How to upgrade openSUSE Leap to openSUSE Tumbleweed

If you're wanting to check out the rolling release version of openSUSE, here's the step-by-step process of upgrading the standard release, Leap, to Tumbleweed.

By Jack Wallen | October 10, 2016, 5:37 AM PST



Recently I decided to give openSUSE Tumbleweed a go. My initial reasoning was so that I could experience the latest iteration of the GNOME desktop, without having to bother with attempting to upgrade Ubuntu GNOME. I knew about Tumbleweed and how it was a rolling release distribution that will always have the latest release of every software stack installed.

What I found, however, was so much more. Yes, Tumbleweed is a rolling distribution (similar to Arch or Gentoo), but Tumbleweed does it a bit differently. And that difference matters.

Consider this. One of the reasons why some are opposed the rolling release distribution is that the cutting edge releases of various software packages can lead to a problem with the system. I've experienced this before, and it's often a nightmare to resolve. Fortunately, the openSUSE developers have figured a way to avoid this and it's genius.
The way of the tumbleweed



Most rolling release distributions upgrade to the latest releases without thinking. So long as the package dependencies are met, the package will be installed. That lack of smart design is what often leads to problems. How openSUSE Tumbleweed gets around this is by building the distribution as a single, cohesive whole. When an update is run, if a package would break the cohesion of the whole (or simply invalidate another package), then all dependent packages are rebuilt as if it were a traditional distribution. This is all handled by way of the Open Build Service.

This makes for an incredibly rock-solid rolling release Linux distribution.

But what if you already have an openSUSE Leap installation, and you want to migrate it over to Tumbleweed? Do you have to download the Tumbleweed ISO image and

AMD provides upgrade path to Zen with new Bristol Ridge Pro processors for businesses

AMD's 7th Generation Pro processors will go into business desktops. Credit: AMD


Agam Shah
IDG News Service
Oct 3, 2016 6:34 AM
AMD 7th Generation Pro processors code-named Bristol Ridge Pro will appear in desktops from HP and Lenovo

AMD’s new 7th Generation Pro chips have hooks to let PC users easily upgrade to next-generation Zen chips that could come out next year.

The new Pro chips, code-named Bristol Ridge, are for business desktops, and will appear in PCs from HP and Lenovo. The ability to easily upgrade is a big deal because it lets users avoid buying new PCs in order to get the Zen chips when they come out.

It’ll work like this: users buy a desktop with the new AMD Pro chip, but upgrade to Zen later on by replacing chips in the socket.

There’s a lot to like in the new AMD Pro chips, but there’s even more excitement around Zen, which will provide a 40 percent improvement in CPU performance. The new AMD Pro will be compatible with the AM4 socket, which provides the basis for upgrades to Zen.

AMD hasn’t said exactly when the Zen-based successor to the 7th Generation Pro will be released, though various product roadmaps issued by the company suggest it could come out a year from now. That said, the upgrade ability offered by the 7th Generation Pro chips opens the door for PC purchases for Zen to start now.

Enterprises want to keep PCs for as many years as possible, so the ability to easily upgrade to successor chips is important, said John Hampton, AMD’s director of commercial business development.

The 7th Generation Pro chips offer many advantages over their predecessors. The chips run 4K video and consume less power compared to predecessors, while boosting application performance. A 65-watt Pro chip consumes 32 percent less power than earlier generations of the AMD Pro, but speeds up CPU performance by 14 percent and graphics by 22 percent.

The new lineup includes seven AMD A12, A10, A8 and A6 Pro chips. They will be used in HP’s Elitedesk 705 G3 desktop, which will be available in tower PC and mini-desktop models.

The chip will support Windows 10 and Linux OSes. Those who prefer Windows 7 may need to buy older AMD Pro chips, which the company will still sell.

The 7th Generation Pro chips support DDR4 memory, NVMe SSD storage, USB 3.1, the USB Type-C slot and other new technologies. Hampton also highlighted an integrated “secure processor” that will secure the BIOS, firmware and personal data on a PC.

The AMD Pro chips are also designed to work with Windows Hello for multifactor authentication and biometric logins for PCs.

AMD’s Pro chips are comparable to Intel’s vPro chips, which are popular in business desktops. The Pro chips have remote management and security features based on the DASH (Desktop and Mobile Architecture for System Hardware) standard, which is widely used in servers. DASH shares many features with vPro, such as the ability to wipe out or shut down remote PCs that may have been stolen. But DASH isn’t widely used yet, with Intel’s vPro dominating the business PC market.

The highest-performing quad-core Pro A12-9800 draws 65 watts of power and has a clock speed of 4.2GHz. It includes an eight-core Radeon R7 integrated GPU. AMD compares the chip to an Intel Core i5 Skylake chip.

The lowest performing chip is the dual-core A6-9500E, which has a maximum frequency of 3.4GHz and draws 35 watts of power. It has a Radeon R5 GPU with four cores.

Moto Z and Moto G4 series to get Android 7.0 Nougat in Q4

28 Sep 2016 , 11:37

Google’s new Android 7.0 Nougat update has started rolling out to the Nexus as well as some Android One smartphones. Even LG announced that its new smartphone, the V20, will come with the new update out of the box. The next smartphone(s) in line that might get the new update will be coming from Lenovo, err Moto.

According to Droid Life, a Lenovo spokesperson has given a tip that the Nougat update will start rolling for the Moto Z range as well as the Moto G4 series in the fourth quarter of this year. So basically the Moto Z, Moto Z Force, Moto Z Play, Moto G4, Moto G4 Plus and hopefully the Moto G4 Play.

There is no info around other Moto products however Lenovo has said that “upgrades are about getting it right and making sure the phone performance remains the best it can be and that the company will be sharing upgrade plans for other products and more specific timing later.”

Assumingly the Moto X range and the Moto G 3rd-gen will get the new update by early next year. And knowing Motorola, it shouldn’t on time in bringing the new update to its products as it has been one of the only few brands that rolls out updates on time.

Xiaomi Mi 5s and Mi 5s Plus debut in China; boast of Snapdragon 821 and dual-camera setup

After months of rumours and speculation, Xiaomi has, at long last, unveiled the Xiaomi Mi 5s and Mi 5s Plus smartphones.

Both phones are powered by a Snapdragon 821 SoC and Adreno 530 GPU. The phones run MIUI, which is built on Android 6.0 and feature a brand new, ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. The connector is of the USB Type-C variety.

Interestingly, the fingerprint sensor is buried under

5 Reasons You Should Use iWork Instead of Microsoft Office

iWork has long been considered the inferior option to Microsoft Office (CA/UK). Word, Excel, and PowerPoint form the industry standard office suite, and that’s just what everyone expects to use. But it’s time to give iWork another chance.Which Office Suite Is Best for You? Which Office Suite Is Best for You?You'll be pressed to find an occupation that doesn't require word or number processing of some sort. And you may wonder, is Microsoft Office really the best solution? Here are your options.READ MORE

Many long-time Office users will be unwilling to transition away from the apps they’re so used to working with. Whether you’re an Office veteran or a complete newcomer to these types of apps, iWork may deserve another chance. Let’s take a look at why.

1. It’s Free

This might not matter if you get to use Office for free through your university or workplace, but to freelancers, hobbyists, and anyone else who uses these kinds of apps on a regular basis, this could be a pretty big deal.6 Ways You Can Use Microsoft Office Without Paying For It 6 Ways You Can Use Microsoft Office Without Paying For ItREAD MORE

A new copy of Microsoft Office Home and Student 2016 is $100, which is a significant amount of cash for something you probably don’t need. A 12-month subscription to Office 365 will actually cost you $100 per year, which can really add up.

Of course, Office 365 does offer you access to a number of other apps, including Outlook, Publisher, and Access, but these are niche apps that many people don’t need anyway.

iWork comes with every qualifying Mac purchased after October 2014 for free. It’s hard to beat that. If your Mac is older and you need to download the suite from the App Store, you’ll pay $20 per app for a total of $60, still cheaper than Office. Most iPads and iPhones get iWork for free, too.

2. Cleaner Interface

Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are very powerful tools, and their interfaces are absolutely jam-packed full of options and menus. If you’re a power user, this can be a good thing; you have quick access to all of the myriad settings you could want.

But the majority of users don’t need all of the options that are available. Managing references, text elements, and mathematical equations aren’t common concerns among most office suite users. I’d be willing to bet that at least 95% of Word users have never needed to adjust the hyphenation zone.

iWork gets rid of a lot of this clutter in favor of a cleaner interface, which eliminates distractions and provides a more peaceful productivity environment. As with many Mac features, this contributes toincreased ease of use.Drinking the Kool Aid: 8 Reasons People Love Their Macs Drinking the Kool Aid: 8 Reasons People Love Their MacsWhen you can buy a laptop for under $500, and a Chromebook will satisfy most people's computing needs, why do people insist on spending well over $1000 on a Mac?READ MORE

The top of the Pages window, for example, has Insert, Table, Chart, Text, Shape, Media, andComment buttons. That’s pretty much everything you need for word processing. Both Numbers and Keynote are similarly sparse when it comes to menubar options.

You can see in the comparison shots above and below just how much cleaner the iWork apps are. Seeing the Office apps next to them makes it obvious just how much clutter Microsoft’s apps have.

If you’re thinking to yourself “But I always need to adjust the Style settings in Word!” then you might not be a good candidate for switching to iWork. There is a sacrifice in power that you’ll make for these cleaner interfaces.

But for the majority of people, the tools available in the iWork apps are sufficient, and this makes them easier to use. There are many other options available through the menus, so it’s not like you’re giving up every customizable option. Just most of the ones you don’t need.

3. iCloud & Mobile Integration

There are tons of great cloud storage services out there, but iCloud has the advantage of being deeply integrated into every Apple product, from software to hardware. Being able to quickly and easily save your office documents to iCloud is a handy feature that can save you time if you come to rely on it.What Is iCloud Drive & How Does It Work? What Is iCloud Drive & How Does It Work?If you have updated your iPhone or iPad to iOS 8, and your Mac to OS X Yosemite, then you're ready for Apple's iCloud Drive. But what is it, and why should use it?READ MORE

By keeping all of your documents from Pages, Numbers, and Keynote saved in iCloud, you can work on them from any computer connected to the internet. You can even work on them from your iPhone, or non-Apple devices via iCloud.com.

Having access to mobile versions of these apps is also a big benefit. You can use Microsoft Office for free on your 9.7″ iPad, but on a Mac it requires an Office 365 subscription. Apple’s office productivity suite may be less powerful, but it’s also more financially viable if you don’t need all that power.

The mobile versions of iWork apps are also free provided you have a recent device, and they’re well-optimized for mobile work. Even writing on your phone isn’t too bad. Using an iPad or iPad Pro is even better, though.How You Can Type Easier and Faster on Your iPhone How You Can Type Easier and Faster on Your iPhoneThis isn’t the first thing I’ve written on an iDevice, but it’s the first time I’ve chosen to do it when I’ve had other options.READ MORE

4. Collaboration and Sharing

Once you upgrade to macOS Sierra, iWork is able to support real-time collaboration between colleagues via iCloud. This means you’ll be able to easily work on a document with a number of other people, much like you can currently do with Google Drive apps.

This may not be a big deal to many, but if collaboration was the one thing tying you to Google’s solution then it could make all the difference.

iWork already has some cool sharing features built in. The Share menu lets you share iCloud links or send the document via Messages or Apple’s built-in Notes app. Again, these might not seem like a big deal, but if you work with a lot of people who use Macs, you’ll likely appreciate it.Thinking of Switching From Evernote to Apple Notes? Here's How Thinking of Switching From Evernote to Apple Notes? Here's HowApple has a free notes app, and it received a rather substantial overhaul with iOS 9 and El Capitan. But should you ditch Evernote for it? That depends.READ MORE

5. Microsoft Office Compatibility

Using anything besides Microsoft Office always comes with the worry about compatibility. How will it deal with DOC and DOCX files? This used to be a big count against using anything besides Office.

iWork apps have come a long way in their compatibility, and can now open, edit, and save files instandard Office formats. While the default is still the iWork file extension (PAGES, KEY, NUMBERS), you can save files in DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, PPT, and PPTX, as well as a few others like PDF, CSV, and HTML.9 Rare Office File Formats You Have to Know 9 Rare Office File Formats You Have to KnowHave you ever come across strange file formats in your office suite? We'll give you a quick primer on rare, yet useful office file types and what you can use them for.READ MORE

While you may encounter an occasional difficulty with formatting, you aren’t likely to run into any serious problems. You don’t have to worry about your colleagues who use Microsoft Office having difficulty with your files.

Will You Make the Switch?

If you haven’t tried iWork in a while, I strongly recommend that you give it a shot in the near future. Unless you’re a serious power user of Microsoft Office, you might find that the cleaner interface and the better integration with the Mac operating environment makes it a winner!

Apple Admits iOS 10 Weakens iPhone Security

Your iPhone is now potentially less secure than it previously was, and it’s all thanks to iOS 10.iOS 10 Is Here! Why You Should Upgrade Right Now iOS 10 Is Here! Why You Should Upgrade Right NowApple's tenth revision of its mobile operating system is here. This is how to upgrade right now for free.READ MORE

Once you have updated your iPhone to iOS 10, manual backups are much less secure than they were previously. This is because the password-protected backups employ an “alternative password verification mechanism” which can be cracked a lot faster than the previous mechanism.

Elcomsoft, a Russian forensics company whose tools help hackers break into iPhones, discovered this vulnerability when updating its Phone Breaker. And it duly published a blog post revealing Apple’s mistake.

The company claims it could now crack into a backup file “approximately 2500 times faster compared to the old mechanism used in iOS 9 and older”. With iOS 9, Elcomsoft could process 2,400 passwords-per-second. However, with iOS 10 in its current state Elcomsoft could process 6 million passwords-per-second.

A Big Leap Back In Security

Apple is already on the case, telling Forbes it’s “looking into the issue”. The company also issued the following statement suggesting this vulnerability will be fixed sooner rather than later, saying:

“We’re aware of an issue that affects the encryption strength for backups of devices on iOS 10 when backing up to iTunes on the Mac or PC. We are addressing this issue in an upcoming security update. This does not affect iCloud backups.”

“We recommend users ensure their Mac or PC are protected with strong passwords and can only be accessed by authorized users. Additional security is also available with FileVault whole disk encryption.”

In order to take advantage of this vulnerability, a hacker would have to gain access to the Mac or PC where the backup is stored. So, there’s only a minuscule chance of this actually affecting users. Still, it’s a good job the vulnerability was discovered now and not several months down the line.

In the meantime we’ll leave you with the words of Per Thorsheim, a password security expert who knows the score. He told Forbes Apple should win the “stupidity award of the year” for such “a big leap back in security”.

How to Add Enhanced Emergency Info in Android Nougat

Older versions of Android have allowed you to add bits of info, such as emergency contacts or “if found” numbers, to the lock screen. In Android Nougat, you’re able to add all sorts of new information for a potential rescuer to use.

To start adding this information, head to Settings > Users and tap Emergency Information. The system warns you that this information is stored on your device only, and anyone with physical access to your phone can view it without knowing your passcode. Thus, you should be careful with what you add here if others might use your phone often.

Once in the menu, you’re able to add your name, address, blood type, allergies, and more. This information could prove critical to a first responder helping you, perhaps if you become unconscious from lack of medication.

On the next tab over, you can add emergency contacts. This is a great way to ensure that no matter if your phone is locked or not, someone is able to get out to a person you trust. This can also help anhonest person return a lost phone.How to Return a Lost Phone in Four Easy Steps How to Return a Lost Phone in Four Easy StepsEvery year, millions drop their mobile into the unknown. In the US, about 50% of lost devices are returned to their owners. The rest get resold or reused – while thievery may seem eco-friendly and...READ MORE

How much info you want to add here is up to you, but remember that it could help a paramedic save you someday. Looking to add even more emergency features to your pocket? Check out the reasons you might want to get an emergency burner phone.

How to Fix “Please Wait While Windows Configures Microsoft Office” Message

Stuck with an error message that says Windows is configuring Microsoft Office? Here’s the fix.

Picture the scene: you’re coming down to the wire on a book report, or a work presentation, or an important spreadsheet — but when you go to open up the appropriate Microsoft Office program, you’re met with an error message that just won’t leave.10 Tips for Making Better PowerPoint Presentations with Office 2016 10 Tips for Making Better PowerPoint Presentations with Office 2016Microsoft PowerPoint continues to set new standards. New features in PowerPoint 2016 manifest its top spot as the best option for smart and creative presentations.READ MORE

The dreaded “Please wait while Windows configures Microsoft Office” message can be a real drag, but fortunately there are fixes available.

The most frustrating part of this particular issue is that it’s so difficult to diagnose exactly what the problem is. However, one of these techniques should get you the answers that you’re looking for. Follow each process in the order that they’re listed here, and you’ll be closer to getting Microsoft Office back in action, so you can get on with the project at hand.

Repair Microsoft Office

If it seems that your installation of Microsoft Office has been corrupted or otherwise damaged, your first port of call should be the repair function. The process will check for common issues and could potentially fix the problem automatically, so it’s a great starting point.How to Repair or Recover Data from a Corrupted PDF File How to Repair or Recover Data from a Corrupted PDF FileAny file type can get corrupted. If you don't back up your data, finding out something broke can be a nightmare. Here, we're looking specifically at PDF recovery.READ MORE

Open the Control Panel and navigate to Programs > Programs and Features. Scroll through the list of software that’s installed on your computer and find your installation of Microsoft Office.

Right-click the entry and select Change. At this point, you’ll be asked whether you want to carry out a Quick Repair or an Online Repair. A Quick Repair will fix most issues, so try that before you move onto an Online Repair.

If the process doesn’t work, then you can move onto some of the more in-depth fixes below.

Activate the Windows Search Service

One common cause of the stuck configuration dialog is a situation where the 32-bit version of Microsoft Office is installed to a 64-bit version of Windows. If this is the case, the message presented to the user will reference 64-bit components.

Happily, the fix for this problem is relatively straightforward. To get started, close any instance of the Office program that you’re trying to open up and then head to the Control Panel. Navigate toPrograms > Programs and Features and then click Turn Windows features on or off.

Find Windows Search in the list, and ensure that its box is checked. Then click OK — you may need to restart your system for the changes to take effect.How to Stop Windows 10 Update From Restarting Without Asking How to Stop Windows 10 Update From Restarting Without AskingWindows 10 can be annoying by the way it restarts without any notice. Fortunately, there's a way around that.READ MORE

Start Office in Safe Mode

Sometimes the configuration message can hang as a result of third-party add-ins. By starting Microsoft Office in safe mode and circumventing these additional components, you can determine whether or not this is the case.

To activate safe mode, search for your desired Office program using the search bar, then hold CTRLas you click on it. The following message will appear:

Click Yes and see whether the program opens as normal. If it does, then you can disable the add-ins you have installed individually to find out which one is causing problems.

Disabling Add-ins

Head to File > Options and navigate to the Add-ins section. Make sure that the drop-down menu is set to COM Add-ins and then click the Go… button beside it.

Disable all your add-ins and restart the program to make sure that things run normally. Then, enable them one by one until you determine which one is to blame.10 Handy Productivity Add-Ins for Microsoft Word 10 Handy Productivity Add-Ins for Microsoft WordAdd-ins can completely change your workflow. If you no longer have to leave your document for small tasks, your productivity will soar. Try out these 10 mini apps for Microsoft Word.READ MORE

Fix Office With a Run Command

We can use the Run dialog to input commands that tweak the way that Windows programs are initialized. By doing so, we can work around whatever is causing the program to hang on the configuration message.

To open a Run dialog, press Windows key + R. Alternatively, you can just type “run” into the search bar.

First, try entering the following string into the field:

reg add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Word\Options /v NoReReg /t REG_DWORD /d 1

If this solution doesn’t work, then we might be able to use a switch to diagnose the problem.

Using Switches

Switches are instructions that change the way that a particular program behaves, that don’t require the user to open that piece of software. They can be particularly useful when we’re trying to diagnose a problem that’s preventing the program from starting up normally.25 Outlook 2016 Command Line Switches You Have to Know 25 Outlook 2016 Command Line Switches You Have to KnowYou can get more out of Outlook by learning how to use command line switches.READ MORE

Here are some switches that you can enter into a Run dialog in order to sniff out problems with Microsoft Office:

• winword /r — Resets Word’s registry values to their defaults.
• winword /m — Prevents Word from loading macros.
• winword /a — Prevents Word from loading its add-ins.

If you’re not working with Word, you can replace winword with excel for Excel and powerpnt for PowerPoint. Alternatively, you could write out the location of each program’s .exe file on the drive.

Do you know another fix for when Windows gets stuck configuring software? Or do you have a particular situation related to this error that you need help with? Either way, head to the comments section below to start the conversation!