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Amazon is pushing Alexa+ upgrades on Prime members – and users aren't happy about it

TechRadar News - Tue, 01/13/2026 - 06:14
If you're an Amazon Prime member in the US, you might find you're getting an automatic upgrade to Alexa+.
Categories: Technology

Minnesota sues over Trump's ICE enforcement. And, SCOTUS hears trans athlete cases

NPR News Headlines - Tue, 01/13/2026 - 06:13

Minnesota officials sued the Trump administration over unconstitutional ICE conduct. And, SCOTUS hears two cases on whether states can bar transgender athletes from women's sports.

(Image credit: John MacDougall)

Categories: News

Elon Musk implores you not to buy a Tesla Roadster if safety is important to you

TechRadar News - Tue, 01/13/2026 - 05:56
Elon Musk warns customers not to buy a Roadster if safety is important in most recent podcast appearance.
Categories: Technology

'Small decisions have long tails' – I asked ChatGPT for my horoscope, and what it told me was surprisingly grounding

TechRadar News - Tue, 01/13/2026 - 05:28
ChatGPT's horoscope led to a surprisingly grounded reflection on the future
Categories: Technology

Hulu has dropped Tell Me Lies season 3 episode 3 a week early — and its shock cliffhanger could be the show's most brutal ending ever

TechRadar News - Tue, 01/13/2026 - 05:26
Surprise! Tell Me Lies season 3 episode 3 is streaming on Hulu a week earlier than expected – and we're now left on the most jaw-dropping cliffhanger in the show's history.
Categories: Technology

Call of Duty might just be about to drop on Nintendo Switch 2 according to a new leak

TechRadar News - Tue, 01/13/2026 - 05:08
A recent leak suggests that the Call of Duty series is set to arrive on Nintendo Switch 2 in the near future.
Categories: Technology

A modern head-fi great is bringing out planar magnetic headphones with huge drivers and an even bigger frequency range — and yet the headband might be the coolest part

TechRadar News - Tue, 01/13/2026 - 05:01
Moondrop's new planar magnetic headphones feature 100mm drivers and a 3D-printed headband
Categories: Technology

Nintendo president says the increasing cost of RAM is 'something we must monitor closely', but says there is no 'immediate impact on earnings' where the Switch 2 is concerned

TechRadar News - Tue, 01/13/2026 - 04:59
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa says the company is monitoring the increase in RAM pricing and memory shortage within the industry, but wouldn't comment on whether the issue could affect the Switch 2 price tag.
Categories: Technology

4 Mistakes You're Likely Making When Brushing With an Electric Toothbrush

CNET News - Tue, 01/13/2026 - 04:55
Just because your toothbrush is electric doesn't mean it does all the work for you.
Categories: Technology

Pining to revisit The Division's snowy New York? You might be in luck as — for some reason — a Definitive Edition appears to be on the way

TechRadar News - Tue, 01/13/2026 - 04:41
The Division Definitive Edition appears to be real, but I'm baffled as to why Ubisoft would even bother, especially with recent performance patches.
Categories: Technology

Have an Irish passport? A botched software update could stop you from traveling

TechRadar News - Tue, 01/13/2026 - 04:34
The Irish passport is one of the strongest, but this botched software update might stop you from traveling.
Categories: Technology

California fire victims say fighting with insurance companies has delayed rebuilding

NPR News Headlines - Tue, 01/13/2026 - 04:30

Wildfires last January destroyed communities around Los Angeles. Homeowners say recovery has been slowed by fights with insurers to get their claims paid.

(Image credit: Josh Edelson)

Categories: News

I've found 16 standing desks under $100 to transform your home office for less

TechRadar News - Tue, 01/13/2026 - 04:26
Save on these height-adjustable desks for your WFH workspace.
Categories: Technology

Workbooks CRM review 2026

TechRadar Reviews - Tue, 01/13/2026 - 04:12

After spending several days exploring its features and capabilities, I've come away impressed with the value Workbooks CRM, a cloud-based platform aimed at midsize businesses, delivers. It is clear that Workbooks is one of the best CRM platforms on the market. This is a fully-integrated CRM solution, not just a collection of modules. It provides tools for sales, marketing, support, order management, and more in a unified interface.

What really sets Workbooks CRM apart is its hands-on approach to implementation and support. The vendor works closely with each customer to tailor the system to their unique needs and provides ongoing consulting to ensure they get the most from the platform.

While it may lack the vast third-party app marketplace you find on platforms such as Salesforce CRM, Workbooks more than makes up for it with attentive service and an extensive feature set at a very competitive price point.

At TechRadar Pro, we recognize that choosing a CRM is one of the most critical infrastructure decisions a business can make. Our experts don't just skim feature lists; we perform hands-on, multi-day testing to see how these platforms perform under pressure.

For our Workbooks review, we navigated the entire user journey - from initial setup and data migration to complex workflow automation and financial reporting. We evaluated its unique approach to see if it truly saves businesses money or simply adds administrative complexity

So, let's dive in and examine the platform in more detail.

Workbooks core capabilities

The Workbooks CRM dashboard is easy to navigate. (Image credit: Workbooks)

Workbooks CRM offers a centralized database for contact management and account administration. I can easily store and organize detailed information about my customers, including their contact details, communication history, and any relevant notes. The system automatically links contacts to their associated accounts, giving me a clear overview of the relationships between individuals and organizations.

It also makes it easy to log all my customer interactions, including emails, calls, meetings and notes. I especially appreciate the ability to restrict access to sensitive notes, ensuring that private information like contracts and agreements stays secure. The platform also excels at mapping relationships between people and organizations, allowing me to visualize my entire business ecosystem, including customers, partners, suppliers, and even competitors.

When it comes to sales, Workbooks offers a comprehensive set of tools for lead and opportunity management. I can capture leads directly from my website using customizable web-to-lead forms, then track the effectiveness of my marketing campaigns by integrating with Google SEO tools. Workbooks automatically routes new leads to the appropriate sales rep and provides a clear view of my entire sales pipeline. Built-in sales forecasting helps me predict revenue and track quotas.

On the customer service side, Workbooks streamlines case management with its ticketing system. When a customer submits an issue, Workbooks automatically creates a ticket, assigns it a reference number, and routes it to the correct team member based on rules I define. I can set priorities based on urgency and monitor SLA compliance to ensure my team is meeting its commitments to customers.

Workbooks comes with a wide array of pre-built reports covering sales activity, pipeline health, forecasting, and more. Dashboards are fully customizable, so I can put the KPIs that matter most to my business front and center. If you need a report that isn't available out of the box, you can easily create your own using Workbooks' reporting wizard. However, I have found the report-building process to be a bit less user-friendly than some other areas of the system.

For employees in the field, Workbooks CRM offers mobile-optimized versions of all its core features, so I'm never out of touch when I'm away from my desk. I can quickly pull up a contact's information, log a call, or update an opportunity from my smartphone. GPS integration allows me to easily log visits to customer sites, and I can even dictate notes via voice recognition. Workbooks CRM has clearly put a lot of thought into empowering users to enjoy maximum productivity wherever they are.

Finally, while Workbooks CRM covers all the essentials quite well, its extensibility is somewhat limited compared to larger players like Salesforce. It doesn't have the same vast ecosystem of pre-built connectors for third-party apps and integrations. This can be a challenge for data-driven enterprises that rely on multiple sources of business intelligence, but smaller organizations should find it suitable for meeting their needs.

How easy it Workbooks to use?

As someone who has used a variety of CRM platforms over the years, I found that Workbooks offers one of the smoothest user experiences in the market. The layout is clean and uncluttered, clearly inspired by the aesthetic flaunted by an earlier generation of Windows PCs. It’s gentle enough for new users to get up and running quickly, while still providing robust features for power users and administrators. I was able to start using basic functions with minimal training, thanks to the logical organization of menus and features.

The platform offers a high degree of flexibility to tailor the CRM to your specific business needs. I was able to easily modify field names, create custom workflows, and build personalized dashboards to track my key metrics. Workbooks also provides an extensive library of templates and configuration options, allowing me to set up the system to mirror my unique sales process.

In terms of onboarding and training, Workbooks offers a wealth of resources to help new users get acquainted with the platform. The company provides detailed documentation, video tutorials, and regular webinars to guide users through the various features and best practices. I found the step-by-step guides particularly helpful when I was first learning to navigate the system.

Workbooks also offers formal training courses, both online and in-person, for those who want a more structured learning experience. These courses cover everything from basic navigation to advanced administrator functions, and include hands-on exercises to reinforce learning. Every trainee receives a comprehensive manual that serves as a valuable reference guide long after the initial training.

Perhaps most impressive is the level of personalized support Workbooks CRM provides during the implementation process. The vendor assigns a dedicated success manager to work closely with each client, providing guidance on configuration, data migration, and user adoption strategies. This white-glove approach ensures a smooth rollout and helps organizations start realizing value from the CRM as quickly as possible.

Workbooks integrations

Out of the box, Workbooks offers pre-built integrations with several popular applications, such as Google Workspace (formerly G Suite), Microsoft 365, and Mailchimp. Setting up these integrations is a breeze, often requiring just a few clicks and minimal configuration. While the number of pre-built integrations available in Workbooks is nowhere near as vast as Salesforce or HubSpot CRM, it’s still enough to serve the needs of most small-to-medium-sized businesses.

For more specialized needs, Workbooks offers a robust API that allows developers to build custom integrations with other systems. The attached API documentation is comprehensive, with detailed descriptions of endpoints, request and response formats, and code samples. For those of us who need to use custom integrations but aren’t comfortable using the API, Workbooks also integrates with iPaaS vendors like Zapier for seamless no-code automation.

Workbooks also has a pretty unique approach to data synchronization. The platform uses a sophisticated conflict resolution system to ensure that data remains consistent across integrated systems. If a record is updated in multiple places, Workbooks CRM intelligently determines which changes should take precedence based on factors like timestamp and user permissions. This gives me confidence that data is always accurate and up-to-date.

In addition, the 2026 version of the Business Edition now features deeper, real-time sync with cloud accounting platforms like Xero and Sage Intacct, further reducing the gap between the sales quote and the final invoice.

CRM integrations can pile up over time, often leading to unnecessary sprawl. That’s why Workbooks CRM offers tools for monitoring and managing integrations using a single dashboard - so you don’t lose track. The Integration Hub allows administrators to view the status of all integrations, monitor sync logs, and troubleshoot issues. This can be incredibly useful for resolving sync errors or performance bottlenecks.

Overall, I've been quite satisfied with Workbooks' integration capabilities. While it may not have the largest ecosystem of third-party integrations, the platform more than makes up for it with its iPaaS integrations, API, and real-time data synchronization features. The integrations I've used so far have performed well, plus there’s always the option to build your own using iPaaS tools or the API.

How good is Workbooks customer support?

In 2024, I was invited to attend a Workbooks customer summit where I had the chance to talk with several businesses that use the Workbooks CRM platform. During this time, a key theme became clear - customers feel that Workbooks goes above and beyond when it comes to supporting them in getting the most from their CRM.

Owain Williams, Editor - CRM & Website Builders

Workbooks offers a comprehensive range of support channels to ensure that users can get help whenever and however they need it. The primary support channel is email, with a dedicated support email address that is monitored during regular business hours. I've found the email support to be highly responsive, with most of my inquiries receiving an initial response within an hour or two.

For more urgent issues, Workbooks also provides telephone support. The support team is available by phone during extended business hours, and I've always found them to be friendly, knowledgeable, and eager to help. On the rare occasions when I've encountered a technical issue with the platform, the support team has worked diligently to diagnose and resolve the problem in a timely manner.

In addition to the live support channels, Workbooks offers a wealth of self-service resources to help users find answers on their own. The online knowledge base is particularly impressive, with a vast library of articles, tutorials, and FAQs covering every aspect of the platform. The articles are well-written, thoroughly illustrated, and frequently updated to reflect the latest features and best practices.

Workbooks also maintains an active user community forum, where users can ask questions, share tips, and learn from each other's experiences. The forum is moderated by Workbooks staff, who often chime in with expert advice and guidance. I've found the community to be a valuable resource for discovering new ways to use the platform and connecting with other users in my industry.

Finally, beyond the usual support channels, every customer is also assigned a dedicated Customer Success Manager who serves as their primary point of contact and advocate within Workbooks. They take the time to understand each customer's unique needs and goals, working closely with them to ensure they are getting the most value from the platform. I really liked this white glove approach to customer service, which is often missing from other small business CRMs.

Workbooks pricing and plans

(Image credit: Workbooks)

Plan

CRM Edition

Business Edition

Events Edition

Price

$43/user/month

$88/user/month

$183/user/month

Best for

Small to medium businesses needing core CRM functionality

Organizations requiring advanced features including order management

Businesses running large scale events

Features

Contact management; Sales pipeline tracking; Marketing automation

CRM Edition features; Order processing; Invoicing & credit notes

Event publishing; Ticket sales; Attendance check in

Limitations

Does not include order management and invoicing capabilities

Higher cost may be prohibitive for smaller businesses

Significant jump in costs to unlock all events tools

Workbooks CRM review: Final verdict

When evaluating a CRM platform, it's crucial to consider not just the raw cost, but the value it delivers relative to that cost. In my experience, Workbooks CRM offers exceptional value for the price, thanks to its flexible pricing model, robust feature set, and generous free trial period.

Unlike many competitors that offer complex tiered pricing or charge separately for different modules, Workbooks has just 3 straightforward plans: CRM, Business, and Events.

CRM Edition

- Best for: Small to mid-sized sales and support teams that need a centralized 360-degree view of their customers without complex back-office requirements.

- What you get: This plan provides the core essentials for managing the customer lifecycle. It includes robust tools for contact and account management, lead tracking, and pipeline management. Beyond just sales, it features a full suite for customer service, including helpdesk ticketing and case management. Users also benefit from Google and Office 365 integrations, basic reporting, and the ability to send professional quotations directly from the platform. It is a streamlined choice for businesses focusing primarily on relationship building and service delivery.

Business Edition

- Best for: Organizations that want to bridge the gap between sales and finance by managing the entire quote-to-cash process within a single system.

- What you get: The Business Edition includes every feature found in the CRM Edition but adds powerful commercial and financial capabilities. This plan allows you to manage orders, generate invoices, track supplier contracts, and issue credit notes - all without leaving the CRM. It is specifically designed to integrate with accounting and ERP software, ensuring that your sales team and finance department are looking at the same real-time data. It is the ideal choice for companies that want to eliminate manual data entry between their CRM and their billing systems.

Events Edition

- Best for: Professional event organizers, trade association managers, and marketing teams that run large-scale seminars, conferences, or exhibitions.

- What you get: This plan includes everything in the Business Edition but adds a comprehensive Event Management layer. You can manage every detail of an event from a single dashboard: venue logistics, speaker sessions, sponsor tracking, and registration management. Crucially, it integrates these events directly into your sales pipeline, so a ticket purchase or booth booking automatically updates the customer's financial record and the salesperson’s opportunity view. It’s designed to eliminate the need for separate, disconnected event platforms like Eventbrite or Cvent.

After thoroughly evaluating Workbooks CRM across 6 key categories, I've come away impressed with the platform's capabilities and value proposition. Workbooks excels in its core CRM functionality, providing robust tools for sales, marketing, and customer service. The platform is intuitive and user-friendly, with extensive customization options to tailor the system to unique business needs.

While the third-party app marketplace is not as extensive as some competitors, Workbooks offers seamless integrations with iPaaS vendors and a flexible API for custom development.

But the most striking takeaway from this review is Workbooks' dedication to customer success. The hands-on implementation support, comprehensive training resources, and responsive ongoing service set Workbooks apart in the CRM market. Coupled with transparent and affordable pricing, Workbooks delivers exceptional value for growing businesses.

With a strong track record of innovation and a clear vision for the future, Workbooks is well-positioned for continued success. For mid-market organizations seeking a full-featured CRM with outstanding support, Workbooks CRM is a no-brainer.

Workbooks CRM FAQWhat core features does Workbooks offer?

As a CRM, Workbooks provides a variety of different features - all those you’ve come to expect from a leading CRM. These include tools for sales teams, such as lead and opportunity management, sales reporting, and forecasting, as well as many others designed to aid marketing, such as campaign management, email marketing integrations, and web-to-lead forms. Workbooks also offers customer service features and functionality to aid in a company’s finances, including order management, invoicing, and contract management.

What implementation options are there for Workbooks?

Workbooks offers various implementation options, including a "SelfStart" option for those who want to configure the system themselves, a "JumpStart" option for sales, and a "Shared Success" approach where their consultants work with you to tailor the system to your needs.

It’s also worth noting that businesses don’t have to stick with a single pricing plan for their users. They can mix and match licenses, having different users on different editions - such as having some on the CRM Edition and others on the Business Edition.

Is there a Workbooks mobile app?

This is something that is particularly important in the age of hybrid work - and Workbooks has businesses covered. Workbooks has a mobile platform that allows users to manage contacts, log calls, and update opportunities on the go. Moreover, a significant UI overhaul in late 2025 has made the platform much more intuitive for field agents, with a "Mobile-First" design that prioritizes voice-to-text logging and geolocation mapping.

Categories: Reviews

'Fly, Wild Swans' is Jung Chang's painfully personal tribute to her mother

NPR News Headlines - Tue, 01/13/2026 - 04:03

A historian of modern China, Jung Chang turns the lens back on herself in her newest book to understand how she sees the world and why she writes about China today.

Categories: News

Trump administration to shutter an immigration court, adding to judges' backlog

NPR News Headlines - Tue, 01/13/2026 - 04:00

The planned closure of the San Francisco Immigration Court comes as immigration judges spent the last year facing pressure to move through their caseloads faster and streamline deportations.

(Image credit: Minh Connors)

Categories: News

What to know about Trump's ugly feud with the Federal Reserve

NPR News Headlines - Tue, 01/13/2026 - 04:00

A Justice Department probe of the Federal Reserve marks the latest escalation in the Trump administration's effort to bend the independent central bank to the president's will.

(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla)

Categories: News

A conservative Supreme Court tackles the question of trans women in school sports

NPR News Headlines - Tue, 01/13/2026 - 04:00












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The first case involves an Idaho student barred by state law from trying out for the track team; the second was brought by a West Virginia middle schooler barred by state law from competing.

(Image credit: Jose Luis Magana)

Categories: News

Trump heads to Detroit to give a speech refocusing on the American economy

NPR News Headlines - Tue, 01/13/2026 - 04:00

The speech at the Detroit Economic Club comes after major foreign policy moves have overshadowed domestic policy.

(Image credit: Alex Wong)

Categories: News

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