Happy Birthday, Mr. Edison - In honor of Thomas A. Edison's 159th birthday, we're hosting an open house at Menlo Innovations, 212 N. 4th Ave. in Ann Arbor, Michigan on February 10th, from 9:00-4:00 p.m. (We know his birthday is actually on the 11th, but sometimes even we take a day off!)

We're opening our doors for the day -- feel free to stop in, talk to Rich Sheridan, meet The Frau, stroll through the Factory, watch our teams at work, and help us blow out 159 candles (+ 1 more for good luck) in honor of our inspiration!

The Amazing Karnack, or Joe in the Cube Next Door? – James Surowiecki, author of The Wisdom of Crowds, states that "Market predictions often outperform those of even the best-informed expert".  This site takes that thinking and expands on it exponentially.  By combining elements of the Stock Market with headlines ripped from the daily news, people can bid on what they think is going to happen in the future.  Each person starts out with $20,000 in NewsFutures money, and that number increases or decreases based on trends from other users.  The best part?  The better you can predict what happens, the better odds of you winning actual prizes!

Power Napping – If you've ever thought that naps should be required in the workplace, you're not alone.  Millions have dreamed about it, but one company has gone the extra yard and designed an actual office nap system.  Called Schlafgras (or "sleeping grass"), these funky looking foam stalks provide a perfect nesting place for the sleepy office worker.  From a single module providing a comfy sitting place to an entire "forest" perfect for that 15 minute power nap, Schlafgras is entirely customizable.  Which just goes to show that Germany is light years ahead of the rest of the world in terms of nap technology.

Sorry I'm Late Boss, I Had to Reboot My Car – It may not be flying houses and colonies on Mars, but the 1950's version of the future may still come true, at least as far as cars are concerned.  More and more powerful computers are being installed inside cars, controlling ever increasingly complex functions.  The newest and latest idea comes from Microsoft; known as Blue&Me, the system will initially control the car's audio system, and will allow drivers to access Bluetooth cell phones via the car's audio system, control the audio via voice commands and steering wheel-mounted controls, and have text messages read to them by the car's computer.  In addition, there will be glove compartment USB ports that will allow drivers to expand their cars storage capacity. Want one? Get in line -- the first cars with these upgrades are premiering at the Geneva Auto Show this month.

Let There be Wi-Fi  – There are many people out there today that feel that broadband communication is the electricity of the 21st century, the invention that will change the face of the world over the coming years.  These same people also feel that the United States is quickly being left in the dark.  Over the past few years America's position in Wi-Fi penetration has dropped dramatically from 4th to 16th in the World.  And while 60% of the US doesn't have broadband access because of high cost or limited availability, almost all Japanese citizens can access high-speed internet 10 times faster then what we can get here for only $22 a month.  If the US wants to stay competitive in the world market, they have a lot of catching up to do.

Agile Boot Camp – We had such a great time in January, we’ve decided to do it again in March! Three of Menlo's most popular courses (Agile Explained, HTA 101, and Agile Project Management) are being rolled into a single week -- think you're strong enough to make it to the end? What did the January attendees think about the experience? Well, we hate to blow our own horn, but here are just two testimonials: "This workshop was fascinating and informative. It sparked tons of ideas, and I also made valuable connections with other participants. Highly recommended." and "Easily, this was best class/seminar I've taken. You can apply what you learn at Menlo right away, instead of having to drag through literature and trying to remember what a speaker said weeks/months ago. Go Menlo!" It's enough to make us blush! If you'd like to know what these folks are talking about, register today!

Custom Ringtones – You're sitting in your office, working quietly at your computer, when all of a sudden, the newest Green Day song starts playing on your computer.  No, it's not a glitch in your internet radio.  It's your brand new ringtone for Skype.  Just as you can download songs for your cell phone, now Warner Brothers has teamed with Skype to provide custom ringtones to its ever growing community of VoIP users.  For a small fee, you too could have Madonna belting out, "Where's the Party?"

Menlo's Free Seminar on Software Development Techniques - It's the start of a new year. Before you embark on the next major software development initiative, learn the secrets that can ensure its success. Come to our next free 90 minute "Taste of Success" seminar focused on High-Tech Anthropology^®. Our approach will show you techniques for creating the right software for the right application.  We encourage you to share your software development war stories so we can all learn from them.  See you on February 16!

How Much is Too Much? – You can tell how old a computer user is by asking them what the first storage device they used was.  The younger generation used CDs and DVDs.  Before them was the diskette generation.  The 3" floppies were before that, and the granddaddy's of them all were the punch card users.  Now we may be on the verge of a brand new generation.  Thumbdrives are becoming things of the past.  Now, the big buzz word is Online storage.

Smart ways to Spend a few Days this Winter  - On these cold winter mornings, what better way to warm up then with a nice hot coffee, a warm donut, and a Menlo class? Our new class schedule is out, with everything from our Agile Project Management class to our very own Taste of Success seminars. They're the hottest way to learn the real secrets of software success.

Happy Trails to You...  – Have you ever wondered what the pyramids look like from space?  What about the Eiffel Tower?  Maybe something a little bit more specific, like a super tanker off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, or a corn maze outside of Minneapolis.  The fine people at Google Sightseeing have dedicated their free time to finding cool things on Google Map, so you can go sightseeing without ever leaving your chair.

Need a Speaker for an Upcoming Event? - We love public speaking and are happy to deliver inspiring messages focused on business success with information technology. Call us at (734) 665-1847 to schedule your next event. Look here for our current speaking engagements and a list of some topics that we've spoken about in the past.