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
'NPR News' Update Brings Live Breaking News
National Public Radio has updated its NPR News iPhone application [App Store, Free], adding access to live audio streaming of breaking news and special coverage, as well as numerous other improvements. - Listen live to breaking news and special coverage
- Revised news article view
- Improved audio streaming in low bandwidth scenarios
- Improved playlist stability
- Click the very top of the...
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'Wi-Fi Direct' to Simplify Peer-to-Peer Wireless Networking
The Wi-Fi Alliance, a consortium of companies that includes Apple, yesterday announced that it has developed a new specification that will facilitate direct peer-to-peer connections via Wi-Fi between devices without the need for an intervening base station. The specification, to be made available on new products and via software updates to existing products beginning in mid-2010, would compete...
Apple Modifies Boot ROM on Revised iPhone 3GS Models to Hinder Jailbreaking
iClarified reports that Apple has apparently recently made a slight update to its shipping iPhone 3GS models, deploying an updated boot ROM that does not allow the exploit typically used to jailbreak the devices to be employed. The iBoot-359.3.2 started to ship last week. A screenshot posted by Mathieulh shows the new version number.
MuscleNerd from the iPhone Dev-Team has confirmed that the...
Apple Releases iMovie 8.0.5, Adding Support for New iFrame Video Format
Apple today released iMovie 8.0.5, bringing several compatibility improvements and bug fixes to the company's consumer-level video editing application. This update improves compatibility with a number of devices and fixes other minor issues, including:
- Improved compatibility with camcorders using the iFrame video format
- Improved compatibility with importing video captured on the iPod nano
...
Apple Developing FM Radio Application for iPhone and iPod Touch?
9 to 5 Mac reports that it has received a tip claiming that Apple is in the process of developing an application to bring FM radio functionality to the iPhone and iPod touch. The functionality would reportedly be similar to that found in the fifth-generation iPod nano, which offers the ability pause radio and tag songs for use in iTunes.
The FM radio application will reportedly be able to...
TomTom GPS Car Kit for iPhone Unboxing
Forum member The Samurai has managed to obtain the TomTom GPS car kit for iPhone from the Apple retail store in Glasgow, Scotland. After a brief appearance in several European Apple online stores that generated some confusion over what was included with the kit, the car kit reappeared late last week with shipping scheduled for 1-3 weeks. Despite the shipping date having slipped to 3-4 weeks...
iTunes LP Format Opening Up to Additional Major and Indie Record Labels
There has been a fair amount of discussion about Apple's plans for its iTunes LP [iTunes link] line of enhanced album content in recent days after Gizmodo reported on a small indie record label owner who claimed that an Apple representative had notified his distributor that iTunes LP releases require a $10,000 production fee from the label, effectively limiting the feature to larger labels able...
Disney Draws on Steve Jobs and Apple for Retail Store Makeover
The New York Times reports that The Walt Disney Company is planning a ground-up revival of its retail stores using a high-tech "Imagination Park" concept and has turned to Steve Jobs and the retail store team at Apple for assistance with the project. Jobs became a member of Disney's Board of Directors and the largest individual Disney shareholder when the company acquired Pixar in early 2006. The ...
Apple Releases Logic Pro 9.0.2
Apple today released Logic Pro 9.0.2, addressing several bugs and enhancing overall stability on Apple's professional audio editing application. This update improves overall stability and provides numerous fixes and enhancements. Issues addressed include:
- Flex Markers can align & snap to MIDI notes
- Performing a punch-in recording with Replace Mode now behaves correctly
- The I/O...
Microsoft to Extend Support for Office 2004 Until 2012
Microsoft today announced that it will extend Mainstream Support for Office 2004 for Mac through January 10th, 2012. The company had previously announced that support would end on October 13th, 2009, but in light of the significant number of users still using Office 2004 in order to take advantage of Visual Basic features missing in Office 2008, Microsoft has decided to extend support for Office ...
'MapQuest Navigator' Free Trial No Longer Offered
Late last week, MapQuest launched MapQuest Navigator, its subscription-based GPS navigation application for the iPhone, offering the application for a nominal $0.99 with a free two-week trial to be extended by monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription price packages.
In a blog update today, MapQuest notes that the free trial policy ran afoul of App Store restrictions and that it has had to...
Snow Leopard Bug Responsible for Loss of User Data Gaining Notice [Updated]
Late last week, 9 to 5 Mac noted that a number of users have reported a Mac OS X Snow Leopard bug apparently related to Guest accounts that is resulting in a complete loss of user data. The problem appears to manifest itself on machines which had the Guest account option enabled under Leopard and were subsequently upgraded to Snow Leopard. Users booting their machines have reported that upon...
Arthur Levinson Resigns From Google's Board of Directors [Updated]
Google today announced that former Genentech CEO Arthur Levinson has stepped down from the company's Board of Directors, effective immediately, after five years in the position. Levinson has also served as a member of Apple's Board of Directors since 2000. Google CEO and Chairman Eric Schmidt described Levinson as a good friend and valued colleague. "Art has been a key part of Google's success...
Mac OS X 10.6.2 Build 10C519f Seeded to Developers
Just four days after the first developer build of Mac OS X 10.6.2 was seeded through Apple's developer program, a second build termed 10C519f has been pushed to the community for evaluation and testing. The new update, which weighs in at 456.8 MB, brings several new refinements as Apple continues to press forward on the second maintenance update to Mac OS X Snow Leopard.
Apple reportedly...
Tweetie 2 Arrives in the App Store
Popular Twitter iPhone application Tweetie received a major upgrade today with the release of Tweetie 2 [App Store, $2.99], completely rebuilt from the ground up to bring significant speed improvements and several new features. The extensive list of features in the application's App Store description includes: - Seamlessly handle multiple Twitter accounts
- Explore all of Twitter, from your...
Adobe's 'Photoshop.com Mobile' Appears in App Store
Adobe today released Photoshop.com Mobile [App Store, Free], an application allowing users to edit photos on their iPhone using simple gestures. It's now easy to improve photos on your iPhone. Choose between a variety of one-touch Effects, or simply drag your finger across the screen to quickly crop, rotate, or adjust a photo's color. Get artistic by applying Filters like Soft Focus or Sketch....
App Store 'Name Squatters' Drawing Attention
Recombu publicizes complaints from App Store developers about other users "squatting" on application names, taking advantage of Apple's policy requiring that each application have a unique name to claim certain names for themselves without actually releasing an application. The issue was brought to light by iPhone game developers at Atomic Antelope who recently discovered that the name they...
MobileMe Update Adds iDisk Public Folder Features, Makes 'Find My iPhone' More Prominent
Apple today posted a support document outlining several changes made today to its MobileMe subscription-based services. A number of the changes affect the viewing of and access to members' iDisk Public folders. - New Public folder page located at http://public.me.com/{membername} now matches the look of me.com and supports drag and drop of files between folders (when enabled for visitors)
-...
Apple Releases Updated Epson Printer Drivers for Snow Leopard
Apple yesterday released Epson Printer Drivers for Mac OS X v10.6.1 2.1, updating Snow Leopard compatibility for the company's line of printers and multifunction devices.
Apple released a series of printer driver packages at Snow Leopard's launch and has continued to issue updates as additional support becomes available from the manufacturers. A full list of supported printer models for each...
Apple Continues to Create Industry-Wide Flash Memory Shortages
DigiTimes reports that Apple's iPhone and iPod models have continued to put pressure on worldwide supplies of NAND flash memory, soaking up enough of the industry capacity that demand now exceeds supply. The shortage is expected to continue through the remainder of 2009, corresponding with the holiday season that should drive sales of Apple's devices. Taiwan-based memory module houses are...
