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
Next-Generation Apple TV Renamed 'iTV', Utilizes Apps, Lacks 1080p?
Engadget mockup of iPhone 4-style "iTV" device serving App Store content
Engadget provides a follow-up to its late May report revealing Apple's plans for a revamped Apple TV product. The previous report had suggested an iOS-based device at a price point of $99 with limited onboard storage that would be capable of 1080p playback, but today's report claims that some things have changed in...
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Apple Pushes Out New 'Snow Leopard Graphics Update' Build to Developers
One week ago, we reported that Apple had seeded to developers a "Snow Leopard Graphics Update". While it was unclear exactly what the update is designed to address, a number of users have been complaining of graphics-related issues, particularly with high-performance games.
We have received word that Apple has seeded a new build of Snow Leopard Graphics Update to developers today, and while...
Apple's iPod Media Event Rumored for Mid-September Date
All Things D reports that Apple's traditional iPod-focused media event may be scheduled for a mid-September date this year, slightly later than in recent years. Apple's iPod media events are traditionally held on either Tuesday or Wednesday, suggesting September 14th or 15th as possible dates. According to several sources and as has been widely expected, Apple will once again be holding its...
Apple and FutureTap Resolve Questions Over Travel Patent Application
Last week, we reported on a controversy sparked by Apple's inclusion of a screenshot of a third-party developer's app interface in a patent application published late last month. While we noted at the time that the screenshot was used by Apple as interface example for taking advantage of Apple's suggested travel information service and that the company was not trying to patent anything specific...
Apple Fixes iOS PDF Security Hole With iOS 4.0.2 and 3.2.2
Apple today released updated versions of its iOS operating system, addressing a significant security vulnerability in the way Safari handles PDF files on Apple's mobile devices. The new versions, which arrive as iOS 4.0.2 for the iPhone and iPod touch and iOS 3.2.2 for the iPad, should also disable the Web-based JailbreakMe service that first exploited the vulnerability.
Apple noted one...
UK Retailer Offering Deep Discounts on Current iPod Nano and Shuffle Models
TechnologMe.com reports that UK supermarket chain Morrisons has slashed prices on the current-generation iPod nano and iPod shuffle models, suggesting that the retailer is looking to clear stock ahead of the release of refreshed models as soon as next week or perhaps early next month. Morrisons, the UK supermarket chain, is slashing the price of 3rd generation iPod shuffles down to 20 and 4th...
UK Carrier Claims No White iPhone 4s Until 'End of the Year'
TiPb reports that UK wireless carrier Orange has been emailing customers to notify them that availability of white iPhone 4 models is not expected "until the end of the year", encouraging them to consider a black model instead while continuing to offer notification when the white models do arrive. We wanted to let you know that there won't be any white iPhone 4's in the UK until the end of the...
Apple Agrees to Replace Overheating First-Generation iPod Nanos in Japan
Bloomberg reports that Apple has agreed to entirely replace any first-generation iPod nanos for customers in Japan whose devices have exhibited symptoms of overheating. Apple Inc. said it will offer replacements of iPad Nano music players in Japan that overheat, following calls by the government to take measures to prevent the devices from catching fire.
Apple, based in Cupertino, California,...
Adobe Enables Mac Hardware-Accelerated Decoding in Updated Flash Player 10.1
As noted by project manager Thibault Imbert, Adobe's Flash Player 10.1 for Mac has been updated to enable hardware-accelerated decoding of video content, offering smoother playback, lower system resource usage, and longer battery life for portable devices. We just pushed a few minutes ago a new version of the Flash Player 10.1.82.76 containing a nice feature that was in beta until now called...
Apple Debuts App Store Volume Purchase Program for Educational Institutions
Yesterday, we noted a change to the App Store's developer terms and options allowing developers to offer their applications at a 50% discount for bulk purchases made by educational institutions. Apple has now posted information on the program disclosing how institutions can take advantage of the discounted pricing. The Volume Purchase Program makes it easy for educational institutions to purchase ...
Microsoft Releases Office 2008 12.2.6 and Office 2004 11.6.0 Updates
Microsoft today released several updates for users of its Office for Mac productivity suite, bringing security and performance fixes to Office 2008 and 2004, as well as a pair of ancillary updates.
- Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac 12.2.6 Update (332.6 MB): The update addresses security issues as well as offering stability and compatibility enhancements.
- Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.6.0 ...
Larry Ellison Compares HP CEO's Forced Resignation to Jobs' Ouster at Apple
The New York Times reports on the recent forced resignation of HP CEO Mark Hurd following claims of sexual harassment and improper expense reports, quoting Oracle CEO Larry Ellison as comparing Hurd's ouster to that of Steve Jobs' departure from Apple in 1985. "The H.P. board just made the worst personnel decision since the idiots on the Apple board fired Steve Jobs many years ago," Mr. Ellison...
European Commission Joins Investigation of Apple's Flash Exclusion Policies
The New York Post reports that the European Commission has taken an interest in Apple's long-standing exclusion of Adobe's Flash from its iOS devices, as well as its ban on Adobe's Flash-to-iPhone compiler and similar tools designed to allow non-native applications to be recompiled for the iOS platform. The paper was the first to report back in May that U.S. regulators were considering an...
Survey Finds Apple Most Popular Notebook Brand Among U.S. College Students
Over the weekend, Fortune reported on data collected by research firm Student Monitor showing Apple holding down the #1 spot among notebook computer manufacturers favored by U.S. college students. In its most recent survey of 1,200 students, the firm found that 27% of student-owned notebooks were Macs, compared to 24% for second-place Dell. Apple also fares well looking ahead to the future,...
Apple Allows Developers to Offer 50% Discount to Educational Institutions for Bulk App Store Purchases
As noted by Mac|Life, a change to Apple's App Store developer agreement today reveals that the company has rolled out a new discount program to allow developers to offer their applications to educational institutions at a 50% discount when multiple copies of an app are purchased at the same time.
Developers logging into their iTunes Connect accounts today are being met with a disclosure of ...
Apple Announces New Developer Day Passes for Mac Compatibility Labs
As noted by Macworld, Apple has launched a new day pass program offering access to the company's Developer Compatibility Labs for Mac OS X developers. The new day passes, priced at $99, offer users access to Apple's facilities in either Cupertino, California or Tokyo, Japan to test their software or hardware products with a wide range of Apple products to ensure compatibility. The Single Lab...
Revamped AT&T App Allows U-Verse Subscribers to Download Select TV Content
AT&T today announced the launch of its revamped and renamed U-verse Mobile application [App Store], bringing customers of the company's U-verse television service the ability to not only schedule DVR recordings remotely but also to download selected TV content for viewing on their iOS devices. U-verse Mobile replaces the popular Mobile Remote Access for iPhone app and incorporates the ability...
Apple Acquires Rights to Liquidmetal Technologies' Advanced Metal Alloys
The Baltimore Sun reports that Apple has signed an exclusive agreement with California-based company Liquidmetal Technologies for the firm's advanced "amorphous" metal alloys. The news comes as part of a filing made by Liquidmetal with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in which the company reveals that Apple has obtained the right to use essentially all of its intellectual property in ...
Cortex A9-Based iPads, Verizon iPhone, iOS-Based Apple TV Set for 1Q 2011 Launch?
DigiTimes today offers a number of claims related to Apple's iOS platform, agreeing with other recent reports that the Verizon iPhone will launch in January, with new 9.7" and 7" iPads and iOS-based Apple TV also set for introduction early next year.
- iPad: DigiTimes claims that Apple will refresh its iPad in the first quarter of 2011, moving to a processor based on ARM's Cortex-A9 design,...
Papermaster's Departure Linked to 'Cultural Incompatibility' Rather Than Antenna Issues
The Wall Street Journal provides some additional color on the departure of Apple's iPhone hardware engineering chief Mark Papermaster, citing "broader cultural incompatibility" rather than a direct link to the iPhone 4's antenna issues as reason for his exit. Exactly how much the problems with the iPhone 4 played in Mr. Papermaster's exit is unclear. The iPhone 4, a key device for Apple, has...
