WServerNews: From Our Readers: What to buy your kids this Christmas to help them learn technology

In this week’s newsletter

Christmas gifts for kids so they can learn about technology: building stuff, STEM kits, scientific instruments, electronics, Raspberry Pi, Arduino, mechanical, YouTube channels. Blocking telemetry in Office 365. Ask Our Readers – Problem using iPads in enterprise environments (another response). Maybe I am Bill Gates’ twin brother. Plus lots more — read it all, read it here on WServerNews!

Enjoy this week’s newsletter and feel free to send us feedback on any of the topics we’ve covered — we love hearing from our readers! And please tell others about WServerNews! It’s free and always will be free — and they can subscribe to it here. Thanks!!!

 

Christmas gifts for kids so they can learn about technology

We’re forgoing other topics in this pre-Christmas issue to share what some of you have recommended (thank you!) that our newsletter readers should buy their kids (or grandkids or nieces or nephews) this Christmas so they can develop an interest in today’s technologies and learn skills that will serve them well when they eventually enter the workforce or try to become entrepreneurs. If you love your kids please take the time to peruse some of these products and consider ordering one or two as something for them under the tree come Christmas morning.

Building stuff

TINKERTOY 30 Model 200 Piece Super Building Set – Preschool Learning Educational Toy for Girls and Boys 3+ (Amazon Exclusive)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JRGVEG2/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

IQ Toys Ferris Wheel Building Model with Metal Beams and Screws Lights & Music 954 pcs

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UMA2VSW/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

K’NEX Imagine “Power and Play Motorized Building Set “529 Pieces ” Ages 7 and Up ” Construction Educational Toy

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y483TG2/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

Lego kits

These suggestions are from John Dvorchak Jr. who is the Systems Administrator for a company in Massachusetts. John says: “We purchase the more complicated Lego Technic’s, Three Hundred piece Kits, build 2 out of One Kit or combine Kits to make different Vehicles for our Grandchildren. It’s a pure joy to watch them figure out how things work and to solve the puzzle when there are over One Thousand pieces. We’re working on purchasing the Motors and figuring out how to get some of them moving.”

LEGO Technic Power Functions Motor Set 8293 Building Kit

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00160D1XQ/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

LEGO Technic Hovercraft 42076 Building Kit (1020 Pieces)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075QZN8K8/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

LEGO Technic Porsche 911 RSR 42096 Building Kit , New 2019 (1580 Piece)

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07GY9HFX4/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

LEGO Technic Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 42093 Building Kit , New 2019 (579 Piece)

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07GYTVQN5/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

LEGO Technic Tracked Loader 42094 Building Kit (827 Pieces)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GYTVPCT/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

STEM kits

ThinkFun Gravity Maze Marble Run Brain Game and STEM Toy for Boys and Girls Age 8 and Up – Toy of the Year Award Winner

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IUAAK2A/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

Sillbird STEM Building Blocks Robot for Kids- Remote Control Engineering Science Educational Building Toys Kits for 8,9-14 Year Old Boys and Girls

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X3GR5R8/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

CIRO STEM Projects | 12-in-1 Solar Robot Toys, Education Science Experiment Kits for Kids Ages 8-12, 190 Pieces Building Set for Boys Girls

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SD36N44/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

LEGO Boost Creative Toolbox 17101 Fun Robot Building Set and Educational Coding Kit for Kids, Award-Winning STEM Learning Toy (847 Pieces)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072MK1PDV/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

Boolean Box Build a Computer Science Kit for Kids | Includes Electronics, Coding, Animation and Lessons in Scratch, Minecraft, Python | Ages 8 and Up

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071HWPKN5/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

Playz Kaboom! Explosive Combustion Science Lab Kit – 25+ STEM Experiments – DIY Make Your Own Rockets, Helium Balloons, Fizzy Bombs, Color Explosions and More with Fun Chemical Reactions!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075RV2ZRR/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

Scientific instruments

7 inch LCD Digital USB Microscope Angle Adjustable with Remote Control, Koolertron 12MP 1920×1080 30fps Video Recorder Image Flip/Reverse Color/Black & White for Circuit Board Repair Soldering PCB Coin

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082HZSJH6/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

Wireless Digital Microscope Handheld USB HD Inspection Camera 50x-1000x Magnification with Stand Compatible with iPhone, iPad, Samsung Galaxy, Android, Mac, Windows Computer

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PVMRZQH/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

Electronics

Snap Circuits Pro SC-500 Electronics Exploration Kit | Over 500 Projects | Full Color Project Manual | 75 + Snap Circuits Parts | STEM Educational Toy for Kids 8 +

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00008W73Z/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

Playz Advanced Electronic Circuit Board Engineering Toy for Kids | 328+ Educational Experiments to Wire & Build Smart Connections Using Creative Knowledge of Electricity | Science Gift for Children

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QBQZXHK/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

Raspberry Pi

Kano Computer Kit – A Computer Anyone Can Make

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073VTCS66/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

Piper Computer Kit: Award-Winning Build-A-Computer Age 8+ STEAM Learning, with Raspberry Pi, Google Blockly, StoryMode, Games, Python, and Amazing Projects!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HPFF3KC/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

LABISTS Raspberry Pi 4 4GB Starter Kit with 32GB Micro SD Card Preloaded Raspberry Pi OS (Raspbian), Black Case, Heatsinks, Fan, Micro HDMI Cable x 2, SD Card Reader (4GB RAM)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YRSYR3M/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

Vilros Raspberry Pi 3 Retro Arcade Gaming Kit with 2 Classic USB Gamepads

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J4HTOS8/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

Arduino

REXQualis Super Starter Kit based on Arduino UNO R3 with Tutorial and Controller Board Compatible with Arduino IDE

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074WMHLQ4/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

UCTRONICS Robot Kit with Camera, RC Car Kit for Kids and Teens to Build, Electronics Programmable DIY Coding Robotics by Scratch 3.0 / Arduino IDE

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YJHVXGJ/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

Mechanical

Playz V8 Combustion Engine Model Building Kit STEM Hobby Toy for Kids & Adults with DIY Guide & Realistic Parts Including Timing Belt, Cylinder Heads, Spark Plugs, Pistons, Ignition Wires, and More

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QCQNKG7/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

Meccano Erector, Intro to Robotics Innovation Set, S.T.E.A.M. Building Kit with Sensors and Real Motor

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NFRB9BD/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=isaserver1-20

YouTube channels

Mark Rober

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY1kMZp36IQSyNx_9h4mpCg

The King of Random

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1zZE_kJ8rQHgLTVfobLi_g

Got more thoughts about anything in this newsletter?

Email us at [email protected]!

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Ask Our Readers – Problem using iPads in enterprise environments (another response)

Three issues ago we shared the following question submitted by a reader named Joe regarding an article I wrote a while back about some of the challenges of supporting Mac computers in a workplace:

I was disappointed there was no mention of the “AppleID” factor here. One of our issues with using corporate purchased iPADs is that when an individual leaves and the device is issued to a new user, freeing the device from the prior user’s AppleID (apple account) is a problem. We can manage a reset the device via MDM/Azure Endpoint Devices. However, they device never gets truly freed from the prior user until they remove it from their account. Is there a better way to handle this?

In the issue that followed that one we published several response we had received from our readers concerning this problem. This week we received one more response, this is from Travis Elsberry who works in IT for a large distributor of HVAC and refrigeration equipment in the USA:

While we don’t use iPads we have around 300 iPhones in our environment. To solve the Apple brick issue when someone leaves our company, we enrolled in the Apple Business Manager or Device Enrollment Program (whatever they’re calling it these days). Basically after your company is setup, when you purchase a new device they (in our case Verizon) automatically put into the ABM program and when it boots up for initial setup (or on subsequent wipes) the end device reaches out, sees that it’s part of this program and then pulls down our configuration from our MDM server (MobileIron). With our MDM we can push out apps to user’s devices without them even needing an AppleID. They can still install apps from the store if they have an AppleID if you allow that. Now the Apple devices are tied to our company and not an individual’s AppleID so no more bricked phones when a user leaves without signing out of their issued device. Hope this helps.

If any other readers have suggestions about this matter you can email them to me at [email protected]

 

Got questions? Ask our readers!

WServerNews goes out each week to almost 200,000 IT pro subscribers worldwide! That’s a lot of expertise to tap into. Do you need help with some technical problem or are looking for expert advice on something IT-related? Ask Our Readers by emailing your problems and/or questions to us at [email protected]

 

Mailbag

Tim Jacob a programmer in the IT department for a company in New Brunswick, Canada sent us this email in response to the scary story in our previous issue about how a game developer inexplicably found himself locked out of all his Google accounts:

Hi Mitch, been reading your newsletter a long time, but this is a first time reply.

Been a programmer for 34 years now, and I still love it. The article you sent is scary because of how much we use Google based products. It’s been really convenient to have access to all my emails, calendars, etc from all my devices. But I can’t imagine being cut off from “my” data. It does seem that more and more now, that if you are not politically correct, you are on the wrong side of Big Tech.

This may be just the nudge that pushes me over to https://protonmail.com. Been thinking about it for a while. I guess using POP3 to download your own mail instead of IMAP is the only sure way to keep your emails – but then it’s only accessible to one device and that device can fail too.

Maybe it’s time to record software license numbers, etc, on some other digital media

Do any of our readers use ProtonMail? What’s been your experience using it? Email us at [email protected]

 

Tip of the Week

>> Got any IT pro tips you’d like to share with other readers of our newsletter? Email us at [email protected]

Blocking telemetry in Office 365

We found this undocumented registry setting on the AskWoody site and thought some of our readers might be interested in it:

https://www.askwoody.com/2020/blocking-telemetry-in-office-365/

 

Admin Toolbox

>> Got any admin tools or software you’d like to recommend to our readers? Email us at [email protected]

7zbackup is a PowerShell script aimed to help you automate your backup tasks:

https://github.com/Isiweb/7zBackup

AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard is an all-in-one free disk partition software that includes resize/create/delete/format/move/split/merge partitions and more functions:

https://www.aomeitech.com/aomei-partition-assistant.html

Dot11expert is a compact tool which displays low-level details about your wireless network adapters and local networks:

http://www.downloadcrew.com/article/34565-dot11expert

 

Factoid – Maybe I am Bill Gates’ twin brother

Our previous factoid and question was this:

Fact: There are good arguments for cancelling your Netflix subscription

Question: During these difficult times of the pandemic, has Netflix been helpful stress release or has it become an unhealthy addiction for you?

Andrew Wong from Toronto responded to this one as follows:

Hi Mitch, you did look like Bill Gates in those photos when you both were young!

[EDITOR’S NOTE: “Life is not fair; get used to it.” At least Bill is reputed to have said that.]

Concerning the Factoid, I don’t subscribe to Netflix. Sometimes I feel I am the odd-man-out in a society that has embraced Netflix as almost a necessity of life. But after reading Patrick Antinozzi’s article, I change that feeling from ‘odd’ to ‘normal’.

Regarding TV, I am (almost) like you – I have stopped watching TV for about 15 years by now. I inserted the word ‘almost’ because of an exception: I watch TV only for news and news only, and specifically only CTV News that I trust. I consider all other TV stuff as time not worth spending.

Our Factoid section will return in January after the Holiday Season break.

 

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Conference Calendar 2021

>> Got an IT conference or event happening that you’d like to promote in our newsletter? Email us at [email protected]

NOTE: Conference dates and locations (real/virtual) are subject to change

Microsoft Ignite — March TBD (virtual)

https://myignite.microsoft.com/home

Microsoft MVP Global Summit — March TBD (virtual)

https://mvp.microsoft.com/summit

Black Hat Asia — May 4-7 (location TBD)

https://www.blackhat.com/upcoming.html#asia

RSA Conference — May 17-20 in San Francisco

https://www.rsaconference.com/usa

Black Hat USA — Jul. 31-Aug. 3 in Las Vegas

https://www.blackhat.com/upcoming.html#usa

DEF CON 29 — Aug. 5-8 in Las Vegas

https://www.defcon.org/

VMworld — Aug 30-Sept 1 in San Francisco

https://www.vmworld.com/en/index.html

Black Hat Europe – Dec 7-10 (virtual)

https://www.blackhat.com/upcoming.html#europe

Cisco Live Melbourne — Dec 7-10 in Melbourne, Australia

https://www.ciscolive.com/apjc.html

 

Podcast Corner

Microsoft Office 365 FastTrack with Erica Toelle (RunAsRadio)

http://runasradio.com/

The Future Of Networking With Simon Sharwood (Heavy Networking)

https://packetpushers.net/series/weekly-show/

SRM and VMware Cloud DR (Virtually Speaking)

https://www.vspeakingpodcast.com/

Celona Edge Architecture and Live Demo (Clear To Send)

https://www.cleartosend.net/

I’ve Never Heard It Referred To As The EEEU… (Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast)

https://www.msclouditpropodcast.com/

Apple, Tiktok, .Net and Microsoft News (Microsoft Cloud Show)

http://www.microsoftcloudshow.com/podcast

 

New on Techgenix.com

Work from home? Not when Microsoft Office 365 suffers outage

Working from home is not always easy, but for some, it was impossible when Microsoft Office 365 suffered a six-hour outage yesterday.

https://techgenix.com/microsoft-office-365-suffers-outage/

Microsoft 365 privacy: Top tools and policies you should be implementing

Microsoft 365 has put a lot of thought into privacy and provided us with many tools. But it’s up to us to implement them. This tutorial shows you how.

https://techgenix.com/privacy-tools-in-microsoft-365/

Managing your Microsoft 365 tenant using remote PowerShell

Many IT admins use PowerShell to do pretty much do everything. And this tutorial shows you how to manage Microsoft 365 with remote PowerShell.

https://techgenix.com/microsoft-365-tenant-remote-powershell/

Review: Microsoft 365 monitoring solution GSX Gizmo

In a world of distributed employees, GSX Gizmo provides monitoring of Microsoft 365 and on-premises services. Here’s our review.

https://techgenix.com/microsoft-365-monitoring-solution-gsx-gizmo/

The evolution of backup: Interview with Altaro’s Simon Attard

Backup is not the glitziest part of an IT pro’s job, but it may be the most important. Simon Attard of Altaro has solutions to make it easier.

https://techgenix.com/backup-altaro-simon-attard/

 

Fun videos from Flixxy

Laid Back Base Jumping – Norway

Intense footage of brave base jumpers who show no fear.

https://www.flixxy.com/norway-base-jumping.htm

Italian High Fashion Base Jumping

Italian supermodels jumping off Monte Brento for a ‘high fashion’ show in the sky.

https://www.flixxy.com/italian-high-fashion-base-jumping.htm

Wingsuit Flyer vs. Airplane

Wingsuit flyer Loic Jean Albert is catching up with a glider airplane in flight!!

https://www.flixxy.com/wingsuit-flyer-vs-airplane.htm

Extreme Base Jumping

Extreme base jumping from a 3000 feet tall cliff of Kjerag Norway.

https://www.flixxy.com/extreme-base-jumping.htm

 

More articles of interest

Rancher Kubernetes bolsters security, multi-cloud management

Rancher Kubernetes stays ahead of competitors in multi-cloud management with version 2.5, but will its innovation and SUSE’s backing be enough to fend off Red Hat and VMware?

https://searchitoperations.techtarget.com/news/252490192/Rancher-Kubernetes-bolsters-security-multi-cloud-management?Offer=Content_Partner_OTHR-_2020October9_TG_A1

8 key VDI deployment best practices

When IT plans for its VDI deployment, it must factor in best practices for the setup process, such as considering client options and designing the VDI to have high availability.

https://searchvirtualdesktop.techtarget.com/feature/3-VDI-implementation-best-practices-for-IT-to-follow?Offer=Content_Partner_OTHR-_2020October9_TG_A2

Microsoft 365 E3 vs. Office 365 E3: What admins need to know

The rumors of Office 365’s death have been greatly exaggerated. Microsoft still offers an Office 365 E3 plan, but how does it stack up to the Microsoft 365 E3 plan?

https://searchwindowsserver.techtarget.com/tip/Microsoft-365-E3-vs-Office-365-E3-What-admins-need-to-know?Offer=Content_Partner_OTHR-_2020October9_TG_A3

It’s time to update your pandemic disaster recovery plan

Your DR plan may be unprepared for a pandemic, and while mid-pandemic is not the ideal time to be discovering issues, you should use this time to make changes.

https://searchdisasterrecovery.techtarget.com/tip/Its-time-to-update-your-pandemic-disaster-recovery-plan?Offer=Content_Partner_OTHR-_2020October9_TG_A4

 

Send us your feedback!

Got feedback about anything in this issue of WServerNews? Email us at [email protected]

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