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
Adobe Debuts 'Wallaby' Prerelease Flash-to-HTML5 Converter
Last October, Adobe demoed new conversion software that could allow Flash developers to port their content to a combination of HTML5 and related non-Flash technologies, making it considerably easier for developers to make their content available for platforms such as iOS that do not support Flash.
While at the time the conversion software was not promised for a public release, Adobe has now...
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Apple to Release iOS 4.3 Today? Personal Hotspot Device Limits Up to Carriers?
BGR reports that Apple is preparing to release iOS 4.3 today at the company's usual 1:00 PM Eastern / 10:00 Pacific timeframe for iOS releases. A release today would be a bit of a surprise, given that Apple announced last week that the update would launch on Friday alongside the iPad 2 debut. BGR does, however, have a strong track record of pinpointing iOS build numbers and releases.
Apple ...
Apple Seeds Mac OS X 10.6.7 Build 10J868 to Developers
As noted by 9 to 5 Mac, Apple yesterday seeded a seventh build of Mac OS X 10.6.7 to registered Mac developers. The new 10J868 build comes nearly two weeks after the previous seed.
As with the last several builds, Apple lists no known issues and asks developers to focus their testing on Safari, Mac App Store, AirPort, Bonjour, SMB, and Graphics Drivers. The new build also remains at nearly ...
'Secret' Firmware Update Unlocks Support for 8 GB RAM on 'Late 2008' Notebooks
In a blog post published last week, Other World Computing unravels a mystery that has seen conflicting information over whether "Late 2008" aluminum MacBooks and MacBook Pros support a maximum of 8 GB of RAM. According to the report, Apple apparently quietly changed a December 2009 firmware update for the machines at some point to boost maximum RAM support from 6 GB to 8 GB.
The discovery...
Apple Cutting Some Software and Peripherals From Retail Store Displays?
The Loop reports that Apple is planning to cut significant numbers of software titles and peripherals from its retail store sales floors, moving to free up space to accommodate the more extensive Personal Setup service for Macs launched in January. Among the products that will no longer be displayed in the retail stores are printers, scanners and possible some hard drives. These peripherals will ...
Lines for iPad 2 Launch Begin as 'iJustin' Camps Out Once Again
Justin Wagoner's tent outside temporary Knox Street store in Dallas
With the iPad 2 set for launch at 5:00 PM on Friday and Apple not offering pre-orders, those looking to get their hands on the updated tablet device as soon as possible may find themselves facing long waits to secure spots near the front of their respective lines. And just like with the iPhone 4, Dallas resident Justin...
Apple Job Listings Hint at Plans for Revamped Online Store
Apple's online store experience has remained relatively consistent for a number of years now, but a new hiring binge suggests that the company may be preparing to revamp the store from the ground up.
One job listing, which appeared late last week and hints at multiple available senior software engineering positions in the "Core Services" functionality of the store, explicitly references the...
AT&T to Permit Grandfathered Unlimited iPad Data Plans to Transfer to iPad 2
Engadget reports that AT&T has confirmed that it will allow iPad users currently on the company's discontinued unlimited data plan to transfer the plan to a new iPad 2. If you were lucky enough to snag one of those coveted unlimited data plans with your original AT&T iPad, you won't have to toss it when upgrading next week. The carrier has confirmed to us that those who currently have the...
Best Buy to Provide iPads to All Retail Employees?
Forbes reports that a major U.S. retailer presumed to be Best Buy is preparing to provide all of its retail store employees with iPads, a move that could help the electronics chain sell staff (and thus customers) on the company's concept of a "Connected World". A source with knowledge of corporate mobile device deployments tells Forbes that one of the country's top 10 largest retailers expects...
iOS 4.3 Personal Hotspot Wi-Fi Sharing Limited to Three Devices in Many Countries?
Engadget posts a purported internal AT&T sales document sharing details of Apple's iOS 4.3 launch scheduled for next Friday, March 11th. According to the document, the personal hotspot functionality included in the update, which the carrier has already announced that it will support will be limited to three connected Wi-Fi devices. According to this here slide, which details a bit of insidery...
Verizon Suggests March 11th Launch Date Availability for iPad 2
As noted by 9 to 5 Mac, Verizon has posted a banner on its site suggesting that the carrier will indeed be offering the iPad 2 as of its official U.S. launch date of March 11th. AT&T, Apple's other carrier partner for the iPad 2 in the U.S., has not yet announced launch plans for the device but will presumably also have stocks available on the 11th.
Apple was silent in its initial iPad 2...
New Details of Apple's First Hong Kong Retail Store
Last week, we noted that Apple is apparently set to open its first retail store in Hong Kong by the end of the year, pursuing a 15,000 square-foot space in the IFC Mall.
A tipster by the name of Sean has sent us the above photo showing the space already sectioned off in the mall for Apple's store. While the coverings for the store are currently simple white wallboard, Sean tells us that ten ...
Apple Looking to Develop iPhone Based on TD-LTE?
Reuters briefly reports on comments from China Mobile chairman Wang Jianzhou claiming that Apple has "expressed interest" in developing an iPhone capable of running on the carrier's TD-LTE network currently under development. China Mobile Ltd, the world's largest mobile carrier by subscribers, said on Friday that Apple Inc Chief Executive Steve Jobs has expressed interest in developing an iPhone ...
Samsung Rethinking Galaxy Tab 10.1 After iPad 2 Unveiling
South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reports (via AsiaPulse) that Apple's iPad 2 introduction has forced Samsung to reconsider its plans for its forthcoming Galaxy Tab 10.1, a larger version of its initial 7-inch Galaxy Tab that is intended to offer a more similar form factor to the iPad. According to a Samsung executive, the company is looking to improve the specs of the device to be more...
Apple Targeting 10-12 Million iPad 2 Shipments for Q2 2011?
DigiTimes reports that Apple's suppliers are targeting production of 10-12 million iPad 2 units during the second quarter of 2011. That production would come on top of 2-3 million second-generation iPads being pushed out before the end of this quarter, putting total iPad 2 shipments in the first four months of availability at as high as 15 million units, a figure that would match total sales...
Apple Negotiating for Unlimited Music Redownloads Ahead of MobileMe Revamp
Bloomberg reports that Apple is talking with a number of music labels about allowing customers to download tracks purchased from the iTunes Store an unlimited number of times to any device associated with a specific iTunes Store account. According to sources, agreements could be reached by midyear that would allow Apple to provide cloud-based "digital lockers" to permit users access to their...
Apple Seeds iOS 4.3 Golden Master to Developers
Apple today seeded the golden master version of iOS 4.3 to developers, paving the way for a public release of the update on March 11th.
The update is available in versions for the iPad, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and third- and fourth-generation iPod touch, while the iPad 2 will of course also ship with iOS 4.3 installed. The build number is 8F190.
BGR last week claimed that iOS 4.3 had...
iPad 2 to Match iPhone 4's 512 MB of RAM?
While Apple yesterday touted its new A5 system-on-a-chip with a 1 GHz dual-core processor in the forthcoming iPad 2, the company declined to report how much RAM is included in the package. The original iPad offers the same 256 MB of RAM that was found in the iPhone 3GS, but that standard has since been surpassed by the iPhone 4 and its 512 MB of RAM.
Gizmodo yesterday sparked fears in some...
Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and Sam's Club to Carry iPad 2 at Launch
In contrast to the limited distribution channels and lengthy staggered rollout for the original iPad, Apple appears to be moving full-speed ahead with a broad launch of the iPad 2 in the United States on March 11th, and over two dozen other countries following just two weeks later.
As noted by 9 to 5 Mac, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and Sam's Club will all be carrying the device as of March 11th.
...
BlackBerry Messenger Coming to iOS and Android?
BGR reports that Research in Motion is planning to bring its BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) system to the iOS and Android platforms, expanding the instant messaging system that has been a key feature of the BlackBerry operating system for many years. According to our sources, RIM has not yet finalized details surrounding timing or pricing, but we have heard that the company might make the software...
