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 Releases Apple TV Software Version 5.0 with Updated Interface
Following today's introduction of the new 1080p Apple TV with an updated user interface, Apple has now pushed the 5.0 software update to existing Apple TV set-top boxes.
While the update obviously doesn't add 1080p support to the older boxes, it does bring the new icon-based user interface and other enhancements such as support for direct Netflix billing to their iTunes Store...
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iOS 5.1 Adds '4G' Indicator to iPhone 4S Status Bar for AT&T HSPA+ Coverage
Last October, an internal AT&T talking point claimed that the carrier was working with Apple to have the iPhone 4S status bar display a "4G" indicator when the device is connected to an HSPA+ network.
With today's release of iOS 5.1, that change now appears to have gone into effect as shown in a photo posted to Twitter by @ichadman.
While short of the data speeds seen with LTE networks...
Apple Debuts AppleCare+ for iPad with Accidental Damage Coverage
In line with our report from late yesterday about a new AppleCare+ extended warranty program for iPad, Apple has indeed introduced the new program with accidental damage coverage today. Availability is listed as "coming soon".Every iPad comes with one year of hardware repair coverage through its limited warranty and up to 90 days of complimentary support. AppleCare+ for iPad extends your...
iOS 5.1 Now Available with Japanese Siri, Camera Enhancements, and More
Following Apple's announcement that iOS 5.1 would debut today, the software update is now available for existing iOS devices. Among the notable additions are Japanese language support for Siri, camera enhancements, and the ability to delete photos from users' Photo Streams.This update contains improvements and bug fixes, including:
- Japanese language support for Siri (availability may be...
Apple Boosts Over-the-Air App Store Download Limits to 50 MB
With the launch of the 3rd Generation iPad, Apple has increased the over-the-air download limit for the App Store to 50MB, up from 20MB.
As noted by AppAdvice, the change is presumably to accommodate larger app sizes due to the new iPad's Retina display and faster cellular data available with 4G LTE. The download limit is now 50MB across all devices, as shown in the above screenshot....
Video of Apple's iPad Media Event Now Available
Just half an hour after the end of the event, Apple has already posted video of its third-generation iPad media event to its site.
Among the products announced at the event:
- Apple Introduces 'The New iPad' with Retina Display, A5X Chip, LTE, 5MP Rear Camera
- Apple Introduces New Apple TV Set-Top Box with 1080p Video and Updated Interface
- Apple Launches iPhoto for iPad with Photo...
Apple Introduces 'The New iPad' with Retina Display, A5X Chip, LTE, 5MP Rear Camera
Apple today introduced "the next iPad", the latest generation of the company's popular tablet device. Offering a Retina display measuring in at 2048 x 1536 pixels, Apple claims that it is "redefining the category Apple created" with the original iPad. At 264 pixels per inch, the new display is considered Retina quality with indistinguishable pixels when held at the typical viewing distance of...
Apple Launches iPhoto for iPad with Photo Editing and Organization Features
With the introduction of a Retina display on the new iPad, Apple has updated all of its stock applications to support the higher resolution, also adding updates to several of its applications including GarageBand and iMovie. But the company has also filled out the remainder of its iPad versions of its iLife suite with the launch of iPhoto for iPad, a new application offering photo editing...
Apple Introduces New Apple TV Set-Top Box with 1080p Video and Updated Interface
As expected, Apple today introduced an updated Apple TV offering support for 1080p video, which is now also available through the iTunes Store. The company is also rolling out an updated interface for the set-top box, with icon-based category buttons and large billboard-style artwork for content.
The new Apple TV maintains the same $99 price tag as its predecessor and is available for...
Apple Launching iTunes 10.6 and iOS 5.1 Today, with Japanese Support for Siri Coming Soon
As part of Tim Cook's early statements at today's media event, he announced that iOS 5.1 will be available today. One important addition in the updated operating system is Japanese support for Siri on the iPhone 4S. That support will be rolling out over the next few weeks. iOS 5.1 includes the much-requested ability to delete photos from the Photo Stream, inside the redesigned Camera app....
Last-Minute iPad 3 Rumors: Liquidmetal Shipping Parts, 4G iPads in Apple's Inventory Database
As Apple's media event approaches, we've been noting a few last-minute rumors that deserve special mention.
First, Liquidmetal Technologies late yesterday announced that it had begun "shipping commercial parts to several of its customers world-wide". While the customers are unnamed, shipments are said to have begun in December and will be continuing in the months ahead.
Apple acquired...
Live Coverage of Apple's iPad 3 Media Event
Apple is holding a media event today at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, where it is widely expected to introduce the iPad 3 and an updated Apple TV set-top box. The event is scheduled to kick off at 10:00 AM Pacific Time / 1:00 PM Eastern Time.
Photo courtesy of Kiel
Apple will apparently not be providing live video coverage of the event to the public, but a number of ...
iPad 3 to Include Haptic Display Technology to Provide On-Screen Textures?
A series of last-minute rumors and speculation are suggesting that the iPad 3 might include haptic technology that would give on-screen objects texture. The rumors have linked Finnish company Senseg with Apple and have been fueled by Apple's media event invitations carrying the tagline "We have something you really have to see. And touch."
While speculation about Senseg and Apple has been...
Updated Apple TV with 1080p Video Support to Maintain $99 Price Tag
9to5Mac reports that it has now received pricing information from reliable source "Mr. X" on the part number for the updated Apple TV revealed last week, with the new model coming in at the same $99 price as the current model.The Apple TV J33 model, MD199LL/A – J33 BEST -USA, which we’ve covered before will come in at the same $99 price point (and similar prices globally). We know from...
$99 AppleCare+ for iPad Coming Alongside iPad 3?
With the launch of the iPhone 4S last October, Apple debuted AppleCare+ for iPhone, a new $99 extended warranty program that includes coverage for accidental damage to the user's device over the two-year coverage period.
Valid for up to two incidents of accidental damage with a $49 deductible per incident, the expanded AppleCare+ offering replaced Apple's previous standard $69 AppleCare for...
Apple's NC Solar Farm to Utilize High-Efficiency SunPower Panels, Online as Soon as October
The San Jose Mercury News reports that a regulatory filing has revealed that Apple's massive solar farm at its new data center in Maiden, North Carolina will utilize panels from San Jose-based energy company SunPower. The ground-mounted panels will track with the sun throughout the day and be installed in phases with the first batch set to come on line as soon as October of this year.[A]n...
Dual-Core A5X iPad 3 Coming Tomorrow with Multiple LTE and 3G Variants?
The Verge reports that Apple's iPad 3 launch tomorrow will see the inclusion of the A5X system-on-a-chip that first surfaced in a photo leak several weeks ago. According to the report, the A5X contains a dual-core application processor as found in the A5, but includes improved graphics capabilities and more RAM than found in the A5.
Previously-leaked photo of claimed iPad 3 logic board with ...
Testing on iOS 5.1 Golden Master Reportedly Complete Ahead of iPad 3 Launch
According to Chronic Wire, iOS 5.1 has satisfied the requirements of Apple's quality assurance testing and is now ready to be released to the public, presumably just prior to the iPad 3 launch within the next few weeks. The report claims that iOS 5.1 is now in the golden master stage with build 9B176 being the final build to be issued for public release.The build number of iOS 5.1 Gold Master is ...
Steve Jobs' Biographer Left Out Details on Vision for 'Next Apple TV'
While Steve Jobs' official biographer Walter Isaacson created a stir last October with his disclosure of Jobs having "finally cracked" how to develop a revolutionary television set product, it now appears that Jobs shared even more about the product that Isaacson has so far declined to make public.
The revelation came in an interview with Brazilian television yesterday, and The Next Web...
Apple Proposing Settlements in Android Device Patent Disputes, Would Reap $5-15 Per Android Device
Dow Jones Newswires reports that Apple has expressed a willingness to settle some of its patent disputes with manufacturers of Android-based handsets such as Samsung and Motorola, potentially seeking to reduce the burden of ongoing litigation.The consumer-electronics company has put forth proposals to Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. (MMI) and Samsung Electronics Co. (005930.SE, SSNHY) to settle...
