About Me

My name's Steve, A.K.A TechXero/DarkXero, and I am a 46 year old Tech fanatic from Lebanon. I love technology, mainly Computer Hardware/Software, smartphones, and some web-design. I also love many music genres, like all types of Electronic mostly anything with hard bass, classic 80's, Heavy Metal, Country, among others.

Music

Films

Films too, especially Art Films by famous Directors like Lars Von Trier, Tarkovsky, Kubrick, Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas and others. Don't get me wrong, I do like some of the commercial movies coming out today, but not all. These days they tend to do remakes rather than come up with new stuff...

Platforms

iOS and Android

I am an avid iOS user when it comes to smartphones. I did use Android for 5 years, was happy on it for a while, I moved to iOS and have been a happy man ever since. However, it's not to say that I will stick with it for good, who knows what the future holds? I might go back to Android... I use both in parallel now to see where I will land...

In essence, I am a Multi-User — I don't stick to one platform, I like to dabble in all of them, but my main passion is Linux.

Background

Apple

Landed a job at Apple in 2019 in Ireland. But it didn't last long unfortunately. At least I can say that I have worked for that company LoL...

Cork, Ireland · 2019

Freelance

Freelance Technical Support specialist — I help people with their tech problems from time to time.

Lebanon · Ongoing

Passions

Hardware Tinkering
Web Design
Open Source
Multi-Platform Workflows
XeroLinux

I currently maintain my very own ArchLinux Distro XeroLinux. An innovative Arch-based distribution designed to demystify the installation process while preserving user-driven customization. I mainly use it above any other OS because that's where my passion lies. F.O.S.S is the way. You can quote me on that LoL...

Rig

StationXero // Daily Driver Online
StationXero Setup
GPU AMD RX 7800XT
CPU AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
OS XeroLinux + Windows 11
DE/Session KDE Plasma Wayland
Memory 32GB DDR4 @ 3200Mt/s

Curriculum Vitae

PDF

Stefan Chaanine

Nationality: Greek — Novi-Sad, Vojvodina, Serbia

[email protected] · +381-65-3147289

Professional Experience

Apple EU HQ

Cork, Ireland

2019 – 2020

Siri Machine Learning / A.I / Transcription

Transcriber on the French Siri Team & Machine Learning / A.I Specialist

  • Fixing Siri responses, making sure they are correct
  • Geo Tagging when needed
  • Reporting Malicious Requests

iStyle Computers L.L.C

Apple Authorized Official Reseller

2015 – 2019

Confirmed Seller — Apple Products & Support

Dubai Mall (UAE) 2015–2018 | City Center Beirut (Lebanon) 2018–2019. Max monthly individual turnover: $150K.

  • Promote Apple Services, including sale of computer hardware and mobile phones
  • Provide personalized advice for customers on different Apple products
  • Present new Apple products and commercial operations in-store
  • Implement actions for specific events (Back to School, Black Friday, etc.)
  • Build customer loyalty and support Apple Care setup
  • IT support management and software diagnostics
  • Stock management, customer receipts, and store accounts

Unilog Lebanon

Beirut, Lebanon

2010 – 2015

Junior IT Support Technician

Support and technical assistance of the customer Régie Lebanon.

  • Ensure proper functioning of hardware and software during Unilog's mission with Régie Lebanon
  • Perform on-site troubleshooting

Independent IT Freelancer

Beirut, Lebanon

2003 – 2009

IT Support Technician

IT Freelancer for individuals and professionals.

  • Set up computer software and repair computer hardware
  • Implement domestic computer networks in homes
  • Create websites and forums for individuals
  • Computer maintenance in PC / Mac environments, backup and restore data

Education

Louis Massignon French High School

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

1998

Baccalaureate level

Languages

English

Bilingual

French

Bilingual

Classical Arabic

Read, Write, Speak fluently

Lebanese

Mother tongue

Technical Skills

  • Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android
  • Repair / Diagnostics PC & Mac
  • Diagnosing all software problems (PC/Mac)
  • Diagnosing and repairing most PC hardware problems
  • Building any type of PC for all occasions (Gaming / Animation 2D or 3D, etc.)

My Story

Every good story needs a few plot twists. Mine took me through Dubai, Lebanon, Ireland, Serbia, and now Greece - through collapses, close calls, and more restarts than I can count. This is that journey, and the next chapter opens right here in Thessaloniki.

The Journey

Step 1 - Dubai, UAE

iStyle Apple Premium Reseller storefront

Every adventure needs an origin story. Mine starts in Dubai, UAE, where I spent three years working at iStyle, an Apple Premium Reseller - getting hands-on with tech, dealing with customers day in day out, and learning the ropes of an industry I'd stay close to for years to come.

Step 2 - Beirut, Lebanon

Beirut skyline, Lebanon

After Dubai I moved to iStyle Lebanon, giving Lebanon a shot - it failed miserably, and that's when the next leg of the adventure kicked off: Ireland.

Step 3 - Cork, Ireland

Apple office floor in Cork, Ireland

From there I set off for Apple in Cork, Ireland - the dream on paper, a brutal test in practice. Then COVID-19 hit, and with family back home in Lebanon, I made the call to leave and come home worn out but not done.

Step 4 - Beirut, Lebanon (Again)

Aftermath of the Beirut port explosion, August 2020

What came next read like a survival arc: an economic collapse that wiped out over 90% of the currency's value, salaries turned to dust overnight, and war - more than once. On August 4, 2020, I was on the phone with my father when the Beirut port explosion tore through the city - I heard it live. Years later, war found us again, closer and louder each time. Blackouts, food scarcity, a country in freefall - I lived through all of it and kept moving.

Step 5 - Serbia

Petrovaradin Fortress overlooking Novi Sad, Serbia

Then the Linux community stepped in, and their generosity became the bridge that got me out and into Serbia, buying me the time and stability to plan the next leg.

Step 6 - Thessaloniki, Greece

The Black Pearl pirate ship at the Thessaloniki harbor

The search finally paid off: a job offer landed me in Thessaloniki, Greece, and I got my own rented apartment here - first real foothold in ages. New city, new country, new page, and for the first time in years the road ahead actually looks like it's going somewhere good.

Step 7 - Teleperformance

The job itself: Teleperformance, one of the world's largest customer experience and BPO companies, with a site right here in Thessaloniki. It's not the endgame - it's a foot in the door while I scout for something better paid - but it's steady work in a new place, and training kicks off soon. One level at a time.

The Next Leg

Here's the plan: get settled, build real stability, and keep scouting for a better opportunity here in Greece. And through it all, XeroLinux keeps moving - being in a steadier place means more energy to throw at it, not less.

Do or do not. There is no try.

Help Me Build On This

If you want to help fuel the next leg of this journey, joining a monthly tier on Ko-fi goes a long way. This isn't about survival anymore - it's about building something solid, and every bit of support pushes the story forward.

Thank You!

To everyone who's helped along the way, whether with money, a share, or just a kind word - thank you. This road's been long, and none of it would've been possible without people showing up for me. Here's to the next chapter of the adventure.

The Vault

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Contact

Want to get in touch? Whether it's about tech, a collaboration, or just to say hello — feel free to reach out.

[email protected]
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