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
CourseSmart Looks Ahead at eTextbooks on Apple's Tablet
The Wall Street Journal reports on eTextbook publisher CourseSmart, which is looking ahead to the release of Apple's much-rumored tablet and is using this week's CES conference in Las Vegas to show off its thoughts on how its content could be offered on the new device. However, Coursesmart Executive Vice President Frank Lyman has a very different take on the potential of tablet computers for...
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Apple Announces 3 Billion App Store Downloads
Apple today announced that users have now downloaded over three billion iPhone and iPod touch applications from the company's App Store since its July 2008 launch. "Three billion applications downloaded in less than 18 months -- this is like nothing we've ever seen before," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "The revolutionary App Store offers iPhone and iPod touch users an experience unlike...
Apple Tablet Scheduled to Begin Shipping in March? Two Different Material Casings Being Considered?
The Wall Street Journal reports (subscription required) that while Apple is expected to introduce its tablet device at a media event reportedly scheduled for later this month, the tablet will not begin shipping until March. Apple Inc. plans to unveil a new multimedia tablet device later this month, but doesn't plan on shipping the product until March, people briefed by the company said.
While...
Android Gaining Momentum Among Future Smartphone Buyers
New survey data released today by ChangeWave Research indicates that Google's Android smartphone operating system has been rapidly gaining momentum over the past few months as the release of the Motorola Droid and the hype around the Google Nexus One have brought Android considerable publicity. In particular, the survey found that 21% of customers planning to purchase a new smartphone in the...
Apple Prepping iPhone OS 4.0 Beta? SDK to Include Tablet 'Simulator' Tools?
In a brief report [Google translation], French site Mac4Ever claims that Apple's special media event now reportedly scheduled for January 27th will see both the introduction of the company's much-rumored tablet device and the launch of beta versions of iPhone OS 4.0 and the associated Software Development Kit for developers.
According to the report, the SDK will include a "simulator" to assist ...
More Details on Nokia's Latest Complaints Against Apple Surface
Last week, Nokia filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) claiming infringement of its patents by "virtually all" Apple products. The complaint was an extension of an earlier lawsuit filed by Nokia over the iPhone, one which was met with strong denials and a countersuit from Apple, citing infringement of its own patents.
Engadget today notes that the text of the...
Magic Mouse Blamed for Draining Bluetooth Keyboard Batteries [Updated]
Over the weekend, TUAW pointed to a growing chorus of complaints in Apple's discussion forums from users who have seen poor battery life from their Apple wireless keyboards after moving to the company's new Magic Mouse, which began shipping in late October. According to the reports, some users are finding that their wireless keyboards are running through batteries on a nearly-weekly basis since...
Apple Takes Control of iPhone-Related Trademark in China
Macworld reports that Apple has taken control of a trademark for the term "i-phone" in China after reaching an agreement with the previous holder to resolve a conflict that could have prevented Apple from releasing the iPhone there under its global brand name. Hanwang Technology, a Chinese maker of e-readers and other devices, applied for the i-phone trademark for mobile phones in China in 2004,...
Apple Reportedly Addressing Fraud by Third-Party Service Centers
In a pair of articles published over the past week, Hardmac reveals that Apple has been working to fight against fraud perpetrated against the company by third-party authorized service centers. According to the initial report published last week, the fraud was conducted by repair centers both charging customers for out-of-warranty repairs and also reporting to Apple that the machines were under...
Apple January 26th Event 'Confirmed' by Internal Source? Focus on 'Mobility Space'?
FOXNews.com claims to have received confirmation from a "source inside Apple" that the company will in fact be holding a media event on January 26th in San Francisco. According to the source, the "big" event will focus on the "mobility space", suggesting an iPhone, iPod touch, or, as many people expect, tablet announcement. Following a Financial Times report that Apple has scheduled a special...
Reports of Possible Upcoming 8 GB iPhone 3GS Revived
Earlier this year, several pieces of evidence from the internal computer sales system for Canada's Rogers Wireless suggested that an 8 GB iPhone 3GS was in the works, although Rogers representatives claimed that the listing was an error and no such model has appeared in the months since. Early last month, a new report claiming that AT&T was looking to deploy an 8 GB version of the iPhone 3GS...
Apple Drops MacBook Educational Pricing to $899
TUAW noted yesterday that Apple has dropped its regular U.S. educational pricing for the MacBook by $50 to $899. Special pricing apparently available through the University of Maryland's custom Apple Store reportedly even temporarily dropped pricing as low as $728 yesterday, although the offer was quickly removed.
The new $899 price covers Apple's standard MacBook offering updated in October...
Google Nexus One Appears Set to Launch January 5th
Anticipation surrounding the much-rumored "Google Phone", now apparently known as the Nexus One, has been growing in recent weeks, and it appears that the rumors were correct: Google has announced an Android-related press conference for January 5th, and all indications point to a launch of the Nexus One at the event.
A source has also provided information to Gizmodo claiming that the Nexus...
iPhone Continues Strong Sales in France
French newspaper Le Figaro reports [Google translation] (via 9 to 5 Mac) on the success of the iPhone in France, where observers have previously looked to as an example for the market share growth possible in transitioning from exclusive carrier arrangements to multi-carrier models.
According to the report, Apple is expected to sell between 1.8 million and 2 million iPhones in France for 2009, ...
Nokia Increases Scope of Patent Complaints to Include 'Virtually All' Apple Products
The legal battle between Nokia and Apple has been ratcheted up another notch today with Nokia's announcement that it has filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) alleging infringement of Nokia-held patents by "virtually all" Apple products, including the iPhone, iPod, and Mac. The seven Nokia patents in this complaint relate to Nokia's pioneering innovations that are...
China Unicom Passes 300,000 iPhones Sold
iPhonAsia.com reports on news from Chinese site TechQQ [Google translation] that China Unicom has now sold 300,000 iPhones in that country. The milestone marks a significant acceleration of sales for China Unicom after it sold only 5,000 iPhones during its launch weekend at the end of October and took until early December to reach 100,000 iPhone sold. Today we've learned that China Unicom has now ...
O2 Apologizes for Wireless Network Performance Issues in London
U.S. exclusive iPhone carrier AT&T has received significant criticism for its apparent difficulties in maintaining network performance under heavy demands from iPhone users, but it appears that it is not alone in its struggles. The Financial Times reports that UK carrier O2 has publicly apologized for similar difficulties with its network in London over the past few months as demand has grown...
Apple's Quarterly iPhone and Overall Sales Estimates Continue to Rise
Just two weeks ago, a suggestion that Apple could sell 10 million iPhones during the current quarter began to make its way around the Mac investor and rumor communities. At the time, the claim was significantly higher than analysts' consensus in the 8-9 million range, and was thus viewed with some skepticism.
Tech Trader Daily today reports on an Apple stock upgrade from Broadpoint AmTech...
App Store Download Statistics Suggest Strong iPod Touch Holiday Sales
MobileCrunch reports on data from mobile analytics firm Flurry showing very strong App Store download performance coming from iPod touch devices, suggesting a strong holiday season for Apple's premier iPod line. On Christmas Day, Flurry's data saw download volume from iPod touches increase nearly 1,000% from pre-Christmas levels, spiking well above comparable iPhone downloads, which typically...
AT&T Halts Online iPhone Sales to New York City Market [Updated]
The Consumerist reported over the weekend that AT&T has quietly stopped offering online iPhone sales to customers located in the New York City market. Responding to a reader report, The Consumerist verified the extent of the issue: I went to the AT&T site to verify what Stephen said. Sure enough, the iPhone was available to zip codes in San Francisco and other major cities. It was not available...
