Eric Slivka
Eric is the Editor-in-Chief of MacRumors and has been writing for the site since 2008.
An avid swimmer and former biophysicist, Eric has been using Apple products for over 35 years and has been interviewed for pieces by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Reuters, BBC, CNBC, and other publications.
Eric's current primary role involves day-to-day oversight of the editorial operations at MacRumors, but he also contributes occasional news and review articles while handling various other duties related to the site's operation.
An avid swimmer and former biophysicist, Eric has been using Apple products for over 35 years and has been interviewed for pieces by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Reuters, BBC, CNBC, and other publications.
Eric's current primary role involves day-to-day oversight of the editorial operations at MacRumors, but he also contributes occasional news and review articles while handling various other duties related to the site's operation.
Eric Slivka's Articles
Apple Seeds First Beta of OS X 10.8.3 to Developers
Fresh off its Thanksgiving holiday, Apple today seeded developers with the first test build of OS X 10.8.3.
The first beta of OS X 10.8.3 arrives as Build 12D32, and users are required to install the OS X Software Update Seed Configuration Utility in order to upgrade to the build.
Areas of focus for testing include AirPlay, AirPort, Game Center, and Graphics...
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Apple Acquired 'Lightning' Trademark from Harley-Davidson
Patently Apple reports on European trademark registration data showing that Apple has acquired at least partial rights to the "Lightning" name used for its new iOS device dock connector from motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson.
The transfer appears to have been required because of Harley-Davidson's ownership of the trademark under Class 28, which includes toys and games.The explanation for ...
iPhone 5 Shipping Estimates Begin to Drop to One Week
Less than a week after shipping estimates for new iPhone 5 orders through Apple's online stores dropped to two weeks, availability continues to improve with the company's stores for the Asia-Pacific region now quoting one-week estimates. Apple's online store distribution channels for other regions continue to show two-week estimates, but those should similarly drop to one week shortly....
Apple and Google's Motorola Unit Seeking Arbitration to Resolve Patent Dispute
Bloomberg reports that a new court filing in the ongoing patent dispute between Apple and Google's Motorola Mobility unit reveals that both sides are interested in using binding arbitration in order to resolve the issues related to standards-essential patents at a minimum, if not the entire dispute.The companies have been exchanging proposals on using binding arbitration to reach a licensing...
iPad Shipments Rise 80% in China Following Trademark Settlement
IDG News Service reports on comments from research firm IDC indicating that Apple's iPad shipments to China have risen 80% quarter-over-quarter, with the significant increase said to be related to increased distribution enabled by a settlement of a dispute with Proview Technology over the "iPad" trademark.Shipments of the tablet in the third quarter reached 2.07 million units, up from 1.15...
Apple Indeed Talking with Cable Operators About New TV Product, But Launch Not Imminent
Following up on yesterday's report suggesting that a launch of a new Apple television product may be "imminent" based on cable operators assessing infrastructure needs to support such a device, AllThingsD notes that Apple is indeed talking with cable operators but that characterizing any launch as "imminent" would be premature.For starters, Apple has already steered analysts away from the notion...
Apple's Major U.S. Carrier Partners Officially Launch LTE iPad Mini and Fourth-Generation iPad
Following yesterday's delivery of some early pre-orders of the LTE versions of the iPad mini and fourth-generation iPad to U.S. customers, Apple's three major U.S. carrier partners AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint have all announced that they are beginning sales of the devices today.
Apple has not made any official announcement about availability of the LTE models, and users in our forums are so...
Google Moving Closer to Submitting Maps App for iOS as Eddy Cue Works to Improve Apple's Maps
The Wall Street Journal reports that Google is continuing to make progress on a standalone mapping application for iOS, working toward submitting the app for inclusion in the App Store after Apple switched from Google to its own in-house Maps app in iOS 6.Google has distributed a test version of its new mapping app that will work on Apple's iPhones and iPads to some individuals outside the...
U.S. Cable Companies Reportedly Assessing Potential Infrastructure Impact of 'Imminent' Apple TV Product
Barron's reports on a new research note from Jefferies & Co. analyst James Kisner noting that he believes the launch of an unspecified Apple television product (presumably either a new set-top box or a connected television) is "imminent". Kisner's belief comes from information he has received indicating that at least one major U.S. cable company is assessing the potential impact on its network...
JBL Launches First Lightning-Compatible Speaker Docks
Harman today announced the launch of the first two Lightning-compatible speaker docks under its JBL brand, offering owners of Apple's latest iOS devices direct support for the new connector standard for the first time.
JBL OnBeat Micro
The two speaker docks include the OnBeat Micro ($99.95) for the iPhone 5 and other small devices, and the larger OnBeat Venue Lightning ($199.95) supporting...
First Pre-Orders of LTE iPad Mini and Fourth-Generation iPad Models Arriving in U.S.
In line with tracking information, a number of U.S. customers who pre-ordered LTE models of the iPad mini and fourth-generation iPad have either already received their shipments this morning or are seeing their packages out for delivery.
Verizon iPad mini delivered (Thanks, Joshua)
Our forums are beginning to fill with reports of iPad minis being delivered, while we're also starting to see...
$1.5 Million Worth of iPad Minis Stolen from Airport Warehouse
The New York Post reports that thieves managed to steal $1.5 million worth of iPad minis from a warehouse at Kennedy Airport in New York City on Monday night. The heist, which appears to have been an inside job, netted the criminals two pallets containing 3,600 iPad minis.The crooks arrived at Building 261 around 11 p.m. in a white tractor trailer marked with the name CEVA on the side, according ...
Samsung Denies Claims of Price Hikes for iOS Device Chip Production
Earlier this week, it was reported that Samsung had instituted a 20% price increase for production of Apple's A-series chips used in the company's iOS devices. The move was seen by some as a potential salvo in the ongoing patent battle between the two companies.
The Street now reports on an article [Google translation] from Korean newspaper The Hankyoreh citing a Samsung executive as saying...
Samsung Not Interested in Settlement with Apple over Patent Issues
With Apple and HTC having announced a settlement in their patent dispute, some observers have wondered whether the move could signal the beginning of a broader effort to resolve such issues throughout the industry. Apple and a number of Android device manufacturers such as HTC have been locked in court battles over their intellectual property for the past several years.
Samsung has rapidly...
Scosche Announces Lineup of Lightning Charging Accessories
Close on the heels of Belkin's launch of the first official accessories supporting Apple's new Lightning connector standard, Scosche is now announcing its own lineup of Lightning charging accessories for use both at home and in the car.“Smartphones and tablets are an integral part of our daily lives, but keeping them all charged can create several challenges,” said Kas Alves, Executive Vice...
Microsoft Windows Chief Steven Sinofsky Out Following Windows 8 and Surface Launches
Late yesterday, Microsoft announced its own management shakeup, with Windows and Windows Live President Steven Sinofsky stepping down from the role he had held for over three years. Sinofsky's position is now being split, with Windows executive Julie Larson-Green taking on oversight of engineering and Windows chief financial officer and chief marketing officer Tami Reller adding responsibility...
Nokia to Launch Free Maps App with Offline Mode and Transit Directions for iOS
Nokia today announced an expansion of its mapping services, launching a new "HERE" brand for the products and announcing that it will be introducing a new iOS mapping app in the coming weeks."People want great maps, and with HERE we can bring together Nokia's location offering to deliver people a better way to explore, discover and share their world," said Nokia President and CEO Stephen Elop....
Apple Again Tops U.S. Retail Chains in Sales at $6000 per Square Foot
Fortune points to a new report from research firm Retail Sails, which once again ranks Apple as the U.S. retail store chain with the highest sales per square foot. Apple's sales productivity is calculated at over $6000 per square foot, more than double that of second-place Tiffany & Co.
Apple also topped the list last year, with this year's 7.5% growth in sales per square foot ranking...
Cellular-Capable iPad Mini Pre-Orders Arriving in U.S. as Early as Thursday, November 15
Yesterday, we noted that U.S. customers were beginning to report that their pre-orders of the cellular-capable fourth-generation iPad models were beginning to ship, with many seeing delivery dates of this Friday, November 16.
FedEx tracking showing iPad mini delivery for November 15
Beginning just a few hours ago, customers who pre-ordered cellular-capable iPad mini models also began seeing ...
Apple Features iPad Mini in New 2012 Holiday Gift Guide
Apple today updated its online store with its new Holiday Gift Guide for 2012, a collection of products and accessories from Apple and other companies that could make for good holiday gifts.
Unsurprisingly, Apple is heavily promoting the iPad mini in the guide, with "iPad Gifts" being the default section for the guide and the iPad mini prominently displayed at the top of that page. Apple...
