Share
IT SPARC Cast
This Week in Enterprise IT News
IT SPARC Cast is a digest of the Enterprise IT news over the last week, with insights, opinions, and a little sarcasm from 2 experts each with over 20 years of experience working in IT or for IT vendors.
Latest episode
31. Signal Flare & Coding Is Dead?
41:19||Season 1, Ep. 31In 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 Bytes00:57 - 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 Week25:35 - 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 analysis37:33 - 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 strategy40:24 - How to Reach Us • Send feedback to: feedback@itsparccast.com • Follow and comment @itsparccast on X • Like, subscribe, share—help spread the word!
More episodes
View all episodes
3. Top 10 Most Influential Operating Systems You’ve Never Heard Of
36:54||Season 1, Ep. 3Not 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 – IntroWelcome to the IT SPARC Cast Top Ten – what makes an obscure OS influential?01:50 – #10 – CTSS (Compatible Time-Sharing System) – 1961The first practical time-sharing OS that laid the groundwork for interactive computing.05:06 – #9 – Atlas Supervisor (Manchester Atlas OS) – 1962The forgotten pioneer of virtual memory and true multiprogramming.07:11 – #8 – IBM OS/360 – 1966The OS that defined enterprise computing and invented virtualization.11:53 – #7 – Multics (Multiplexed Information and Computing Service) – 1967The security-hardened ancestor of Unix and modern system design.14:28 – #6 – TOPS-10 (DEC PDP-10 OS) – 1970The platform that built ARPANET and inspired early open-source culture.17:02 – #5 – Xerox Alto Executive – 1973The GUI trailblazer that inspired the Macintosh and modern desktop metaphors.20:23 – #4 – CP/M (Control Program for Microcomputers) – 1974The OS that created the first cross-platform software ecosystem.23:03 – #3 – VMS (Virtual Memory System) – 1978Enterprise-grade reliability and the direct ancestor of Windows NT.26:10 – #2 – AmigaOS – 1985The first true multimedia multitasking OS for the home computer.31:30 – #1 – MINIX – 1987The educational OS that launched a revolution—by inspiring Linux.35:45 – Wrap UpLet us know what we missed! What’s your favorite obscure but powerful OS?
30. Windows 10’s Final Countdown & The Data That Could Doom You
33:17||Season 1, Ep. 30In 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 Bytes01:01 – 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 Week19:35 – 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 Up31:37 – Wrap Up • Reminder: New Top Ten episodes drop every Wednesday • Feedback? Reach out at feedback@itsparccast.com or @itsparccast on X • Like, subscribe, comment—and help grow the IT SPARC Cast community!Stay sharp. Stay patched. Stay private.
2. Top 10 Biggest Operating System Flops of All Time
34:32||Season 1, Ep. 2Not 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 - Intro00:53 - #10 - Windows ME (2000) — Microsoft03:09 - #9 - webOS (2009) — Palm & Hewlett-Packard05:19 - #8 - Windows RT (2012) — Microsoft08:11 - #7 - Lindows/Linspire (2001) — Lindows, Inc.11:28 - #6 - BeOS (1995) — Be Inc.13:17 - #5 - Windows Phone (2010) — Microsoft15:44 - #4 - Apple Copland (1994–96) — Apple20:00 - #3 - JavaOS (1996) — Sun/IBM24:38 - #2 - Windows 1 & 2 (1985 & 1987) — Microsoft29:28 - #1 - OS/2 (1987) — IBM/Microsoft33:12 - Wrap Up & Listener Feedback
29. AI Agents, Generalist Robotics, Superbugs & Remote Work Wins
36:09||Season 1, Ep. 29In 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 Bytes00:55 – 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 Week22:09 – 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/
1. Top Ten: Technologies Older Than You Think
41:59||Season 1, Ep. 1IT SPARC Cast - Top Ten: Technologies Older Than You ThinkEpisode DescriptionThink 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 & Topics00:00 - Intro00:47 - #10 - The Computer Mouse03:50 - #9 - The Graphical User Interface07:23 - #8 - The Tablet Computer12:04 - #7 - Packet Switching15:31 - #6 - Wireless Networking20:18 - #5 - Public-Key Cryptography24:51 - #4 - Operating System Containers28:56 - #3 - Hypertext and the Web33:05 - #2 - The Hypervisor36:42 - #1 - Neural Networks and AI40:56 - Wrap Up
28. Unifi’s 10Gig WiFi 7 Upgrades & The Hidden Dangers of IoT
34:52||Season 1, Ep. 28In 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 & Timestamps00:00 - Intro • Welcome to IT SPARC Cast, your weekly IT news digest with insights, opinions, and sarcasm.⸻📰 News Bytes00:54 - 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 Week27:24 - 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!