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 Patent Watch: 'Spaces' for Tablets, Multiple Cameras for 3D iPhone Photos
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office yesterday published a remarkable volume of new Apple patent applications, offering another look at technologies the company has at least been thinking about, even if they may never see the light of day. Here are a couple of the interesting ones that made their appearances yesterday.
One patent application detailed by Patently Apple describes a concept for...
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Happy April Fools' Day: April 1, 2011
Today is April 1, 2011 and represents April Fools' Day -- so readers should be wary of hoaxes and claims at both news and rumor sites today. Today also represents Apple's 35th anniversary, having been founded on this day in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.
Among the popular April Fools' Day jokes making the rounds today:
- ThinkGeek is offering a Playmobil Apple Store Playset with an...
Time Warner Cable Pulls Some Channels From iPad App, Adds Others
As we noted yesterday, Time Warner Cable's popular live TV application for the iPad has faced opposition from a number of content providers who believe that the implementation is a violation of their agreements with the cable company. Time Warner Cable has rolled out a dedicated site to garner support from customers and keep them informed on the situation.
As noted on that site and in an...
GarageBand 6.0.2 for Mac Brings Support for iPad Projects
While Apple had touted the ability to move projects between its new GarageBand for iPad and the corresponding application for Mac OS X, the two versions were not initially compatible, as GarageBand for Mac has been unable to launch GarageBand projects created in the iPad application.
Apple today addressed that issue with the release of GarageBand 6.0.2 for Mac OS X, a welcome update for users...
Arkansas to Become 44th U.S. State With an Apple Retail Store
Promenade at Chenal, Little Rock, Arkansas
As noted by ifoAppleStore and several eagle-eyed observers who reported the developments to us, Apple is preparing to open a new retail store this October in Little Rock, Arkansas. The store will be the company's first in that state. After an extended four-year courtship, Apple has finalized plans -- for a second time -- to open a store at the...
Google Tightening Control Over Android as Fragmentation Increases
One of the major talking points long used by Google in support of its Android smartphone operating system over iOS is its "open" nature that has allowed handset manufacturers and others to tweak and customize the software for their needs. Apple CEO Steve Jobs has argued that the "open" nature would more accurately be described as "fragmented" in justifying why he believes that Apple's "closed"...
Time Warner and Amazon Forge Ahead as Apple Negotiates With Content Providers
Over the past few weeks, a pair of announcements have seen Time Warner Cable announce a live TV app for iPad and Amazon unveil cloud-based storage for music, two areas in which Apple has been rumored to be trying to roll out its own offerings but has yet to do so.
One of the primary barriers for Apple seems to have been its preference to try to work with the content providers, companies that ...
Apple Losing Global Marketing Executive Allison Johnson
All Things Digital reports that Apple vice president of worldwide marketing communications Allison Johnson is leaving the company, reportedly seeking to set up a new marketing and public relations firm. Johnson, who has held the VP position since 2005, will reportedly be officially departing Apple within the next few months. There's no dearth of marketing and communications talent at Apple, but...
Apple Releases Xcode 4.1 Developer Preview 2
Alongside yesterday's release of Mac OS X Lion Developer Preview 2, Apple also pushed out a new developer version of Xcode 4.1 in support of Lion.
According to MacStories, the new build brings support for fullscreen mode in project and workspace windows, as well as enhancements to the Core Data editor and...
Mac OS X Lion Developer Preview 2 Brings New Look for iCal
As noted in our forums and by 9 to 5 Mac, Apple's new developer build of Mac OS X Lion offers a new look for iCal bearing a stronger resemblance to the iPad's Calendar application. The new look gives the appearance of a physical desktop calendar with leather binding along the top edge, and like the iPad application shows remnants of torn-off pages for additional realism.
According to...
Adobe Shows Off Photoshop for iPad With Layer Support
As covered by Photography Bay, Adobe yesterday used its keynote address at Photoshop World 2011 to briefly show off a new concept for a Photoshop app for iPad offering support for layers, a significant leap beyond the capabilities found in the company's current Photoshop Express app.
Photography Bay has also posted a brief video of the demo showing how layers can be used on the iPad.
The...
Apple and Partners Scrambling to Meet iPad 2 Demand Amid Earthquake Effects
A series of new reports indicate that Apple and its suppliers are working hard to ensure a steady flow of iPad 2 units to the market amid strong demand and continuing effects from the Japanese earthquake earlier this month.
According to DigiTimes, Apple has agreed to absorb additional part costs brought about by the earthquake in exchange for assurances that suppliers will continue providing...
Apple Releases Mac OS X Lion Developer Preview 2
Apple today pushed out a new developer preview version of Mac OS X Lion, offering an updated build of the company's next-generation operating system for testing purposes. The new version is Build 11A419.
Changes included in the update are currently unknown. We've also heard that Apple pushed out a minor update via Software Update to developers testing the initial Lion build, an update that ...
Apple Issues Software Update Addressing System Hanging on 13-Inch MacBook Air
Apple today released Mac OS X v10.6.7 Supplemental Update for 13" MacBook Air (Late 2010), a small software update specifically targeting Apple's new 13-inch MacBook Air and issues with the system freezing while iTunes is in use. This update addresses an issue that makes the system unresponsive when using iTunes.
It is recommended for all 13" MacBook Air (Late 2010) users running Mac OS X...
Apple to End Longest Gap in Retail Store Openings With New Dresden Store
Dresden retail store under construction (Source: iFun.de)
As noted by ifoAppleStore, Apple is poised to end its longest drought of store openings tomorrow when the company opens the doors on its new Altmarkt-Galerie store in Dresden, Germany. The store will be company's first in the city and fifth in Germany and will be the first Apple retail store to open since the University Park Mall store ...
Microsoft Hires Linguist to Oppose Apple's 'App Store' Trademark
CNET reports that Microsoft has filed yet another document (PDF) in its case opposing Apple's application for a trademark on the term "App Store", moving beyond its earlier effort involving complaining about Apple's font size to bring in a linguist to counter Apple's own expert in debating the genericness of the term. Microsoft struck back in a separate declaration filed today by linguistic expert ...
Teardowns Detail Minor Differences Among Wi-Fi, GSM, and CDMA iPad 2 Models
iFixit yesterday announced that it has completed teardowns of the GSM and CDMA versions of the iPad 2, joining the teardown of the Wi-Fi version performed on launch day earlier this month. Rather than posting an extensive walkthrough of each model, iFixit focused on the few areas in which the various models differ from one another, related of course to the cellular connectivity needs or lack...
Apple Sets 2Q 2011 Earnings Release for April 20th
Apple yesterday updated its investor relations page to officially state that it will announce its earnings for the second fiscal quarter of 2011 (first calendar quarter) and host a conference call regarding the release on Wednesday, April 20th. Apple plans to conduct a conference call to discuss financial results of its second fiscal quarter on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 2:00 p.m PT.The conferenc...
Japanese Earthquake Leading to Shortages of iPod Batteries
Fourth-generation iPod touch battery (iFixit)
The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple is facing shortages of the lithium-polymer batteries used in its iPod line, as a Japanese supplier has been forced to shut down its facilities following the earthquake there earlier this month. A representative from Apple Inc. recently called Kureha Corp.'s offices in the U.S. The problem: Apple was facing...
Apple Planning Huge New Retail Store and 'Digital Library' in Jerusalem?
The Jerusalem Post reports (via Forbes) that Apple is moving forward on plans to build a massive new store in Jerusalem, Israel sometime within the next three years. At a claimed 5,000 square meters (over 50,000 square feet), the store would be by far the largest in Apple's retail chain. According to the report, the store will include an "Apple Digital Library" open to the public, but it is...
