Archive for December, 2008
Supersecret Administrator Account For Vista
December 31st, 2008 | 
Author: In versions of Windows before Windows Vista, the Administrator account wasn?t hidden, and many people used it as their main or only account. This Administrator account had full rights over the computer.
In Windows Vista, Microsoft changed that. In Vista, the Administrator account is not subject to UAC, but normal administrator accounts are. So the Administrator can make any changes to the system and will see no UAC prompts.
Turning on the Administrator account is straightforward. First, open an elevated command prompt by typing cmd into the Search box on the Start menu, right-clicking the command prompt icon that appears at the top of the Start menu, then selecting Run as administrator
Then enter this command and press Enter:
CODE
Net user administrator /active:yes
From now on, the Administrator account will appear as an option on the Welcome screen, along with any user accounts you may have set up. Use it like any other account. Be aware that it won?t have a password yet, so it?s a good idea to set a password for it.
If you want to disable the account and hide it, enter this command at an elevated command prompt and press Enter:
CODE
Net user administrator /active:no
Gas tax gaining momentum, or at least air
A gas tax now inevitable
A gas tax is an idea that has been floated around this blog many times over the last few years. My gas tax – really an oil tax – was always a way to help fund credits for more fuel efficient vehicles. Likewise, the tax helps drive investment in non-oil fuels and technologies, while also changing consumer behavior.
Lately, the drumbeat behind a new gas tax has been increasing. MotorTrend, the LATimes, and the New York Times, for instance, have each covered the idea in the last few days.
New gas taxes are coming, but they won’t be used to provide incentives for hybrid cars and other fuel efficient technologies..
Since gas tax revenue helps fund much transportation infrastructure throughout the US, and US drivers have been driving less, already there is a huge budget shortfall. Even worse, before Americans started driving less, most in Congress believed that current gas taxes were not sufficient, which helps explain America’s dilapidated infrastructure. Thus, if Americans continue to drive less, gas taxes are an absolute necessity.
Oddly enough, higher gas taxes will probably lead to even less driving, which will require even greater taxes, while pushing Americans to more fuel efficient, but less profitable, vehicles.
Thus, can US automakers survive such a reality without far more massive cuts than already expected, and without many, many tens of billions more in US aid? Likewise, can America be a real technological leader in the world if we continue to strive for the cheapest gas possible regardless of any other costs?
Posted in Cars, Hybrid Cars | 
Tags: blog, budget, Cars, gasoline, hybrid car, Hybrid Cars, idc, world | 
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A few 2010 Toyota Prius details
Blue man group hypes the Prius
There is a YouTube video featuring the Blue Man Group and the new Toyota Prius. The video isn’t terribly exciting, but if you are wondering what new features the third generation Prius will offer, the video does provide some insight. I think it looks great, but I don’t think Toyota is striving to sell the cheapest hybrid. And, ultimately, the Prius is still about fuel economy, so the EPA’s new rating might be what most are waiting to learn.
My blog has moved! Make sure you update your RSS Reader!
I’ve been meaning to do this for ages but I finally got round to finding sometime over the holidays to move my blog over to it’s own domain name!
I have registered www.mrmobileblog.com which will be the new home for my blog!
Make sure you update your RSS Reader to this new blog as I’ll be posting on there from now on!
The new RSS Feed is here - http://www.mrmobileblog.com/?feed=rss2
UK – mobile broadband and social networking
Orange unveiled its fourth Digital Media Index, a detailed report offering an insight into customer consumption of digital media.
The latest findings reveal a marked increase in mobile data usage, which has almost doubled in the last quarter. This increase follows improvements to devices designed to access mobile data ? from USB dongles to more advanced mobile handsets, all matched with new price plans specifically created to increase mobile internet relevancy to consumers. At the same time, the evolution of social networking to the mobile platform, combined with more effective promotion of on portal content and services, means consumers are now accessing the content they want, quicker and easier than ever before.
Key findings from the summer/autumn report include:
* Dongle subscriptions surge – an increase of 2,139% since January
* 3G customers soar by 86% – with 1.3 million customers added
* Mobile search increases by 30% – while local search increases by 100%
* Social networking takes off – with over 166 million page impressions on average per month
* Music downloads increase by 10% – with September specifically seeing a record 300,000 full tracks downloaded
Figures are in comparison to the third Orange Digital Media Index which covered the three month period from November 07 ? January 08
Paul Jevons, Director of Products, Portals and Services for Orange, said: ?This latest report reflects a transition in mobile similar to what is taking place on the web ? mobile is no longer simply a channel for brands to deliver packaged content in a manner of their choosing. Instead the mobile phone has become a truly interactive channel that fosters the formation of communities through social networking sites such as Facebook and Bebo. It also delivers content that is personally tailored to the individual so customers can access the services they want how and when they want them.?
Posted in Communications |
Tags: consumers, Design, Internet, Mobile, mobile phone, Network, Networking, SOA |
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