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 Investigating 'MACDefender' Malware, Support Staff Barred From Assisting Customers
Earlier this month, a new malware threat known as "MACDefender" popped up, targeting Mac OS X users with requests to install an application claiming to be an antivirus program. The malware has continued to be a problem for many users, showing up with regularity under several different variants.
ZDNet's Ed Bott has been looking into the issue, and while some may dismiss his claims due to his ...
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Apple's Music Streaming Service to Eliminate Buffering Lag With Locally-Stored Snippets?
As noted by AppleInsider, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today published a patent application from Apple describing a system for eliminating delays in streaming media by storing small portions of the content locally on a user's mobile device. The content covered in the patent application, which is entitled "Local Storage of a Portion of Streamed Media Items" and was filed in November...
OmniVision's New 5-MP 1080p Camera Sensor Opens Door to Thinner Devices
Apple's longtime camera sensor supplier for iOS devices, OmniVision Technologies, today announced the introduction of a new 5-megapixel sensor that could lead to thinner mobile devices while also offering the ability to shoot video at 1080p. The new sensor checks in at under 5 mm high, 20% thinner than other industry-leading sensors.OmniVision Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: OVTI), a leading...
Apple Building Out Minor Data Center Capacity Expansion in California
Data Center Knowledge reports that while Apple's massive new data center in North Carolina has been gaining all of the attention over the past year or so, the company is still looking to expand capacity elsewhere, as evidenced by a recent commitment for space in a third-party data center in Santa Clara, California near the company's headquarters.In April, Apple signed a seven-year lease for...
'Parallels Transporter' Eases Migration From Windows to Mac
Virtualization software firm Parallels today announced the debut of Parallels Transporter, a new Mac OS X application to help users transition from Windows-based machines to Mac OS X.The Parallels Transporter app is designed for Mac users who may not need to run Windows on their Mac at all; it is a simple way to bring everything you need from your PC together on your Mac without wasting your...
Approvals for Apps Equipped With In App Purchase On Hold? [Updated]
TUAW reports that developers seeking to submit applications featuring in app purchase to the iOS App Store have had their submissions stalled by an error message on Apple's end linked to a test account required for evaluating the in app purchase functionality.As a matter of policy, Apple requires developers to test in-app purchases (IAP) with a test user account before the application in question ...
Weekend Retail Store Meetings Related to New iPad-Focused Staff Software? [Updated: Minor Store Makeovers]
There has been a considerable amount of back-and-forth regarding staff meetings and other activities reportedly scheduled for this weekend at Apple's retail stores, with some speculation suggesting that Apple could be readying a product launch or other activities related to the company's 10th anniversary of the opening of its first retail stores.
It is beginning to appear, however, that the...
Apple Online Store Downtime Leads to New Link to Returns Policy
With Apple's online stores around the world going down for maintenance earlier today and a flood of MacRumors readers reporting the event, observers were of course curious about what changes were being made, despite the fact that no new product releases were expected.
When the stores went live again, it was not immediately apparent that there had been any changes, suggesting that the downtime...
Apple Planning Huge New Retail Store in the Heart of Madrid?
Spanish newspaper El Pais reports [Google translation] that the mayor of Madrid has announced that Apple will occupy the entirety of a landmark building in the center of the city on the Puerta del Sol, snapping up 6,000 square meters (~65,000 square feet) of space. The building, famous for its large neon sign advertising popular sherry brand Tio Pepe that has temporarily been removed for...
iPhone 4 Noise Cancellation Delivered by Chip From Audience
White-labelled Audience audio processor highlighted in yellow
iFixit reports that the chip responsible for handling the noise cancellation capabilities of the iPhone 4 has finally been identified, with chip teardown firm Chipworks pegging it has having come from Audience, the producer of high-end voice processors found in such devices as the Nexus One. The identification was made more difficult ...
Apple Releases Digital Camera RAW Update and ProKit 7.0
Apple today issued a pair of software updates, expanding the list of cameras for which the RAW image format is supported in iPhoto and Aperture and updating the user interface functionality for Apple's professional applications.
- Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 3.7 is recommended for all users of Aperture 3 and iPhoto '11 and provides RAW image compatibility for the following...
Apple Trademarks Name for a New App Called 'Noteworthy'. [Update: It's Just a Font.]
As noted by Patently Apple, Apple has filed a new trademark application in Europe covering the term "Noteworthy", classifying the term under computer software.
The report speculates that the trademark could have something to do with optical character recognition, or even an integrated sensing display capable of acting as a scanner The usual broad range of terms covered in the classification...
Apple Raising iBookstore Visibility by Exhibiting at BookExpo America for the First Time
paidContent reports that Apple is looking to increase the visibility of its iBookstore by participating in the upcoming BookExpo America trade show with a booth in a "prime location" on the exhibit floor. The booth marks Apple's first appearance at the event and a rare appearance by the company at a third-party trade show, especially since its effort to essentially eliminate such participation...
Apple Proposes Standard for Smaller SIM Cards to Make Even Thinner iPhones
Current micro-SIM (bottom right) punched out of a full-size SIM card (top right)
Reuters reports that Apple has submitted a proposal for a standardized SIM card design smaller than the micro-SIM currently used in the iPhone 4 and iPad, with the new design having apparently won the backing of French carrier Orange. The design would reportedly allow Apple and other companies adopting the card to...
Apple's Share of Mobile Phone Industry Profits Pushes Toward 60%
Asymco yesterday published a pair of charts providing an interesting perspective on mobile phone company performance for the first quarter of 2011, comparing units sold against profitability.
In the first view, the eight largest mobile phone brands are depicted according to share of units sold during the quarter, with Apple (shown in dark orange) checking in at about 7% share among those top ...
Apple Bringing NFC Payment Technology to Retail Stores?
Just one day after a research analyst claimed that Apple will not be including near field communication (NFC) capabilities in the next-generation iPhone, BGR reports that Apple has been making changes to its retail store payment setup and iPod touch-based EasyPay system that could allow the company to begin accepting NFC payments. The development would of course argue in favor of Apple...
Apple 'Actively Investigating' Lodsys Patent Claims as More Developers Hit
According to The Guardian, Apple is "actively investigating" the recent controversy that has seen patent holding firm Lodsys targeting small iOS developers with notices of patent infringement and giving them 21 days to purchase licenses for technology related to in app purchase and upgrade links within apps. The company is also said to be preparing a response to be issued later this week.Apple's ...
Apple Job Posting Hints at Possible Sprint iPhone
As noticed by Stop it, AT&T, Apple has posted a job listing looking for a "Carrier Engineer" located in the Kansas City, Missouri area to work with carriers on technical issues. The listing was posted on April 2nd.Member of the Carrier Engineering team that supports taking products through technical approval at the carriers. A Carrier Engineer team is responsible for day-to-day technical...
MobileMe Mail Massively Missing
Some MobileMe users are having difficulties accessing their MobileMe mail today. Macgasm noticed it first, and some of the staff at MacRumors have been having sporadic difficulties connecting via both IMAP and the MobileMe member page at me.com.
Apple's MobileMe system status page states the obvious:Some MobileMe members may be unable to access MobileMe Mail. Normal service will be restored...
Conde Nast Rolls Out Four New iPad Magazine Subscriptions, 'New Yorker' Launch Successful
Making good on its promise to roll out more titles on the iPad, Conde Nast today released in-app subscriptions and apps for Vanity Fair, Glamour, Golf Digest and Allure.
The monthly magazines will run $1.99 per issue or $19.99 per year on the iPad, with current print subscribers receiving the iPad issues for free. Print subscriptions are available directly through the magazines' websites for ...
