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‘El Crapitan’: The biggest problems plaguing early OS X upgraders

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OS X El Capitan is coming
El Capitan isn't without its problems.
Photo: Apple

El Capitan has a ton of neat new features, but no OS ever arrives completely error-free. This year’s OS X update is no different — leading some impatient online types to go so far as to label it “El Crapitan.”

Some of these problems have been solved. Others haven’t. But we’ve compiled a list of some of the most widespread complaints. Check out the hall of shame below.

Got wood? You will after checking out this Macintosh replica

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wooden-mac-gold
A wooden Macintosh with gold keys? Yes please.
Photo: Love Hultén

Love Hultén has created a beautiful replica of the original 128k Macintosh made almost entirely out of American walnut. Known for his craftsmanship in building replicas and concepts of gaming consoles among other gadgets, Hultén has taken that love and applied it to one of Apple’s most beloved products to date. He calls it the Golden Apple.

Samsung’s been working on its own 3D Touch display for a while

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samsungs-been-working-on-its-own-3d-touch-display-for-a-while-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads2015102015-09-25-191408-jpg
Samsung wants Galaxy users to enjoy 3D Touch, too. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Samsung wants Galaxy users to enjoy 3D Touch, too. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Samsung is expected to follow Apple’s footsteps and build a pressure-sensitive display into next year’s Galaxy S7, according to recent reports — and now a new patent backs up those claims with proof that the South Korean company has been hard at work on a similar technology for over a year.

Down with the kids? Apple Music is more popular with older people

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Apple Music is awesome -- but can it replace the iTunes Store?
Shock horror! Kids don't like paying for things.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Older people are more likely to subscribe to Apple Music than their younger counterparts, claims a new survey by Jackdaw Research.

According to Jackdaw’s findings, 62 percent of survey respondents under the age of 35 have already canceled Apple’s streaming music service. However, an impressive 67 percent of respondents aged 35 and up have transitioned to paying subscribers after the three-month trial period.

Meet the radical who wants the iPad banned!

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iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens is the Bernie Sanders of the electronics industry. He doesn't want reform -- he wants wholesale revolution!
iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens is the Bernie Sanders of the electronics industry. He doesn't want reform -- he wants wholesale revolution!
Photo: iFixit

Kyle Wiens thinks the iPad should be banned. It’s a “highly immoral” product, he says, because it can’t be opened and repaired when the battery dies. It’s a throwaway device, and he wants governments to prohibit it.

“It’s not designed to be long-lasting,” said Wiens, who is the co-founder and CEO of iFixit. “It’s like selling a car that has to be replaced when the tires wear out.”

Wiens is the Bernie Sanders of the electronics industry. He doesn’t just want reform — he wants revolution!

Here’s why.

Hundreds of iOS apps secretly collect users’ data

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App Store icon
Does Apple need to double up on its security measures for new apps?
Photo: PhotoAtelier/Flickr

A security firm claims to have discovered 256 apps that illicitly gather user email addresses, lists of installed apps, serial numbers and other identifying information.

Apple may be obsessed with user privacy, but these apps — which violate App Store policy and have been downloaded by an estimated 1 million people — somehow got by Cupertino’s gatekeepers.

Apple raids electric bike startup for possible transport talent

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(Credit: National Geographic)
Steve Jobs during his Easy Rider phase.
Photo: National Geographic

Apple Bike, anyone? According to a new report, Apple’s continued recruitment of auto experts has resulted in the closure of an electric motorcycle startup.

Called Mission Motors, the company had drawn comparisons with Tesla — only to shut down back in May after Apple raided some of its top engineers.

At least two Mission employees joined Apple in 2012, while over the past year another dozen are reported to have started work with the company.

Sorkin: My conscience is clear about Steve Jobs movie accuracy

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When it comes to making Steve Jobs light up the sliver screen, poor Sorkin just can't cut a break.
Aaron Sorkin is happy with his movie's accuracy.
Photo: The Newsroom

Steve Jobs screenwriter Aaron Sorkin says his “conscience is clear” over accusations that his movie doesn’t portray events as they actually happened.

People have been split over the Steve Jobs movie, with some (like Woz, John Sculley, and Andy Hertzfeld) saying it’s a great achievement, and others (Tim Cook, Jony Ive, Laurene Powell Jobs) arguing just the opposite — despite not necessarily having seen it.

China’s 21st Apple Store will be among world’s biggest

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war
Dailan's new Apple Store back during its construction phase.
Photo: Jake Smith

Apple is continuing its Chinese Apple Store expansion by announcing the opening of its 21st Chinese retail store in the city of Dalian, China.

A port city known for its clean air, good food, and luxurious shopping, Dalian attracts visitors from China, Japan, and Korea. In other words, it’s the perfect location for a new Apple Store — which is why it’s no surprise that it will be among the biggest Apple brick-and-mortar retail outlets in the world.

Downwell, Paper and other awesome apps of the week

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appsoftheweek_1024
Yep, it's that time of the week again!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

How do weekends go by so quickly? It’s already halfway through the end-of-week break but — don’t worry — we’ve got the app hookup you need, whether you’re planning on a lazy game-playing Sunday, or a day of out-and-about photo-snapping action.

What have we picked as the best apps of the past seven days? Read on to find out.

This tough, rain-resistant battery is powered by the sun [Deals]

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The SolarJuice 20,000 mAh portable battery can charge two devices at once, powered by a wall outlet or the sun.
The SolarJuice 20,000 mAh portable battery can charge two devices at once, powered by a wall outlet or the sun.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

A sure sign that solar energy is growing is in the small devices it’s showing up in. ZeroLemon’s SolarJuice 20,000 mAh Battery can power up anything that charges via a USB cable — iPhones, Android, and beyond — all with energy it soaks in from the great power outlet in the sky. This is a great way to ensure as long as you’re within reach of the sky, you’re always within reach of a charge, for just $49.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Gorgeous leather Apple Watch strap will make you feel like a grownup again

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This leather strap will class up your wrist.
This leather strap will class up your wrist.
Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac

Best List: Nomad Apple Watch Strap

Let’s face it: The green plastic band I have for my Apple Watch Sport is useful and comfortable, but it’s not classy. I wear it to the gym with no reservations, but a night out on the town? Maybe if I were an adolescent.

When I strap Nomad’s new Italian leather replacement band to my wrist, however, I finally feel like a grownup. This is one beautiful Apple Watch strap.

It’s never been easier to get in on the light-field photography revolution [Deals]

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The Illum is Lytro's latest generation of light field camera, packed with new and familiar features.
The Illum is Lytro's latest generation of light field camera, packed with new and familiar features.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It’s been nearly four years since Lytro started shipping their first pocket-sized light field camera. The technology has advanced since then, and the Lytro Illum represents its cutting edge. It still takes the stunning ‘living pictures’ of its predecessor — images based on the full light field that can be refocused and subtly repositioned after they’ve been shot — but right now you can get it for nearly half off the normal price, $699.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

What we love (and don’t) about Apple’s New iMacs and magic peripherals on The CultCast

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Ain't she a beaut?
Ain't she a beaut?
Photo: Apple

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The pros and cons of Apple’s new 4K and 5K iMacs, plus, the new Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Trackpad 2 — we’ve got our grubby hands on Apple’s new peripherals and we’re ready to share what we love (and what we don’t).

And stay tuned for CultCast 2nd Hour with guest Blake J. Harris, author of Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle that Defined a Generation, to be regaled with the story of the 90s video game war that pitted newcomer, Sega of America, against Nintendo, maker of Super Mario Brothers, Duck Hunt, and the unstoppable force that was the Nintendo Entertainment System.

Check out all these Apple Watch fitness success stories

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You can see the difference Apple Watch is having on Cult of Mac readers' lives.
You can see the difference Apple Watch is having on Cult of Mac readers' lives.
Photo: Various

Around the world, Apple Watch is helping people make life-changing improvements to their health and fitness.

I recently asked Cult of Mac readers to share their experiences getting in shape with Apple Watch, and the response has been amazing. Here are some of the inspiring stories I received — and some great insights into how you can use an Apple Watch to smash your fitness goals.

Apple will appeal $234 million judgment

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A8 chip
Apple's A8 processor violated University of Wisconsin's patent.
Photo: Apple

The University of Wisconsin-Madison defeated Apple in its patent lawsuit today, after a U.S. jury ordered the iPhone maker to pay the university $234 million in damages for infringing on patented microchip technology in the iPhone and iPad.

Apple’s bill for the infringement is significantly less than the $862 million fine the company was originally facing. The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) had high praise for the verdict, saying it was improtant to protect the school’s inventions.

Apple’s crazy 3D Touch table is perfect showcase for iPhone 6s

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Ripple in still water/When there is no pebble tossed/Nor wind to blow.
Ripple in still water/When there is no pebble tossed/Nor wind to blow.
Photo: Grate App

Only found in the New York and San Francisco Apple retail stores, this new tactile table really shows off the new 3D Touch features of the just released iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

As you can see in the video below, Apple’s got its new iPhones displayed on a new table that replicates the ripples from the fish videos shown on the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus devices on the table whenever customers push on the iPhones themselves.

It’s pretty slick – check it out.

Chipgate debunked: All iPhone 6s models are created equal

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The A9X chip puts iPhone 6s graphics to shame.
Don't discriminate between iPhone models. Chipgate doesn't exist.
Photo: Apple

A test to pit the two different iPhone 6s models against each other — one with a TSMC chip and the other with a Samsung chip — has officially debunked Chipgate. It turns out there are no discernible differences in battery life between the two.

Consumer Reports acquired an iPhone 6s with an A9 chip made from TSMC and another from Samsung. They made sure all settings were equal on both devices including the carrier, brightness settings, wireless connections, iOS version, running apps and more. Then they got to work.

Intel has a small army working on iPhone 7 LTE modem

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intel
Intel and Apple have formalized a deal that has the iPhone maker producing its own smartphone modem.
Photo: Thomas Hawk/Flickr

Intel wants to win part of Apple chip business, and according to a new report, it’s dedicating a small army of engineers towards creating a new LTE modem that could be destined for the iPhone 7

Over 1,000 employees have been assigned to the project to build a 7360 LTE modem chip for the iPhone 7, reports VentureBeat which also claims that if everything goes well, Intel could provide the modem and fabrication for Apple’s system on a chip.

Ford brings Siri Eyes Free support to older vehicles

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Siri Eyes Free is coming to 2011 model Fords and earlier.
Siri Eyes Free is coming to 2011 model Fords and earlier.
Photo: Ford

Ford owners with a second-generation Sync infotainment system can now get Apple’s Siri Eyes Free feature for iPhone on the car dashboard, thanks to a new Sync 3.8 update.

The second-gen Sync system is found on Ford vehicles made since 2011 and earlier, but the company is just now making Siri Eyes Free available on its vehicles, even though Apple rolled out the feature with iOS 6 back in 2012.

This rolling luggage keeps tech travelers plugged in

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The iQ bag includes a router to give the traveler a Wi-Fi hotspot.
The iQ bag includes a router to give the traveler a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Photo: Andiamo

The tools inside the business traveler’s carry-on luggage have changed. The luggage itself has not.

Two companies are hoping to take off through crowd-funding with modern roller bags that fit all the essentials and charge your devices. One even has a router to give you a Wi-Fi hotspot where ever you land.

Microsoft trade-in program pays you $300 to ditch Mac

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Microsoft is giving extra love to Mac owners.
Microsoft is giving extra love to Mac owners.
Photo: Microsoft

Looking to get a new computer this Fall? Microsoft thinks it has an unbeatable offer with its new Windows Tradeup program offers customers $200 to trade in an old PC and buy a new one at a Microsoft Store.

The deal is even sweeter if you got a Mac though, because Microsoft says it’s willing to toss you an extra $100 your way to get you to defect from  Apple.

Is Apple’s new 4K iMac a total ripoff?

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The 4K iMac is pretty, but you can get a lot more for your cash.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple delivered the 4K iMac many fans have been waiting for this week, but it’s not quite the all-in-one powerhouse some were expecting. Look past its beautiful design and you’ll find a lot of drawbacks you probably wouldn’t (and shouldn’t) expect to get with a $1,500 computer.

Friday-Night-Fights-bug-2The upside is, this gives another great topic for a slanging match.

So join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight between Cult of Android and Cult of Mac as we go head to head over one question: Is the 4K iMac a total ripoff?