Wiki time

MediaWiki Logo
MediaWiki Logo

A Wiki is a collaborative website that can be edited by multiple people, usually without having to log in. The encyclopedia Wikipedia is one of the best known wikis.  Ward Cunningham described a wiki as “the simplest online database that could possibly work”.

We’ve recently started a documentation project here at 2020Media. We started out using WordPress, but we’re now trying out a Wiki. WordPress has some advantages like alerting the administrator when comments are made to articles, but the Wiki approach allows us to quickly add new pages and content in the shortest possible time.

As we’re already familiar with Wikipedia (it’s so well ranked on Google it must make the SEO ‘experts’ green with envy) we decided to use the same free software, MediaWiki.

If you’re thinking about a new website, take a look at wikis. 2020Media have hosting plans that are perfect for any wiki website.

Domains consultation

Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

This week 2020Media attended the London ICANN consultation on new top level domain names (gTLDs) at RIBA. The event was well attended, with many people flying from all over Europe and beyond to have their say.

ICANN is seeking people’s views on the introduction of potentially hundreds of new top level domains (.eco, .city, etc) especially with regard to protecting brand names.

Many big brands have resisted the idea of new domains entirely, but having accepted they will happen, are now attempting to ‘reserve’ their names and trademarks so they can’t be registered by anyone apart from themselves.

In recent ccTLD launches, there’s been quite a high price put on domains in the so-called Sunrise period by the registries, and this is something the brands want to avoid.

On the other hand, trademarks exist in classes, they are not global (so Apple Records and Apple Computers can both have trademark on ‘Apple’, in their respective business areas). So if a new domain is launched, why should the man in the street not register apple.eco, providing they don’t start passing themselves off as an Ipod reseller.

How to reset Joomla and WordPress passwords

Joomla

Using any MySQL admin tool, (PHPMyAdmin), run the following query, entering your own choice of password:

UPDATE jos_users SET password = MD5("new-password") WHERE  jos_users.username = "admin"; 

If you’re using a different username to admin, change as appropriate.

If this doesn’t work, try changing jos_users to mos_users.

WordPress

If you know your username and the email account in your profile, you can use the “lost password” function –

If you can’t use this method, here’s how to do it in MySQL.

Using any MySQL admin tool, (PHPMyAdmin), run the following query, entering your own choice of password.

UPDATE wp_users SET user_pass = MD5("new-password") WHERE wp_users.user_login = "admin";

Notes: You must have access to your database. If you don’t, pass these instructions on to someone that does.

New Domains – London Event

ICANN, the top level body responsible for the internet, is holding a consultation in London this July.

The consultations will facilitate on-going discussions with the Internet community regarding workable solutions to some of the outstanding, overarching issues, particularly trademark protection and malicious behavior, on the proposed new tranche of domain name extensions.

All events are free of charge and you can find out more and signup at the ICANN website

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