Welcome back to another episode of *Tech News of the Week!* This week, we dive into some fascinating developments in quantum computing, corporate drama at Meta, a potential shake-up in the networking industry, and security vulnerabilities in Apple Silicon chips. Buckle up—it's going to be a wild ride.  

🔬 **Photonics for Quantum Computing**  
Quantum computers are finicky beasts, usually requiring extreme cold to keep their delicate qubits from falling apart. But what if we could use *light* instead? Canadian startup Xanadu is tackling this challenge with its photonic quantum computer, *Aurora*. Their modular system could make quantum computing more scalable and affordable—if they can solve the usual qubit problems. Does this deserve a full episode? Chris, get on it. 😆 https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/01/30/1110672/this-quantum-computer-built-on-server-racks-paves-the-way-to-bigger-machines/

📢 **Zuckerberg Complains About Leaks… in a Leaked Meeting**  
Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, recently expressed frustration that everything he says leaks… in yet another leaked meeting. The irony is thick. Meta’s once-open town halls have turned into tightly controlled sessions, yet the leaks keep coming. Maybe, just maybe, the problem isn’t the employees but the guy in charge? One commenter summed it up best: “pre-divorced sh*tweasel.” https://www.404media.co/zuckerberg-says-everything-i-say-leaks-in-leaked-meeting-audio/

🛑 **DOJ Blocks HPE-Juniper Merger**  
HPE’s $14B acquisition of Juniper Networks has hit a major roadblock. While Europe and the UK gave it the green light, the U.S. Department of Justice stepped in, citing concerns over market consolidation. The WLAN space is already dominated by a few major players, and the DOJ isn’t keen on reducing competition further. Meanwhile, HPE and Juniper insist this merger is "pro-customer"... for reasons. https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/30/hpes_acquisition_juniper/

🔓 **Apple Silicon Chips Have Security Flaws**  
Apple’s M-series chips have been crushing the competition, but they’re not invincible. Researchers found vulnerabilities—SLAP and Flop—that allow sneaky memory access. While these attacks are difficult to pull off, the fact that they’re possible at all is concerning. Apple hasn’t responded yet, but maybe, just maybe, CPUs don’t *need* speculative execution anymore? Just a thought. 🤔 https://predictors.fail

📩 Got thoughts? Want to share expert insight? Hit us up at ChaosLever.com (but no collect calls, please). See you next time! 👋

Welcome to another episode of Chaos Lever, where we take a deep dive into the tech abyss and come out slightly more confused than when we started.

This week, we're talking about the OG of directory services: X.500. Before Active Directory, before LDAP, there was this ambitious yet painfully cumbersome attempt to organize networked systems into a structured directory. Was it elegant? No. Was it practical? Also no. But did it lay the groundwork for everything we use today? Absolutely. Along the way, we uncover just how much of modern networking was cobbled together by people who were just making it up as they went.  

If you've ever wondered why directories matter, or you just enjoy hearing us ramble about obscure tech history, this episode is for you. And don’t worry—this is only part one. We still have Netscape, Microsoft, and a whole mess of bad decisions to cover. So buckle up, enjoy the ride, and remember: if you’re not questioning your life choices by the end of this episode, we haven’t done our job.  

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🔗 **LINKS**  

- https://www.identityfusion.com/blog/the-most-complete-history-of-directory-services-you-will-ever-find 
- https://www.nexor.com/blog/prehistory-of-ldap 
- https://sec.cs.kent.ac.uk/x500book/
- https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/IR/nistir5819.pdf
- https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-X.500

Welcome to this week’s **Tech News of the Week**! 📰 Chris and Ned dive into four fascinating stories from the tech world that made us scratch our heads, laugh, and maybe even fear the AI overlords just a little. Let's break it down:  

✨ TikTok’s Secret Sauce
Want to know how TikTok seems to know you better than you know yourself? We explore a research paper that gives us a peek into TikTok's game-changing algorithm and why it's so eerily accurate. Spoiler: It's all about keeping you glued to your screen. But should it even be legal? Link to the paper here 👉 https://thenewstack.io/what-makes-tiktoks-algorithms-so-effective

⚡ The Stargate Project: AI Meets Texas
OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank are pouring billions into massive AI-focused data centers in Texas. Abilene is set to host one of the first 20 mega-centers, and locals have questions: Where’s all the power and water coming from? Meanwhile, Sam Altman has even bigger dreams (or nightmares) with trillions in investment. AI heaven or AI hell? You decide. Learn more here 👉 https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/21/openai-teams-up-with-softbank-and-oracle-on-50b-data-center-project/

🐑 Openvox: The Puppet Fork That Isn’t a Muppet
Remember Puppet? Well, it's been forked into Openvox after Puppet went proprietary. Openvox is staying open-source, and they’ve promised compatibility with existing Puppet extensions for now. We also go down a rabbit hole of rejected names (like Muppet and P-I-N-P), and Chris reminisces about why he avoided Puppet entirely. Full details here 👉 https://github.com/OpenVoxProject 

🖨️ Bamboo Labs: Locking It Down for Safety? 
Bamboo Labs made waves in the 3D printing world by locking down their printers to secure their cloud services. While some Redditors cried foul, Chris and Ned debate whether this is a practical move or a step toward ecosystem lock-in. Either way, 3D printing drama is alive and well. Read more here 👉https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/bambu-lab-pushes-a-control-system-for-3d-printers-and-boy-did-it-not-go-well/

Be sure to like, subscribe, and tell us what you think in the comments below! 👇 Don’t forget to hit that notification bell so you don’t miss next week’s episode of tech hilarity. See you next time! 🚀

Welcome to the Chaos Lever podcast! In this episode, we're sharing some of our favorite (and most cringe-worthy) disaster recovery stories as Chris and I relive our days in the IT trenches. From accidentally shutting down a whole data center with the push of a button to a missing utility server derailing an entire cloud migration, we’ve seen it all. If you’ve ever wondered how NOT to handle DR or just need a good laugh, you’re in the right place. 😅⚡  

We’ll talk about lessons learned the hard way—like why servers named "util01" are always critical, why you should *actually* test your DR plans, and why a bad backup can ruin your entire week. Whether you’re an IT pro looking for a relatable rant or someone curious about the chaos behind the scenes, you’ll enjoy this wild ride through tech disasters (and recoveries). 💾🔥  

Thanks for hanging out with us and listening to our stories of near-catastrophes and occasional triumphs. If there’s a topic you want us to cover—or if you just want to share your own war stories—hit us up! You made it all the way to the end, so reward yourself with a seat on the couch and a nice, quiet pilot light DR plan. You’ve earned it. 🎙️🛋️  

🎈 Farewell to FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, whose leadership made significant strides in broadband access, net neutrality, and cybersecurity initiatives. Her final acts defended free speech, but concerns loom with her likely successor. https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/headlines/read-jessica-rosenworcels-farewell-message

🤖 Microsoft is cramming AI into everything, but at a cost—literally. With Copilot features now included in subscriptions, expect prices to jump by 40%. Plus, they’re throwing in the Designer app for AI-powered image editing. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/01/16/copilot-is-now-included-in-microsoft-365-personal-and-family/

🔒 The FTC is holding GoDaddy accountable for years of inadequate security measures. A new settlement requires them to implement real safeguards—but no fines yet. If you're a customer, it might be time to explore other options. https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/01/ftc-takes-action-against-godaddy-alleged-lax-data-security-its-website-hosting-services

📉 Stack Overflow usage has plummeted 76% since ChatGPT entered the scene. With fewer quality contributions, the future of community-driven programming help is uncertain. Who will AI steal from next? https://devclass.com/2025/01/08/coding-help-on-stackoverflow-dives-as-ai-assistants-rise/

🌀 Hello, Alleged Humans! This week on Chaos Lever, we return to the fascinating world of cryptography, focusing on the Enigma Machine and its role in World War II. The Enigma Machine was an engineering marvel of its time, used by Germany to encode sensitive military communications. But even the most secure systems can have flaws, and Allied codebreakers—led by brilliant minds like Alan Turing—exploited those weaknesses to gain a decisive edge in the war.  

🎙️ Did you know the Enigma started as a commercially available product? In this episode, we explore its ingenious design, from rotating rotors to complex wiring, and how it became the backbone of German military communication. We also break down how codebreaking innovations, like the Bombe machines, turned what seemed like an unbreakable code into an Allied advantage. It’s a story of brilliance, determination, and, yes, a fair bit of German overconfidence.  

💡 We’re wrapping up our series on ciphers with this episode (Part 3!), paving the way for our next chapter: modern encryption and the digital age. Stick around to learn how the work of Bletchley Park laid the foundation for everything from online security to smartphone privacy. If you’re curious about the books we mention or want to try encoding messages yourself, check out the links below!  

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**LINKS**  
📘 Learn about Classical Cryptography: https://www.cipherchallenge.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/A-Book-on-Classical-Cryptography-by-Madness.pdf
🖥️ Try the Enigma Cipher Online: https://cryptii.com/pipes/enigma-machine
🧩Real Example of an Enigma Message From WWII Time Period: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/04/16/fa/0416fa8d3d2a219c96d4761bc00e4241.jpg
📖 Book Recommendation: *The Rose Code* by Kate Quinn:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53914938-the-rose-code 
📕 Book Recommendation: *Codebreaker's Victory*: https://books.google.com/books/about/Codebreakers_Victory.html?id=mhJnAAAAMAAJ

Thanks for listening, Alleged Human! Be sure to like, subscribe, and check back next week for more chaotic tech musings. 🎧

Welcome to this week’s Tech News of the Week! Join us as we break down the most fascinating and sometimes ridiculous tech stories making headlines. Let's dive in! 🎙️

🚨 **Cyber Trust Mark Labels**  
Starting in 2025, new "Cyber Trust Mark" labels will appear on IoT devices, supposedly ensuring better security standards. But will this label actually mean anything, or is it just marketing fluff? Introduced by the FCC in 2023 and overseen by UL Solutions, this program outlines six key security capabilities, like software updates and data protection. Look for this label when buying smart devices in the future! 🔐 Learn more here: https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/07/us-government-set-to-launch-its-cyber-trust-mark-cybersecurity-labeling-program-for-internet-connected-devices-in-2025/

🚗 **Goodyear’s Smart Tires Initiative**  
Forget smart cars—Goodyear says smart *tires* are the future! At CES, they unveiled their Tire Intelligence Platform (Sightline), which monitors tire performance, weather conditions, and driving history to improve vehicle handling. They’re even working on embedding sensors directly into the tires themselves. Looks like your tires may soon know more about the road than you do! 🌧️ Learn more here: https://www.wsj.com/articles/self-driving-cars-dont-do-snow-goodyear-says-the-solution-is-smarter-tires-6ccf0e85

👶 **CES Worst in Show Awards**  
The "Worst in Show" awards are back, calling out the worst tech products in terms of security, privacy, and environmental impact. This year's highlights:  
* 📷 *Least Private:* The Bosch Revell Smart Crib—because who doesn’t want a crib spying on their baby?  
* 🔓 *Least Secure:* TP-Link Archer BE900 Router, flagged for reporting security issues to the Chinese government before telling customers.  
* ❄️ *Worst Overall:* The LG AI Home Inside 2.0 Refrigerator—because apparently knowing what's inside requires AI and an invasion of privacy. Get the full rundown at WorstInShowCES.com! Learn more here: https://www.worstinshowces.com

🌐 **China’s Silent Telecom Cyberattack**  
A chilling report reveals China-backed hackers, Salt Typhoon, infiltrated US wireless networks and political campaigns. The group accessed over a million user accounts through known software vulnerabilities that weren’t patched. No ransoms, no bragging—just quiet, calculated spying for months. The US government is finally urging everyone to adopt end-to-end encryption for calls and texts. Irony, anyone? 🕵️‍♂️ Learn more here: https://www.wsj.com/tech/cybersecurity/typhoon-china-hackers-military-weapons-97d4ef95

That’s all for this week’s tech roundup! Thanks for tuning in—and don’t forget to patch your software. Bye! 👋

Welcome to our 2025 Predictions episode! This week, we dive into the future of tech with bold forecasts on RISC-V, AI advancements, cloud innovations, and the evolving landscape of tech giants. From potential Google breakups to OpenAI's sustainability challenges, we’re covering it all. And yes, things might get a bit chaotic—this *is* Chaos Lever, after all! 🌐💡  

We’ll talk about why RISC-V could disrupt the chip market, whether Microsoft will finally adopt S3 API support, and why the future of WebAssembly could change how cloud services work. Plus, we take a hard look at the future of TikTok in the U.S. and Meta's ongoing legal troubles in the EU. Get ready for hot takes, cautious optimism, and some wishful thinking about what 2025 has in store for tech!  

Stick around to see how your predictions align with ours—and don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments!  

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**LINKS**  
💻 Official Site: https://chaoslever.com

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Tell us—what are your boldest predictions for 2025? Do you think we nailed it or missed the mark? Let us know!

Welcome to another week of tech news! Let’s dive into the biggest stories making waves:  

📢 OpenAI promised a data opt-out tool for creators all the way back in May 2024... and where is it? Nowhere to be found! Despite pledging to let creators keep their work out of AI training, no tool has emerged. Critics argue that opting out shouldn't even be the creator's job—data collection should require explicit consent upfront. And while the online ad industry says, "That would destroy us!" many are saying, "Good." Meanwhile, sketchy companies like RHEI.ai are already trying to pay creators for their content. Suspicious much? LINK: https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/01/openai-failed-to-deliver-the-opt-out-tool-it-promised-by-2025 

🔌 The EU's Common Charger Directive is here! USB-C is now the standard for most wired gadgets sold in the EU—no more digging through piles of mismatched chargers. While laptops have until 2026, most other devices need to comply immediately. Even Apple has bowed to the USB-C mandate. This is a win for anyone tired of juggling countless proprietary cables! Time to responsibly recycle that drawer of tangled cords.  LINK: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/usb-c-is-now-a-legal-requirement-for-most-rechargeable-gadgets-in-europe/

⭐ GitHub’s star system is in trouble! Stars are supposed to highlight popular open-source projects, but millions of fake stars from bot accounts have skewed the system. A recent study found that out of 610 million stars, 4.5 million were fake! There are even websites where you can *buy* stars. If fake reviews can plague Amazon, is it really a surprise that open-source projects are getting hit, too? LINK: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/over-31-million-fake-stars-on-github-projects-used-to-boost-rankings/

💻 Windows 10 isn’t going anywhere! Despite Microsoft’s push for Windows 11, over 62% of users are still sticking with Windows 10—and that number keeps growing. With stricter hardware requirements and user resistance to change, many can’t (or won’t) upgrade. Support for Windows 10 is set to end in October 2025... but will Microsoft extend the deadline, or will they finally give us Windows 12? The clock is ticking. LINK: https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/02/windows_10_grows/

Thanks for joining us—see you next time! 🎙️

🐶 Dogs don’t care about your sleep schedule, and apparently neither does AI, the metaverse, or the global cloud industry. Welcome to our annual Predictions Review Episode, where we celebrate how *mostly wrong* Ned was about everything (as usual) and how Chris continues to coast on vague predictions like an AI-enhanced Nostradamus.  

Here’s what we covered this week:  
🎯 Reviewing bold predictions about cloud revenue, AI lawsuits, and the elusive metaverse  
📈 Why CXL, PCIe 6, and RISC-V didn’t exactly take the world by storm  
🧠 How AI assistant fever continues to sweep the industry despite lawsuits and shady tactics  
👓 The rise and fall of Apple Vision Pro, and whether Facebook's Orion glasses are next  
💡 Who got it right (spoiler: not Ned) and what’s coming in 2025  

Join us for our last episode of 2024 as we laugh, groan, and occasionally pat ourselves on the back. Stick around for some bonus ranting about eggnog.  

Links:

- Nutanix has also struck a new partnership with Dell: https://www.nutanix.com/press-releases/2024/nutanix-and-dell-technologies-collaborate-on-new-joint-solutions
- Fermyon is still trucking along solo and just released version 3 of their Spin open source platform: https://www.fermyon.com/blog/introducing-spin-v3
- Scaleway labs offers RISC-V servers in the cloud: https://labs.scaleway.com/en/em-rv1/

Find show notes and more at https://chaoslever.com and we’ll see you next year for fresh predictions and fresh failures. 🎉