In Episode 31 of IT SPARC Cast, John and Lou tackle the latest headline-grabbing topics in tech: Replit’s CEO proclaims “You shouldn’t learn to code,” igniting a fiery debate about AI’s role in the future of software development. Then, they dissect the explosive Signal controversy involving high-ranking U.S. officials—and the security lessons IT pros must take to heart. Also in this episode: the looming electricity and labor shortages threatening data center growth, and Intel’s big pivot under new leadership. It’s a must-listen for IT leaders navigating the evolving tech landscape.

⏱️ Show Notes

🧠 News Bytes

00:57 - Replit CEO Says “You Shouldn’t Learn to Code”

•Amjad Masad, CEO of Replit, stuns tech Twitter with his anti-coding hot take

•Clarifies that AI tools are replacing the need for syntax memorization—not logical thinking

•Why traditional programming education may be obsolete in an AI-first world

•Coding is evolving, not dying: the role of design, architecture, and testing in the AI era

•Lou and John compare the transformation to Photoshop for photographers

•https://developers.slashdot.org/story/25/03/31/1623201/no-longer-think-you-should-learn-to-code-says-ceo-of-ai-coding-startup 

12:18 - America Needs More Electricity… and Electricians

•Surge in data centers and AI demand reveals a looming power crisis

•U.S. needs more nuclear energy, more infrastructure—and a skilled labor force to build it

•30% of union electricians are 50–70 years old; replacements are scarce

•How this shortage affects IT pros and what can be done

•https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/country-needs-more-electricity-more-electricians 

19:08 - Intel CEO Announces Spin-Off of Non-Core Units

•Lip-Bu Tan replaces Pat Gelsinger, plans to trim Intel’s fat

•Intel seeks to refocus on CPUs, regain ground lost to AMD, Apple, and NVIDIA

•Will Intel find its place in the AI chip race? A historical look at missed opportunities (like Phi)

•What this means for the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem

•https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/01/lip-bu-tan-says-intel-will-spin-off-non-core-units/ 

🔐 CVE of the Week

25:35 - Lessons IT Can Learn from the Signal Kerfuffle

•A reporter was allegedly added to a Signal chat with top U.S. officials

•Was it a hack, an inside job, or intentional leak?

•John & Lou dig into mobile device management, group chat mechanics, and security policy

•Signal remains secure—but MDM and contact trust are crucial

•Key takeaway: your security is only as strong as your weakest contact

•Shoutouts to Glen, Tyler, and Alex for prompting this analysis

37:33 - Listener Feedback

•Loud intro music? John heard you—and turned it down

•Windows 7 loyalists speak out! Lou and John reflect on OS nostalgia and security risks

•Tip: If you’re still on Win7, invest in a great firewall and rethink your strategy

40:24 - How to Reach Us

•Send feedback to: [email protected]

•Follow and comment @itsparccast on X

•Like, subscribe, share—help spread the word!

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Not all legendary tech comes with name recognition. In this episode of IT SPARC Cast - Top Ten, John & Lou count down the Top Ten Most Influential Operating Systems You’ve Never Heard Of.  While these operating systems that didn’t dominate the headlines, they did quietly change the world. These OSes shaped modern computing, from time-sharing and GUIs to virtualization and microkernels. You may not know their names, but their fingerprints are all over your daily tech.

Whether you’re a sysadmin, historian, or just a curious nerd, this countdown of the most influential unsung operating systems will surprise and educate. Let’s roll back the clock and celebrate the OS innovations that powered everything from IBM mainframes to Amiga multimedia.

⸻

⏱️ Timestamps & Segment Titles:

00:00 – Intro

Welcome to the IT SPARC Cast Top Ten – what makes an obscure OS influential?

01:50 – #10 – CTSS (Compatible Time-Sharing System) – 1961

The first practical time-sharing OS that laid the groundwork for interactive computing.

05:06 – #9 – Atlas Supervisor (Manchester Atlas OS) – 1962

The forgotten pioneer of virtual memory and true multiprogramming.

07:11 – #8 – IBM OS/360 – 1966

The OS that defined enterprise computing and invented virtualization.

11:53 – #7 – Multics (Multiplexed Information and Computing Service) – 1967

The security-hardened ancestor of Unix and modern system design.

14:28 – #6 – TOPS-10 (DEC PDP-10 OS) – 1970

The platform that built ARPANET and inspired early open-source culture.

17:02 – #5 – Xerox Alto Executive – 1973

The GUI trailblazer that inspired the Macintosh and modern desktop metaphors.

20:23 – #4 – CP/M (Control Program for Microcomputers) – 1974

The OS that created the first cross-platform software ecosystem.

23:03 – #3 – VMS (Virtual Memory System) – 1978

Enterprise-grade reliability and the direct ancestor of Windows NT.

26:10 – #2 – AmigaOS – 1985

The first true multimedia multitasking OS for the home computer.

31:30 – #1 – MINIX – 1987

The educational OS that launched a revolution—by inspiring Linux.

35:45 – Wrap Up

Let us know what we missed! What’s your favorite obscure but powerful OS?

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In Episode 30 of IT SPARC Cast, John and Lou dig into Microsoft’s aggressive push to retire Windows 10 and what it means for your enterprise refresh cycle. They spotlight an open-source project that could revolutionize container security, and celebrate France rejecting a dangerous encryption backdoor proposal. But the real eye-opener? This week’s CVE of the Week dives into how a breach at 23andMe might be the privacy disaster that bankrupts the company—and how it could happen to yours too.

📰 News Bytes

01:01 – Windows 10 Nears End Of Life

•Microsoft announces Windows 10 support ends Oct 14, 2025

•Millions of devices still can’t upgrade to Windows 11 due to lack of TPM 2.0

•Many 3–4-year-old PCs may be rendered obsolete

•ChromeOS Flex, Linux, or e-cycling: What are the alternatives?

•https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-tells-windows-10-users-trade-in-pc/ 

09:50 – Open-source Styrolite Project Simplifies Container Security

•New tool from Edera aims to fix namespace security in Linux containers

•Built in Rust for security and performance

•API-driven design works with Terraform, Docker, Kubernetes

•Open-source is thriving again with VC funding—Red Hat-style support models return

•A must-watch project for hyperscale and cloud-native IT teams

•https://www.infoworld.com/article/3850699/open-source-styrolite-project-aims-to-simplify-container-runtime-security.html

•https://github.com/edera-dev/styrolite 

15:30 – France Rejects Backdoor Mandate

•French lawmakers reject law that would force encrypted messaging backdoors

•Law proposed silent “ghost users” to spy on private conversations

•Privacy groups win a major battle for digital rights

•Highlights importance of legislative transparency and secure-by-design principles

•https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/03/win-encryption-france-rejects-backdoor-mandate 

🛡️ CVE of the Week

19:35 – 23andMe Files for Chapter 11 After Breach

•7M+ ancestry records compromised in 2023 breach

•Raises alarming question: who owns your genetic data during a bankruptcy?

•AI, research firms may see that data as a goldmine

•This is a wake-up call for IT leaders:

•Have exit clauses in contracts

•Know who owns your data—and what happens if a vendor collapses

•Legal, IT, and InfoSec must collaborate to protect core business data

•Backups, metadata, and even app usage can expose your business

•https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/24/23andme-faces-an-uncertain-future-so-does-your-genetic-data/ 

🔚 Wrap Up

31:37 – Wrap Up

•Reminder: New Top Ten episodes drop every Wednesday

•Feedback? Reach out at [email protected] or @itsparccast on X

•Like, subscribe, comment—and help grow the IT SPARC Cast community!

Stay sharp. Stay patched. Stay private.

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Not every operating system is a winner—and some are unforgettable failures. In this episode of IT SPARC Cast - Top Ten, hosts John Barger and Lou Schmidt count down the Top 10 Biggest Operating System Flops of All Time. From Microsoft’s infamous Windows ME to IBM’s billion-dollar misstep with OS/2, we dive into the technical misfires, strategic blunders, and head-scratching decisions that doomed these platforms. Packed with insight, history, and sarcasm, this episode is a must-listen for anyone who’s ever yelled at a BSOD.

Timestamps & Topics:

00:00 - Intro

00:53 - #10 - Windows ME (2000) — Microsoft

03:09 - #9 - webOS (2009) — Palm & Hewlett-Packard

05:19 - #8 - Windows RT (2012) — Microsoft

08:11 - #7 - Lindows/Linspire (2001) — Lindows, Inc.

11:28 - #6 - BeOS (1995) — Be Inc.

13:17 - #5 - Windows Phone (2010) — Microsoft

15:44 - #4 - Apple Copland (1994–96) — Apple

20:00 - #3 - JavaOS (1996) — Sun/IBM

24:38 - #2 - Windows 1 & 2 (1985 & 1987) — Microsoft

29:28 - #1 - OS/2 (1987) — IBM/Microsoft

33:12 - Wrap Up & Listener Feedback

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In Episode 29 of IT SPARC Cast, John and Lou take on the confusion surrounding “AI agents,” cut through the marketing hype, and put a stake in the ground with a clear definition. They explore NVIDIA’s bold leap into generalist robotics, Google’s AI “co-scientist” solving a decade-old superbug mystery in 48 hours, and Zillow’s CEO clapping back at Return-to-Office mandates with proof that remote work works. Plus, this week’s CVE is a critical vulnerability in AMI BMCs that could spell total infrastructure takeover. If you manage servers, don’t miss this one. 🎧📡

Show Notes:

📰 News Bytes

00:55 – No One Knows What the Heck an AI Agent Is

•John & Lou define AI agents as task-completing concierge tools for users

•Dream use cases: calendar coordination, agenda triage, meeting attendance filtering

•Takeaway: AI Agents are what YOU make them – the chaos comes from letting vendors define them for you

•https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/14/no-one-knows-what-the-hell-an-ai-agent-is/ 

08:10 – NVIDIA Rolls In The Age of Generalist Robotics

•NVIDIA’s new Isaac GROOT N1 model aims to power humanoid robots

•Dual-mode AI: Fast reflex actions + slow, deliberate problem solving

•Relevance to IT: these robots will fall under enterprise IT’s management scope

•https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/18/nvidia-debuts-groot-n1-a-foundation-model-for-humanoid-robotics/ 

11:40 – Google’s AI ‘Co-Scientist’ Solved a 10-Year Superbug Problem in Two Days

•Google’s experimental Gemini-powered AI helped identify antibiotic resistance mechanisms

•Highlight: AI’s new potential in research, troubleshooting, and hypothesis generation

•IT Takeaway: Think of AI as the ultimate research assistant for debugging and system design

•https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/261293/googles-ai-co-scientist-could-enhance-research/ 

18:14 – Zillow’s CEO Says Remote Work Is Fantastic

•CEO Jeremy Waxman: “Remote work has been fantastic for us”

•4x increase in job applicants after going remote-first

•Turnover dramatically decreased = cost savings

•Lou & John reaffirm: Remote Work is a competitive advantage, not a liability

•https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/zillow-is-sticking-with-remote-work-cloudhq-says-ceo/486254 

🛡️ CVE of the Week

22:09 – CVE-2024-54085 – AMI BMC Vulnerability

•Critical Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) flaw affecting vendors like Dell, HP, Lenovo & more

•CVSS 10.0 — Full takeover potential, even remote firmware flashing

•Flaw allows attackers to access servers via default remote management ports

•Mitigation tips:

•Whitelist admin access

•Patch, patch, patch — and don’t delay firmware updates!

•https://www.securityweek.com/critical-ami-bmc-vulnerability-exposes-servers-to-disruption-takeover/ 

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IT SPARC Cast - Top Ten: Technologies Older Than You Think

Episode Description

Think that cutting-edge tech is brand new? Think again. In this episode of IT SPARC Cast - Top Ten, John Barger and Lou Schmidt count down the Top Ten Technologies That Are Older Than You Think. From the humble computer mouse to AI-powered neural networks, you’ll be shocked to discover just how far back these innovations actually go. Get ready for history, insights, and plenty of tech nostalgia.

Timestamps & Topics

00:00 - Intro

00:47 - #10 - The Computer Mouse

03:50 - #9 - The Graphical User Interface

07:23 - #8 - The Tablet Computer

12:04 - #7 - Packet Switching

15:31 - #6 - Wireless Networking

20:18 - #5 - Public-Key Cryptography

24:51 - #4 - Operating System Containers

28:56 - #3 - Hypertext and the Web

33:05 - #2 - The Hypervisor

36:42 - #1 - Neural Networks and AI

40:56 - Wrap Up

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In Episode 28 of IT SPARC Cast, John and Lou uncover the latest PowerSchool student data breach, exposing security failures in K-12 education. They also dive into Ubiquiti’s new 10Gig WiFi 7 access points, Google and HP’s 3D video calling breakthrough, and Broadcom’s profit surge after acquiring VMware. In the CVE of the Week, they dissect a shocking backdoor in ESP32 Bluetooth chips, affecting billions of IoT devices. If you thought your smart home was secure—think again.

🔹 Show Notes & Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

•Welcome to IT SPARC Cast, your weekly IT news digest with insights, opinions, and sarcasm.

⸻

📰 News Bytes

00:54 - PowerSchool’s Student Data Breach

•PowerSchool, a widely used K-12 student management system, suffered a data breach.

•Hacker gained access via compromised credentials, exposing records from thousands of schools.

•PowerSchool did not have multi-factor authentication (MFA) enabled at the time.

•Unanswered questions: How many students were affected? What data was stolen? Did they pay a ransom?

•🔥 Is your child’s school at risk?

05:12 - Unifi Releases 10Gig WiFi 7 Access Points

•Unifi redeems itself after last week’s WiFi 7 controversy with U7 Pro XG and U7 Pro XGS.

•Features:

•10G Ethernet for high-speed connectivity.

•5.8 Gbps on 6 GHz, up to 500 concurrent clients.

•Zero-Wait DFS for dynamic frequency selection.

•Real-world speeds? Maybe not. But John is upgrading his entire setup!

09:11 - Mail Bag

•Listener feedback dominates!

•Issues reported with WiFi 7 dropping IoT devices—John and Lou investigate.

•Debate over whether corporate customers care about 6GHz WiFi.

•Heated discussion: Should lower-end access points always include software-defined radios?

17:49 - Google and HP Announce 3D Video Calling

•Google’s Project Starline introduces light field displays for true-to-life video calls.

•HP to help bring it to market.

•WSJ review: “Felt like an object was crossing into my space.”

•Could this finally break the illusion of remote work video calls?

21:54 - VMware Boosts Broadcom’s Bottom Line

•Broadcom’s VMware acquisition is paying off BIG—$5.5B in quarterly profits.

•70% of large VMware customers are buying into premium bundles.

•Broadcom is ditching small customers and focusing on those who pay the “VMware Tax.”

•Is this sustainable?

🚨 CVE of the Week

27:24 - Undocumented Commands Found in ESP32 Bluetooth Chips

•Billions of IoT devices affected by a backdoor in ESP32 chips.

•Security researchers found 29 hidden commands, allowing:

•Memory manipulation (RAM & Flash writing).

•MAC address spoofing.

•Packet injection for hacking other devices.

•Expressif claims it was for debugging, but will now remove it.

•Are your smart home devices at risk? Check your firmware!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Governments worldwide are ramping up efforts to undermine data privacy, and the UK is leading the charge with its Investigatory Powers Act (IPA). In this explosive IT SPARC Cast - Deep Dive, we dissect Apple’s quiet resistance against the UK’s demand for a backdoor into encrypted iCloud data, the global trends in encryption regulation, and what this means for businesses and individuals alike. Are you already compromised? How can you protect your data? This episode is a must-listen for anyone concerned about privacy in the digital age.

Show Notes:

00:00 - Intro

•Introduction to the Deep Dive series and this episode’s focus on data privacy and international law.

•Recap of the February 14th IT SPARC Cast discussion on the UK’s demand for an iCloud backdoor.

02:10 - Update - Apple and the UK Investigatory Powers Act

•Overview of Apple’s Advanced Data Protection feature and its role in end-to-end encryption.

•The UK’s Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) and its demand for unrestricted access to global iCloud data.

•Apple’s reported resistance and strategic information leaks.

06:00 - The Link Between Free Speech and Your Data

•How governments use national security as an excuse to restrict free speech and access private data.

•The UK’s increasing reach beyond its borders, threatening global free speech rights.

•Apple’s decision to remove ADP from the UK and its broader implications.

11:00 - Encryption Regulation Across the Globe

•Comparative analysis of global encryption laws:

•USA: CALEA & All Writs Act—public legal battles vs. secret FISA warrants.

•Australia: A near carbon-copy of the UK’s IPA.

•China & Russia: Open surveillance with zero pretense of privacy rights.

•European Union: GDPR conflicts with local security mandates.

•India: Broad government control over encryption access.

•The increasing pressure on tech companies to comply with global surveillance laws.

19:10 - Understand Your Risk

•If your data provider operates in the UK, assume you are already at risk.

•Risks extend beyond corporate data—this affects individual users, too.

•The reality of secret technical compliance notices (TCNs) and why you may never hear about breaches.

26:03 - Mitigate Your Risk

•Practical steps to protect yourself:

•Encrypt data independently—don’t rely solely on cloud providers.

•Demand transparency from service providers and push for indemnification.

•Segment and localize data to minimize exposure to hostile regulations.

•Consider using ZeroTrust architectures and implementing rigorous access controls.

31:44 - Future Topic - Warrant Canaries

•Introduction to warrant canaries—a mechanism companies can use to hint at secret government data requests.

•How warrant canaries could be a game-changer for transparency and data security.

34:40 - Call to Action

•Steps you must take NOW to secure your data before it’s too late.

•Why businesses must hold cloud providers accountable for potential breaches.

•The importance of legal consultation before storing data in high-risk regions.

38:35 - Wrap Up

•Call for listener feedback—do you want more episodes on global data privacy?

🚨 Your privacy is under attack. Stay ahead of government overreach—listen now and take action! 🚨

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In Episode 27 of IT SPARC Cast, John and Lou break down Ubiquiti’s misleading WiFi 7 marketing, revealing why some so-called WiFi 7 access points lack 6GHz radios. They also discuss Google’s new Free Space Optics (FSO) technology, how employers are tracking employees in ways you may not realize, and Microsoft’s final goodbye to Skype. In the CVE of the Week, they expose the real danger of old vulnerabilities, proving that if you’re not patching, you’re already compromised.

Show Notes:

Ubiquiti’s WiFi 7 Bait & Switch

•Ubiquiti releases “WiFi 7” access points—but without 6GHz radios.

•Key issue: WiFi 7 is only truly WiFi 7 when it supports 6GHz.

•Marketing vs. reality: Is this a deceptive branding move or just poor communication?

•Impact for IT pros:

•If you buy these “WiFi 7” APs, will you need to replace them sooner than expected?

•How will this affect enterprise network planning?

•John’s take: IT leaders should be skeptical of networking hardware marketing claims.

News Bytes

Google’s Taara Unveils New FSO Tech Powered by Light

•Google’s Project Taara introduces a 10Gbps Free Space Optics (FSO) solution.

•What is FSO? A wireless networking technology that uses infrared lasers instead of radio signals.

•https://www.wired.com/story/plaintext-google-taara-chip-internet-by-light/ 

•https://x.company/blog/posts/taara-chip/ 

Bosses Don’t Need a ‘What Did You Do’ Email. They’re Already Tracking You.

•New reports reveal that AI-driven employee surveillance is more advanced than most realize.

•https://www.wsj.com/business/doge-elon-musk-email-corporate-worker-tracking-56f593ff 

Microsoft Hangs Up on Skype After 23 years

•Teams is the new priority

•John & Lou share personal stories about what Skype means to them.

•https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/28/microsoft-hangs-up-on-skype-service-to-shut-down-may-5-2025/ 

CVE of the Week

Old vulnerabilities are still being exploited—years after disclosure.

•Key CVEs currently active in attacks:

•CVE-2023-20118

•CVE-2023-20025

•CVE-2018-8639

•https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/cisa-tags-windows-and-cisco-vulnerabilities-as-actively-exploited/ 

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In Episode 26 of IT SPARC Cast, John and Lou cover Bird’s surprising exit from the EU, Microsoft’s new free ad-supported Office suite, and Google & Qualcomm’s commitment to 8 years of Android updates. They also delve into how disgruntled employees are weaponizing AI to overwhelm legal teams and discuss a shocking CVE of the Week where a Disney employee’s AI tool download led to personal and corporate chaos. This episode is packed with actionable insights for IT leaders, cybersecurity professionals, and tech enthusiasts alike.

Show Notes:

00:48 - Bird Flies the EU Coop

•Dutch tech startup Bird is leaving Europe following increasing regulatory pressures

•https://www.reuters.com/technology/dutch-software-firm-bird-leave-europe-due-onerous-regulations-ai-era-says-ceo-2025-02-24 

06:50 - Microsoft To Launch Free Ad-Supported Office

•Microsoft Office is about to become free, but with a catch—advertising.

•https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/office-365/microsoft-quietly-launches-free-ad-supported-version-of-office-apps-for-windows-with-limited-functionality 

11:34 - Google & Qualcomm Promise 8 Years of Android Updates

•Ensures device longevity and better ROI for enterprise IT investments.

•https://9to5google.com/2025/02/24/qualcomm-android-updates/ 

19:00 - Disgruntled Employees Are Leveraging AI To Overload Employer Legal Teams

•Legal departments report an unprecedented increase in frivolous lawsuits and time-wasting legal requests.

•https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/02/22/angry-workers-use-ai-bombard-businesses-employment-lawsuits/ 

CVE of the Week

24:20 - A Disney Worker Downloaded an AI Tool. It Led to a Hack That Ruined His Life.

•The tool had malicious code that accessed personal and corporate data.

•https://www.wsj.com/business/media/internal-disney-communications-leaked-online-after-hack-b57baaeb?mod=article_inline 

•https://www.wsj.com/business/media/leaked-disney-data-reveals-financial-and-strategy-secrets-56573020?mod=article_inline 

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