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 Removes Custom Ringtone Creation in iTunes 10
Apple's former custom ringtone editor, no longer present in iTunes 10
As noted by Mac|Life, iTunes 10 appears to be lacking the ability to create ringtones from songs purchased from the iTunes Store. The feature had allowed users to select iTunes-purchased songs from their libraries, trim them down to desired ringtone lengths, and purchase the resulting custom ringtones for $0.99 each. After...
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Apple Reportedly Looking to Push Monthly iPad Production to 3 Million
According to a new research note from Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty, Apple's manufacturing partners are now pushing out two million iPads per month, with Apple urging them to boost production to three million per month for the fourth quarter of this year. Says Huberty, "Apple recently indicated to its suppliers a desire to move to 3 million per month in C4Q10. This implies a run rate of 36...
iOS Passes Linux to Become Third-Most Popular Internet Browsing Platform
As noted by Computerworld, Internet research firm Net Applications has calculated that Apple's iOS has passed Linux to become the third-most popular Internet platform, surpassing Linux to trail only Windows and Mac OS X. According to Net Applications, the milestone came in July, when the release of the iPhone 4 apparently created a surge for iOS past 1% market share while Linux dropped below...
Apple-Facebook Controversy Over Ping Rooted in API Usage, Feature May Return
Earlier today, we reported on confusion surrounding the brief appearance of Facebook Connect functionality in iTunes 10's "Ping" social networking feature that initially appeared to allow users to find friends by checking their Facebook contacts. The feature quickly disappeared from Ping without explanation from Apple.
All Things Digital now follows up with a report claiming that the...
Apple Confirms No Software Update for Original Apple TV
Included in a nice overview of Apple's new iPods and Apple TV from Ars Technica is confirmation that users of Apple's earlier Apple TV models will not be receiving a software upgrade to enable Netflix streaming and other software features of the revamped model. Users of the older models will, however, continue to be able to purchase content, as opposed to the rental-only model for the new...
Apple Seeds Mac OS X 10.6.5 Build 10H535 to Developers
Apple continues its trend of weekly releases of Mac OS X 10.6.5 developer builds today by pushing Build 10H535 to registered developers. The release marks an increment of four builds since last week's release.
According to those familiar with the new build, Apple continues to ask developers to focus their testing on the same six areas as in the previous build: 3D Graphics, iCal, Mail,...
Spammers Already Taking Aim at Apple's Ping
It's been less than 24 hours since Apple released iTunes 10 and its integrated social networking functionality, Ping, but spammers and scammers are already starting to spread their messages via the service. The first major instance appears to be a "free iPhone" scam that has seen multiple accounts posting replies to entries from a number of the most popular music artists currently using Ping.
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Fourth-Generation iPod Touch Teardown Photos Posted by FCC
Engadget notes that Apple's new iPod touch introduced yesterday has appeared on the website of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Along with other standard information on radiation emissions required by the FCC for approval, the documents contain a series of internal and external photos of the device, which will not be making its way into the hands of consumers until next week. He...
Confusion Over Facebook's Brief Appearance in Ping for iTunes
Screenshot from Follow Music and People with Ping video tutorial
With yesterday's release of iTunes 10, Apple also deployed a new music-focused social network feature known as Ping. When it initially launched yesterday, users creating their profiles were presented with an option to use Facebook Connect to find friends who had already created their own Ping profiles. It is unclear, however,...
Apple Rebrands 'iPhone Dev Center' as 'iOS Dev Center'
In an unsurprising move, Apple has rebranded its developer program and portal for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch as the iOS Dev Center. The change from its previous "iPhone Dev Center" name follows a similar shift in the name of the devices' operating system made back in June.
Apple notes in a brief news posting that the iOS Developer Program offers the exact same benefits and resources...
Apple's New iPod Touch and iPod Nano Commercials
During today's media event, Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced two new commercials, one each for the new iPod touch and iPod nano. Apple has now posted the commercials to its product-specific sites, as well as its YouTube page.
iPod touch - All kinds of fun
The iPod touch commercial utilizes Chappo's "Come Home" [iTunes Store] and demonstrates the device's ability to capture and play video,...
Live Coverage of Apple's 2010 Fall Media Event
Outside Apple's media event in San Francisco (Source: CrunchGear)
Apple today is holding its traditional fall media event where it is expected to introduce several new and updated products and services, with iPods, iTunes, and Apple TV serving as the most frequent topics of rumor and speculation. The event is scheduled to kick off at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco at...
Next-Generation iPod Touch to Be 'Slightly Thinner' Than Current Models?
iLounge offers a number of details regarding the fourth-generation iPod touch rumored for introduction today that it believes to be correct. While much of the information regarding the physical features of the device is essentially the same as that detailed in an earlier report and supported by leaked case designs, one new detail is a claim that the device is actually even thinner than the...
Intel CEO: Jobs 'Very Happy' With Intel-Infineon Deal
In an interview on the Fox Business Network earlier this week, Intel CEO Paul Otellini claims that Apple CEO Steve Jobs is "very happy" with Intel's deal to acquire Infineon's wireless chip unit. Infineon has provided components, including baseband controllers for cellular connectivity, for every generation of the iPhone. Steve was very happy. The industry was abuzz that this unit was on the...
Apple TV Reported to Retain Name, Updated Products Not Shipping Immediately?
According to a pair of tweets from Australian Macworld, a revised Apple TV should be introduced today with its current name rather than being rebranded as "iTV," and none of the products set for introduction today will see immediate availability.
The first tweet offers a model number of MC572LL/A for the U.S. version of the new Apple TV and claims that it will not ship immediately. Our...
Apple Set to Debut 99-Cent iTunes TV Show Rentals From Fox and ABC
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts prepped for Apple's media event
The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple will launch its 99-cent TV show rentals through the iTunes Store tomorrow, with Fox and ABC set to serve as launch partners for delivering content. A report earlier today had indicated that Walt Disney (which owns ABC) was on board with that plan and that News Corp. (which owns Fox) was...
Revamped Apple TV to Offer Netflix Streaming?
Bloomberg reports that Apple will be introducing a revamped Apple TV at tomorrow's media event, and that the new device will offer Netflix movie streaming. Netflix offers a subscription service allowing customers to receive DVDs and Blu-ray discs by mail while also accessing a library of streaming content through an increasing array of compatible devices such as TiVos, DVD players, and gaming...
Video of Next-Generation iPod Nano Touch Screen Surfaces
9 to 5 Mac shares a video discovered on YouTube showing a brief clip of the 3 cm x 3 cm touch screen supposedly destined for the next-generation iPod nano rumored for introduction at tomorrow's media event. While we've already seen the small touch screen in photos, the video provides a good demonstration of how the screen (and consequently the device, as rumors have the device being essentially...
Next-Generation iPod Nano to Maintain Price Range, Ship Later?
3 cm x 3 cm touch screen expected to be used in new iPod nano
AppleInsider reports that it has received information claiming that Apple's next-generation iPod nano, rumored to carry a smaller form factor and touch screen, will maintain the existing price range for the line. And despite the significant decrease in size, pricing at current iPod nano levels of $149 for 8 GB and $179 for 16 GB...
Apple Survey References Ability to 'Instantly' Watch iTunes Store Video Content on iPad
Engadget yesterday reported on an Apple customer service survey going around in recent days that specifically addresses the ability to "instantly" watch iTunes Store video on the iPad, a feature not currently available. . . .it lists "Titles are available to watch instantly" as a reason you might totally love watching video on the iPad. Of course, you can't watch iTunes videos "instantly" right...
