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.

Eric Slivka's Articles

ipod touch 2011

'Biggest Upgrade Ever' for iPod Touch to Bring New Colors, GPS, Camera Improvements?

Wednesday September 12, 2012 5:20 am PDT by
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has released a last-minute research report outlining his expectations for the updated iPod touch said to be being introduced today alongside the iPhone 5. Calling the 2012 version of the iPod touch the "biggest upgrade ever" for the device, Kuo outlines a number of features he expects the new model to offer. - New colors: Beyond the traditional black model...
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Apple's Designers Clashing Over 'Tacky' Software Skeuomorphisms

Tuesday September 11, 2012 1:12 pm PDT by
Fast Company reports on ongoing internal strife at Apple over the company's use of software skeuomorphism, the inclusion of certain ornamental elements in a product that are carried over from previous tools addressing the same task for which the elements were required for functionality. Daring Fireball's John Gruber has linked to the article, noting that he has heard similar word of an "internal...
apple store app icon

Apple Staffing Up for iPhone 5 Pre-orders Beginning on Morning of Friday, September 14?

Tuesday September 11, 2012 9:40 am PDT by
Apple's policies for pre-orders of its popular iOS devices have varied over the years, with the iPhone 4S being scheduled for a 12:01 AM Pacific Time launch on the Friday following the media event, although Apple's pre-orders didn't actually begin until nearly 45 minutes after the appointed time. Last month, iMore reported that pre-orders were scheduled to begin on the same day as the media...
tall ipod touch front panel front

Updated iPod Touch to Carry 1136x640 Display, 32-Nanometer A5 Chip?

Tuesday September 11, 2012 8:58 am PDT by
In addition to his disclosure that the updated iPhone and iPod touch are likely to support a panorama photo mode, developer Will Strafach has also posted several Tweets sharing hardware details on the updated iPod touch. According to Strafach, the updated iPod touch will carry a taller 1136x640 display, the same dimensions said to be coming to the iPhone 5 and in line with leaked photos from...
strafach panorama tweet

iPhone 5 and Updated iPod Touch to Support Panorama Photo Mode?

Tuesday September 11, 2012 8:40 am PDT by
iOS developer Will Strafach posted a Tweet a few minutes ago stating that the iPhone 5 and the updated iPod touch reportedly due for introduction at tomorrow's media event will support a new panorama photo mode that will enable users to capture multiple photos that can be automatically stitched together into a single panoramic image.[iPod touch] also has that Panoramic photo feature enabled as...
ipad mini mockup hand front

New Photos Show 'iPad Mini' Physical Mockup in Hand

Tuesday September 11, 2012 6:54 am PDT by
Over the past several weeks, a number of renderings and even physical mockups of Apple's rumored "iPad mini" have surfaced, offering a good idea of the device's size and appearance should the leaked specs being used by case makers prove accurate. While a number of the renderings and mockups have shown the iPad mini next to existing devices like the full-size iPad or iPhone, a new set of photos [G...
10 8 2 battery life

OS X 10.8.2 Restores Notebook Battery Life to OS X Lion Levels

Monday September 10, 2012 12:09 pm PDT by
Just over a month ago, Ars Technica reported that many users had noticed a significant decrease in battery life on their notebooks after upgrading from OS X Lion to OS X Mountain Lion. In its own testing, Ars Technica saw a 38% decrease in battery life following the upgrade. The Mac Observer followed up with more extensive testing showing a similar 33% drop in battery life on a test machine...
tmobile iphone unlimited unlocked

T-Mobile USA Launches Effort to Attract 'Bring Your Own iPhone' Customers

Monday September 10, 2012 11:07 am PDT by
While T-Mobile USA is preparing to refresh its employee training on "selling against the iPhone" later this month as Apple rolls out the iPhone 5, the carrier is also seeking to embrace those who already own an unlocked iPhone. T-Mobile today announced a new "Bring Your Own iPhone" initiative including demo iPhone units in its stores, new apps, and enhanced staff training to help iPhone owners...
finalyerba

Apple's Chief Patent Litigator Profiled as Samsung Threatens Lawsuits over iPhone 5

Monday September 10, 2012 8:34 am PDT by
Bloomberg Businessweek publishes a profile of Noreen Krall, Apple's chief patent litigator handling the growing number of lawsuits and other disputes involving Apple, including the high-profile U.S. case that saw Apple win a $1 billion verdict against Samsung late last month. The article offers an interesting look at how Krall has managed to become one of the "masters of the chessboard" in...
macbook pro imac mountain lion

Production of 13-Inch Retina MacBook Pro and Updated iMacs Reportedly Ramping Up

Monday September 10, 2012 7:53 am PDT by
Late last month, NPD DisplaySearch analyst Richard Shim reported that suppliers had begun production on 2560x1600 display panels destined for a 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro. The machine has been rumored to be launching in October. Digitimes now reports that full production on the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro is underway with shipments from Apple's supply chain beginning to ramp up ahead of a...
yerba buena banner iphone 5 progress

Apple Begins Prepping Yerba Buena Center for iPhone 5 Media Event

Friday September 7, 2012 12:00 pm PDT by
While Apple's media event where it will reportedly introduce the iPhone 5 is still five days away, the company has already begun making preparations at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco where the event will be held. Last night, 9to5Mac shared a photos of some internal preparations in the lobby of the theater, and now MacStories posts photos taken by Steve Streza showing that...
ipod shuffle nano touch

Apple Splitting iPod Touch Lineup Between Current and New Designs, Increasing Color Options for iPod Shuffle and New Nano?

Friday September 7, 2012 9:32 am PDT by
9to5Mac shares some details on Apple's apparent plans for updated iPods reportedly set to be introduced alongside the iPhone 5 at next Wednesday's media event. Based on the information that appears to come from part numbers in inventory systems, Apple will reportedly be making at least minor changes to three of the current iPod lines. - iPod shuffle: Apple is said be making minor changes at...
ipad retina iphoto

More Claims of Tweaked Full-Size iPad with Display and Battery Life Improvements, Potentially Thinner Body

Friday September 7, 2012 8:48 am PDT by
Back in early July, Digitimes reported that Apple was looking at launching a tweaked third-generation iPad later this year, adopting new indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) display technology and making other changes that would enable the company to offer the device in a thinner body comparable to that of the iPad 2. The reports were taken with considerable skepticism given Digitimes' unreliable...
sound forge pro mac

Sony's Sound Forge Pro Mac Launching This Month for $299

Friday September 7, 2012 8:39 am PDT by
We've been following the story of Sony's work to bring its Sound Forge audio recording and editing software to OS X for some time now, beginning with the initial teaser site that our investigation suggested was indeed a Sony project and continuing through to Sony's confirmation late last month. Sony has now officially announced Sound Forge Pro Mac, noting that it will launch this month at a...

Case Manufacturers Ramping Up for Radically Redesigned iPod Nano, Updated iPod Touch

Friday September 7, 2012 8:14 am PDT by
In mid-July, Japanese blog Mac Otakara claimed that Apple has been undertaking a significant redesign of the iPod nano, moving to an oblong form factor with a larger, rectangular screen and a home button. As shown in a rough rendering accompanying the post, the changes would make the iPod nano appear more like a smaller version of the iPod touch, although it would presumably not run a full...
iresq iphone5 4s front comparison

'N42' iPhone 5 to Reportedly Launch at Same Pricing as iPhone 4S

Friday September 7, 2012 7:39 am PDT by
9to5Mac reports that it has received information indicating that Apple will be launching six models of the iPhone 5, code named "N42", at next week's media event. The information indicates that Apple will be releasing black and white versions at the same three prices carried by the iPhone 4S: $199/$299/$399.Here is the part codes matrix for the new iPhone launch from a source at a well-known...
imacs 2011 mountain lion

Updates to Apple's iMac Line Reportedly 'Imminent'

Friday September 7, 2012 6:53 am PDT by
FoxNews.com's Clayton Morris reports that an update to Apple's aging iMac lineup is "imminent", although he does not offer additional details on a specific timeframe or expected improvements.Get ready, because the iMacs are coming. I've been hoping for an iMac update and it looks like my wish is about to come true! Multiple sources tell me that a new lineup of desktop machines from Apple is...
fedex sep12 surge event

FedEx Planning for 'Surge Volume' Event September 21-24, Coinciding with Rumored iPhone 5 Launch Date

Friday September 7, 2012 6:28 am PDT by
MacRumors has received word that FedEx is making preparations for a "surge volume" event during the period of September 21-24, coinciding with rumors of an iPhone launch in the United States and several other countries on Friday, September 21. While neither Apple nor the iPhone 5 has been specifically mentioned as the source of the surge for FedEx, the iPhone 5 is expected to be introduced at...
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Apple Cutting Back on Memory Chip Orders from Samsung

Thursday September 6, 2012 7:42 pm PDT by
Reuters reports that Apple has been cutting back on memory chips orders from Samsung for its mobile devices, seeking to diversify its component supplier list by increasing orders from Toshiba, Elpida, and Micron. The move is said to be a long-term one not specifically tied to the recent court battles between Apple and Samsung.Apple has been cutting its orders from Samsung as it tries to...
audience earsmart

Apple 'Unlikely' to Use Audience's New Noise Suppression Technology in iPhone 5

Thursday September 6, 2012 1:42 pm PDT by
Audience today announced that it appears "unlikely" Apple will use the company's earSmart noise suppression technology in the upcoming iPhone 5. Audience's technology was reported to a key innovation providing support for Siri on the iPhone 4S, and Apple was reported back in February to have licensed Audience's next-generation technology for future products. But with today's announcement, it...