Hello! We are happy to introduce Otto — a people-powered concierge service that migrates your websites, domains and applications to (mt) Media Temple. Otto is fast, easy and we do all the work!

Have you ever wanted to move your domains and websites to (mt), but didn’t want to deal with the hassle and headache? Moving is now easier than ever with our Otto services. You can choose to transfer your domains using our new DomainMover service or you can transfer your website over to (mt) with our popular SiteMover service.

DomainMover Details
With DomainMover, simply give us a few pieces of information, and for $25, we will transfer your domain registrations over to (mt). This new service features our expanded TLD offerings. We now offer the ability to register and transfer four new TLD’s: .me, .co, .biz, and .name, in addition to the .com, .net, .org, and .info we were able to register in the past.

SiteMover Details
Our SiteMover service was introduced in October of last year to great success. SiteMover is a website migration service that allows you to move your site over to (or even from) Media Temple. Today, we are expanding the service to include Joomla and Drupal websites, in addition to WordPress sites.

Visit Otto to learn more.

This is only the beginning of our commitment to offer better support products and services to you, so be sure to keep an eye out on our blog and on our @mediatemple Twitter account.

Today we’re happy to announce that updating your (dv) Dedicated-Virtual Server 4.0 is easier than ever. Starting today, (dv) 4.0 customers can access new Parallels Plesk features with the push of a button and set their servers to apply future updates automatically. Read on to find out more.

The Parallels team has been releasing security updates and new features for their Plesk Control Panel at record pace.  Until now, accessing them required complicated terminal commands that  needed to be repeated for each release. With the Plesk Update button, you can safely and easily patch your Plesk installation with just a few clicks, setting it to automatically update in the future.

We recommend all (dv) 4.0 users take advantage of this opportunity to stay up-to-date by following these step-by-step instructions:

Q: How do I upgrade Plesk?
A: http://kb.mediatemple.net/questions/1916/

Q: How do I keep Plesk up to date?
A: http://kb.mediatemple.net/questions/1929/

Q: Who can access the Plesk update button?
A: (mt) Customers using (dv) 4.0 can log into Plesk and check it out.

Q: I have an older (dv) Dedicated-Virtual. What about me?
A: We would love to help you upgrade your service to a (dv) 4.0 for newer hardware, newer virtualization technology, and give you access to the latest Plesk features. Instructions for using the Plesk Migration Manager can be found here:
http://kb.mediatemple.net/questions/241/Using+the+Plesk+Migration+Manager#dv_40

That’s all for now. Feel free to ask questions here, in the User Forums, or open a support request in the AccountCenter.

Beginning May 15th, 2012, we will begin migrating customers to the current (dv) 4.0 Servers and start the End of Life process for (dv) 3.0 and 3.5. In February 2011, we launched the (dv) 4.0 service, with all new software and Plesk Control Panel. As we make new and exciting updates to the (dv) 4.0, it’s time to upgrade and remove out of date services.

What does this mean to me?

We are encouraging all of our customers to self-migrate to the newer (dv) 4.0. If you decide that you do not want to migrate your own content, we will be performing basic migrations using the Parallels Plesk Migration Manager. For most of our customers, this will be sufficient. However, for all customers with customizations outside of Plesk, it could cause some issues. If you have customized your server, we strongly recommend that you self-migrate.

Want to get the whole story from the mouths of (mt)’ers? Check out this video.

What is different in (dv) 4.0?

For those customers not familiar with the new (dv) 4.0 line, here are some of the new, exciting features in Plesk 10 that were not available on the (dv) 3.0 and 3.5:

• Plesk Web Presence Builder – Build websites and manage your social media presence, all from Plesk!
• SNI Support – Save money by hosting multiple SSL-enabled websites on one IP.
• Plesk Mobile Apps – Manage and monitor your server from your smartphone.
• Better, Faster Scaling – Go from 512MB of RAM to 16G, all from your AccountCenter.

These features, plus updated versions of software make the (dv) 4.0 better than ever for the same price!

When will I be automatically migrated?

Given the number of services to be migrated, we don’t have specific dates to give to everyone. Once your specific server has been scheduled for migration, you will get a notice at least 30 days in advance of your migration date.

How do I migrate?

Migrations can be difficult, but we have put together step-by-step instructions to help you. Also, take a peek at our article on tips for migrating. If you run into any issues, feel free to contact our stellar 24/7 Support Team and we will do our best to help you out!

1. The content speaks to industry leading professionals, who are our clientele.
2. Carsonified consistently produces content-based products that make a difference to web and business professionals.

Future Insights Live brings the entire family of Carsonified events under one Vegas-size roof! We’ve been watching the calendar for this one, and it’s right around the corner. If you work in web, mobile or the enterprise space, this conference is a must-attend affair in 2012.

Not everyone can convince their boss it’s worth attending, so we’re giving you a chance to attend the conference in style.

Enter to win the following:

• A Full Conference Pass
• Airfare
• Six-night stay at the conference hotel.
• Transportation to and from the airport to hotel.
• And last, but not least, an invitation the (mt) VIP Speaker Dinner Series where you will rub elbows with your web heroes.

Enter on our Facebook page. Share with your friends and get ready to win big!

Here’s a quick highlight reel from the (mt) SXSWi 2012 experience. Enjoy!

An (mt) Perspective on SXSWi:

The (mt) Service Lounge!

We’re sending some of our best minds from sales, service and the product team to the SXSWi trade show floor to talk shop with our clients and curious minds alike. Don’t be shy, stop by and see us.

What’s happening at the (mt) Service Lounge?

• Magic memories are being made in our “socially enabled” photo booth.. yes, we said socially enabled.
• (mt) Employees will be helping you with your hosting, domain and email curiosities all day!
• Virb: (mt) Ventures company, Virb, will have their team on-hand introducing you to the easiest way to build an elegant website on the internet.
• Most importantly, we’re giving stuff away! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to win things like VIP passes to the (mt) Closing Party, and great deals hosting, domains, Virb and other great products.

(mt) Media Temple at the Fast Company Grill:

Monday 3/12, 2012

We’re hosting a special event with Fast Company at the Cedar Door for our clients and VIP’s. If you’re interested in meeting with us, tell the world what your big SXSW plan is in the comments here to gain access to this invite only event! (First 20 comments get on the list)

(mt) Media Temple SXSWi Closing Party:

Tuesday 3/13, 2012

What better way to bring one of the biggest tech culture events to a close than with a world class party at Austin’s best venue, Stubbs. This year we’re featuring Superstars Miike Snow, Kasabian and a very special guest. This is an event you don’t want to miss!

Stubb’s BBQ, Tuesday March 13
Doors Open at 8:30
Open Bar, Photo Booths and All the fun you can take. #mtsxsw

If you’re an (mt) client doing something notable at SXSW or just soaking it in, reach out via Twitter or Facebook and we’ll make an effort to give you a digital or physical high five! #mtsxsw

A few months ago, we told you that we were going to remove old versions of PHP on the (gs) Grid-Service and streamline the process to add new versions and security patches as they become available. As of March 31, we will be removing old versions of PHP4 and PHP5, replacing them with the newer, more stable and secure PHP5.3.10.

What does this mean for you?

New and automatic PHP updates help keep your sites secure and up-to-date. For the vast majority of websites, this change will be completely transparent. However, it’s a good idea to log into your AccountCenter and confirm that you are set up to use the latest version of PHP. We have a handy KnowledgeBase article on how to do that here.

If you are using PHP4, your website will probably work under PHP5, but it’s a good idea to change versions and confirm that everything on your site works correctly. Again, for most customers, this will not present a problem. If your application doesn’t work, you should check with the creators to see if they have an upgraded version that will work with PHP5. For help checking, feel free to contact our support team.

Why is PHP4 going away?

PHP4 has been unsupported since 2007. Its last security update was in 2008 and the developers of PHP recommend against using it. For security and stability reasons, it is time to remove it from our systems.

If you have any questions about this or any other aspect of your (mt) Media Temple services, please feel free to contact us.

We’re simplifying email setup!

Good News! We are making email a breeze to set up by introducing a tool that does all the hard work for you. We know that it can sometimes be tedious and complicated to configure your email, especially because email is available on so many different devices and machines. It can also be downright frustrating dealing with things like mail servers and ports. That’s where our new Auto Mail Config Tool can help!

Auto Mail Config Tool: Step 1

Auto Mail Config Tool: Step 2

This new Auto Mail Config Tool automatically configures your email in some of the most popular email clients, like Apple Mail, Thunderbird, Outlook and more. Simply enter your email address in the Tool, choose your email client, and you can be reading and sending emails in minutes.

We’ve also added the ability to set up mail on your iPhone with a text message or QR Code! This will work automatically for all of our (gs) Grid-Service customers, and there’s a simple 1-step process to use the tool on our other hosting products.

If you would rather do the set up yourself or if you need help setting up an email address on your service, feel free to check out one of our helpful KnowledgeBase articles.

As always, if you have any questions, we are here 24/7.

Cowbird allows you to keep a beautiful audio-visual diary of your life, and to collaborate with others in documenting the overarching “sagas” that shape our world today.

Our short-term goal is to pioneer a new form of participatory journalism, grounded in the simple human stories behind major news events. Our long-term goal is to build a public library of human experience, so the knowledge and wisdom we accumulate as individuals may live on as part of the the commons, available for this and future generations to look to for guidance.

2. What were you doing before you started Cowbird?
I spent 2+ years living like a hermit in small cabins in various far-flung corners of the world (Iceland, Oregon, New Mexico, Vermont, California) writing the 145,000+ lines of code that are the basis for Cowbird.

Before that, I lived in Brooklyn, New York, where I made a number of projects like We Feel Fine (a search engine for human emotions), I Want You To Want Me (an exploration of online dating), The Whale Hunt (an unconventional documentary about an Alaskan Eskimo whale hunt), Balloons of Bhutan (a portrait of happiness in the last Himalayan kingdom), and 10×10 (an hourly snapshot of global media coverage).

Starting on my 30th birthday, I began documenting my life with one photo and short story a day.

In one way or another, all my work has been about evolving the art of storytelling.

3. What’s next for Cowbird?
We plan to spend 2012 slowly growing our community of storytellers, keeping very focused on quality and substance.

We really see Cowbird as a soulful oasis within the fast food / shopping mall landscape of the Internet.

We’re trying to create a space on the Web that can foster self-reflection and deeper connection, being a force of compassion in the world.

4. What are your favorite Cowbird stories?
There are so many stories that just take your breath away.
Here are a few of my favorites:

• It’s Cecily, Darling – a woman remembers her sister on the 10th anniversary of her suicide.
• 1000 Words – a man tells the story of his French lover, who he met on Flickr.
• Thank You Taliban – a war photographer marries his girlfriend on a graveyard of Russian tanks in Afghanistan, hours after facing death.
• Frank – a famous pianist keeps playing at age 95.
• That would make it so easy – a young boy on an airplane reflects on his divorced parents.
• Do you ever put them on – a surreal encounter at a holiday party

5. What are three sites you visit daily?
The New York Times, Twitter, Cowbird

6. (mt) Vital Stats
Domain: http://cowbird.com
(mt) Hosting Service: VPS (ve) Server
Years with (mt): 1.5

We’re sending two lucky winners to Austin in true VIP style. Travel and hotel are on us. The best part is you’ll have access to VIP industry events and be treated like a rock star for the duration of the trip.

Enter to win on our Facebook page!

Good luck y’all.

Special thanks to Roxanne Daner for the fantastic artwork.