Have you ever wanted to match your nail color to your laptop? Well now you can. Dell has teamed up with world renowned nail lacquer experts OPI to design a new line-up of fashionable yet functional laptop computers. Through their unique partnership, Dell began featuring 26 high-style fashion shades along with their already available color and artwork offerings available as options in the Dell Design Studio.

One of Dell's most popular options for consumer laptops is the choice of color, and by teaming up with OPI they're making even more fun designs available. Beginning in December 2009 in the United States, Dell started offering OPI 20 classic colors plus six Holiday Collection colors including "Dear Santa", "Merry Midnight" and "Smitten with Mittens." The seasonal choices will vary and OPI will also periodically revise its color offerings based on what's most popular. Currently, for the spring season Dell is offering OPI's "Hong Kong" collection.

The OPI color options are available on the Dell Mini, Inspiron and Studio Laptops through the Dell Design Studio. Later, the OPI options will expand to other countries, and select OPI colors will be available at many retailers.

A new study published by Foresight Research in Michigan entitled "2010: Automotive Marketing Return on Investment" details the effectiveness of auto shows. With the Cleveland Auto Show just around the corner (Feb. 27 - March 7), many of the study's findings will be of interest to local dealers and franchise owners.

The study found that 20 percent of new car buyers attended an auto show within 12 months of their purchase, and this number was even higher in areas where auto shows have a much larger presence. In the Midwest region, potential buyer attendance numbers were significantly higher than the national average:

• Chicago - 27%
• Minneapolis - 28%
• Detroit - 35%
• Cleveland - 36%

The influence number increased even more if customers participated in a ride and drive, jumping to 54%.

Researchers compiled data from 8,467 people who either purchased or leased a new vehicle between October 2008 and October 2009. Steve Bruyn, President of Foresight Research, said of the results:

Search Giant to Upgrade Gmail to Add Social Media Tools

Today Google will be unveiling some upgrades to its Gmail program that add social media tools that are similar to what is found on Facebook. In addition, they will incorporate video and photo sharing with Gmail and add a new tool for status updates. Google is holding a press conference later on Tuesday to show off the new features, but it's clear that they are now looking to compete with Facebook.

While Google is still the web's most visited website (173 million in December), Facebook is beginning to close the gap (111.8 million in December). Facebook is the fourth most visited site, and are up 105% over the previous year in terms of visitors.

Google clearly realizes that the future of the web heavily involves social aspects, and is making an effort to become more of a player in this arena. Recently, Google added a new social feature that can in part show "results from people in your social circle." In order to participate in this, users must fill out profile information that lists interests, contacts and friends.

Some analysts and experts have the opinion that these changes are merely adding more bloat to Gmail.

Toyota Motors have announced that they are recalling 133,000 2010 Model Year Prius vehicles and 14,550 Lexus Division 2010 HS 250h. The company says that they need to update the software in the vehicle's anti-lock brake system . Prius cars produced after May 2009 are affected by the recall.

"We're committed to doing everything we can - as fast as we can - to restore consumer trust in Toyota, and these recalls are part of this effort," said Jim Lentz, President and Chief Operating Officer, Toyota Motor Sales. "We regret the inconvenience this recall will cause to Prius and HS 250h owners, and will do our best with the support of our dealers to make sure that it is conducted in the most trouble-free manner possible."

And you thought the football season was over.... The Arena Football One League has announced that the NFL Network will air a "game of the week". SportsBusiness Journal says that the agreement is for one year.

The AF1 features 12 teams including the Cleveland Gladiators. The Gladiators kick off their season on April 3rd against the Arizona Rattlers.

Team LiveCLEVELAND! is the winner of season one, Got City GAME! Cleveland (GCGC). www.gotcitygame.tv Kim Sullivan and Alex Hamberger, representing “Team LiveCLEVELAND!” in the city’s first online game-show, proved they have “City GAME!” by collecting the most combined points and votes.

To win, the contestants gained points by competing in 15 location challenges and CitySmart question/rounds. Then, for 12-weeks viewers in over 700 cities around the globe voted for their favorite team. Voting closed Thursday Feb. 4 at midnight. As winners of GCGC, Kim and Alex win Cleveland for a Year!

The “Cleveland for a Year” prize includes a one year free lease at the newly renovated historic Tremont Place Lofts. There are free sports tickets to the Cleveland Cavalier’s, The Lake Erie Monsters, the Gladiators, the Indians and a VIP Tour of a Browns tailgating party courtesy of Peter Chakerian author of “The Browns Fan’s Tailgating Guide” (Gray and Company). They will go to Concerts at the Q, at the House of Blues and The Grog Shop. They get free movies at

Hungry and low on cash? Denny's is offering free Grand Slam breakfasts today, Tuesday, February 9 from 6am to 2pm. If you're headed out there, be ready to wait. We've heard that the lines are long in some areas.

Denny's did the same promotion last year, and said that in 2009 they gave out more than 2 million free meals. One of the restaurants most popular menu items, the Grand Slam breakfast consists of two eggs, two pancakes, two pieces of bacon and two sausage links.

Time is ticking for golfer Tiger Woods. His wife, Elin Nordegren, has given him six months to save their troubled marriage. After picking her husband up from sex rehab in Mississippi last week, a close friend of Elin's revealed that she is "convinced there is hope for the marriage".

The friend added:

"The doctors told her she shouldn't underestimate Tiger's ability to learn new coping skills and grow as a person. And they say he has made remarkable progress."

The friend added:

"It is so hard for Eli. The reality is there is still a lot of love left for Tiger. That's why she is willing to give him another chance. She would hate herself if she just gave up on him. But one thing is for sure, Elin won't be duped twice."

Woods, 34, had more than a dozen affairs with various women during his marriage to Elin. These all came out after his Thanksgiving Day crash and a story that ran in the National Enquirer.

The used car parts industry does not have a proper market place in these times.

A market place is the meeting point of a business with its customers. It may be physical or virtual. It is a place where customers and businesses go shopping knowing that they will find what they need and at the right price.

What is an effective market place? Is it the store opposite your home or the Wal Mart a few miles away? The fact that you will drive a few miles to the Wal Mart to make your purchases makes it clear which is the effective market place.

Every industry has its own exclusive market place. For example, clothing may be available in a mall or electronic goods in a show room. However, the used car parts industry lacks such a market place.

This industry has great potential. It sells OEM parts at a fraction of the cost of the dealers. Regardless of this potential, if consumers and repair shops do not have a market place available for used car products, they simply won’t buy these. EBay and car--part.com cater to a niche group of customers who have the time and energy for engaging in transactions with them.

The customers who are ignorant or do not have the time will keep on buying OEM parts from dealers while some better informed ones will buy Chinese replicas.