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 Could Adopt AMD's New Radeon HD 6990M GPU for Next iMac
AMD today announced the launch of its new Radeon HD 6990M mobile graphics processor, calling it the world's fastest single mobile GPU with up to 25% greater performance than NVIDIA's just-announced GeForce 580M.
While Apple typically uses middle-of-the-road GPUs in even its high-end MacBook Pro models in order to meet the requirements of the thin enclosure and thus will not be considering...
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iOS 5 to Unlock Bluetooth Capabilities of Apple TV?
Apple's forthcoming iOS 5 contains code that, if activated, would allow users to connect a Bluetooth wireless keyboard to the second-generation Apple TV. The new Apple TV contains a combination Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip, but the Bluetooth functionality is not enabled in its present state.
Broadcom Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip in second-generation Apple TV (Source: iFixit)
As noted by 9 to 5 Mac, the...
AT&T Announces Summer Launch of New LTE Modem and Hotspot Devices
AT&T today announced (via Engadget) the forthcoming launch of two new LTE-enabled wireless access devices: the USBConnect Momentum 4G and the Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G. Both devices are coming "this summer", will support LTE, HSPA+, and earlier technologies, and will offer support for Mac OS X Leopard or later.With plug-and-play installation that takes about 60 seconds to complete on Windows...
Apple's Patent Portfolio Manager Exiting as HTC and Samsung Disputes Simmer
While Apple finds itself embroiled in a number of intellectual property disputes both on both offensive and defensive fronts, Reuters reports that Chip Lutton, who oversees the company's significant patent portfolio, will be leaving the company. Lutton is apparently being replaced by HP lawyer BJ Watrous.It was unclear why Richard "Chip" Lutton Junior, who manages the iPhone maker's patent...
Apple to Release Updated MacBook Air and Mac Pro Models This Week?
9 to 5 Mac reports that reliable tipster "Mr. X" has revealed that Apple will be releasing new MacBook Air and Mac Pro models this week alongside OS X Lion.
According to Mr. X, Apple will be releasing four new MacBook Air models, appearing to match up with the current lineup of two stock configurations each in the 11-inch and 13-inch sizes. MacBook Air updates have been expected within this ...
iOS 5 Beta 3 Brings Enhanced Location Controls and Other Tweaks
It's All Tech posts an extensive list of changes discovered so far in the third beta version of iOS 5, which was seeded to developers just a short time ago. Among the interesting new features and tweaks are:
- Enhanced location services controls: Aside from a prominent new screen in the iOS 5 setup process outlining how location services work, the new beta also includes finer granularity of ...
Apple Seeds Xcode 4.1 Golden Master Build to Developers
Alongside today's release of iOS 5 beta 3, Apple also seeded the golden master (GM) version of Xcode 4.1 to developers. The release comes ten days after Apple seeded Xcode 4.1 Developer Preview 7 with the OS X Lion GM build, and signals further readiness for the public launch of OS X Lion.
Xcode is Apple's package to help developers create applications for OS X and iOS. The software saw a m...
Bankruptcy Courts Approve Nortel Patent Sale to Apple Consortium
Reuters reports that judges in the United States and Canada have approved the $4.5 billion sale of 6,000 Nortel patents to a consortium of bidders led by Apple. Microsoft, Research in Motion, EMC, Ericsson, and Sony were also part of the winning group, which beat out Google for the patents.Several large technology companies such as Verizon Communications Inc and Hewlett-Packard Co objected to...
Apple Releases iOS 5 Beta 3 to Developers
Apple has just pushed out the third beta version of iOS 5 to developers, continuing to push forward on the next major revision of Apple's mobile operating system set for public release in the fall. The new version is known as Build 9A5259f.
No details on changes included in the new beta have yet been provided, but we will update this post as the news comes...
Apple Pushes iLife '11 Updates Via Mac App Store [Updated x2]
As noted by TUAW, Apple has pushed out GarageBand, iMovie, and iPhoto updates via the Mac App Store, updating the three primary components of the iLife '11 suite. The updates have not yet made it to Software Update or Apple's downloads site for those users who installed the suite by a mechanism other than the Mac App Store, but they appear on those distribution channels in the near future....
iOS App Store Booming: Per-Device Downloads and Average Sales Price Increasing
Fortune reports on a new note from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, who for some time has been keeping tabs on the performance of Apple's App Store using calculations of download rates and other metrics against number of devices sold. According to Munster, iOS device owners are increasing their usage of the App Store in 2011, downloading more apps as the average sales price for paid apps has...
Apple Adding Second Manufacturer for Forthcoming iPad Update?
DigiTimes reports that Apple is planning to bring on a second manufacturing partner for the iPad as part of the rollout of the updated models rumored for release later this year.Apple reportedly plans to add a second manufacturer for iPad 3 tablet PCs in addition to Foxconn Electronics with Taiwan-based Quanta Computer and [Pegatron] Technology being indicated as the potential contenders for the...
Apple to Debut 'HD+' 1080p iTunes Movie Services Later This Year?
AppleInsider reports that Apple may be preparing to begin supporting 1080p movies in its iTunes Store later this year, based on reports of film studios submitting films to Apple in a new "HD+" format at the higher resolution.Thus far, 1080p HD content has largely eluded users of Apple products, with HD versions of videos on the company's digital download service maxing out 720p (1280x720) and...
Dubious Claim of 3G in Next-Generation iPod Touch
Dutch site AppleSpot.nl today reported [Google translation] that the next-generation iPod touch is set to debut in September alongside a new iPhone and will offer 3G data connectivity.
According to the report, the new iPod touch will rely on a SIM card to access GSM networks and will be serviced by traditional carriers in much the same way as the iPhone, although presumably with some sort of...
Analytics Firm Questionably Pegs Verizon's U.S. iPhone 4 Share at 32%
Mobile app analytics firm Localytics yesterday published a widely-cited report measuring the ratio of AT&T to Verizon iPhone 4s in the United States, finding that a surge over the past two months has increased Verizon's share to over 32% just four and a half months after the device launched on the carrier.Summer has seen significant growth in Verizon's market share. After spending most of the...
Apple Researching 'Physics Metaphor' Gestures for Inter-Device Communication
As noted by Patently Apple, a newly-published patent application from Apple reveals an interesting take on the idea of using metaphorical gestures to share data between devices.
Building upon file transfer mechanisms found in such iOS apps as Bump that allow users to exchange contact information, photos, and other data between devices in close proximity, Apple proposes a number of gestures...
Apple Retail Stores Making Preparations for OS X Lion Launch Next Week?
A pair of reports today are suggesting that Apple may be preparing its retail stores for a launch of OS X Lion next week, with MacBook Air and other hardware updates likely to follow alongside or soon after the new operating system debuts.
9 to 5 Mac reports that Apple has scheduled "overnights" for next Wednesday, July 13th, events where store layouts and promotional materials are tweaked and ...
Apple's iPad 2 Shipping Estimates Fall to 3-5 Business Days in Many Countries
Shipping estimates for new online iPad 2 orders from Apple have fallen to just 3-5 business days in a number of countries, down from the earlier 1-2 week estimates that had been in place since April. The new shipping estimates apply to both engraved and non-engraved models and appear to be in effect throughout Apple's North American and Asia-Pacific distribution channels. Shipping estimates in...
Time Warner Cable Updates Live TV App for iPad, Shuts Out Jailbreakers
Time Warner Cable today announced the release of a major update to its TWCable TV app for iPad, increasing the number of channels available for live viewing to over 100 and adding new channel guide, remote control, and DVR management capabilities when used with compatible set-top boxes.
But as noted by Engadget, the updated app also brings one other unpublicized change: jailbreak detection...
Apple to Launch 'iPad HD' This Fall Alongside Pro Apps?
This is my next... adds some additional color to recent reports of a higher-resolution iPad set for launch later this year, claiming that the new "iPad HD" device will be sold alongside the existing iPad 2 and will target professional users in the video or photo industries. Apple is also said to be planning to debut iPad versions of at least one its pro-level apps such as Final Cut Pro or...
