How a home lab can help you get a job, AI data collection secrets, and a proxy server explainer
Plus, what Microsoft did wrong with Windows 11, WD40 magic, an amazing clockwork chest, and what kind of shed to buy
I’m David Gewirtz. Welcome to this week’s Advanced Geekery newsletter. It’s been an exciting week. Let’s dive in.
My articles
Here’s a quick recap of the articles I published in the last week on ZDNET.
Want to stand out in IT job interviews? 10 ways a home lab can help: From improving troubleshooting skills to boosting confidence, there are plenty of benefits to having a home lab.
How AI companies are secretly collecting training data from the web (and why it matters): AI companies are quietly harvesting your web content. Learn how to detect their bots, block scraping attempts, and defend your work before it's used to train someone else's model.
How proxy servers actually work, and why they're so valuable: Proxy servers don't just hide IP addresses. They manage traffic, fight malware, help gather data, and power the modern internet. Here's how they work, and why they matter more than ever.
Can you ID this? The answer
Last week, I asked you how good are you at identifying tech? In this new segment, the idea is to see if you can identify what the picture shows.
Here are the hints I gave. It looks like an Xbox controller. It has the button layout of an Xbox controller. Not only is it not an Xbox controller, it’s not compatible with Xbox. What is it?
Answer: This is a SteelSeries Nimbus Wireless controller. It was designed to work with iPhones, iPads, and Apple TVs. As I recall, it was sent to me for review when the Apple TV started supporting apps, about ten years ago. While this controller is modeled after the Xbox controller, it is only intended for Apple operating systems and has been discontinued. By the way, what really looks like a USB-C port is actually a Lightning port!
Must-watch YouTube
Moving on, let’s queue up some interesting YouTube videos for your entertainment and edification.
Using WD40, some beach sand, a PC fan, and some springs, this person created a really amazing cleaning device that simply annihilates rust.
This guy put in an astonishing amount of effort to create a clockwork-driven mechanical chest. It’s cool, but wow. The work.
This dude built both a plastic shed and a metal shed side-by-side and compared the kits. Looks like the plastic shed is definitely the winner. This sold me on not buying a metal shed, even if I could save a few bucks.
Tool of the week
This air nozzle was just added to my wishlist this week. It does pressure washing, but using air instead of water. You need to connect it to a compressor, but it has a lot more powerful and directed blow than either the usual air nozzle most folks get with their compressor, or a leaf blower (which blows volume, but not much pressure).
It could be useful for pressure washing applications where you don’t want to use water.
Note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Interesting reads
And now, some good stuff from around the Internet, well worth checking out.
ZDNET’s Ed Bott legitimately skewers Microsoft for being Microsoft the way only Ed can. His critique on Microsoft’s Windows 11 strategy is very instructive.
Can your dog or cat keep you lucid as you age? Study says yes.
Send in your projects
I’d like to regularly spotlight a reader project or two here. Your project doesn’t have to be a big Kickstarter launch. If you’ve built something cool, it has some pretty pictures, and you’re proud of it, I might be able to share it here.
If you have a photogenic reader project, send an email to me at david@zatz.com with the subject “READER PROJECT,” a few pictures, and a short one-paragraph description. If you have a social media link or a link to the project, include that, too.
Both my EPs are now streaming
Available on all your favorite streaming services.
More clicky
I’ve got a lot happening all over the web. Here are links to my various stuff:
House of the Head: home for my published music
ZATZ Labs: where I host my published software projects
Feel free to dig around, visit, and say hey!
Leave some comments
Substack supports comments, so feel free to leave some. I promise to read them. Just, please, let’s keep our personal politics out of any discussion.
That should do it for this week. This newsletter is really starting to pick up subscribers. Please help it out by sharing links on all your socials.
Have a great week!