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
Microsoft Signs Leases to Open Retail Stores in Arizona and California
According to CNET, Microsoft has confirmed that it has signed leases for upcoming retail stores in Scottsdale, Arizona and Mission Viejo, California. The stores are among the first in Microsoft's retail store initiative that is planned to directly compete with Apple's retail stores in a number of locations beginning later this year. The Orange County, Calif., store is in a mall that already...
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Samsung Debuts 1 GHz Version of Processor Found in iPhone 3GS
Samsung yesterday introduced a new 1 GHz mobile processor core, code-named "Hummingbird", utilizing the Cortex-A8 implementation found in the iPhone 3GS. The iPhone 3GS currently uses a version of the chip running at 600 MHz. As noted by CNET, the new processor core could theoretically be dropped into the existing iPhone 3GS design with very few other changes required. "Samsung could drop...
OS X 10.5.8 Development Wrapping Up?
MacRumors has received word that Apple seeded OS X Leopard 10.5.8 Build 9L30 to developers last night, including only a single documented change related to an issue with external monitors and waking from sleep mode. There are reportedly no listed outstanding issues in the latest build.
Apple's previous seed of 10.5.8 (Build 9L29) was pushed to developers just five days earlier, and the single ...
Apple Rejects Official Google Voice iPhone Application
TechCrunch notes that Apple has rejected Google's official Google Voice iPhone application. Apple has also begun disabling and pulling all applications that take advantage of Google Voice functionality, claiming that they "duplicate features that come with the iPhone". A Google spokesperson confirmed Apple's rejection of the official application. We work hard to bring Google applications to a...
Apple iPhone Deal With China Unicom Imminent?
Fortune summarizes recent fast-moving developments in reports of Apple and China Unicom's negotiations to bring the iPhone to China. While an initial story out of China claimed that the two companies had reached a three-year deal, subsequent reports cited a China Unicom representative who stated that no agreement had been reached and that discussions were still ongoing. First Shanghai Security...
Apple Tablet Launch to Coincide With iTunes Digital Album Enhancements in September?
In a companion piece to its report on Apple and record labels planning to launch interactive album booklets for iTunes Store music, The Financial Times provides additional details regarding Apple's planned launch of a tablet computer. Concurring with other reports, the new tablet is rumored to carry a screen of up to 10 inches, Internet access, and integration with Apple's music and application ...
Apple Seeds iPhone OS 3.1 Beta 3 to Developers
Apple today seeded iPhone developers with iPhone OS 3.1 Beta 3, termed Build 7C116a. Apple also released a new version of the iPhone SDK 3.1, Beta 3 (Build 9M2808). Both downloads are available to registered developers through Apple's iPhone Dev Center.
Apple seeded the previous beta nearly two weeks ago, and it remains to be seen what new changes are present in the third beta version....
Nissan Developing iPhone Application to Monitor Electric Car Battery Charge
PC World reports that Nissan is developing an iPhone application that will be able to interface with the company's forthcoming electric car, allowing drivers to remotely view the charge state of their car's battery. Using it, owners will be able to monitor charging of their cars while away from the vehicles. The system could come in handy, for example, when cars are parked at public charging...
Toshiba Ramping Up Flash Production Ahead of iPod Refresh?
DigiTimes reports that Toshiba is planning to ramp up its NAND flash memory production in August, with claims that the production is tied to contracted orders leading to speculation that Apple has begun preparations for launching new iPods soon after. The news is unsurprising, as Apple's yearly product cycles generally see updates to the iPod line in the September/October timeframe. Toshiba is...
Music Subscription Service Spotify Submits iPhone Application to Apple
BBC News reports that Swedish music subscription service Spotify has submitted its iPhone application to Apple for App Store approval. The free application would allow users of Spotify's premium service, which currently costs 9.99 per month in the UK, to stream millions of tracks to their iPhones and even allow users to cache streams for offline listening. Spotify has been called an "iTunes...
Apple Enables Promo Codes for iPhone Applications Rated 17+
TUAW reports that has Apple has begun allowing developers of App Store applications carrying mature (age 17+) ratings to issue promo codes for the applications. The move apparently comes about a week after Apple's restriction preventing issuance of promo codes for such applications began gaining attention. Luckily, it seems that Apple has been listening: over the past few days, we have received...
Snow Leopard Build 10A421 Seeded to Developers
Apple today seeded a new version of OS X Snow Leopard, termed Build 10A421, to registered developers. The update reportedly weighs in at just over 740 MB, roughly the same size as the previous version, Build 10A411, pushed to developers ten days ago.
As usual, Apple provides few hints about changes in the new build, although users with access to the new version will certainly be examining the ...
Palm Reports Apple to USB Compliance Organization Over iTunes Syncing Issues
In a statement made to Digital Daily yesterday, Palm acknowledges firing yet another salvo in the ongoing dispute between Apple and Palm over the Palm Pre's ability to sync iTunes media by emulating an iPod, claiming that it has reported Apple to the USB Implementers Forum for improper use of the Vendor ID used to identify devices using the USB interface. "Palm has released webOS 1.1, which, along ...
Apple Tablet to Launch in Early 2010 Using Chip Platform From P.A. Semi?
Artist's rendition of Apple tablet computer
AppleInsider reports that Apple is putting the finishing touches on its much-rumored tablet computer and is looking to launch the device, depicted in an artist's rendition, in early 2010. The report recaps a long history of developmental fits and starts as Apple has designed and redesigned the device in search of a solution meeting the company's...
Microsoft Alters "Laptop Hunters" Ads in Wake of Apple Price Cuts
Advertising Age reports that Microsoft has quietly altered at least one of its "Laptop Hunters" television commercials to remove reference to the price of a MacBook Pro after recent price cuts to Apple's notebook line rendered the reference inaccurate. The move comes just a week after Microsoft's Chief Operating Officer seemingly gloated over Apple's lawyers having contacted Microsoft to request ...
Palm Releases WebOS 1.1, Restores iTunes Media Syncing
The cat-and-mouse game between Apple and Palm continues today with Palm's announcement that it has released webOS 1.1, bringing a host of new features and improvements to the Palm Pre including restoration of iTunes media syncing. Oh, and one more thing: Palm webOS 1.1 re-enables Palm media sync. That's right -- you once again can have seamless access to your music, photos and videos from the...
Google Latitude Web App for iPhone Now Available
Google today announced that it has launched Google Latitude for the iPhone and iPod touch. Google Latitude, which runs as a web app in Safari, utilizes GPS and Wi-Fi geolocation to display the real-time location of a user's friends and to allow others to track their location. Privacy settings allow users to customize which contacts are permitted to see their location. To try Google Latitude,...
New Apple Retail Store "Flying Apps" Window Display Unveiled
TechCrunch reports that the Apple retail store in Palo Alto, California has unveiled an eye-catching new window display consisting of a video wall presenting a cloud of App Store application icons flying by with featured apps being shown on an oversized iPhone mockup in the center of the display. Earlier this evening I was walking down the streets of Palo Alto near TechCrunch HQ, when I stumbled...
Apple Releases ProKit 5.0
Apple today released ProKit 5.0, an update to the framework that provides the controls and user interface for Apple's pro applications. A number of Apple's pro applications, including the Final Cut Studio and Logic Studio suites for video and audio production and editing also received updates today. About ProKit 5.0
This update improves general user interface reliability for Apple's professional ...
More Purported Next-Generation iPod Touch and iPod Nano Cases Surface
Cult of Mac gathers an extensive gallery of cases from Chinese manufacturers claimed to be for the next-generation iPod touch and iPod nano. Cases for both devices feature holes in their backs that appear to provide openings for built-in cameras in the forthcoming models. The collection of cases follows discovery earlier this month of the first of these cases appearing on the market....
