. Complicated setup and configuration, plus there’s a steep learning curve that might require comprehensive training and onboarding High licensing costs, especially for small to mid-sized organizations, along with additional fees for premium features or add-ons, plus implementation and customization can be costly Customization can be challenging and resource-intensive with integration outside of the Microsoft product suite is difficult No project program or portfolio management features make it a deal-breaker for organizations that need to manage multiple projects at the same time Performance issues when handling large volumes of data have been reported and there have also been scalability issues User interface isn’t intuitive and, though there’s a mobile version, it isn’t as robust and can be a drawback for users who rely on mobile access Support varies as it’s based on the service plan and getting effective support can be a challenge Limited advanced features, such as portfolio management, but also there’s no detailed critical path analysis, which requires additional tools and integrations with added costs Risk management is also limited, not allowing for the depth of analysis users might expect from the feature Overly reliant on Microsoft Ecosystem making it harder to integrate with other non-Microsoft tools and platforms Doesn’t have built-in version control, to get it users have to integrate with other Microsoft tools, such as SharePoint, which adds further expense Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations Pricing As with most Microsoft products, the pricing for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations is byzantine. It’s a subscription-based licensing plan based on users per month with functional tiers, depending on the feature set offered. However, there are added costs for add-ons and integrations. The following are examples of typical pricing plans. Project Operations Essentials: With core project management features, starts around $120-$150 per user, per month Project Operations Premium: Includes advanced features with plans starting around $150-$200 per user, per month Custom Plans: Tailored solutions for larger organizations, speak to sales There are additional costs to consider, such as implementation and consulting. Deployment costs could involve spending more on training, support and maintenance. ProjectManager can deliver the features project managers need at a price that won’t break their budgets. /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/assign-people-resource-allocation-light-mode-gantt-chart-workload-assignments.pngLearn more ProjectManager Is the Best Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations Alternative ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software that is a strong contender for the best Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations alternative. It has all the features and more found in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations but at a fraction of the price. For those looking at the bottom line, that’s all the information they need, but there’s more. Just like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations, our software has a powerful Gantt chart that can link all four types of task dependencies to avoid costly delays, filter for the critical path to identify essential tasks and set a baseline to track project variance in real time. Our tool also has custom and automated workloads to streamline processes, with task approvals to ensure quality deliverables. Risk management features identify risks and track issues until they’re mitigated to reduce the negative impact on the project. Plus, all this is in a standalone project management tool, rather than part of a suite of add-ons and integrations. Unlike Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations, our software has version control to revert to a previous project plan if necessary. Monitor Progress, Costs and More in Real Time Yes, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations has dashboards, but users have to build them. Busy project managers don’t want to waste time doing what superior project management software can do for them. That’s why they choose ProjectManager. Once a baseline is set on the Gantt chart, a real-time project dashboard is automatically up and running, collecting live data and displaying it on easy-to-read graphs and charts that track time, cost, workload and more. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations doesn’t even have portfolio features, but we have a portfolio dashboard so program and portfolio managers can monitor multiple projects in one place. /wp-content/uploads/2024/05/portfolio-dashboard-screenshot-lightmode.png Manage Resources and Balance Workload Resources can be planned when the project manager schedules the project tasks on the Gantt chart or roadmap. When onboarding teams, their availability can be set, such as PTO, holidays and vacation time, which makes it easier to assign tasks. Then project managers can view their live resource utilization on the team page or color-coded workload charts. They can see at a glance who is overallocated or underutilized and balance the team’s workload right then and there to keep everyone working at capacity. /wp-content/uploads/2024/05/workload-page-resource-management-lightmode.png ProjectManager is a more flexible solution than Microsoft Dynamic 365 Project Operations, which is only for larger, complex projects. Our software can handle small to large, simple to complex projects, from waterfall to agile and hybrid methodologies. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. How to Import MS Project Files into ProjectManager Another advantage of using ProjectManager is that the project team doesn’t have to pay for expensive Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations licenses. They can import Microsoft files (MPP) and edit them in our collaborative software, then export them back to Microsoft, saving all the changes. First, take a free 30-day trial of ProjectManager and then follow these steps. /wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ms-project-pm-integration.png 1. Import MPP File Go to the Gantt chart view and click on the import option on the menu bar, which looks like a box with an arrow piercing its top. /wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Gantt-import-light-mode-600x319.png 2. Select MPP File At this point, a popup window will instruct the users to choose a file. Pick the MPP file and to begin importing, select “Next.” /wp-content/uploads/2022/10/import-light-mode-pop-up-600x280.png 3. Make Import Options Now, choose to import the file as a new project or part of an existing project. If the import is for an existing project, choose to either update or replace the existing data. /wp-content/uploads/2022/10/MPP-file-import-Gantt-chart-lightmode-e1726518305943-600x291.png 4. Import Everything or Just a Task List The next step is to decide whether to import all the MPP file data or just the task list. If all the data is chosen, then users will be allowed to view and edit the file just as one would in Microsoft Project. /wp-content/uploads/2022/10/project-import-data-selection-mpp-gantt-light-mode-600x254.png 5. Finish & See Your Microsoft Project Plan Online A popup window should now appear announcing, “Success!” This means, the import is complete and one can start editing the project online, see data across multiple views and share data with stakeholders and teams. /wp-content/uploads/2022/10/import-success-prompt-600x294.png More Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations Alternatives As mentioned above, there are many Microsoft products to choose from. Let’s take a moment to review a few more. They tend to have the same issues of complexity, excess cost and collaborative problems, but they are all worth exploring as Microsoft Dynamic 365 Project Operations alternatives. 1. Microsoft Project Standard 2024 Microsoft Project Standard 2024 can be viewed as a somewhat feasible alternative to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations for organizations that primarily need scheduling and task management rather than full business integration. It supports creating detailed plans, dependencies, and milestones using Gantt charts, ensuring structured execution. However, it lacks Dynamics 365’s financial management, sales, and resource forecasting capabilities. For smaller teams that don’t require advanced ERP features, Project Standard offers a simpler, cost-effective way to manage projects locally while maintaining core planning functionality. 2. Microsoft Project Professional 2024 Microsoft Project Professional 2024 provides a stronger, though partial, replacement for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations by delivering advanced scheduling, resource allocation, and reporting tools. It enables organizations to manage multiple projects, track workloads, and collaborate through Microsoft Teams. While it doesn’t include Dynamics 365’s finance, billing, or CRM integration, it still supports project portfolio management in a more traditional setup. For companies that don’t need full ERP alignment but want robust project controls, Project Professional offers a feasible and familiar alternative. 3. Microsoft Planner Microsoft Planner can serve as a feasible alternative to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations for teams seeking simplicity over enterprise-level ERP functionality. With kanban boards, task assignments, due dates, and visual progress tracking, Planner makes project execution straightforward and collaborative. It integrates smoothly with Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and SharePoint, enhancing communication and task visibility. Although it lacks Dynamics 365’s resource forecasting and financial modules, Planner’s ease of adoption, flexibility, and focus on teamwork make it a practical choice for organizations managing smaller, less complex projects. 4. Project Server Microsoft Project Server is designed to manage, collaborate on and track projects and portfolios. It has resource management features that can be used across multiple projects and offers reporting and custom workflows, with approval settings. It is typically deployed on-premises and requires server infrastructure and IT support for setup and maintenance. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations FAQ For those who want a quick rundown on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations, the following are some of the frequently asked questions about the product. Is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations the same as Microsoft Project? No. These are related products, but they have distinct offerings within the Microsoft Project ecosystem. Is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations Free? No. This product requires a subscription and the price depends on various factors. Is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations in Microsoft 365? No. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations is not included in a Microsoft 365 subscription. It is part of the broader Dynamics 365 suite, which is separate. Related Microsoft Content As we’ve been saying, Microsoft has many products, even a lot of project management software products. For those looking to get deeper into what they offer and if there are better alternatives, here are some recently posted articles to our site. Microsoft Project: Plans, Training and How to Download Best Microsoft Project Alternatives Best Microsoft Planner Alternatives Microsoft Project Online: Pros, Cons and Free Alternatives Microsoft Project Viewer – How to View & Edit MPP Files Online MPP File Extension: What Is It & How to Open It Microsoft Project for Mac: How to Run MS Project Files on Your Mac What Is Microsoft Lists? Uses, Features and Pricing ProjectManager is online project and portfolio management software that connects teams whether they’re in the office or out in the field. They can share files, comment at the task level and stay updated with email and in-app notifications. Joins teams at Avis, Nestle and Siemens who are using our software to deliver successful projects. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations: Pros, Cons and Best Alternatives appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

Prime minister to accuse populist right of promoting a ‘politics of predatory grievance’View the full article

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source. I'd be willing to bet the one thing most of us want from our iPhones is quite simple: more battery life. Apple can keep adding new features and designs with each new smartphone iteration, but if the company just announced a new iPhone with record-breaking battery life, customers would be thrilled. While we may have to wait for a time when the iPhone can go a couple days in between charges, Apple has added a new option to iOS 26 in an effort to help extend your iPhone's battery life. The feature, Adaptive Power, uses on-device AI to analyze your iPhone usage and guess the times you'll need additional battery life. This is exactly how I want to see AI being used—not for generating hyper-realistic videos or musical slop. How Adaptive Power tries to boost your batteryWhen Adaptive Power decides it's time to engage, the feature can adjust your iPhone's performance level. This will make some tasks take longer than they normally would, but that slower speed supposedly saves on battery life. In addition, Adaptive Power lowers screen brightness by 3%, limits background activity, and, when your iPhone reaches 20%, kicks on Low Power Mode without asking you first. Apple isn't totally clear here about the difference between Low Power Mode and Adaptive Power in general. From what we know, it seems that Adaptive Power simply reduces processing speeds at select intervals, and only slightly lowers brightness, while Low Power Mode slows speeds and display refresh rate, and limits brightness, 5G, iCloud syncing, and mail fetch, among other tasks. Adaptive Power is enabled by default on Apple's newest iPhones, including the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air—the latter of which could most likely benefit from such a feature. For all other compatible iPhones, which includes iPhone 15 Pro and newer, the feature is turned off by default. That means, unless you have an iPhone 17 device, you'll need to turn this on yourself. How to turn Adaptive Power on or offWhether you have an iPhone 15 Pro or an iPhone 17, you'll find the controls for Adaptive Power in the same place. Open Settings, then head to Battery > Power Mode. Here, you can tap the toggle next to "Adaptive Power" to turn the setting on or off. Since Adaptive Power turns on and off throughout the day, Apple also offers you the option to receive alerts whenever the feature is active. You can adjust this setting from the "Adaptive Power Notifications" toggle. I've been using Adaptive Power since iOS 26 dropped on Sept. 15, but it's tough to say whether the feature has had a noticeable impact on my battery life. I think it would help if Apple added Adaptive Power information to my battery stats, so I could compare the impacts before and after using the feature. For now, I'll continue using it, if for no other reason than to offer my battery the best possible chance of making it through the day without its charger. View the full article

Your iPhone is essentially a computer that fits in your pocket, so it only makes sense for Apple to treat it as such. To that point, with iOS 26, both the iPhone and the iPad get a new app that was a Mac exclusive for over 20 years: Preview. What can you do with the Preview app?Like on macOS, the Preview app for iOS and iPadOS is largely made for viewing PDFs and other documents. When you first open the app, you'll see the options to either create a new document or scan one with your iPhone's camera. Most of the time, however, you probably you have an existing document you want to open using Preview. If so, you'll find those options in the bottom half of this starting page. This is Preview's integration with the Files app: You can browse your documents from Files and open any with Preview. Once you have a document loaded up, you're able to view, annotate, markup, and edit it. If you need to fill out a document with your information, you can use AutoFill to automatically enter contact info and other saved details. You can add your signature, and if you're on your iPad, you can use your Apple Pencil to draw on the document. Otherwise, you can use your finger to mark up the file. You can also export documents from the Preview app. You can work with file types including HEIDC, JPEG, PDF, PNG, and TIFF. And as with Preview on macOS, there are a number of controls when exporting, such as resolution, embedding text, and saving images as JPEG. While there's a lot you can do here, the biggest strength I see for this mobile Preview app is using it as a tool for legal documents. If you need to sign an important document, you can quickly scan it into the app, add your signature, fill out any information—perhaps automatically with AutoFill—then email the doc out, all without needing to jump to your computer. Preview on iOS is still a work in progressIf you look at Preview's App Store page, you'll notice some mixed reviews. After using the app for a bit, I understand why. Preview for iOS is definitely still a work in progress and in need of some key upgrades. The biggest quirks I noticed immediately: The main menu page is cluttered, with the Files integration looking more like a glitch than a dedicated window. Speaking of Files, Apple made the decision to have documents in Files open in Preview. At first, that sounds like a good idea, until you experience it in person on both iOS and iPadOS. Being dragged out of the Files app when you're not expecting it is jarring, especially when you're used to viewing your docs directly in the app. The workaround here is to avoid Files for opening, well, files. Use the Files integration within Preview, so you stay in the same app. How intuitive. You could also choose to delete the Preview app, but that's a bit of a shame when it's such a major update for iOS and iPadOS 26. Also, when you choose the Markup option, there's no clear way to exit without closing the whole app first. As far as I can tell, the only way to do so is to tap the three-dots in the top right, then tap Markup to exit this menu. The Markup button should really stay on screen as it does on macOS, so it's obvious how to dismiss it. View the full article

Forecasting is an essential component of financial planning, as it allows you to anticipate future revenue, expenses, and cash flow based on historical trends. By employing accurate forecasting techniques, you can identify potential risks and develop strategies to mitigate them. This proactive approach optimizes resource allocation and builds confidence among stakeholders. Comprehending the nuances of forecasting can markedly impact your financial strategies, but several factors complicate the process. What are these challenges, and how can you overcome them? Key Takeaways Forecasting provides a data-driven foundation for informed decision-making in financial planning. It identifies potential risks, allowing for the development of effective mitigation strategies. Forecasting optimizes resource allocation to enhance growth and sustainability. It ensures financial plans are relevant and responsive to changing market conditions. Regular updates to forecasts improve stakeholder confidence and attract investments. Understanding Financial Forecasting Financial forecasting plays an indispensable role in shaping the decisions that drive a business’s success, especially when you consider how it relies on both historical data and market trends. To create an effective financial forecast in your business plan, you should analyze past performance and current market conditions. Comprehending how to make a financial forecast involves using both quantitative methods, like data analysis, and qualitative methods, such as expert insights. This combination leads to more accurate projections of revenue, expenses, and cash flow. Regular updates are imperative, as they help align forecasts with changing market dynamics. Stakeholders depend on these forecasts to guide their decisions about investments, budgeting, and risk management, making forecasting in financial planning essential for organizational success. The Importance of Forecasting in Financial Planning Forecasting plays an essential role in financial planning by providing a data-driven foundation for your decision-making. It helps you identify potential risks and develop strategies to mitigate them, ensuring your organization can navigate financial challenges effectively. Furthermore, accurate forecasts enable you to optimize resource allocation, making sure you invest wisely in areas that drive growth and sustainability. Data-Driven Decision Making In today’s complex business environment, leveraging data-driven insights is essential for effective decision-making in financial planning. By utilizing accurate expense forecasts and profit forecasts, you can anticipate future revenue and expenses, allowing for informed strategic actions. Historical data and market trends guide you in setting realistic financial goals, eventually improving stakeholder confidence and attracting investments. Regularly updating these forecasts guarantees your financial plans remain relevant, responsive to changing market conditions, and agile in business operations. Integrating forecasting into your financial planning optimizes budgeting processes, enabling better resource allocation. This approach nurtures long-term financial sustainability, helping your organization navigate uncertainties as it makes sound, data-driven decisions that align with your strategic objectives. Risk Mitigation Strategies Identifying and managing risk is an essential component of effective financial planning. By utilizing financial forecasting, you can pinpoint potential risks by analyzing historical data and current market trends. This foresight helps you anticipate adverse conditions before they impact your organization. With forecasting models, you can create contingency plans for various scenarios, enhancing your resilience against unpredictable downturns. You’ll minimize financial exposure during uncertain times. You’ll guarantee adequate cash flow, maintaining stability. You’ll improve decision-making regarding investments and budgeting. Regularly updating your forecasts improves risk assessment accuracy, allowing you to align your strategies with your risk tolerance. Incorporating advanced techniques, like AI, further strengthens your predictive capabilities, leading to robust risk mitigation strategies that adapt to changing market conditions. Resource Allocation Optimization To optimize resource allocation effectively, businesses must leverage financial forecasting as a foundational tool in their planning processes. Forecasting offers essential insights that help you strategically direct resources toward areas with the highest potential returns. By predicting future revenue and expenses, you can fine-tune budgets for efficient fund utilization, minimizing waste. Accurate forecasts also highlight potential cash flow issues, allowing you to make proactive adjustments to maintain financial stability. In addition, forecasting informs decisions regarding staffing and operational costs, aligning resources with projected demand to avoid overstaffing or underutilization. Key Differences Between Forecasting and Budgeting When you compare forecasting and budgeting, it’s crucial to understand their key differences. Forecasting offers dynamic projections that can change frequently based on market conditions, whereas budgeting provides a more static view of expected revenues and expenses for a set period, usually a year. Furthermore, forecasts can cover various time horizons, while budgets typically focus on the short term, reinforcing the need for regular updates in forecasting compared to the less frequent revisions of budgets. Time Horizon Differences Although both forecasting and budgeting play crucial roles in financial planning, they differ markedly in their time horizons. Forecasting typically covers a longer span, ranging from weeks to several years, whereas budgeting is usually confined to a fixed annual period. This distinction highlights how forecasts adapt to changing conditions, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods, while budgets remain static with infrequent updates. Forecasting illuminates long-term trends, helping you strategize effectively. Budgets target immediate operational needs, ensuring resources are allocated wisely. Comprehending these differences enables you to align your financial planning with your organization’s goals. Static vs. Dynamic Nature Comprehending the differences between static and dynamic approaches in financial planning is crucial for effective management. Forecasting is a dynamic process, regularly updating estimates of future performance, whereas budgeting remains static, setting fixed revenue and expense targets for a specific period, usually a year. You can adjust financial forecasts frequently—monthly or quarterly—to reflect changing market conditions, in contrast to budgets that typically see revisions only during specific intervals or significant shifts. Forecasting utilizes both quantitative and qualitative methods to estimate future financial conditions, while budgeting relies on predetermined figures and historical data. This dynamic nature of forecasting allows for continuous planning and adaptability, whereas static budgeting may limit flexibility and responsiveness to unforeseen circumstances, in the end guiding strategic decision-making. Frequency of Updates In today’s fast-paced business environment, the frequency of updates in financial forecasting plays a pivotal role in effective financial planning. Financial forecasts are typically updated regularly—often monthly or quarterly—to reflect changing market conditions. This adaptability allows you to respond swiftly to unexpected changes. Conversely, budgets tend to be static, usually set annually and revised only when absolutely necessary. Embrace change and seize opportunities. Stay ahead of the competition with timely insights. Make informed decisions that drive growth. Types of Financial Forecasting Financial forecasting plays a crucial role in guiding strategic business decisions, and it encompasses various methods customized to different needs. You can categorize financial forecasting into quantitative and qualitative forecasts. Quantitative forecasts use historical data and mathematical models to predict future performance, whereas qualitative forecasts rely on expert opinions and market research, especially when historical data is limited. Specific types include sales forecasting, which estimates future product sales revenue to help you understand demand and plan inventory. Cash flow forecasting assesses cash inflows and outflows, aiding in liquidity management. Budget forecasting predicts financial outcomes based on established budgets for better resource allocation. Finally, income forecasting estimates future income by analyzing trends, allowing you to set realistic revenue targets for decision-making. Essential Components of Financial Forecasting Comprehending the fundamental components of financial forecasting is essential for effective strategic planning. Financial forecasting hinges on several key elements that shape your decision-making process: Revenue projections help you anticipate future income and set realistic growth targets. Expense estimates allow you to manage costs effectively, ensuring your business remains profitable. Cash flow analysis provides insight into liquidity, helping you plan for both short-term needs and long-term investments. These components rely heavily on accurate historical data, which you’ll need to analyze through core documents like income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. Furthermore, employing quantitative methods, like moving averages and regression analysis, enables you to create reliable forecasts. Regular revisions further improve accuracy, allowing you to adapt to changing market conditions. Best Practices for Effective Financial Forecasting Effective financial forecasting requires a strategic approach that goes beyond just the basic components discussed earlier. First, establish realistic assumptions grounded in historical data and market trends to avoid wishful thinking. Regularly update your forecasts to reflect new information and changing market conditions, ensuring alignment with your organizational objectives. Involving cross-departmental collaboration promotes thorough insights, enhancing the credibility of your forecasts. Furthermore, utilize a mix of quantitative methods, like regression analysis, along with qualitative assessments for more nuanced predictions. Finally, although technology can streamline data collection and analysis, focus on integrating these tools effectively into your forecasting practices. How Technology Enhances Financial Forecasting As organizations endeavor to stay competitive in a swiftly changing market, leveraging technology in financial forecasting has become essential. By centralizing financial data from various sources into a unified system, you can boost accessibility and accuracy for analysis. Advanced forecasting software, utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning, identifies trends in historical data for more precise predictions. Automation minimizes human error, allowing for faster, reliable forecasts that adjust to market changes. Real-time data processing helps you swiftly modify forecasts based on current events, enabling agile decision-making. Integrating forecasting tools with existing financial systems improves collaboration across departments, leading to a thorough approach to financial planning and risk management. Improved accuracy means more confidence in decisions. Real-time adjustments keep you ahead of competitors. Enhanced collaboration promotes a united organizational strategy. Challenges in Financial Forecasting Even though financial forecasting is crucial for strategic planning, it often encounters a variety of challenges that can hinder its effectiveness. You might face issues like poor data quality, where inaccurate or inconsistent data can undermine forecasts. This leads to misguided decisions. The forecasting process likewise requires extensive collaboration across departments, making it time-consuming and prone to errors. Startups, in particular, struggle because of a lack of historical data, whereas data silos can create inefficiencies. Furthermore, uncertainty is inherent in forecasting, meaning unexpected developments can impact your projections. Challenge Impact on Forecasting Poor Data Quality Undermines reliability, leads to errors Labor-Intensive Process Time-consuming, prone to mistakes Lack of Historical Data Difficult to create accurate forecasts Data Silos Inefficiencies and errors Future Trends in Financial Forecasting The terrain of financial forecasting is swiftly evolving, driven by advancements in technology and shifting market demands. You’ll notice an increasing emphasis on real-time data analytics, which allows for timely decision-making. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are set to improve predictive capabilities, automating complex analyses that you’ll find invaluable. Companies are adopting hybrid forecasting methods that blend quantitative and qualitative approaches, enhancing accuracy. A focus on sustainability is reshaping financial practices. Financial tools are evolving to offer better visualization and scenario modeling. Integrating ESG factors into strategies aligns financial goals with societal expectations. These trends highlight a future where financial forecasting becomes more adaptive and responsive, empowering you to navigate challenges effectively. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Role of Forecasting in a Financial Plan? In a financial plan, forecasting serves as an essential tool for projecting future financial performance. It helps you estimate revenues, expenses, and cash flow, enabling you to set achievable financial goals. By analyzing historical data and current market conditions, you identify trends and adjust strategies correspondingly. Accurate forecasts additionally guide budget allocations, ensuring departments operate within their means as well as enhancing stakeholder confidence in your organization’s long-term financial sustainability. Regular updates keep your plan responsive to market changes. What Is the Role of Forecasting in Planning? Forecasting plays an essential role in planning by enabling you to anticipate future trends and challenges. It allows you to make informed decisions based on data-driven projections of potential outcomes. By regularly updating your forecasts, you can adjust your strategies and resources effectively, ensuring alignment with current conditions. This proactive approach improves risk management and enhances overall decision-making, nurturing a clearer comprehension of your goals and paving the way for successful planning efforts. What Is the Purpose of a Financial Forecast? The purpose of a financial forecast is to estimate future financial performance based on historical data and market trends. You use it to set realistic goals and allocate resources effectively, ensuring your organization can navigate economic uncertainties. By projecting revenues, expenses, and cash flow, a financial forecast guides strategic decision-making. It likewise attracts potential investors by demonstrating your company’s growth potential and financial stability, nurturing greater confidence in your future operations. What Are the Roles and Responsibilities of Forecasting? Forecasting involves several key roles and responsibilities that directly impact your organization’s financial health. You’ll analyze historical data and gather expert opinions to create accurate projections of future revenues and expenses. This process helps you set financial goals, identify potential risks, and make informed decisions about budgeting and investments. Collaboration across departments improves the reliability of these forecasts, ensuring all relevant insights are considered for effective financial planning and resource allocation. Conclusion In summary, forecasting is crucial for effective financial planning, providing a structured approach to predict future financial performance. By analyzing historical data and market trends, you can make informed decisions, allocate resources wisely, and identify potential risks. Comprehending the differences between forecasting and budgeting, along with utilizing technology and best practices, improves your forecasting efforts. As the financial environment evolves, staying updated on emerging trends will guarantee your forecasting remains relevant and impactful for sustainable growth. Image Via Envato This article, "What Is the Role of Forecasting in Financial Planning?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Forecasting is an essential component of financial planning, as it allows you to anticipate future revenue, expenses, and cash flow based on historical trends. By employing accurate forecasting techniques, you can identify potential risks and develop strategies to mitigate them. This proactive approach optimizes resource allocation and builds confidence among stakeholders. Comprehending the nuances of forecasting can markedly impact your financial strategies, but several factors complicate the process. What are these challenges, and how can you overcome them? Key Takeaways Forecasting provides a data-driven foundation for informed decision-making in financial planning. It identifies potential risks, allowing for the development of effective mitigation strategies. Forecasting optimizes resource allocation to enhance growth and sustainability. It ensures financial plans are relevant and responsive to changing market conditions. Regular updates to forecasts improve stakeholder confidence and attract investments. Understanding Financial Forecasting Financial forecasting plays an indispensable role in shaping the decisions that drive a business’s success, especially when you consider how it relies on both historical data and market trends. To create an effective financial forecast in your business plan, you should analyze past performance and current market conditions. Comprehending how to make a financial forecast involves using both quantitative methods, like data analysis, and qualitative methods, such as expert insights. This combination leads to more accurate projections of revenue, expenses, and cash flow. Regular updates are imperative, as they help align forecasts with changing market dynamics. Stakeholders depend on these forecasts to guide their decisions about investments, budgeting, and risk management, making forecasting in financial planning essential for organizational success. The Importance of Forecasting in Financial Planning Forecasting plays an essential role in financial planning by providing a data-driven foundation for your decision-making. It helps you identify potential risks and develop strategies to mitigate them, ensuring your organization can navigate financial challenges effectively. Furthermore, accurate forecasts enable you to optimize resource allocation, making sure you invest wisely in areas that drive growth and sustainability. Data-Driven Decision Making In today’s complex business environment, leveraging data-driven insights is essential for effective decision-making in financial planning. By utilizing accurate expense forecasts and profit forecasts, you can anticipate future revenue and expenses, allowing for informed strategic actions. Historical data and market trends guide you in setting realistic financial goals, eventually improving stakeholder confidence and attracting investments. Regularly updating these forecasts guarantees your financial plans remain relevant, responsive to changing market conditions, and agile in business operations. Integrating forecasting into your financial planning optimizes budgeting processes, enabling better resource allocation. This approach nurtures long-term financial sustainability, helping your organization navigate uncertainties as it makes sound, data-driven decisions that align with your strategic objectives. Risk Mitigation Strategies Identifying and managing risk is an essential component of effective financial planning. By utilizing financial forecasting, you can pinpoint potential risks by analyzing historical data and current market trends. This foresight helps you anticipate adverse conditions before they impact your organization. With forecasting models, you can create contingency plans for various scenarios, enhancing your resilience against unpredictable downturns. You’ll minimize financial exposure during uncertain times. You’ll guarantee adequate cash flow, maintaining stability. You’ll improve decision-making regarding investments and budgeting. Regularly updating your forecasts improves risk assessment accuracy, allowing you to align your strategies with your risk tolerance. Incorporating advanced techniques, like AI, further strengthens your predictive capabilities, leading to robust risk mitigation strategies that adapt to changing market conditions. Resource Allocation Optimization To optimize resource allocation effectively, businesses must leverage financial forecasting as a foundational tool in their planning processes. Forecasting offers essential insights that help you strategically direct resources toward areas with the highest potential returns. By predicting future revenue and expenses, you can fine-tune budgets for efficient fund utilization, minimizing waste. Accurate forecasts also highlight potential cash flow issues, allowing you to make proactive adjustments to maintain financial stability. In addition, forecasting informs decisions regarding staffing and operational costs, aligning resources with projected demand to avoid overstaffing or underutilization. Key Differences Between Forecasting and Budgeting When you compare forecasting and budgeting, it’s crucial to understand their key differences. Forecasting offers dynamic projections that can change frequently based on market conditions, whereas budgeting provides a more static view of expected revenues and expenses for a set period, usually a year. Furthermore, forecasts can cover various time horizons, while budgets typically focus on the short term, reinforcing the need for regular updates in forecasting compared to the less frequent revisions of budgets. Time Horizon Differences Although both forecasting and budgeting play crucial roles in financial planning, they differ markedly in their time horizons. Forecasting typically covers a longer span, ranging from weeks to several years, whereas budgeting is usually confined to a fixed annual period. This distinction highlights how forecasts adapt to changing conditions, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods, while budgets remain static with infrequent updates. Forecasting illuminates long-term trends, helping you strategize effectively. Budgets target immediate operational needs, ensuring resources are allocated wisely. Comprehending these differences enables you to align your financial planning with your organization’s goals. Static vs. Dynamic Nature Comprehending the differences between static and dynamic approaches in financial planning is crucial for effective management. Forecasting is a dynamic process, regularly updating estimates of future performance, whereas budgeting remains static, setting fixed revenue and expense targets for a specific period, usually a year. You can adjust financial forecasts frequently—monthly or quarterly—to reflect changing market conditions, in contrast to budgets that typically see revisions only during specific intervals or significant shifts. Forecasting utilizes both quantitative and qualitative methods to estimate future financial conditions, while budgeting relies on predetermined figures and historical data. This dynamic nature of forecasting allows for continuous planning and adaptability, whereas static budgeting may limit flexibility and responsiveness to unforeseen circumstances, in the end guiding strategic decision-making. Frequency of Updates In today’s fast-paced business environment, the frequency of updates in financial forecasting plays a pivotal role in effective financial planning. Financial forecasts are typically updated regularly—often monthly or quarterly—to reflect changing market conditions. This adaptability allows you to respond swiftly to unexpected changes. Conversely, budgets tend to be static, usually set annually and revised only when absolutely necessary. Embrace change and seize opportunities. Stay ahead of the competition with timely insights. Make informed decisions that drive growth. Types of Financial Forecasting Financial forecasting plays a crucial role in guiding strategic business decisions, and it encompasses various methods customized to different needs. You can categorize financial forecasting into quantitative and qualitative forecasts. Quantitative forecasts use historical data and mathematical models to predict future performance, whereas qualitative forecasts rely on expert opinions and market research, especially when historical data is limited. Specific types include sales forecasting, which estimates future product sales revenue to help you understand demand and plan inventory. Cash flow forecasting assesses cash inflows and outflows, aiding in liquidity management. Budget forecasting predicts financial outcomes based on established budgets for better resource allocation. Finally, income forecasting estimates future income by analyzing trends, allowing you to set realistic revenue targets for decision-making. Essential Components of Financial Forecasting Comprehending the fundamental components of financial forecasting is essential for effective strategic planning. Financial forecasting hinges on several key elements that shape your decision-making process: Revenue projections help you anticipate future income and set realistic growth targets. Expense estimates allow you to manage costs effectively, ensuring your business remains profitable. Cash flow analysis provides insight into liquidity, helping you plan for both short-term needs and long-term investments. These components rely heavily on accurate historical data, which you’ll need to analyze through core documents like income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. Furthermore, employing quantitative methods, like moving averages and regression analysis, enables you to create reliable forecasts. Regular revisions further improve accuracy, allowing you to adapt to changing market conditions. Best Practices for Effective Financial Forecasting Effective financial forecasting requires a strategic approach that goes beyond just the basic components discussed earlier. First, establish realistic assumptions grounded in historical data and market trends to avoid wishful thinking. Regularly update your forecasts to reflect new information and changing market conditions, ensuring alignment with your organizational objectives. Involving cross-departmental collaboration promotes thorough insights, enhancing the credibility of your forecasts. Furthermore, utilize a mix of quantitative methods, like regression analysis, along with qualitative assessments for more nuanced predictions. Finally, although technology can streamline data collection and analysis, focus on integrating these tools effectively into your forecasting practices. How Technology Enhances Financial Forecasting As organizations endeavor to stay competitive in a swiftly changing market, leveraging technology in financial forecasting has become essential. By centralizing financial data from various sources into a unified system, you can boost accessibility and accuracy for analysis. Advanced forecasting software, utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning, identifies trends in historical data for more precise predictions. Automation minimizes human error, allowing for faster, reliable forecasts that adjust to market changes. Real-time data processing helps you swiftly modify forecasts based on current events, enabling agile decision-making. Integrating forecasting tools with existing financial systems improves collaboration across departments, leading to a thorough approach to financial planning and risk management. Improved accuracy means more confidence in decisions. Real-time adjustments keep you ahead of competitors. Enhanced collaboration promotes a united organizational strategy. Challenges in Financial Forecasting Even though financial forecasting is crucial for strategic planning, it often encounters a variety of challenges that can hinder its effectiveness. You might face issues like poor data quality, where inaccurate or inconsistent data can undermine forecasts. This leads to misguided decisions. The forecasting process likewise requires extensive collaboration across departments, making it time-consuming and prone to errors. Startups, in particular, struggle because of a lack of historical data, whereas data silos can create inefficiencies. Furthermore, uncertainty is inherent in forecasting, meaning unexpected developments can impact your projections. Challenge Impact on Forecasting Poor Data Quality Undermines reliability, leads to errors Labor-Intensive Process Time-consuming, prone to mistakes Lack of Historical Data Difficult to create accurate forecasts Data Silos Inefficiencies and errors Future Trends in Financial Forecasting The terrain of financial forecasting is swiftly evolving, driven by advancements in technology and shifting market demands. You’ll notice an increasing emphasis on real-time data analytics, which allows for timely decision-making. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are set to improve predictive capabilities, automating complex analyses that you’ll find invaluable. Companies are adopting hybrid forecasting methods that blend quantitative and qualitative approaches, enhancing accuracy. A focus on sustainability is reshaping financial practices. Financial tools are evolving to offer better visualization and scenario modeling. Integrating ESG factors into strategies aligns financial goals with societal expectations. These trends highlight a future where financial forecasting becomes more adaptive and responsive, empowering you to navigate challenges effectively. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Role of Forecasting in a Financial Plan? In a financial plan, forecasting serves as an essential tool for projecting future financial performance. It helps you estimate revenues, expenses, and cash flow, enabling you to set achievable financial goals. By analyzing historical data and current market conditions, you identify trends and adjust strategies correspondingly. Accurate forecasts additionally guide budget allocations, ensuring departments operate within their means as well as enhancing stakeholder confidence in your organization’s long-term financial sustainability. Regular updates keep your plan responsive to market changes. What Is the Role of Forecasting in Planning? Forecasting plays an essential role in planning by enabling you to anticipate future trends and challenges. It allows you to make informed decisions based on data-driven projections of potential outcomes. By regularly updating your forecasts, you can adjust your strategies and resources effectively, ensuring alignment with current conditions. This proactive approach improves risk management and enhances overall decision-making, nurturing a clearer comprehension of your goals and paving the way for successful planning efforts. What Is the Purpose of a Financial Forecast? The purpose of a financial forecast is to estimate future financial performance based on historical data and market trends. You use it to set realistic goals and allocate resources effectively, ensuring your organization can navigate economic uncertainties. By projecting revenues, expenses, and cash flow, a financial forecast guides strategic decision-making. It likewise attracts potential investors by demonstrating your company’s growth potential and financial stability, nurturing greater confidence in your future operations. What Are the Roles and Responsibilities of Forecasting? Forecasting involves several key roles and responsibilities that directly impact your organization’s financial health. You’ll analyze historical data and gather expert opinions to create accurate projections of future revenues and expenses. This process helps you set financial goals, identify potential risks, and make informed decisions about budgeting and investments. Collaboration across departments improves the reliability of these forecasts, ensuring all relevant insights are considered for effective financial planning and resource allocation. Conclusion In summary, forecasting is crucial for effective financial planning, providing a structured approach to predict future financial performance. By analyzing historical data and market trends, you can make informed decisions, allocate resources wisely, and identify potential risks. Comprehending the differences between forecasting and budgeting, along with utilizing technology and best practices, improves your forecasting efforts. As the financial environment evolves, staying updated on emerging trends will guarantee your forecasting remains relevant and impactful for sustainable growth. Image Via Envato This article, "What Is the Role of Forecasting in Financial Planning?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Abu Dhabi’s MGX joins Silver Lake and Oracle as lead investorsView the full article

However, Rocket, which has been of the companies to participate, has not yet announced its intentions regarding a pre-FHFA announcement increase. View the full article

To start using Square Point of Sale effectively, you’ll first need to sign up for a free account and link a verified bank account for smooth fund transfers. After that, choose a compatible card reader and download the Square POS app. Once set up, you can easily process payments, whether through credit cards or digital wallets. Furthermore, you can create and send custom invoices to improve your customer interactions. Comprehending these initial steps is essential before exploring further features. Key Takeaways Sign up for a free Square account and link a verified bank account for seamless fund transfers. Download the Square Point of Sale app and set up your card reader for payment acceptance. Process transactions by entering amounts, choosing items, and accepting various payment methods through the app. Create and send customizable invoices via the Square Dashboard for easy billing and tracking. Monitor transaction status, manage your item library, and engage with customers for enhanced service. Getting Started With Square Getting started with Square is a straightforward process that can be broken down into several key steps. First, sign up for a free account on the Square website or through the Square Point of Sale app. You’ll need to provide personal information and accept the terms and conditions. Next, link a verified bank account for timely transfers of your sales proceeds. Download the Square Point of Sale app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to manage payments and inventory. Accurately set up your business information in the account settings to guarantee customer trust. Finally, choose a compatible card reader, like a free magstripe reader or a wireless reader, to accept payments effectively using your POS terminal machine or lease POS system. Signing Up for Square Account To sign up for a Square account, you’ll need to visit the Square website and click the “Get Started” button before filling in your personal information, like your email and password. The registration process usually takes about ten minutes, and it’s important to select the correct merchant type to prevent any fund holds. Once you’ve completed the sign-up, make sure to verify your email address and provide accurate business information in your account settings for proper customer receipts. Account Registration Process Registering for a Square account involves a straightforward process that typically takes around ten minutes to complete. Start by visiting squareup.com and clicking the “Get Started” button. You’ll need to fill in your personal information and choose a merchant type, like Individual or Business. Providing a business name is vital for customer recognition. After submitting your information, verify your email address and agree to Square’s terms and conditions. This sets up your account for using Square’s POS checkout system. Linking a verified bank account is important for transferring sales funds, and this verification can take from one hour to two days. If you need help, you can skip steps and reach out to Square support. Required Business Information When signing up for a Square account, you’ll need to provide specific business information that guarantees your account operates smoothly and complies with regulations. Start by entering your name, address, and email, similar to creating an email account. Selecting the appropriate business structure is essential, as it affects compliance and accuracy. Specify your merchant type, whether you’re an individual or a business, to prevent fund holds and confirm proper functionality. You’ll also need to provide a business name for customer recognition, which can be changed later in the Square Dashboard. Furthermore, federal law requires identity verification, so be prepared to submit the last four digits of your Social Security Number to complete the setup for your virtual point of sale. Connecting Your Bank Account Connecting your bank account to your Square account is an important step for ensuring smooth transactions and timely fund transfers from your sales. To set this up, provide accurate bank account information and verification credentials. You’ll need to link a transactional Bank of America account that allows both transfers and withdrawals to receive your sales funds. After selecting a deposit method—instant, next business day, or same-day for a fee—you’ll verify your bank account through a small charge. Monitoring the verification status is significant, as it may take up to four business days for your bank account to be fully linked and ready for transactions. This secure connection is crucial for efficient fund transfers. Choosing and Setting Up a Card Reader To effectively manage payments in your business, selecting and setting up the right card reader is essential. You can choose between a free magstripe card reader for basic transactions or invest in a $50 wireless reader that supports tap-and-chip payments for advanced processing. If you have an iPhone 11 or newer, you can use Square’s Tap to Pay feature for contactless payments without needing a separate reader. To set up your card reader, follow these steps: Access the settings in the Square Point of Sale app. Select “Card Readers” and follow the pairing instructions. Check the Square Dashboard regularly to monitor your reader’s status. If your reader hasn’t arrived, process payments manually or send a Square Invoice. Downloading the Square POS App Downloading the Square Point of Sale app is a straightforward process that can greatly improve your ability to manage transactions for your business. To begin, access the app store relevant to your device—either the Apple App Store for iOS or the Google Play Store for Android. Once there, search for Square Point of Sale and select the app to initiate the installation. Before downloading, verify your device is compatible, as the app is designed for mobile use. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. After the app is installed, open it and log in with your Square credentials. This will enable you to start processing transactions efficiently, enhancing your overall business management. Setting Up Your Inventory Setting up your inventory in Square Point of Sale is essential for effective business management and can be accomplished in just a few steps. Start by entering product details through the Square Dashboard or mobile app. You can add items with specific details, ensuring thorough tracking. Here are some key features to take into account: Add product name, description, price, and SKU for each item. Set low stock alerts to notify you when inventory falls below a certain level. Utilize bulk uploading through CSV files for large inventories, saving time. Easily edit or delete items later in the Square Dashboard to adapt to your business needs. Syncing Your Card Reader Syncing your card reader with the Square Point of Sale app is crucial for processing transactions seamlessly. Start by ensuring your card reader is charged and energized, as a low battery can disrupt the connection process. Open the app, tap the three lines in the top left corner, select “Settings,” and then tap “Card Readers” to initiate syncing. If the card reader isn’t automatically detected, you can still process payments by choosing “Manual Entry” within the app. To maintain peak performance, keep your card reader’s firmware updated through the Square app, as updates improve connectivity and processing capabilities. Should you face any issues, consult Square’s support resources or community forums for troubleshooting tips customized to your card reader model. Processing Payments With Square When you process payments with Square, you’ll have access to various payment methods, such as credit and debit cards, contactless options, and digital gift cards. Start by linking your bank account and downloading the Square Point of Sale app on your mobile device, then use a compatible card reader for efficient transaction processing. Remember to factor in the standard processing fee of 2.6% plus 10 cents for each card transaction as you set your pricing strategy. Payment Methods Overview Square Point of Sale (POS) provides a versatile platform for businesses to process various payment methods, ensuring customers have convenient options. You can accept a range of payments, making transactions smooth and easy for everyone involved. Major credit and debit cards Contactless payments Gift cards Bitcoin To process in-person payments, you’ll need a compatible card reader, such as the free magstripe reader or the $50 wireless reader. For online transactions, Square’s virtual terminal, invoices, and online store support payments without extra fees. Keep in mind that a standard processing fee of 2.6% + 10 cents applies to each card transaction, regardless of the payment method used. Transaction Processing Steps To successfully process a payment with Square, start by ensuring you have the Square Point of Sale app installed on your device and that your card reader is properly connected. Next, enter the transaction amount in the app or select the item from your inventory, then tap the “Checkout” button to move forward. Your customers can pay using multiple methods, including credit/debit cards, digital wallets, and contactless options, which gives them flexibility. After accepting the payment, they’ll have the option to receive their receipt via email or text, enhancing their checkout experience. Sending Invoices Through Square Sending invoices through Square is a straightforward process that can improve your business’s efficiency and professionalism. To get started, navigate to the Square Dashboard and select the “Invoicing” option. Here, you can create a new invoice by entering customer details and itemized charges. Consider the following features: Customize your invoices by adding your business logo and changing colors. Send invoices directly via email or SMS for convenience. Track invoice status, including sent, viewed, and paid, right in the Dashboard. Set up recurring invoices for regular customers to simplify billing. Customizing Your Square Experience Customizing your Square experience can greatly improve your business operations and customer interactions. Start by accessing the app settings to rearrange items, add shortcuts, and hide irrelevant features, streamlining your workflow. Next, create and manage an item library in the Square Dashboard to showcase your products, complete with descriptions, prices, and images, enhancing the customer experience. Consider utilizing the “Sell Online” feature to set up an online store that integrates seamlessly with your POS, ensuring brand consistency across platforms. Furthermore, take advantage of Square’s marketing tools by launching email and text campaigns to engage customers and cultivate loyalty. Finally, regularly review customer feedback through digital receipts to inform adjustments in your offerings and improve service strategies. Frequently Asked Questions How to Use Square Point of Sale? To use Square Point of Sale, start by downloading the app from your device’s app store and create a free account with your personal and business details. Next, link a verified bank account for fund deposits, choosing your preferred deposit speed. Set up your inventory within the app or dashboard, then connect a compatible card reader for processing payments. Explore additional features like customer management and online store creation to optimize your business operations. How Do You Use Square for Beginners? To use Square as a beginner, start by signing up for a free account online or via the app, which takes about ten minutes. Next, link a verified bank account for transfers. Download the Square Point of Sale app to process payments and manage your sales. You can set up your inventory by adding items through the app, and utilize customer management tools to improve your marketing strategies and relationships. How Do You Use a Square Reader Step by Step? To use a Square Reader, start by downloading the Square Point of Sale app and logging in. Connect your reader through the app’s settings by pairing it via Bluetooth or plugging in the magstripe reader. Make certain it’s charged or connected. Enter the sale amount, choose the payment method, then swipe, tap, or insert the card. Finally, ask the customer for their receipt preference, and check your transaction history for confirmation. What Are the Steps in the Process of Point of Sale? To effectively use a point of sale (POS) system, you start by signing up for an account, which typically takes about ten minutes. Next, link a verified bank account for fund transfers. Choose a card reader that suits your needs, like a free magstripe or a wireless option. After that, set up inventory management through the dashboard or app. Finally, once everything’s configured, you can begin processing sales with various payment methods. Conclusion In summary, using Square Point of Sale simplifies payment processing and improves customer interactions. By signing up for an account, connecting your bank, and setting up a compatible card reader, you can efficiently manage transactions. The Square POS app allows you to process payments and send invoices seamlessly. Customizing your experience further tailors the platform to meet your business needs. With these steps, you’ll be well-equipped to optimize your operations and enhance customer satisfaction. Image Via Envato This article, "How to Use Square Point of Sale – A Step-by-Step Guide" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

To start using Square Point of Sale effectively, you’ll first need to sign up for a free account and link a verified bank account for smooth fund transfers. After that, choose a compatible card reader and download the Square POS app. Once set up, you can easily process payments, whether through credit cards or digital wallets. Furthermore, you can create and send custom invoices to improve your customer interactions. Comprehending these initial steps is essential before exploring further features. Key Takeaways Sign up for a free Square account and link a verified bank account for seamless fund transfers. Download the Square Point of Sale app and set up your card reader for payment acceptance. Process transactions by entering amounts, choosing items, and accepting various payment methods through the app. Create and send customizable invoices via the Square Dashboard for easy billing and tracking. Monitor transaction status, manage your item library, and engage with customers for enhanced service. Getting Started With Square Getting started with Square is a straightforward process that can be broken down into several key steps. First, sign up for a free account on the Square website or through the Square Point of Sale app. You’ll need to provide personal information and accept the terms and conditions. Next, link a verified bank account for timely transfers of your sales proceeds. Download the Square Point of Sale app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to manage payments and inventory. Accurately set up your business information in the account settings to guarantee customer trust. Finally, choose a compatible card reader, like a free magstripe reader or a wireless reader, to accept payments effectively using your POS terminal machine or lease POS system. Signing Up for Square Account To sign up for a Square account, you’ll need to visit the Square website and click the “Get Started” button before filling in your personal information, like your email and password. The registration process usually takes about ten minutes, and it’s important to select the correct merchant type to prevent any fund holds. Once you’ve completed the sign-up, make sure to verify your email address and provide accurate business information in your account settings for proper customer receipts. Account Registration Process Registering for a Square account involves a straightforward process that typically takes around ten minutes to complete. Start by visiting squareup.com and clicking the “Get Started” button. You’ll need to fill in your personal information and choose a merchant type, like Individual or Business. Providing a business name is vital for customer recognition. After submitting your information, verify your email address and agree to Square’s terms and conditions. This sets up your account for using Square’s POS checkout system. Linking a verified bank account is important for transferring sales funds, and this verification can take from one hour to two days. If you need help, you can skip steps and reach out to Square support. Required Business Information When signing up for a Square account, you’ll need to provide specific business information that guarantees your account operates smoothly and complies with regulations. Start by entering your name, address, and email, similar to creating an email account. Selecting the appropriate business structure is essential, as it affects compliance and accuracy. Specify your merchant type, whether you’re an individual or a business, to prevent fund holds and confirm proper functionality. You’ll also need to provide a business name for customer recognition, which can be changed later in the Square Dashboard. Furthermore, federal law requires identity verification, so be prepared to submit the last four digits of your Social Security Number to complete the setup for your virtual point of sale. Connecting Your Bank Account Connecting your bank account to your Square account is an important step for ensuring smooth transactions and timely fund transfers from your sales. To set this up, provide accurate bank account information and verification credentials. You’ll need to link a transactional Bank of America account that allows both transfers and withdrawals to receive your sales funds. After selecting a deposit method—instant, next business day, or same-day for a fee—you’ll verify your bank account through a small charge. Monitoring the verification status is significant, as it may take up to four business days for your bank account to be fully linked and ready for transactions. This secure connection is crucial for efficient fund transfers. Choosing and Setting Up a Card Reader To effectively manage payments in your business, selecting and setting up the right card reader is essential. You can choose between a free magstripe card reader for basic transactions or invest in a $50 wireless reader that supports tap-and-chip payments for advanced processing. If you have an iPhone 11 or newer, you can use Square’s Tap to Pay feature for contactless payments without needing a separate reader. To set up your card reader, follow these steps: Access the settings in the Square Point of Sale app. Select “Card Readers” and follow the pairing instructions. Check the Square Dashboard regularly to monitor your reader’s status. If your reader hasn’t arrived, process payments manually or send a Square Invoice. Downloading the Square POS App Downloading the Square Point of Sale app is a straightforward process that can greatly improve your ability to manage transactions for your business. To begin, access the app store relevant to your device—either the Apple App Store for iOS or the Google Play Store for Android. Once there, search for Square Point of Sale and select the app to initiate the installation. Before downloading, verify your device is compatible, as the app is designed for mobile use. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. After the app is installed, open it and log in with your Square credentials. This will enable you to start processing transactions efficiently, enhancing your overall business management. Setting Up Your Inventory Setting up your inventory in Square Point of Sale is essential for effective business management and can be accomplished in just a few steps. Start by entering product details through the Square Dashboard or mobile app. You can add items with specific details, ensuring thorough tracking. Here are some key features to take into account: Add product name, description, price, and SKU for each item. Set low stock alerts to notify you when inventory falls below a certain level. Utilize bulk uploading through CSV files for large inventories, saving time. Easily edit or delete items later in the Square Dashboard to adapt to your business needs. Syncing Your Card Reader Syncing your card reader with the Square Point of Sale app is crucial for processing transactions seamlessly. Start by ensuring your card reader is charged and energized, as a low battery can disrupt the connection process. Open the app, tap the three lines in the top left corner, select “Settings,” and then tap “Card Readers” to initiate syncing. If the card reader isn’t automatically detected, you can still process payments by choosing “Manual Entry” within the app. To maintain peak performance, keep your card reader’s firmware updated through the Square app, as updates improve connectivity and processing capabilities. Should you face any issues, consult Square’s support resources or community forums for troubleshooting tips customized to your card reader model. Processing Payments With Square When you process payments with Square, you’ll have access to various payment methods, such as credit and debit cards, contactless options, and digital gift cards. Start by linking your bank account and downloading the Square Point of Sale app on your mobile device, then use a compatible card reader for efficient transaction processing. Remember to factor in the standard processing fee of 2.6% plus 10 cents for each card transaction as you set your pricing strategy. Payment Methods Overview Square Point of Sale (POS) provides a versatile platform for businesses to process various payment methods, ensuring customers have convenient options. You can accept a range of payments, making transactions smooth and easy for everyone involved. Major credit and debit cards Contactless payments Gift cards Bitcoin To process in-person payments, you’ll need a compatible card reader, such as the free magstripe reader or the $50 wireless reader. For online transactions, Square’s virtual terminal, invoices, and online store support payments without extra fees. Keep in mind that a standard processing fee of 2.6% + 10 cents applies to each card transaction, regardless of the payment method used. Transaction Processing Steps To successfully process a payment with Square, start by ensuring you have the Square Point of Sale app installed on your device and that your card reader is properly connected. Next, enter the transaction amount in the app or select the item from your inventory, then tap the “Checkout” button to move forward. Your customers can pay using multiple methods, including credit/debit cards, digital wallets, and contactless options, which gives them flexibility. After accepting the payment, they’ll have the option to receive their receipt via email or text, enhancing their checkout experience. Sending Invoices Through Square Sending invoices through Square is a straightforward process that can improve your business’s efficiency and professionalism. To get started, navigate to the Square Dashboard and select the “Invoicing” option. Here, you can create a new invoice by entering customer details and itemized charges. Consider the following features: Customize your invoices by adding your business logo and changing colors. Send invoices directly via email or SMS for convenience. Track invoice status, including sent, viewed, and paid, right in the Dashboard. Set up recurring invoices for regular customers to simplify billing. Customizing Your Square Experience Customizing your Square experience can greatly improve your business operations and customer interactions. Start by accessing the app settings to rearrange items, add shortcuts, and hide irrelevant features, streamlining your workflow. Next, create and manage an item library in the Square Dashboard to showcase your products, complete with descriptions, prices, and images, enhancing the customer experience. Consider utilizing the “Sell Online” feature to set up an online store that integrates seamlessly with your POS, ensuring brand consistency across platforms. Furthermore, take advantage of Square’s marketing tools by launching email and text campaigns to engage customers and cultivate loyalty. Finally, regularly review customer feedback through digital receipts to inform adjustments in your offerings and improve service strategies. Frequently Asked Questions How to Use Square Point of Sale? To use Square Point of Sale, start by downloading the app from your device’s app store and create a free account with your personal and business details. Next, link a verified bank account for fund deposits, choosing your preferred deposit speed. Set up your inventory within the app or dashboard, then connect a compatible card reader for processing payments. Explore additional features like customer management and online store creation to optimize your business operations. How Do You Use Square for Beginners? To use Square as a beginner, start by signing up for a free account online or via the app, which takes about ten minutes. Next, link a verified bank account for transfers. Download the Square Point of Sale app to process payments and manage your sales. You can set up your inventory by adding items through the app, and utilize customer management tools to improve your marketing strategies and relationships. How Do You Use a Square Reader Step by Step? To use a Square Reader, start by downloading the Square Point of Sale app and logging in. Connect your reader through the app’s settings by pairing it via Bluetooth or plugging in the magstripe reader. Make certain it’s charged or connected. Enter the sale amount, choose the payment method, then swipe, tap, or insert the card. Finally, ask the customer for their receipt preference, and check your transaction history for confirmation. What Are the Steps in the Process of Point of Sale? To effectively use a point of sale (POS) system, you start by signing up for an account, which typically takes about ten minutes. Next, link a verified bank account for fund transfers. Choose a card reader that suits your needs, like a free magstripe or a wireless option. After that, set up inventory management through the dashboard or app. Finally, once everything’s configured, you can begin processing sales with various payment methods. Conclusion In summary, using Square Point of Sale simplifies payment processing and improves customer interactions. By signing up for an account, connecting your bank, and setting up a compatible card reader, you can efficiently manage transactions. The Square POS app allows you to process payments and send invoices seamlessly. Customizing your experience further tailors the platform to meet your business needs. With these steps, you’ll be well-equipped to optimize your operations and enhance customer satisfaction. Image Via Envato This article, "How to Use Square Point of Sale – A Step-by-Step Guide" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Along the White House’s West Wing Colonnade, portraits of every U.S. president since George Washington hang side-by-side in gilded frames. Every president, that is, except Joe Biden, whose visage has been swapped for an image of an autopen. The new portrait display was unveiled on September 24, when the White House posted images of the updated West Wing to X. The post included a header image zoomed in on Biden’s spot in the lineup, which shows a black-and-white image of an autopen signing the words “Joseph R Biden Jr.” It’s in reference to a controversy, ignited earlier this year by members of the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, who claimed that Biden’s team signed several important documents with an autopen due to the former President’s alleged “cognitive decline.” Throughout his second term, President The President has repeatedly used art inside the White House to meticulously edit his personal image, trading in convention to airbrush his own legacy in real time. However, this seems to be the first time that the President has moved beyond primping his own portraits to actively disparaging his political adversaries through his home decor. Why has Biden’s portrait been replaced with an autopen? The President’s choice to replace Biden’s portrait with an image of an autopen is likely a move intended to insult his predecessor on an international stage. The image refers to a controversy that cropped up back in March. At the time, The President declared via social media that some of Biden’s presidential pardons, including members of the January 6 Committee, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and members of Biden’s family beyond his son Hunter, were void because they were signed by an autopen device. The accusation came despite the fact that autopens, which are robotic devices used to duplicate signatures, have been used in the White House since Harry Truman. The President himself likely used an autopen during his first term. A Republican committee, led by U.S. Representative James Comer, is currently investigating the idea that the autopen was used as a “cover-up” for Biden’s cognitive decline. Regardless of what the committee may find, the concept of a current President using the very walls of the White House as a canvas to target a former President is essentially unheard of. For The President, though, it’s reflective of a broader pattern. Why this represents a concerning escalation Immediately after taking office in January, The President foreshadowed how he planned to rebrand his image during his second term through the reveal of his official portrait. The President chose to scrap all previous conventions around presidential portraiture—like genial expressions and down-to-earth posing—instead choosing to model his headshot after his mugshot. Since then, the President has embarked on a months-long campaign to adopt a sterner, darker personal brand that aligns with his desired image of control. In February, reporters spotted a framed image of a New York Post magazine spotlighting The President’s mugshot posted just outside the Oval Office. That same month, his administration took down a minimalist portrait of former president Barack Obama in the East Room for a pop-art painting of President The President raising his fist after the assassination attempt last year on the campaign trail. In April, a portrait of The President’s face featuring a superimposed American flag appeared between a portrait of Hillary Clinton and Nancy Reagan. In May, a painting of The President edited together with Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan showed up in the West Wing. And in August, deputy assistant to the President Sebastian Gorka took to X to share another new painting of The President walking through a line of American flags with his coat billowing behind him, alongside the caption: “One of the new @WhiteHouse paintings of President @realDonaldThe President. More to come.” Outside of art, The President is also making several more permanent changes to the White House itself. Currently, the President is in the process of redesigning the White House’s Rose Garden in the image of his Mar-a-Lago resort and imposing his opulent, Rococo-inspired design aesthetic on a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom. In a move that almost feels closer to parody than reality, the The President administration also recently announced plans to convert the White House’s South Lawn into a UFC arena for a 2026 match. All of these aesthetic decisions point back to The President’s general attitude around the White House: that it is less a historical site, and more a stage for his own personal ends—whether that means molding the building to his narrow view of “good” architecture, or using its decor to squeeze in a last jab at Biden. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding Lifehacker as a preferred source for tech news. The original Beats Studio Buds may not be the brand’s latest or most advanced earbuds, but they are still a crowdpleaser—and a more budget-friendly alternative to newer generations. Currently, they’re an even better buy on Amazon, as they're 47% off, their lowest price ever according to price tracking tools. Beats Studio Buds $79.95 at Amazon $149.95 Save $70.00 Get Deal Get Deal $79.95 at Amazon $149.95 Save $70.00 These buds offer decent active noise cancellation (although unlike pricier alternatives, they only use a fixed filter rather than adaptive ANC), easy-to-use on-ear controls, punchy bass, and balanced and crisp highs—strong performance at an $80 price point. The earbuds also feature iOS integration and one-touch pairing with both Android and iOS. Most users find the fit comfortable, although this PCMag review notes that since they are on the smaller side and have a slick surface, they can be a little tricky to place in your ears. However, once they’re in, they remain secure, and the inclusion of three different eartip sizes lets you customize the experience. They carry an IPX4 water-resistance rating, so while they can’t be submerged or held under running water, they can withstand light rain and sweat. The battery life is decent—up to five hours when noise cancellation is on, and eight hours when it’s off, plus up to an extra 16 hours from the charging case. If you don’t need high-end noise cancellation but still want a pair of reliable earbuds that deliver major bass, decent ANC, and a price point well under $100 price point, the Beats Studio Buds offer a great blend of quality and affordability. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $199.00 (List Price $249.00) Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge 256GB Unlocked AI Phone (Titanium JetBlack) — $699.99 (List Price $1,099.99) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Roku Streaming Stick Plus — $29.00 (List Price $39.99) Blink Mini 2 1080p Indoor Security Camera (2-Pack, White) — $34.99 (List Price $69.99) Ring Battery Doorbell Plus — $79.99 (List Price $149.99) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $34.99 (List Price $69.99) Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen, 2-pack, White) — $49.98 (List Price $79.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Google updates Gemini 2.5 Flash with clearer step-by-step help, more structured responses, and stronger image understanding, now live in the Gemini app. The post Gemini 2.5 Flash Update: Clearer Answers, Better Image Understanding appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Most people do not put New York City and golf together, nor do they consider the game to be a team sport. The 2025 Ryder Cup is challenging these views. The competition will be held just outside of the Big Apple at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course in Farmingdale, New York. From Friday, September 26, through Sunday, September 28, 12 Americans and 12 European men will go head-to-head. Let’s take a look at the history and format before covering how to tune in for every stroke and birdie. The history of the Ryder Cup The Ryder Cup is named after its patron, Sam Ryder, a British businessman and golf enthusiast. He fell in love with the sport after taking it up to help him recover from an illness and wanted to help the game gain international acclaim. The first official event took place in 1927 at the Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts. Originally, the competition was just between American and British men, with the United States taking home the first trophy. American team captain Walter Hagen led the Americans to prevail over Great Britain under Ted Ray’s leadership. The Americans dominated the early years of the competition, so in 1979, Great Britain’s team began allowing other Europeans to eventually even the playing field. The Americans still have the upper hand, with 27 wins to Europe’s 15. The format of the Ryder Cup The competition takes place every two years. The teams play 28 matches total, with each match being worth one point. The first team to 14.5 wins. In the event of a tie, the defending champion keeps the cup. The first two days are team-based play in foursomes and four-balls formats. In foursomes play, two players from each team join forces and share a ball, alternating shots. The lowest score wins the hole. Four-balls play is similar, but each team member uses their own ball and the lowest of the two scores counts for the team. The team with the lowest score wins the hole. The third day of competition is much simpler. There are singles matches with players facing off, one-on-one. Who is playing in the 2025 Ryder Cup? There are two ways to make the American or European teams. The first six players automatically qualify based on past performance and rankings. The next six are picked by team captains. Keegan Bradley, while not playing himself, will oversee the Americans. He named Sam Burns, Patrick Cantlay, Ben Griffin, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, and Cameron Young. They will join Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English, and Bryson DeChambeau. This year, the Americans have an extra incentive to participate. They will be awarded $500,000 each for their efforts, with $300,000 going toward charity and the players walking away with a $200,000 stipend. The Europeans do not have this payday and are in it for bragging rights. Luke Donald is the team captain on the European side. Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Rasmus Højgaard, and Tyrrell Hatton automatically qualified. They will be joined by Shane Lowry, Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick, Jon Rahm, Sepp Straka, and Ludvig Åberg, who were appointed by Donald. How to watch the 2025 Ryder Cup There are many ways to catch all the action. For the visually minded, the drama will be spread out on multiple television networks. The opening ceremonies will be broadcast on the Golf Channel on Thursday, September 25, from 4 to 7 p.m. ET. The following day, the USA Network gets the honors, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. NBC will air the final two days of competition. On Saturday, the action takes place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. On Sunday, you can sleep in, because the coverage goes from noon to 6 p.m. ET. Those who prefer radio can tune in to Ryder Cup Radio on SiriusXM during the same broadcast hours as the televised versions. Cord-cutters can see some selective matches on RyderCup.com, the Ryder Cup app, and NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service. If you just can’t get enough coverage, Peacock will have a morning pre-show hosted by SNL‘s Colin Jost. View the full article

Amazon reached a $2.5 billion settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Thursday over whether the e-commerce giant used “deceptive methods” to sign up consumers for Prime subscriptions, then made it “exceedingly difficult” to cancel. The agency argued Amazon enrolled millions of customers in Prime subscriptions without their consent, and knowingly made it difficult for consumers to get out of the agreement. That settlement, which comes just three days into the civil trial in federal court in Seattle, included a whopping $1 billion civil penalty, the highest in history, and a $1.5 billion fund to refund Prime users harmed by the deceptive enrollment practices. The e-commerce giant must also create an easier way for users to cancel, which includes modifying its interface, and “cease unlawful enrollment and cancellation practices.” “Today, we are putting billions of dollars back into Americans’ pockets, and making sure Amazon never does this again,” FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson said in a statement. The FTC case charged Amazon and several company executives with knowingly misleading millions of consumers into enrolling in Prime, violating the FTC Act and the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA). Documents in the lead-up to trial were cited to show Amazon executives and employees “knowingly discussed these unlawful enrollment and cancellation issues”—making comments such as, “subscription driving is a bit of a shady world,” and stating that leading consumers to unwanted subscriptions is “an unspoken cancer.” Amazon did not admit to or deny the FTC’s allegations about misleading customers in the settlement, and told Fast Company in a statement: “We work incredibly hard to make it clear and simple for customers to both sign up or cancel their Prime membership, and to offer substantial value for our many millions of loyal Prime members around the world.” Amazon also said it will “move forward and focus on innovating for customers” following the settlement. Industry experts react Reactions to the settlement have been mixed. “After defrauding tens of millions of people with an intentionally labyrinthine cancellation process, the FTC is allowing Amazon and its executives to walk away scot-free,” said Nidhi Hegde, executive director of the American Economic Liberties Project, a non-profit that advocates for corporate accountability legislation. “That double standard is why so many Americans have lost faith in this administration’s willingness to hold corporate lawbreakers accountable.” Others said the settlement may have made Prime easier to cancel, but the program will continue to remain in many American households. “The settlement with the FTC may streamline Prime’s cancellation process, but it won’t dent the program’s dominance,” Emarketer analyst Zak Stambor told Fast Company. “Prime brought in $44 billion in subscription revenue last year alone—so the payout represents just 5.6% of that total. With more than 200 million global members, including three-quarters of U.S. households, Prime is the backbone of Amazon’s business model.” Meanwhile, some consumer watchdog groups were pleased by the settlement, and called on the FTC to resurrect “click-to-cancel” rules to make it easier to cancel auto-renewing agreements such as streaming subscriptions and gym memberships. “This is a great day for consumers—not just Amazon customers, but everyone who gets roped into any kind of subscription or agreement in questionable ways,” said Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog director at U.S. PIRG Education Fund. “In the meantime, we hope this Amazon settlement sends a strong message to any company operating in ways that could conceivably confuse customers or thwart their efforts to not be customers any more.” View the full article

The Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday said it was extending an order limiting operations at Newark Liberty International Airport through October 24, 2026. The order, which limits the rate of arrivals and departures, follows comments from the New Jersey airport’s operator and airlines on extending flight limits to help address congestion at one of three main airports serving New York City. Newark is a major hub for United Airlines. —Jasper Ward, Reuters View the full article

Despite years of congressional hearings, lawsuits, academic research, whistleblowers and testimony from parents and teenagers about the dangers of Instagram, Meta’s wildly popular app has failed to protect children from harm, with “woefully ineffective” safety measures, according to a new report from former employee and whistleblower Arturo Bejar and four nonprofit groups. Meta’s efforts at addressing teen safety and mental health on its platforms have long been met with criticism that the changes don’t go far enough. Now, the report published Thursday, from Bejar, the Cybersecurity For Democracy at New York University and Northeastern University, the Molly Rose Foundation, Fairplay and ParentsSOS, claims Meta has chosen not to take “real steps” to address safety concerns, “opting instead for splashy headlines about new tools for parents and Instagram Teen Accounts for underage users.” Meta said the report misrepresents its efforts on teen safety. The report evaluated 47 of Meta’s 53 safety features for teens on Instagram, and found that the majority of them are either no longer available or ineffective. Others reduced harm, but came with some “notable limitations,” while only eight tools worked as intended with no limitations. The report’s focus was on Instagram’s design, not content moderation. “This distinction is critical because social media platforms and their defenders often conflate efforts to improve platform design with censorship,” the report says. “However, assessing safety tools and calling out Meta when these tools do not work as promised, has nothing to do with free speech. Holding Meta accountable for deceiving young people and parents about how safe Instagram really is, is not a free speech issue.” Meta called the report “misleading, dangerously speculative” and said it undermines the important conversation about teen safety. “This report repeatedly misrepresents our efforts to empower parents and protect teens, misstating how our safety tools work and how millions of parents and teens are using them today. Teen Accounts lead the industry because they provide automatic safety protections and straightforward parental controls,” Meta said. “The reality is teens who were placed into these protections saw less sensitive content, experienced less unwanted contact, and spent less time on Instagram at night. Parents also have robust tools at their fingertips, from limiting usage to monitoring interactions. We’ll continue improving our tools, and we welcome constructive feedback — but this report is not that.” Meta has not disclosed what percentage of parents use its parental control tools. Such features can be useful for families in which parents are already involved in their child’s online life and activities, but experts say that’s not the reality for many people. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez — who has filed a lawsuit against Meta claiming it fails to protect children from predators — said it is unfortunate that Meta is “doubling down on its efforts to persuade parents and children that Meta’s platforms are safe—rather than making sure that its platforms are actually safe.” The authors created teen test accounts as well as malicious adult and teen accounts that would attempt to interact with these accounts in order to evaluate Instagram’s safeguards. For instance, while Meta has sought to limit adult strangers from contacting underage users on its app, adults can still communicate with minors “through many features that are inherent in Instagram’s design,” the report says. In many cases, adult strangers were recommended to the minor account by Instagram’s features such as reels and “people to follow.” “Most significantly, when a minor experiences unwanted sexual advances or inappropriate contact, Meta’s own product design inexplicably does not include any effective way for the teen to let the company know of the unwanted advance,” the report says. Instagram also pushes its disappearing messages feature to teenagers with an animated reward as an incentive to use it. Disappearing messages can be dangerous for minors and are used for drug sales and grooming, “and leave the minor account with no recourse,” according to the report. Another safety feature, which is supposed to hide or filter out common offensive words and phrases in order to prevent harassment, was also found to be “largely ineffective.” “Grossly offensive and misogynistic phrases were among the terms that we were freely able to send from one Teen Account to another,” the report says. For example, a message that encouraged the recipient to kill themselves — and contained a vulgar term for women — was not filtered and had no warnings applied to it. Meta says the tool was never intended to filter all messages, only message requests. The company expanded its teen accounts on Thursday to users worldwide. As it sought to add safeguards for teens, Meta has also promised it wouldn’t show inappropriate content to teens, such as posts about self-harm, eating disorders or suicide. The report found that its teen avatars were nonetheless recommended age-inappropriate sexual content, including “graphic sexual descriptions, the use of cartoons to describe demeaning sexual acts, and brief displays of nudity.” “We were also algorithmically recommended a range of violent and disturbing content, including Reels of people getting struck by road traffic, falling from heights to their death (with the last frame cut off so as not to see the impact), and people graphically breaking bones,” the report says. In addition, Instagram also recommended a “range of self-harm, self-injury, and body image content” on teen accounts that the report says “would be reasonably likely to result in adverse impacts for young people, including teenagers experiencing poor mental health, or self-harm and suicidal ideation and behaviors.” The report also found that children under 13 — and as young as six — were not only on the platform but were incentivized by Instagram’s algorithm to perform sexualized behavior such as suggestive dances. The authors made several recommendations for Meta to improve teen safety, including regular red-team testing of messaging and blocking controls, providing an “easy, effective, and rewarding way” for teens to report inappropriate conduct or contacts in direct messages and publishing data on teens’ experiences on the app. They also suggest that the recommendations made to a 13-year-old’s teen account should be “reasonably PG-rated,” and Meta should ask kids about their experiences of sensitive content they have been recommended, including “frequency, intensity, and severity.” “Until we see meaningful action, Teen Accounts will remain yet another missed opportunity to protect children from harm, and Instagram will continue to be an unsafe experience for far too many of our teens,” the report says. —Barbara Ortutay, AP technology writer View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source. The fall version of Amazon's Prime Day is approaching fast. Prime "Big Deal Days" will take place from Oct. 7-8., and we'll keep you updated with all the best deals leading up to and all throughout the sale. But before you purchase anything, here's how to set your own prices for Prime Day and every other day. If you're an impulse buyer, you know that shopping events like Prime Day can be bad. Even though we know Amazon is using all kinds of manipulation techniques to get us to buy things we don’t need, it still works, so this year, try setting your own prices and only choosing things you already want to buy. How to “set your own prices” on AmazonYou can’t make Amazon lower its prices at your whim, but you can set up an alert system to let you know if anything you want to buy dips in price enough for it to make sense for you to purchase it. Below is a step-by-step guide to setting your own personal maximum price for any item sold by Amazon: Identify the items you’d like to purchase and throw them into your Amazon wishlist. Make sure your wishlist is set to “public.” Visit the Amazon price-tracking website CamelCamelCamel and make a free account. There are other price-tracking apps and websites that, more or less, do the same thing—Slick Deals, Honey, Keepa, etc.—so check out this overview of the best price-tracking tools if you want to compare them. Spoiler alert, though: CamelCamelCamel wins. Click “import wishlist.” (You’ll have to copy and paste the URL from your Amazon wishlist.) Once you’ve done that, CamelCamelCamel lets you add specific maximum prices (or percentage drops) for everything in your wishlist. Enter the maximum amount you’re willing to pay for each item in your list, and then you can tell it to send you an email when any item’s price drops to your set spending limit. Ignore all the Prime Days hype and wait for the email alert letting you know that your chosen items have become cheap enough for you to buy. Spend Prime Day feeling smug and agree with yourself that you actually are the smartest person alive. Don’t even look at Amazon’s website. Seriously. Well, maybe just for a second. This time you’ll have the willpower to avoid buying another chocolate fountain or a self-stirring mug with “SELF STIRRING MUG” written on the side, right? Right? More ideas for imposing limits on your spendingIf you want to take tech-based shopping guardrails beyond the basic "time to buy" alert system described above, here are some ideas. Block ads: If you're the type of person who responds to online ads, you can block a ton of them with a simple tool or app. Here's our overview of the best ad-blocking software. Track your expenses: Whether you do it with pencil and paper or use an app, seeing how much you're spending can be a powerful motivation to be more thrifty. Budgeting over time can even give you a bit of a surplus, so you can splurge when Prime Day rolls around if you want to. Save up for something: Saving up for something in the future—a vacation, an electric surfboard, whatever—can make it easier to resist spending now. Hit your internal pause button: If you can make a habit of waiting a day or two between thinking "I want those sunglasses" and entering your credit card numbers, you may decide your old sunglasses are just fine. Set up a one-in-one-out system: For everything you buy or acquire, get rid of a similar item (or more!) to make room for it. Knowing something has to go if you hit "buy now" can stop you from making an impulse buy, and following this rule keeps your home less cluttered. Bonus points if you resell an item before getting a similar one. Make money before spending money, and save space while you're at it. Consider professional help: It's normal and common to sometimes have a little difficulty controlling spending, but researchers say about 6% of Americans suffer from compulsive buying disorder which may be part of a larger psychological problem. So if your spending is driving you deep into debt, you're suffering real-world consequences based on your buying habits, or you just feel like shopping might be a problem for you, talk to a professional. Looking for something else? Competing retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, and Target have Prime Day competition sales that are especially useful if you don’t have Amazon Prime. Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Prime Day Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $199.00 (List Price $249.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 10.9" 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Graphite) — $159.00 (List Price $219.99) Blink Mini 2 1080p Indoor Security Camera (2-Pack, White) — $34.99 (List Price $69.99) Blink Outdoor 4 XR + Mini 2 — Wireless and plug-in security cameras, motion detection, extended range. Sync Module XR included — 2 camera system + Mini 2 (Black) — $89.98 (List Price $219.98) Ring Battery Doorbell Plus — $79.99 (List Price $149.99) Ring Alarm 8-Piece Kit with Outdoor Cam Plus, Battery and Ring Battery Doorbell — $239.99 (List Price $449.97) Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen, 2-pack, White) — $49.98 (List Price $79.99) Roku Streaming Stick Plus — $29.00 (List Price $39.99) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $34.99 (List Price $69.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

As the dust settles on a botched logo redesign that turned it into a political and cultural flashpoint this summer, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is no doubt looking to put 2025 behind it. In the meantime, the restaurant company has also trimmed its physical footprint as it looks to 2026. Reporting its fourth-quarter financial results earlier this month, Cracker Barrel revealed the planned closure of 14 Maple Street Biscuit Company locations. That amounts to roughly 21% of its company-owned stores for the fast-casual brand, which Cracker Barrel acquired in 2019 for $36 million. The company is projecting revenue for fiscal 2026 of $3.35 billion to $3.45 billion, and a comparable store traffic decline of 4% to 7%, in part due to the closures. Cracker Barrel also plans to open two new locations for its flagship Cracker Barrel brand during the period. Julie Masino, the restaurant chain’s CEO, addressed the logo controversy in an earnings call on September 17, saying it underscored deeply held feelings and a love for the brand among fans. The company reverted back to its old branding and halted a planned remodeling of some of its restaurants in the wake of intense backlash that followed the logo change. Maple Street Biscuit Company, founded in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2012, largely escaped getting swept up in the negative publicity. The brand has locations mostly centered around the Southeast, Midwest, and Texas. Which Maple Street locations are closing? Cracker Barrel did not provide a list of impacted locations. Although it disclosed the closures as part of its outlook for fiscal 2026, a spokesperson confirmed with Fast Company that the locations it cited have in fact already closed. Based on a Fast Company review of Maple Street’s store locator tool and review websites such as Yelp, the 14 recent store closures span six states, with the most located in Texas. The full list, which Cracker Barrel confirmed, appears below: Florida 2233 Gulf to Bay Blvd Clearwater, FL 33765 7756 113th St N Ste E Seminole, FL 33772 Kentucky 2270 Nicholasville Rd Ste 120 Lexington-Fayette, KY 40503 Ohio 9711 Sawmill Pkwy Ste A Powell, OH 43065 South Carolina 965 Wood Duck Dr Ste 108 Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 1739 Maybank Hwy Ste U Charleston, SC 29412 Tennessee 10837 Hardin Valley Rd Knoxville, TN 37932 Texas 967 Keller Pkwy Keller, TX 76248 4836 Waterview Town Center Dr Ste 300 Richmond, TX 77407 14999 Preston Rd Ste 226 Dallas, TX 75254 3288 Main St Ste 111 Frisco, TX 75034 3040 E FM 544 Ste 400 Wylie, TX 75098 8801 Eldorado Pkwy McKinney, TX 75070 4020 W University Dr, McKinney, TX 75071 A Cracker Barrel spokesperson pointed out that Maple Street Biscuit Company still has more than 50 locations. “We appreciate the continued patronage of the many guests who have dined with Maple Street at these 14 locations over recent years and thank our team members for their passionate dedication to Maple Street and focus on delivering delivered fantastic guest experiences day in and day out,” the spokesperson said. “We hope our loyal guests will continue to dine with us at our many other Maple Street locations.” Shares of Cracker Barrel (NASDAQ: CBRL) are down roughly 5% since its earnings report. The stock has fallen around 30% since late August. View the full article

One option is to lift the restriction for working families, but Labour MPs are pushing for abolition of the contentious policy View the full article

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with: I. Matt Cooke on surrender: “Surrender isn't giving up; it's letting go of the need to control what's never been yours to carry. There's power in releasing the grip. In trusting the process even when you can't see the outcome. You weren't meant to figure it all out; you were meant to feel your way through it. When you surrender, you create space. When you trust, you allow movement. That's where things shift, not through force, but through flow. So, if it feels uncertain right now, that's okay. You're not lost. You're just in the space between. Let go. Lean in. And trust that what's meant for you knows exactly how to find you. So, remember, surrender isn't giving up, it’s allowing in.” Source: Beyond Wanting: The Art of True Manifestation II. William Vanderbloemen on self-awareness: “Being self-aware makes you better at finding solutions. Knowing yourself comes with a guaranteed pinch (or more) of humility, so when a self-aware person is faced with a challenge, they can decenter themselves from the issue. Being self-aware is knowing all about you while knowing that it’s not all about you. Whatever the crisis, the Self-Aware remain even-keeled and committed to the goal. A great summary of how self-awareness can serve you in a crisis is the first few lines of Rudyard Kipling s “If.” It’s all about keeping calm while others are losing their heads.” Source: Be the Unicorn: 12 Data-Driven Habits that Separate the Best Leaders from the Rest * * * Look for these ideas every Thursday on the Leading Blog. Find more ideas on the LeadingThoughts index. * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. View the full article

When you’re tasked with creating a logo, knowing where to start can be overwhelming. The right logo maker can simplify the process and provide you with stunning design options. Several top websites cater to different skill levels and needs, ensuring that you can find the perfect fit. From user-friendly interfaces to advanced customization features, these platforms offer valuable tools. Let’s explore the best logo creation websites that can enhance your brand identity effectively. Key Takeaways Canva offers a vast library of over 8,000 customizable logo templates, ideal for creating stunning designs with ease. Wix Logo Maker automates logo design, making it beginner-friendly while providing personalized customization options for unique branding. Turbologo uses AI to generate tailored logos, offering extensive editing features for a highly personalized design experience. Adobe Express combines powerful customization tools with access to a vast template library, perfect for creating professional-quality logos. Hatchful by Shopify provides a quick and free logo creation process with customizable options, making it excellent for startups seeking stunning designs. Overview of Top Logo Makers When you’re looking to create a logo, comprehending the available tools can streamline the process and help you achieve the best results. Canva is a top choice for its user-friendly interface and extensive library of templates, perfect for both free and premium options, facilitating cheap logo creation. If you’re a beginner, Wix Logo Maker simplifies design by automating the process based on your input. Turbologo utilizes AI to generate logos customized to your business, allowing easy edits afterward. Adobe Express integrates with Creative Cloud, offering a variety of templates and stock images for improved customization. Finally, Hatchful by Shopify focuses on speed, providing quick solutions, though it may not offer detailed customization options. Features to Look for in a Logo Maker Finding the right logo maker can greatly impact your branding efforts. Start by looking for a user-friendly interface that makes navigation easy, especially if you have limited design experience. An apparel logo maker should offer a variety of customizable templates and design elements, allowing you to create a logo that reflects your brand identity. It’s essential to check for high-quality output options in formats like PNG, JPG, SVG, and EPS for versatile use. Extensive branding packages, including business card designs and social media templates, help maintain a cohesive brand presence. Finally, verify the service provides features like lifetime ownership of your logo, unlimited post-purchase changes, and reliable customer support to assist you throughout your branding expedition. Best Overall Logo Maker: Canva Canva stands out as the best overall logo maker thanks to its user-friendly interface, which makes it easy for anyone to navigate, whether you’re a professional designer or just starting out. With an extensive library of templates and customization options, you can create a logo that truly represents your brand. This platform allows you to experiment with different designs and find the perfect look that fits your unique identity. User-Friendly Interface Creating a logo can be a challenging task, especially for those without design experience. Luckily, Canva’s user-friendly interface simplifies the process considerably. As a clothing brand logo creator, you can easily navigate the platform, thanks to its intuitive layout. With drag-and-drop functionality, you can customize your logo by adjusting colors, shapes, and layouts to match your brand vision. Canva provides a vast library of templates, graphics, and fonts, which makes it easy to find elements that resonate with your identity. Once you’re satisfied with your design, you can download high-quality files in various formats like PNG and JPG, ensuring your logo looks great for both web and print applications. It’s a practical tool for any aspiring designer. Extensive Template Library An impressive selection of over 8,000 logo templates awaits you in Canva’s extensive library, making it easy to discover a design that aligns with your brand vision. These templates are crafted by professionals, covering a wide range of industries, including options perfect for a Canva logo maker. You’ll find relevant designs that maintain high quality, ensuring a polished look for your brand. Canva’s user-friendly drag-and-drop interface allows you to modify templates effortlessly, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced designer. Furthermore, you can improve your logo with various shapes, graphics, fonts, and colors. Explore Canva’s library of icons and illustrations to add more visual elements, helping you create a unique logo that truly reflects your brand identity. Customization Options Available When you’re ready to customize your logo, you’ll find that the options available in Canva are both extensive and user-friendly. You can modify shapes, graphics, and frames to create a unique design that reflects your brand identity. Canva offers a vast library of color combinations, or you can adjust them to improve brand recognition. The platform’s drag-and-drop interface makes it easy for anyone, including those creating a clothing logo design free, to tweak logos to their liking. After inputting your brand name and preferences, Canva generates multiple design options, ensuring a wide range of choices. If you opt for a premium subscription, you’ll access additional features like brand kits, streamlining your customization across various projects. Best for Beginners: Wix Logo Maker If you’re just starting out, Wix Logo Maker offers a user-friendly interface that makes logo creation straightforward. You’ll benefit from automated design suggestions customized to your business information, which simplifies the process even more. Plus, the platform provides numerous customization options, allowing you to adjust colors and shapes to create a logo that truly represents your brand. User-Friendly Interface Creating a logo can feel intimidating, especially for beginners without design experience, but Wix Logo Maker simplifies the process. Its user-friendly interface is customized for those who want to create a clothing brand logo generator without hassle. Here’s what you can expect: Automated templates that align with your business name and preferences. Customization options for colors, shapes, and alignments, allowing you to personalize your logo. Quick logo generation, making it ideal for users needing a professional design in a short time. SVG file downloads included in the cheaper plan, enhancing the quality of your logos. With Wix, establishing your brand identity becomes an engaging and straightforward task, ensuring you feel confident in your design choices. Automated Design Suggestions Automated design suggestions can greatly ease the logo creation process for beginners, as they provide customized templates based on your business information and preferences. With Wix Logo Maker, you’ll find an intuitive platform that acts as an excellent logo creator for clothing. It generates templates customized to your specific needs, guaranteeing you don’t have to start from scratch. Although the platform simplifies the design process, it likewise allows for flexibility with features that let you adjust colors, shapes, and object alignments. Plus, you can easily download SVG files in the more affordable plan, making your logo versatile for various applications. Regular updates guarantee you stay current with design trends, enhancing your branding efforts effectively. Customization Options Available When you start using Wix Logo Maker, you’ll quickly discover a wealth of customization options that cater to your specific needs. This platform is designed for beginners, allowing you to create a logo that truly represents your brand. You can easily explore the following features: A variety of free logo design templates to kickstart your project Customizable colors to align with your brand identity Shape adjustments for precise object alignment SVG file availability for versatile use across different platforms With these customization options available, you can guarantee your logo stands out. The intuitive interface requires no design experience, making it easy for anyone to craft professional-looking logos efficiently. Start designing today to reflect your unique brand vision. Best for Customization: Turbologo Turbologo stands out as an excellent choice for anyone seeking customization in logo design. As a logo creation website, it uses AI automation to generate logos customized to your business name, slogan, and industry. Once the initial design is created, you’ll find extensive editing options available. You can resize, change colors, and modify elements to guarantee the logo aligns with your vision. After purchasing your logo for a one-off fee, you’ll have the ability to amend the design for a limited time. Turbologo likewise provides various formats, including high-resolution files suitable for web and print applications. With its user-friendly interface, even those without design experience can create and customize their ideal logo efficiently. Adobe Express: A Powerful Option Adobe Express is a robust option for logo creation, thanks to its user-friendly interface that makes the design process accessible for everyone. You can explore extensive customization options, allowing you to tailor your logo to reflect your brand identity effectively. With a variety of templates and design elements at your fingertips, creating a professional-looking logo becomes a quick and straightforward task. User-Friendly Interface Creating a logo can be a straightforward task, especially with tools that prioritize user experience. Adobe Express stands out as a user-friendly logo creation website, offering a drag-and-drop interface that caters to both beginners and seasoned designers. Here are some key features that improve its usability: Access to thousands of free Adobe Fonts and professional logo templates for easy customization. The ability to upload personal images and assets, adding uniqueness to your logos. High-quality downloads in PNG and JPG formats, suitable for a variety of applications. Real-time collaboration and project-saving in the Brand Kit for consistent branding. With these features, Adobe Express simplifies the logo creation process, ensuring you can design effectively and efficiently. Extensive Customization Options When you want to create a logo that truly reflects your brand, the extensive customization options available can make a significant difference. Adobe Express allows you to experiment with various design variations, styles, and colors to align perfectly with your vision. You can draw your logo online using their user-friendly interface, which includes drag-and-drop editing features. With access to thousands of free Adobe Fonts, you can select typefaces that improve your design. Furthermore, you can personalize your logo by uploading your own images and assets. Real-time collaboration lets your team contribute and refine ideas collectively, ensuring a well-rounded final product. Overall, Adobe Express equips you with the tools needed for effective logo customization. Hatchful by Shopify: Quick Logo Creation Hatchful by Shopify offers a streamlined approach to logo creation, allowing you to design a professional logo in just a few minutes. This logo creation website is perfect for those who want quick results without sacrificing quality. Simply enter your business name and select your industry, and the platform generates customized logo suggestions. Key features include: A user-friendly interface that’s accessible for everyone, regardless of design experience Customizable options for colors, fonts, and layouts to match your brand identity A variety of logo styles and templates to choose from High-resolution downloads suitable for both digital and print use Best of all, Hatchful is free, making it an economical choice for startups and small businesses. Looka Logo Maker: A User-Friendly Experience Looka Logo Maker simplifies the logo design process by utilizing AI-driven algorithms that tailor logos to your business name and industry. As a user, you’ll find extensive customization options, allowing you to resize, alter colors, and adjust layouts to perfectly match your brand’s vision. With a one-time fee per logo, you can download high-quality files in multiple formats, including PNG and SVG, suitable for both digital and print use. To access these features, you’ll need to create an account, which streamlines the branding process. Furthermore, Looka offers a thorough branding package, providing extra assets like business cards and social media templates. This makes it an effective logo creation website for establishing a cohesive brand presence. Graphic Design Software as Logo Makers Graphic design software can be an excellent choice for creating logos, especially if you want complete control over the design process. These graphic design software as logo makers offer a range of features suited for both novice and professional designers. Here are some notable options: Xara Designer Pro X: A thorough tool for bitmap and vector graphics, ideal for detailed logo designs. Adobe Illustrator: The industry standard, providing advanced features for precision and customization. Affinity Designer: A cost-effective option with a one-time purchase, perfect for those avoiding subscriptions. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite: Includes multiple applications customized for diverse design tasks, appealing to experienced users. Tips for Creating an Effective Logo When creating an effective logo, it’s essential to begin with a clear comprehension of your brand’s identity. Start by selecting a color palette that reflects your brand’s essence, as colors can evoke specific emotions. Incorporate iconic symbols to create memorable imagery, improving recognition. Design your logo in high-quality formats like PNG for versatility across different platforms. Test your logo in various sizes to guarantee clarity, whether on a business card or billboard. Collaborate with team members for diverse perspectives, which can boost creativity. Here’s a quick guide on how to create a good logo: Step Action Purpose Understand Identity Define your brand’s mission and values Establishes a strong foundation Choose Colors Select colors that resonate with your brand Evokes emotions Design Symbols Use icons that represent your brand Improves memorability Test Formats Check clarity in different sizes Guarantees versatility Collaborate Gather feedback from team members Encourages creative input Frequently Asked Questions Which Website Is Best for Making Logo Design? When you’re looking to make a logo design, consider your needs and skill level. If you want ease of use and a variety of templates, Canva’s a great choice. For beginners, Wix Logo Maker simplifies the process with automated templates. If customization is key, Turbologo offers extensive editing options. For deeper integration with design tools, Adobe Express is ideal. If speed is a priority, Hatchful provides quick solutions, though customization may be limited. How Do I Make My Logo Look Elegant? To make your logo look elegant, choose a minimalist design with clean lines and a limited color palette. Use classic fonts, like serif or script styles, for a timeless appeal. Incorporate subtle details that reflect your brand’s essence, but avoid clutter. Select high-quality file formats, such as PNG with transparent backgrounds, to maintain clarity. Finally, test your logo in various sizes and backgrounds to guarantee its elegance is consistent and recognizable. How to Create an Amazing Logo? To create an amazing logo, start by entering your brand name and selecting a style that reflects your vision. Use online tools like Canva or Adobe Express for their user-friendly features and customizable templates. Incorporate elements that represent your brand’s essence, choosing colors that boost recognition. Finally, make sure your logo is downloadable in high-resolution formats like PNG or SVG for versatility. This approach will help maintain consistency across your branding materials. What Is the Best Logo Design Contest Website? To find the best logo design contest website, consider your specific needs and budget. DesignCrowd offers a wide range of submissions from global designers, whereas 99designs connects you with thousands of professionals. If you want a competitive environment, try LogoTournament, where designers compete for your project. For user-friendly experiences, Hatchwise and Crowdspring provide direct engagement with designers. Evaluate each option to determine which aligns best with your vision and requirements. Conclusion To conclude, choosing the right logo creation website can greatly impact your brand’s identity. Consider your needs, whether it’s ease of use, customization options, or quick designs. Canva is ideal for all-encompassing features, whereas Wix Logo Maker suits beginners. For extensive customization, explore Turbologo, and Hatchful is great for fast results. Remember to focus on clarity and relevance when designing your logo, ensuring it effectively represents your brand’s essence. These platforms provide valuable tools to help you achieve that. Image Via Envato This article, "Best Logo Creation Websites for Stunning Designs" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

When you’re tasked with creating a logo, knowing where to start can be overwhelming. The right logo maker can simplify the process and provide you with stunning design options. Several top websites cater to different skill levels and needs, ensuring that you can find the perfect fit. From user-friendly interfaces to advanced customization features, these platforms offer valuable tools. Let’s explore the best logo creation websites that can enhance your brand identity effectively. Key Takeaways Canva offers a vast library of over 8,000 customizable logo templates, ideal for creating stunning designs with ease. Wix Logo Maker automates logo design, making it beginner-friendly while providing personalized customization options for unique branding. Turbologo uses AI to generate tailored logos, offering extensive editing features for a highly personalized design experience. Adobe Express combines powerful customization tools with access to a vast template library, perfect for creating professional-quality logos. Hatchful by Shopify provides a quick and free logo creation process with customizable options, making it excellent for startups seeking stunning designs. Overview of Top Logo Makers When you’re looking to create a logo, comprehending the available tools can streamline the process and help you achieve the best results. Canva is a top choice for its user-friendly interface and extensive library of templates, perfect for both free and premium options, facilitating cheap logo creation. If you’re a beginner, Wix Logo Maker simplifies design by automating the process based on your input. Turbologo utilizes AI to generate logos customized to your business, allowing easy edits afterward. Adobe Express integrates with Creative Cloud, offering a variety of templates and stock images for improved customization. Finally, Hatchful by Shopify focuses on speed, providing quick solutions, though it may not offer detailed customization options. Features to Look for in a Logo Maker Finding the right logo maker can greatly impact your branding efforts. Start by looking for a user-friendly interface that makes navigation easy, especially if you have limited design experience. An apparel logo maker should offer a variety of customizable templates and design elements, allowing you to create a logo that reflects your brand identity. It’s essential to check for high-quality output options in formats like PNG, JPG, SVG, and EPS for versatile use. Extensive branding packages, including business card designs and social media templates, help maintain a cohesive brand presence. Finally, verify the service provides features like lifetime ownership of your logo, unlimited post-purchase changes, and reliable customer support to assist you throughout your branding expedition. Best Overall Logo Maker: Canva Canva stands out as the best overall logo maker thanks to its user-friendly interface, which makes it easy for anyone to navigate, whether you’re a professional designer or just starting out. With an extensive library of templates and customization options, you can create a logo that truly represents your brand. This platform allows you to experiment with different designs and find the perfect look that fits your unique identity. User-Friendly Interface Creating a logo can be a challenging task, especially for those without design experience. Luckily, Canva’s user-friendly interface simplifies the process considerably. As a clothing brand logo creator, you can easily navigate the platform, thanks to its intuitive layout. With drag-and-drop functionality, you can customize your logo by adjusting colors, shapes, and layouts to match your brand vision. Canva provides a vast library of templates, graphics, and fonts, which makes it easy to find elements that resonate with your identity. Once you’re satisfied with your design, you can download high-quality files in various formats like PNG and JPG, ensuring your logo looks great for both web and print applications. It’s a practical tool for any aspiring designer. Extensive Template Library An impressive selection of over 8,000 logo templates awaits you in Canva’s extensive library, making it easy to discover a design that aligns with your brand vision. These templates are crafted by professionals, covering a wide range of industries, including options perfect for a Canva logo maker. You’ll find relevant designs that maintain high quality, ensuring a polished look for your brand. Canva’s user-friendly drag-and-drop interface allows you to modify templates effortlessly, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced designer. Furthermore, you can improve your logo with various shapes, graphics, fonts, and colors. Explore Canva’s library of icons and illustrations to add more visual elements, helping you create a unique logo that truly reflects your brand identity. Customization Options Available When you’re ready to customize your logo, you’ll find that the options available in Canva are both extensive and user-friendly. You can modify shapes, graphics, and frames to create a unique design that reflects your brand identity. Canva offers a vast library of color combinations, or you can adjust them to improve brand recognition. The platform’s drag-and-drop interface makes it easy for anyone, including those creating a clothing logo design free, to tweak logos to their liking. After inputting your brand name and preferences, Canva generates multiple design options, ensuring a wide range of choices. If you opt for a premium subscription, you’ll access additional features like brand kits, streamlining your customization across various projects. Best for Beginners: Wix Logo Maker If you’re just starting out, Wix Logo Maker offers a user-friendly interface that makes logo creation straightforward. You’ll benefit from automated design suggestions customized to your business information, which simplifies the process even more. Plus, the platform provides numerous customization options, allowing you to adjust colors and shapes to create a logo that truly represents your brand. User-Friendly Interface Creating a logo can feel intimidating, especially for beginners without design experience, but Wix Logo Maker simplifies the process. Its user-friendly interface is customized for those who want to create a clothing brand logo generator without hassle. Here’s what you can expect: Automated templates that align with your business name and preferences. Customization options for colors, shapes, and alignments, allowing you to personalize your logo. Quick logo generation, making it ideal for users needing a professional design in a short time. SVG file downloads included in the cheaper plan, enhancing the quality of your logos. With Wix, establishing your brand identity becomes an engaging and straightforward task, ensuring you feel confident in your design choices. Automated Design Suggestions Automated design suggestions can greatly ease the logo creation process for beginners, as they provide customized templates based on your business information and preferences. With Wix Logo Maker, you’ll find an intuitive platform that acts as an excellent logo creator for clothing. It generates templates customized to your specific needs, guaranteeing you don’t have to start from scratch. Although the platform simplifies the design process, it likewise allows for flexibility with features that let you adjust colors, shapes, and object alignments. Plus, you can easily download SVG files in the more affordable plan, making your logo versatile for various applications. Regular updates guarantee you stay current with design trends, enhancing your branding efforts effectively. Customization Options Available When you start using Wix Logo Maker, you’ll quickly discover a wealth of customization options that cater to your specific needs. This platform is designed for beginners, allowing you to create a logo that truly represents your brand. You can easily explore the following features: A variety of free logo design templates to kickstart your project Customizable colors to align with your brand identity Shape adjustments for precise object alignment SVG file availability for versatile use across different platforms With these customization options available, you can guarantee your logo stands out. The intuitive interface requires no design experience, making it easy for anyone to craft professional-looking logos efficiently. Start designing today to reflect your unique brand vision. Best for Customization: Turbologo Turbologo stands out as an excellent choice for anyone seeking customization in logo design. As a logo creation website, it uses AI automation to generate logos customized to your business name, slogan, and industry. Once the initial design is created, you’ll find extensive editing options available. You can resize, change colors, and modify elements to guarantee the logo aligns with your vision. After purchasing your logo for a one-off fee, you’ll have the ability to amend the design for a limited time. Turbologo likewise provides various formats, including high-resolution files suitable for web and print applications. With its user-friendly interface, even those without design experience can create and customize their ideal logo efficiently. Adobe Express: A Powerful Option Adobe Express is a robust option for logo creation, thanks to its user-friendly interface that makes the design process accessible for everyone. You can explore extensive customization options, allowing you to tailor your logo to reflect your brand identity effectively. With a variety of templates and design elements at your fingertips, creating a professional-looking logo becomes a quick and straightforward task. User-Friendly Interface Creating a logo can be a straightforward task, especially with tools that prioritize user experience. Adobe Express stands out as a user-friendly logo creation website, offering a drag-and-drop interface that caters to both beginners and seasoned designers. Here are some key features that improve its usability: Access to thousands of free Adobe Fonts and professional logo templates for easy customization. The ability to upload personal images and assets, adding uniqueness to your logos. High-quality downloads in PNG and JPG formats, suitable for a variety of applications. Real-time collaboration and project-saving in the Brand Kit for consistent branding. With these features, Adobe Express simplifies the logo creation process, ensuring you can design effectively and efficiently. Extensive Customization Options When you want to create a logo that truly reflects your brand, the extensive customization options available can make a significant difference. Adobe Express allows you to experiment with various design variations, styles, and colors to align perfectly with your vision. You can draw your logo online using their user-friendly interface, which includes drag-and-drop editing features. With access to thousands of free Adobe Fonts, you can select typefaces that improve your design. Furthermore, you can personalize your logo by uploading your own images and assets. Real-time collaboration lets your team contribute and refine ideas collectively, ensuring a well-rounded final product. Overall, Adobe Express equips you with the tools needed for effective logo customization. Hatchful by Shopify: Quick Logo Creation Hatchful by Shopify offers a streamlined approach to logo creation, allowing you to design a professional logo in just a few minutes. This logo creation website is perfect for those who want quick results without sacrificing quality. Simply enter your business name and select your industry, and the platform generates customized logo suggestions. Key features include: A user-friendly interface that’s accessible for everyone, regardless of design experience Customizable options for colors, fonts, and layouts to match your brand identity A variety of logo styles and templates to choose from High-resolution downloads suitable for both digital and print use Best of all, Hatchful is free, making it an economical choice for startups and small businesses. Looka Logo Maker: A User-Friendly Experience Looka Logo Maker simplifies the logo design process by utilizing AI-driven algorithms that tailor logos to your business name and industry. As a user, you’ll find extensive customization options, allowing you to resize, alter colors, and adjust layouts to perfectly match your brand’s vision. With a one-time fee per logo, you can download high-quality files in multiple formats, including PNG and SVG, suitable for both digital and print use. To access these features, you’ll need to create an account, which streamlines the branding process. Furthermore, Looka offers a thorough branding package, providing extra assets like business cards and social media templates. This makes it an effective logo creation website for establishing a cohesive brand presence. Graphic Design Software as Logo Makers Graphic design software can be an excellent choice for creating logos, especially if you want complete control over the design process. These graphic design software as logo makers offer a range of features suited for both novice and professional designers. Here are some notable options: Xara Designer Pro X: A thorough tool for bitmap and vector graphics, ideal for detailed logo designs. Adobe Illustrator: The industry standard, providing advanced features for precision and customization. Affinity Designer: A cost-effective option with a one-time purchase, perfect for those avoiding subscriptions. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite: Includes multiple applications customized for diverse design tasks, appealing to experienced users. Tips for Creating an Effective Logo When creating an effective logo, it’s essential to begin with a clear comprehension of your brand’s identity. Start by selecting a color palette that reflects your brand’s essence, as colors can evoke specific emotions. Incorporate iconic symbols to create memorable imagery, improving recognition. Design your logo in high-quality formats like PNG for versatility across different platforms. Test your logo in various sizes to guarantee clarity, whether on a business card or billboard. Collaborate with team members for diverse perspectives, which can boost creativity. Here’s a quick guide on how to create a good logo: Step Action Purpose Understand Identity Define your brand’s mission and values Establishes a strong foundation Choose Colors Select colors that resonate with your brand Evokes emotions Design Symbols Use icons that represent your brand Improves memorability Test Formats Check clarity in different sizes Guarantees versatility Collaborate Gather feedback from team members Encourages creative input Frequently Asked Questions Which Website Is Best for Making Logo Design? When you’re looking to make a logo design, consider your needs and skill level. If you want ease of use and a variety of templates, Canva’s a great choice. For beginners, Wix Logo Maker simplifies the process with automated templates. If customization is key, Turbologo offers extensive editing options. For deeper integration with design tools, Adobe Express is ideal. If speed is a priority, Hatchful provides quick solutions, though customization may be limited. How Do I Make My Logo Look Elegant? To make your logo look elegant, choose a minimalist design with clean lines and a limited color palette. Use classic fonts, like serif or script styles, for a timeless appeal. Incorporate subtle details that reflect your brand’s essence, but avoid clutter. Select high-quality file formats, such as PNG with transparent backgrounds, to maintain clarity. Finally, test your logo in various sizes and backgrounds to guarantee its elegance is consistent and recognizable. How to Create an Amazing Logo? To create an amazing logo, start by entering your brand name and selecting a style that reflects your vision. Use online tools like Canva or Adobe Express for their user-friendly features and customizable templates. Incorporate elements that represent your brand’s essence, choosing colors that boost recognition. Finally, make sure your logo is downloadable in high-resolution formats like PNG or SVG for versatility. This approach will help maintain consistency across your branding materials. What Is the Best Logo Design Contest Website? To find the best logo design contest website, consider your specific needs and budget. DesignCrowd offers a wide range of submissions from global designers, whereas 99designs connects you with thousands of professionals. If you want a competitive environment, try LogoTournament, where designers compete for your project. For user-friendly experiences, Hatchwise and Crowdspring provide direct engagement with designers. Evaluate each option to determine which aligns best with your vision and requirements. Conclusion To conclude, choosing the right logo creation website can greatly impact your brand’s identity. Consider your needs, whether it’s ease of use, customization options, or quick designs. Canva is ideal for all-encompassing features, whereas Wix Logo Maker suits beginners. For extensive customization, explore Turbologo, and Hatchful is great for fast results. Remember to focus on clarity and relevance when designing your logo, ensuring it effectively represents your brand’s essence. These platforms provide valuable tools to help you achieve that. Image Via Envato This article, "Best Logo Creation Websites for Stunning Designs" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Want to switch to Apple Music because you can’t find your favorite indie band on Spotify? Or maybe you’re on Amazon Music but saw a new subscriber offer on Tidal that’s too good to pass up. There are a variety of reasons to change music providers. But if you’re thinking about it, and you’re worried about losing your library of saved songs and personalized playlists, fear not: there are ways to bring all of it with you. Many music streaming services don’t make it obvious — often burying instructions deep in FAQs and making the process arduous — but they do offer options to help migrate your collection. Apple made it easier last month when it quietly rolled out a new feature allowing users to import libraries from rival sites. Having Apple officially incorporate the feature might give reluctant users the confidence to move. Some pointers to help you along with your musical migration. Importing into Apple Music The iPhone maker recently published a help page to walk users through the process of importing libraries into Apple Music. The feature, buried in your settings, is provided by a third-party service called Songshift. It’s currently available to users in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. To use it, you’ll need an Apple Music account and the latest version of iOS or the Android Apple Music app. On iPhone, go to Settings, then Apps, then Music. Tap “Transfer Music from Other Music Services” to pop up a list of various streaming services. Android users can follow a similar process. Transfers can also be done through a web browser at music.apple.com. After choosing a service, another screen appears, prompting you to log into the target account. Now you get a menu with options to import “All Songs and Albums” as well as “All Playlists.” If you don’t want all your playlists, you can untick the ones you don’t want. However, you can’t pick individual songs and albums. Apple Music will then replicate your library based on your choices. Importing my Spotify library, with about 150 playlists, went fairly smoothly, although the process took about half an hour because the service also downloaded around 1,230 songs and albums to my iPhone. I had assumed that ticking “All Songs and Albums” meant that Apple Music would mirror the handful of music I had downloaded to my Spotify app, but it also downloaded all 63 albums in my Spotify library and the 440 songs on my Liked Songs list, which I normally listen to via streaming. If you don’t want to download everything, unselect that option before you start. Also note that Apple says playlists “created by the music service” can’t be transferred, so I couldn’t bring Spotify-curated lists like This is Taylor Swift or Alternative 80s with me. It also meant that my Liked Songs list, which Spotify generates for every user — and a list I’ve been adding to over the years — couldn’t be replicated. Any downloaded songs were just dumped into Apple Music’s library. After this story was first published, reader Linda Feaster wrote in with a workaround: create your own playlist and then add all the tracks from the Spotify playlist. It could be tedious if there are hundreds of songs but should do the trick. If you’re tempted to try out the tool, note that it probably won’t work the same way with every service. Apple warns that what can be transferred is up to the source platform. Playlists made by others, such as BBC Music’s The Sounds of 1994, for example, did make it over. After the move is done, you’ll have 30 days to review songs that aren’t available or don’t have an exact match in Apple’s catalog, and choose from any alternate versions. Working with other music platforms Most of the other big music streaming platforms offer ways to transfer your library to their site. They mostly rely on standalone third-party services that have been around for a while, are free to use, and don’t need app integration to work. Tidal and Deezer both direct users on their websites to one such service, Tune My Music, which works with popular platforms like Spotify as well as a host of lesser known sites. Amazon Music’s webpage has dedicated buttons for Tune My Music and two similar services, Songshift and Soundiiz. Google also advises third-party services for YouTube Music users who want to import or export playlists, albums, artists and tracks. However, for Apple Music users who want to move to YouTube Music, the process is different. You’ll have to sign in to Apple Music and request a transfer a copy of your data, then export it directly to YouTube Music. “The transfer process may take several hours if you have many playlists,” Google warns on its support page. Spotify says it’s currently testing a way for users to transfer their libraries and expects to provide more details soon. Using a third-party service to migrate between platforms It was super easy to move my Spotify library to Deezer using Tune My Music. I clicked a button on the Deezer website that got the process started by prompting me to log in to my Spotify account. Then a menu came up with pre-ticked options on what I could migrate: my entire library, favorite songs, favorite albums, favorite artists and any or all of my 150 playlists. I decided to move it all over, which amounted to more than 16,359 items. It took about five minutes. Unlike Apple Music, Deezer didn’t download any files, it just copied lists. A few dozen songs went missing, Tune My Music said. “It usually happens because the song doesn’t exist on the new platform, or it’s named a bit differently and couldn’t be matched,” it said, but added that I could download a list of missing tracks to look for them on the new platform. After you finish transferring your music library, don’t forget that it’s still on the original platform and hasn’t been deleted. Most third-party transfer services are free, but also offer premium levels with more features, such as instant syncing of libraries between multiple streaming sites. ____ Is there a tech topic that you think needs explaining? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your suggestions for future editions of One Tech Tip. —Kelvin Chan, AP business writer AP Business Writer James Pollard contributed to this report. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source. The market for fitness bands competing with Whoop is beginning to fill out, and the latest one I’ve gotten my hands on is the Polar Loop. (I recently reviewed Amazfit’s Helio Strap and Garmin’s screenless tracker, which turned out to be a sleep-only specialty device.) My full review of the Polar Loop will have to wait until I have more data, but right away I noticed some significant physical differences between the Polar Loop and its competitors. Below is a size comparison of the Whoop MG (left), the Polar Loop (center), and the Amazfit Helio Strap (right). The three devices are lined up in declining order of both price and size: the Whoop is the smallest and costs anywhere from $199/year to $359/year depending on which tier of membership you choose. The Polar Loop is $199.99 as a one-time purchase with no subscription, and the Amazfit Helio Strap is $99.99, also with no subscription. Left to right: Whoop MG, Polar Loop, Amazfit Helio Strap Credit: Beth Skwarecki I’m not sure if the Loop will be able to justify being double the price of the Helio, at least on functionality (but we’ll see how I feel after I put it through its paces). In its defense, though, I will say it seems that the Polar team put a little more effort into styling than Amazfit did, and in one respect perhaps a bit more than Whoop. The Whoop device only comes in black, although you can cover it with bands of any color. The Polar Loop, meanwhile, comes in black if you buy it with a black or brown strap, and in a pale grayish color if you buy it with the greige strap. Credit: Beth Skwarecki The shiny accent under the band is a nice touch. Like both the Whoop and the Helio, the Polar Loop covers its device with a fabric strap. Its design looks simpler to replicate, though: just thread a 21-millimeter strap through the slots and you have a Polar Loop strap. Meanwhile, the Whoop has its own unique shape of band and clasp (and the current 5.0/MG Whoop takes a different band than the 4.0 generation). The Helio can take any 22-millimeter watch strap, but only if you’re OK with the blank plastic face of the device showing. The third-party strap market looks more promising to me for the Loop than for its competitors. And while Polar probably doesn’t love to think about it that way, I consider plentiful, affordable strap selection to be a plus for any wearable. View the full article