Author: Jim O Brien/CEO

CEO and expert in transport and Mobile tech. A fan 20 years, mobile consultant, Nokia Mobile expert, Former Nokia/Microsoft VIP,Multiple forum tech supporter with worldwide top ranking,Working in the background on mobile technology, Weekly radio show, Featured on the RTE consumer show, Cavan TV and on TRT WORLD. Award winning Technology reviewer and blogger. Security and logisitcs Professional.

Earth Overshoot Day 2022 – “As of 29 July, we are in debt to our children”

Earth Overshoot Day was calculated. It signified the day on which human consumption of raw materials can no longer be covered by the formation of new resources. In other words: every day after it, we incur ecological debt. When calculated in 1971 this date fell on 25 December – i.e. humanity consumed more resources than were available for only six calendar days – in just over 50 years, this date now falls on 28 July; 150 days earlier. In 2006, the first global Earth Overshoot Day campaign was launched together with the Global Footprint Network, and since 2007 the WWF, the world’s largest nature conservation organisation, has been involved.

“This year, from the 29th of July onwards, we will already be ecologically in debt to our children and grandchildren,” says Peter Windischhofer, CEO and Co-Founder of refurbed. “For 156 days this year, we will consume resources that do not belong to us. This is like my salary being used up on the 17th of the month and living on credit for the remainder,” says the founder of the green tech scale-up and online marketplace for sustainable consumption. 

The COVID-19 Pandemic has highlighted humanity’s ecological impact

Since 2018, Earth Overshoot Day has been a regular visitor in the month of July with the exception of 2020 when it occurred on August 22nd. This was due to global lockdowns; “2020 showed how much influence we could have as a society and how it is possible to move the date back again,” says Windischhofer. “Now we have to learn to find ways to move the date further back, even without COVID-19.”

Ireland’s 2022 Overshoot Day was worryingly on April 21st, much earlier than the world average

According to the Central Statistics Office, in 2018 alone, Ireland had the 3rd worst emissions per capita in Europe, with 53% higher emissions per person than the EU average (12.6 tonnes vs. 8.2 tonnes). “If everyone in the world lived the way we Irish do, we would have celebrated Earth Overshoot Day on the 21st of April this year,” says Pádraig Power, Ireland’s marketing manager for refurbed, about the unpleasant date. “This concrete figure will hopefully help us recognise Ireland’s exuberant consumer behaviour, and help us realise that now is the time to put the steps in place for a greener future.”

“Change has to be easy, otherwise it is not long-term”

“It is simply not true that the individual can do nothing,” Founder Windischhofer knows from his own experience. “Everything we do has effects – some stop eating meat, others switch from the car to the train. The pandemic has shown that remote working is possible across the board and that many kilometres in our everyday lives are also simply superfluous,” the committed entrepreneur is convinced. “It is important that we make changes in behaviour easy, pleasant and attainable, only then will they be permanent. Our consumer behaviour is changing. The concept of ‘reuse – recycle – repair’ is slowly catching on in people’s minds, but every person is different, every person can save CO2 somewhere else. The Earth doesn’t care where we save, it only cares that we do it.” 

Refurbed is a CO2 negative and an environmentally positive organisation – for every product sold, refurbed plants a tree to offset carbon emissions created during the refurbishing process. The trees are planted in countries such as Haiti, Madagascar, Kenya, Indonesia and Mozambique or Nepal through their partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects. The company also plants native trees in woodlands across Ireland as part of their partnership with Reforest Nation.

Sky Glass launching in Ireland this August

You may have heard about Sky glass last October when it launched in the UK, but Sky Ireland has today announced that Sky’s new TV, Sky Glass, will officially launch in Ireland on Thursday, 25th August 2022.

Available in a range of sizes and colours, Sky Glass is the only TV with award-winning Sky inside, allowing customers to get Sky TV over WiFi – removing the need for a satellite dish or set-top box. Simply plug, pair and play to enjoy stunning picture quality and cinematic sound, with everything you need built in. With easy access to stream your favourite content and apps using voice command, Sky Glass makes it simple for users to find and watch the TV they love.

Speaking about Sky Glass launching in Ireland, Sky Ireland CEO, JD Buckley, said:

“Following its hugely successful launch in the UK, we are thrilled to announce that Ireland will be the second market to launch Sky Glass. The launch of Sky Glass here marks a significant milestone in Sky’s 25-year history in Ireland and follows our recent announcement that Sky Mobile is coming to Ireland in 2023, as well as the opening of our four new flagship retail stores.

“Investing in the best technology, the best content and the best customer experience are always our top priorities and Sky Glass is the most innovative product we have developed yet. It opens the world of Sky to customers who may not have been able to access Sky TV before now. With the ability to stream the best content and apps over WiFi, Sky Glass features Ultra HD, Quantum Dot technology and 360° Dolby Atmos® sound. Sky Glass will be available in Ireland from August 25th, but we are giving customers the opportunity to pre-register for Sky Glass now.”

Features of Sky Glass

  • The only TV with Sky and all your favourite apps inside
  • Everything in one place – Sky Glass eliminates wasted time trekking from app to app
  • Cutting-edge design available in five colours and three sizes
  • Ultra HD and Quantum Dot technology producing over 1 billion colours
  • 360° Dolby Atmos® sound with powerful built-in speakers and sub-woofer
  • Talk to your TV: just say “Hello Sky” to find what to watch
  • The world’s first TV to be certified CarbonNeutral®

Customers can pre-register for Sky Glass now on www.sky.ie/skyglass. From August 25th, Sky Glass will be available to order through all of Sky’s customer channels – online, through Sky’s contact centre and in any Sky retail store.

Google is making sustainable travel an easier choice this summer as cycling increases by 40% worldwide

Climate change is a global issue as well as local and personal. As people are looking to travel to their holiday destinations, questions like “How to travel sustainably” are on everybody’s minds.

Google committed to empower 1 billion people through our products, to make the sustainable choice an easier choice. At the individual level, these choices may seem small, but when people have the tools to make them at scale, they equal big improvements.

Here’s how Google products help you get from A to B more sustainably this summer

 

  1. Getting to your holiday destination – The first step towards more sustainable holidays, is more sustainable planning. If you are going to a destination you can only reach by flying, Google Search helps you understand the CO2 emissions associated with each potential trip directly in Google Flights. A green badge next to the emissions number to help you sift through your options more easily, and you can filter all flights by “CO2 emissions” to easily find and book the flight with the lowest footprint.
    To produce these estimates, we’re combining data from the European Environmental Agency with the flight-specific information we get from airlines and other providers such as aircraft type, trip distance and the number of seats in each seating class. In collaboration with the Travalyst coalition, we are helping to develop an open model for calculating carbon emissions from air travel and promote standardisation across the travel industry using this framework.

 

  1. Sleeping sustainably – Google Search helps you find hotels that have made significant commitments to green practices. This includes hotels that are certified for meeting high standards of sustainability from certain independent organisations, like Green Key or EarthCheck, will have an eco-certified badge next to their name. This helps you understand their eco-friendly practices, from waste reduction to energy efficiency or water conservation measures.

 

  1. Hop on your bike – Over the past few months, cycling has increased by more than 40% worldwide – which is no surprise given that the warmer weather and high petrol prices have people opting for more sustainable transportation choices. Google Maps has provided cycling directions for over 12 years thanks to AI paired with data from cities, trusted cartographic partners and feedback from the Google Maps community. Now, with our new cycling route information, you can easily compare bike routes and see even more granular details (when this data is available) to prepare for the ride ahead.

 

Just get cycling directions to any destination. In addition to seeing the elevation along your route, you’ll also know if you’ll encounter heavy car traffic, stairs or steep hills. You’ll also be able to get a highly detailed breakdown of the route itself so you can know at a glance what type of road you’ll be biking on – like a major road vs. a local street. Gone are the days of unknowingly pedaling up a strenuous hill or on a route with more car traffic than you’re comfortable with.

 

  1. Charge your EV easily – If you have an electric vehicle, Google Maps can help put your range anxiety at ease. Just search for “ev charging station” to see all of the stations nearby, along with helpful details, like the business where the station is located, port types and charging speeds. And for some stations, you can even see if a charger is available in real-time – helping you avoid the line and save valuable time. With cars with Google built in, Maps will even help you take that EV road trip, automatically helping you find stations along your route.

 

  1. Transit information – By tapping on the transit tab in Directions on Google Maps, you get directions to any place by bus, train, subway, and even ferry. When available, you can see real time arrival and departure times, transfer points, and any upcoming service delays. And, Google Maps gives you all the information you need to be prepared for your ride. Not only can you see how crowded your transit ride will be – so you can know if you’re likely to get a seat – but you can see helpful information, like whether there’s security on board, what the temperature is like, and if there are wheelchair accessible routes available

FREE NOW partners with TIER mobility to launch e-bikes in Dublin

Ireland’s leading mobility app FREE NOW has partnered with the world’s largest micro-mobility provider TIER Mobility to launch FREE NOW’s first integration of e-bikes in Ireland. TIER’s e-bikes will be available to book through the FREE NOW app alongside taxis from later this week.

This partnership forms part of FREE NOW’s ambition to offer a wider range of sustainable, low-emission and efficient transport options to passengers in Ireland, enabling users to choose a more multi-modal approach to meet individual and changing transport needs. This mirrors what FREE NOW offers in other markets across Europe including France, Germany, Poland, Spain and Italy where passengers can book e-scooters, e-bikes, e-mopeds, taxis and even car sharing options in certain locations all in one app.

The initial rollout will include 100 battery power-assisted TIER e-bikes in Blanchardstown, Swords, Malahide, Baldoyle, Portmarnock and Howth. Additional roll-outs will take place across Fingal County over the coming months and will bring the total number of e-bikes available to 400. The introduction of e-bikes will help with Fingal County Council’s aim of making active travel the preferred mode of travel for journeys under 5km. Users can locate and book the e-bikes through the FREE NOW app under the new option ‘2-wheels’ and use them within the Fingal County area.

FREE NOW’s e-bike partnership with TIER follows a successful e-scooter trial across five DCU campuses which began in July 2021, allowing passengers in DCU to book a TIER e-scooter via the FREE NOW app. This e-scooter trial has provided both mobility companies with key learnings that have been utilised in the e-bike launch. FREE NOW is looking forward to welcoming e-scooters into the app early next year in line with approved legislation.

Commenting on the e-bike launch, Niall Carson, General Manager of FREE NOW Ireland said: “At FREE NOW we are committed to enabling passengers to make smart and sustainable transport decisions as part of the national effort to build a greener and more sustainable transport infrastructure. We are delighted to launch e-bikes in our app in conjunction with TIER, one of our key partners in the micro-mobility sector. The integration of electric, micro-mobility on the FREE NOW app will enable our passengers to consider more sustainable transport choices in addition to our ECO booking taxi option. After the success of our e-scooter trial last year and now this e-bike launch, we are excited about what the future holds for FREE NOW in the multi-mobility space in Ireland.”

Also commenting on the e-bike launch, Peadar Golden, Ireland Country Manager from TIER said: “ Our TIER e-bikes are a great sustainable and active way for people to make journeys across Fingal County. It is fantastic to be able to bring our partnership with FREE NOW to more people in Ireland and be able to offer multi-modal journey options through the FREE NOW app. Our mission is to change mobility for good, and by offering people easy access to ways of getting around that don’t rely on a private car, be that by e-bike, e-scooter or taxi, we can play a part in making our cities healthier and more pleasant places to be.” 

To celebrate their new partnership launch FREE NOW is offering a limited time discount for you to try an e-bike! Get €6 off your first e-bike trip with the code FREE2BIKE valid until 28.08.2022.

The Lifts Of Moher – Electric buggies wheeled out at Clare visitor attraction

People with disabilities or reduced mobility can now fully enjoy everything the Cliffs of Moher Experience in County Clare has to offer courtesy of two electric buggies.

Operated by trained staff, the Burren Buggy and Wild Atlantic Shuttle provide visitors to with a guided tour of Ireland’s most natural attraction from the viewing platforms overlooking the majestic cliffs to the iconic 19th century O’Brien’s Tower.

“The Lifts of Moher are proving to be hugely popular, particularly for individuals with mobility issues, those with disabilities, the elderly, their families and carers,” explained Geraldine Enright, Director of the Cliffs of Moher Experience.

She continued, “This service is offered to those who are in need and the beauty of the experience is that users get to see and learn about the Cliffs in a way that they wouldn’t have otherwise.”

“The buggies are electric in keeping with our sustainability ethos and are widely accepted by onlookers recognising the care and service offered by the Cliffs of Moher Experience to those in need.  The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” she added.

U.S. tourist Laura Sitters, who recently suffered a hip injury, praised the initiative stating, “Upon my arrival, I was informed that I could get a ride in the golf cart in order to check out the views. Kieran Kelly (staff member) graciously drove me around to the various vantage points. People who have limited mobility for whatever reason should have the opportunity to see the cliffs and the waves crashing down at the base of the cliffs and that’s only feasibly with people like Mr. Kelly and the golf carts.”

The introduction of the buggies is the latest in a series of measures introduced at the County Clare visitor attraction to further enhance on-site accessibility.

According to Ms. Enright, “The Cliffs of Moher site is fully accessible throughout the visitor centre building and main viewing areas and provides ample disability parking and drop off. Wheelchairs also are available for use from different areas on-site. All our accessibility initiatives support the Clare Age Friendly Strategy & Action Plan, which was adopted by Clare County Council.”

Cliffs of Moher visitor Eimear King said, “If you have limited mobility do not let that stop you going to this spectacular attraction. There is a golf buggy style transport available, specific parking and wheelchairs available. All of these provided the most accessible experience for one that cannot walk very far.”

With free Wi-Fi available throughout the main visitor centre building and viewing platforms, visitors also can access a range of information about the Cliffs of Moher via their smartphone. The multilingual Cliffs of Moher Experience app contains 13 audio tracks narrated by Conor Tallon and featuring contributions from people with an intrinsic knowledge of the rich history, geology, flora and fauna of Ireland’s most visited natural attraction.

The Burren Buggy and Wild Atlantic Shuttle are free of charge and are subject to availability. No pre-booking is required. Visit www.cliffsofmoher.ie for more information.

Large numbers of millennial and Gen Z workers in Ireland plan to quit jobs and seek new roles in the next two years

A Deloitte Ireland survey released today has found that Gen Z and millennials are concerned about an economic downturn but desire a better work/life balance, and want more flexible working arrangements than they currently have.

The post pandemic ‘Great Resignation’ theme is being witnessed as a global trend, and is also permeating Irish workplaces. Less stress, better career advancement opportunities and more attractive conditions like hybrid and remote working, are driving employees to leave organisations that do not support these needs. Businesses also recognise the challenge with CEOs ranking labour and skills shortage as the number one external issue expected to influence or disrupt their business strategy in the next 12 months, according another recent Deloitte survey of global CEOs.

The Irish participants who took part in the Millennial and Gen Z global study of over 45 countries, responded that they are more willing than ever to leave for fresh opportunities. They are seeking options to provide them with better salary/reward, work life balance, higher flexibility and opportunity offered by employers, and, to a lesser extent, organisations focused on climate change. In the wake of the pandemic, many started to reassess what is important to them and to make decisions based on this reassessment. This makes for an interesting employment climate – full of risk but also full of opportunities.

Gary Notley, Director for Human Capital, Deloitte Ireland said: “The top trend that stood out in the Irish context in this survey is a strong desire and decisiveness around a better work/life balance. The fact that one-in-four of the millennials surveyed have already left their roles due to burnout – no doubt exacerbated by the demands and stresses of the pandemic – shows that this is area employers really need to address and focus on, if they are to retain talent. While Ireland did experience the ‘Great Resignation’, there is however an opportunity to redefine it to the ‘Great Reimagination’. Organisations can recover and thrive by reflecting, revisiting, and reinventing work to better leverage technology, harness the power of workforce, and reimagine the workplace.

“One in two millennials and one in three of Gen Zs said that better work/life balance is the main consideration when looking at an organisation’s offering in 2022.  This correlates with the second trend around mental health. Globally and in Ireland, Gen Z employees have been most affected by anxiety, stress and mental health issues over 2021 and 2022.  

“The concern around the cost of living is much higher in Ireland when compared with global figures, with 55% of Irish millennials citing the cost of living as being their number one greatest concern, in comparison to 36% globally. The fact that three in ten of the Gen Z generation also do part-time work to supplement their income, really underpins this critical issue.

“Climate change is also a key concern with three quarters of both cohorts in Ireland agreeing that the world is at a tipping point in responding to climate change. Concern about this is becoming increasingly pivotal in the decision-making processes of those in their 20s, 30s and 40s,” Notley concluded.

Work/Life Balance and increased cost of living

In Ireland, some employees are at a breaking point – either mentally or financially. As well as cost of living concerns, most of the Gen Zs (75%) and millennials (77%) who took part in the survey prefer hybrid or fully remote work, but less than half currently have the option to do so.

This presents an opportunity for employers to move closer to flexible ways of working, providing the balance so desired by today’s workforce. An additional benefit is that it expands the talent pool beyond the radius of an office location and allows people to factor in cost of living when considering staying or moving on from their current organisation.

Mental Health Factor

Nearly half of Gen Zs say they feel stressed all or most of the time. Millennial stress levels are also high but down slightly from last year. Employers are seen to be making an effort to address workplace mental health issues, with more than half of respondents saying their employer is more focused on workplace well-being and mental health, since the start of the pandemic.

However, many do not believe the increased focus has resulted in any meaningful impact on employees. Employers have an opportunity to rethink this area and impact the health and well-being of employees through assistance and wellbeing programmes, coaching and by building a culture of openness.

Climate Change

Over 90% of all Millennials and Gen Zs globally are now actively trying to impact the environment through positive choices. In Ireland almost one-in-three of both groups ranked climate change and protection of the environment as a top three concern.

Nine in ten of both groups surveyed here said they try to minimise their personal impact on the environment, but only 6% of Irish Millennials and 12% of Gen Zs believe that large companies are taking tangible actions to combat climate change. Their feelings about the Irish Government’s performance rate even more poorly with only 3% of Irish millennials and 7% of Gen Zs here agreeing that they are highly committed to climate change.

Play It Safe: Download Free Secure Games From GameTop

Games are big business, and we like to play them. Sometimes we pay for them, but more often than not, we’re willing to take the easy route and download the software for free. If you’re a gamer, it’s easy to feel annoyed when you can’t play your game whenever you want to. I mean, we all love video games, but why should the price limit our enjoyment? There’s a solution to this problem: piracy.

A lot of people who own a computer and a copy of Windows have already figured out ways to play PC games without buying them. Instead of spending money, many people have resorted to pirating games by downloading the games off the Internet. These “pirates” usually download games illegally through torrent sites like The Pirate Bay, or by finding free copies online, or buying used games from secondhand stores.

Pirated games are not safe. If you buy a game and have it stolen, you may have lost the money you spent on the game, but you also lose the game. If you pirate a game, you gain nothing except the satisfaction of knowing you got away with it. And what do you lose? Your time. If the game is pirated, it’s likely a pre-release version that’s been tested by the developer, and maybe even has bugs. A pirated game might not run properly, or play correctly. You might have problems with DRM or technical issues that mean you can’t save your progress or install the game on more than one device. That’s a lot of things that go wrong when you download a pirated game instead of buying it.

Piracy is never going to be an adequate substitute for a legit game you actually own. If you don’t buy games, you aren’t supporting their creators—you’re making money for other people who make the games you pirate. That means the games you’re playing are probably less safe than they would be if you had purchased them.

Many people still pirate games because they think it’s the only way to play. However, there are better and safer options for you if you want to play free games on your PC!

You can get legit games for free from trusted websites. 

GameTop is an awesome website that has tons of free PC games for you to download. The site offers a variety of genres, ranging from action to strategy to puzzle, and all the games are free! They source the games directly from over a hundred developers, and they’re all 100% FREE. So it’s like getting to play them without having to pay anything at all! There are no limits. You get whatever you want.

Because of this, you can enjoy a much more polished experience when playing the games from GameTop than you would when you buy them from other websites. Games are rated by users, so you won’t have to worry about downloading anything bad, and they also provide ratings for each game based on user reviews, which makes finding good games a breeze. It is totally worth checking out, especially if you’re looking for something casual to play.

A quick search will turn up many options; we just need to sort through them to find the ones that are truly worth downloading. In most cases, you’ll want to look for games that are free to play, as this indicates that they aren’t actually making money off of you. In some cases, the apps may offer you a trial period in which you can test out the game before deciding whether or not you want to purchase it. It’s also a good idea to check for terms of service before downloading the game, as this will indicate how often the developer plans to update and improve the app.

You can buy games online and then download them to your PC via Steam or Epic Games.

Steam is a digital distribution platform that allows users to buy and play PC games online. The Steam website boasts over 75,000 games available, and each game has its own page, allowing players to browse through different categories and view screenshots of the game. There are two ways to use Steam: either as a regular PC application, or as a website through the Steam client.

The Epic Games Store includes a wide variety of popular titles for all ages, including Fortnite, Rocket League, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, and others. With Epic Game Store, gamers can buy games directly from developers through the Epic Games launcher app, allowing them to take advantage of the convenience and speed of Epic’s platform while enjoying an unparalleled level of security and reliability.

If you bought a PC game, like Far Cry 3, from Steam or Origin, you can usually install it on up to three different computers at once, and that’s a huge deal.

Normally, once you buy a game, you can install it only on the computer it came on and play it only there. But if you buy a game from Steam or Origin, you can install it on up to three different computers, and you can play it on those computers as long as they’re connected to the same network. That means you can play the same game on your laptop, on your desktop, and on your tablet, and the files can all be stored in the cloud, which means you’ll always have access to your saved games no matter where you are or what device you’re using.

The only thing to consider is that if you purchase a PC game from Steam or Origin, you may not be able to play it offline unless you’re connected to the internet, and you won’t be able to play it on a console (like a PS4) or a mobile device (like an iPhone or an Android phone). But overall, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

In conclusion, downloading free legit games are way better than pirating. The best free games around these days are available for download. They’re easy to install, easy to play, and they’re always improving with updates. The worst thing you can do is pirate them. That’s like driving around town and randomly ripping off other drivers. It’s against the law, and it makes you look like a total jerk.

Instead, download free games from legitimate sites like GameTop that let you play for free. The games are all yours, so you don’t have to worry about paying for them. Downloading free games is also safe. Because they’re all legitimate, there’s no risk of malware or spyware sneaking onto your computer. Instead, you’ll find yourself enjoying the best free games without worrying about any technical issues. All you need to do is download the game and start playing. There’s nothing more freeing than this kind of freedom to explore, experiment, and play without limits. So get online, download some games, and get ready to fall in love with this wonderful world of gaming!

Five Methods to Fix Frozen MacBook when Booting Up

Introduction

MacBook laptops sometimes run into the issue of not booting up for some reason. It could be because of corrupted startup file, incompatible operating systems with the MacBook model, bad startup disk, and so on. When these issues exist, it becomes harder to start up the MacBook normally. 

This article provides five simple methods to fix frozen MacBook that is not booting up. It explains these step processes and applicable solutions to scenarios when the Mac is not booting up.

Methods of Fixing MacBook That Is Not Booting Up

Below are the top five recommendations to get your MacBook up and running once again. They are:

  1. Safe Mode Boot

Booting in Safe Mode limits the number of checks and processes that Mac focuses on while trying to boot. It is very useful for performing certain diagnostics to discover the real issue with the laptop not booting. 

To proceed with safe mode, first force shut down the Mac. Next, press and hold down the shift key immediately after restarting the Mac. To get some feedback on the actions you are taking while trying to boot in safe mode, press and hold the ‘Shift + Command + V’ key combination when you restart the Mac. This will boot into safe mode alongside verbose mode. 

You should see safe mode written on the top right corner if you are successful. The safe mode interface also looks a bit different with blocks of color in comparison with the usual transparency. Once you are in safe mode, try uninstalling recent software or undoing recent settings changes. 

  1. PRAM/NVRAM reset

Parameter Random Access Memory is a special memory section that stores data in the Mac for shutting down, volume settings, and screen resolution. Resetting PRAM helps to reset the parameters to the default value and helps to end any process disrupting proper boot-up. 

To reset PRAM/NVRAM, first shut down your Mac. Click and hold down the ‘Command + Option (alt) + P + R’ key combination immediately after restarting. Keep holding down these keys for at least 5 seconds before releasing the keys. This should reset your Mac and allow it to restart normally. In other cases, you boot to the progress bar and your Mac starts up after some minutes.

  1. System Management Controller (SMC) Reset

The SMC is responsible for low-level hardware functions like power button action, battery management, LED, and so on. Resetting the SMC will return the power management settings to default and help to fix the boot failure. 

To begin the reset process, make sure the Mac is shut down by long pressing the power button. After about 15 to 20 seconds, hold down the ‘Shift + Control + Option’ key combinations and press the power button for about 10 seconds. Release the button and restart the Mac to see the result.

  1. Disk Utility option in Recovery mode

A corrupt drive might prove to be incompatible with the startup process because of some corrupt files. Using the recovery mode, a fix for the drive can happen with the ‘First Aid’ feature in the Disk Utility option. The first step is to get the laptop to boot in recovery mode. To do this, first force shut down the laptop. Then proceed to click the ‘Command + Option + R’ key combination immediately after restarting.

When the screen shows the ‘macOS utilities’ menu, your Mac is in recovery mode. Proceed to navigate to the Disk Utility option. From the Disk Utility, select the startup drive and apply for the ‘First Aid’ program on the drive. If there are errors with the startup disk, the Disk Utility will help fix them.

  1. File system check

In a scenario where the file system is the reason why MacBook is not booting up, running a check and slightly modifying it will help fix the issue. Although this step is a bit technical, it is easy and quite straightforward. To begin this process, first shut down your Mac. Restart with and press the ‘Command + S’ key combination. This launches the Mac in single-user mode. You should release the keypress only when a black screen and white text appears on the screen. 

Next, enter the ‘fsck –fy’ command in the command line prompt and click the return key. Wait while the file system modification is ongoing. After the checks are over, you should see either one of the two messages: ‘The volume (Mac name) appear to be OK’ or ‘FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED’.

Proceed to type reboot and press enter to restart your MacBook. 

Data Recovery with iBoysoft

One thing you worry about the frozen MacBook is the data within. There is one effective solution from iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac to recover data from a dead MacBook. iBoysoft offers an effective and efficient data recovery software that helps to recover important data from your laptop. It offers the option to recover your files from the laptop that might have some fault. 

In three easy steps, you can recover your files. First, download and install the iBoysoft tool free from the internet. The second step is to launch and perform a quick or deep scan of the disk you select. Thirdly, preview and recover the files you choose to recover. You are suggested to store these files on an external hard drive instead of saving them in the original location. 

Fortunately, when your MacBook refuses to boot up, iBoysoft data recovery can help you recover your data. Through the terminal, you can launch the iBoysoft tool and save your data to an external device. From the recovery mode, select terminal on the ‘macOS utilities’ screen. 

In the terminal command window, enter the following command: ‘sh <(curl http://boot.iboysoft.com/boot.sh) command to launch the iBoysoft data recovery. From the software interface, select the disk you wish to scan and perform the scanning process. Select the files you need to recover and select ‘recover’. For this data recovery process to work, make sure your Mac has an active internet connection.  

250 New Jobs to be Created as Kaseya Chooses Dundalk for its New Centre of Excellence

Kaseya, the leading global provider of unified IT management and security software for managed service providers (MSPs) and mid-market enterprises (MMEs), today announced plans to establish a new Centre of Excellence in Dundalk, creating 250 jobs over the next three years.

The project is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.

Tánaiste & Minister for Enterprise Trade & Employment Leo Varadkar TD said: “This is excellent news. It really demonstrates Kaseya’s commitment to Ireland and the attractiveness of Dundalk as a place to invest. It’s also a real vote of confidence in Kaseya’s existing team here – I’m sure it was their hard work that gave the company the confidence to expand further. Kaseya has witnessed remarkable growth over recent years, and I wish the team every continued success with the new Dundalk office.”

The highly skilled roles include 250 jobs for engineers, technical support and sales, specifically new customer acquisition, as well as positions across corporate services. Kaseya will work closely with university partners in the area to help train students for the positions and foster the next generation of technology professionals in the region.

“We saw tremendous opportunity to expand the tech ecosystem in Ireland – we’re already in Dublin – and decided to open a second office in Dundalk,” said Kaseya CEO Fred Voccola. We are planning to attract top tech talent and generate a robust workforce pipeline in the local community. We are excited about this partnership that will expand Kaseya’s footprint in Ireland, where Kaseya has its roots. The company first established its EMEA headquarters in Dublin in 2016.”

Kaseya saw the potential in Ireland and decided to expand its operations with this second site in Dundalk to operate as a Centre of Excellence with a focus on research and development. The Dundalk office will support a high-growth engineering team and contribute to economic development in the region.

CEO of IDA Ireland Martin Shanahan said: “Thanks to Kaseya’s positive experience with establishing a facility in Dublin, the company has selected Dundalk as the location of its second Irish site.  This is very good news for the entire region and the skilled and talented workforce located there. I wish Kaseya every success with this expansion.”

Kaseya successfully executed a similar program in the U.S., in Miami, Florida where the company is headquartered.  In two short years, Kaseya has grown its Miami operation from 150 people to more than 600 and now occupies over 150,000-sq-ft to support its growth plan of having over 1,200 “Kaseyans” in Miami by 2023. Modelling after this hugely successful program, with support from IDA Ireland, Kaseya’s leadership is confident this initiative will be another success that brings economic growth to the region.

To view a list of the open roles in Ireland, click here.