Eliana Willis

Why we like it: While most payment gateways started online, Square began at the counter with a pocket-sized card reader. Over time, it’s grown into a platform that now spans software, banking, and hardware for small businesses.Every so often, I see entrepreneurs who stick with Square for more than one reason. Yes, mostly it’s their payment gateway, but many pair it with Square’s point-of-sale system, which tracks inventory, books appointments, and even rolls out loyalty programs without extra software. Also, with Square, the money you make doesn’t just stop at the checkout. Sales can drop straight into a Square Checking account, savings goals run automatically, and loans show up within minutes when cash flow runs thin. Customers get flexible options like Afterpay through which they can split purchases, while merchants see the money up-front.Also: How Square can create a best-in-class customer experienceIf you’re looking to keep your customers coming back, you can start text-message marketing for just $10 per month to send promos and updates, or launch gift cards where digital ones won’t cost you a thing, and physical packs start at 50 cents each, with starter sets getting delivered in a day.That said, Square only supports eight currencies tied to countries like the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, Japan, Spain and France. This makes Square limited for brands looking to scale their businesses. Likewise, rolling reserves can frustrate sellers who need fast access to funds.Who it’s for: -Cafes, restaurants, and retail stores that benefit from Square’s POS hardware and management tools.-Freelancers and service providers who need to send invoices or accept remote payments easily.-Local merchants who want built-in marketing, loyalty programs, and fast deposits into checking accounts.Who should look elsewhere:-Global businesses that need multi-currency support and international reach.-Enterprises with a high volume of transactions that are looking for the lowest possible processing fees.-Hybrid businesses that cross categories (like a cafe that also sells retail), since Square’s plans can be restrictive.Square features: Hardware choices like handheld readers | Remote payments | Team tools like payroll | Developer APIs | Encryption and fraud prevention More

Many websites now use a content management system (CMS) for backend management. You don’t need to know any coding — such as HTML or CSS — to build or operate a website these days. WordPress is one of the most popular options around, according to W3Techs More

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Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The new flagship iPhone brings two big photography upgrades, in the zoom camera and the front-facing camera The new A19 Pro processor, the N1 chip, and the thermal upgrades combine to rev up performance For the author, this year’s upgrade choice boils down to overcoming a […] More

Logitech Signature Slim Solar+ Keyboard <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Logitech’s Slim Solar keyboard is available now for $99. It’s wireless and light-powered, pairs with three devices at once, and has customizable action keys. It’s ultimately a pretty standard keyboard, and the “laptop-style” design might feel too shallow for some users. –> Follow ZDNET: Add us as […] More

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 are available in Onyx Black and Warm Stone for $799. They excel in the design and sound categories, thanks to their high-quality internal and external build materials Unless you value exceptional details in design and sound, a $799 asking price […] More

What does iOS 26’s Hold Assist do on iPhone? Hold Assist monitors your call while you’re on hold, notifies you when a live person returns, and shows a transcript of what you missed. Meanwhile, Hold Assist Detection is a toggle in the Phone app settings that lets your iPhone automatically detect when you’ve been placed on hold by listening for background music. During these calls, a banner will prompt you to activate Hold Assist. Also: How to clear your iPhone cache (and why you should do it before the iOS 26 update)When I tried it with my partner, he said he heard a beep. After that, when he started speaking, he was told the message was being transcribed. I also tested Hold Assist while on hold with my insurance company and again with my power utility. Both times, I was prompted to enable Hold Assist, did so, and resumed the calls once I got a notification. Neither agent or caller mentioned knowing they’d been on hold, though in one instance I could see in the transcript that the agent was speaking to me to say they were back.Which iPhones support Hold Assist?Hold Assist is available on iPhone 12, iPhone SE (3rd generation), and later models running iOS 26. Is Hold Assist available everywhere? No. It’s available in the US, UK, and Canada in English, along with additional regions. See the full list of supported countries here More