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 Releases Office 2008 12.1.3 and Office 2004 11.5.2 Updates
Microsoft has released updates for both Office 2008 (12.1.3) and Office 2004 (11.5.2). The updates provide a number of security, stability, and performance-related fixes. The security fixes primarily address file format and formula parsing vulnerabilities in Excel.
Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.3 Update weighs in at 154.4 MB and addresses security vulnerabilities and increases stability...
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Adobe Creative Suite 4 and Flash Player 10 Now Available
Adobe has announced that Creative Suite 4 (PDF) and Flash Player 10 (PDF) are now available.
Creative Suite 4 (CS4), unveiled on September 23rd, is available in six versions: Design Premium, Design Standard, Web Premium, Web Standard, Production Premium and Master Collection. Prices range from $399 to $899 for upgrades and $999 to $2499 for full versions. Complete package and pricing details...
Apple Releases Software Update 1.2 for New MacBooks and MacBook Pros
Apple has already released a software update for the new aluminum MacBook and MacBook Pro models announced at today's special event. About MacBook, MacBook Pro Software Update 1.2
This update contains software bug fixes for precision aluminum unibody enclosure MacBook and MacBook Pro notebook computers introduced in October 2008.
The update improves compatibility with external displays and...
Apple's U.S. Market Share Approaches 10%
Gartner has published a preliminary report on U.S. and worldwide PC shipments for the third quarter of 2008. The report pegs Apple's share of quarterly U.S. PC shipments at 9.5%, up from 7.7% in the third quarter of 2007. Apple's U.S. shipments increased 29.4% year-over-year, far outpacing the total industry shipment growth of 4.6%.
Gartner's Preliminary U.S. PC Vendor Unit Shipment ...
Apple Releases Security Update 2008-007
Apple today released Security Update 2008-007. Full details are available in Apple's release notes, but the updates contains fixes for a variety of issues including OS X-specific vulnerabilities as well as issues with other scripting and database tools such as Apache, MySQL, and PHP. Updates are available in the following versions:
- Leopard Client (31.1 MB)
- Tiger Client - Intel (161 MB)
...
Apple Releases MobileMe Control Panel 1.2 For Windows
Apple today released MobileMe Control Panel 1.2 (for Windows). This update provides better support for syncing a large number of contacts (more than 2,000) and prevents syncing of data between Microsoft Exchange Server and MobileMe, a configuration that is not supported.The update weighs in at 1.6 MB and requires Windows XP Home or Professional SP2 or Vista SP1 or later, iTunes 8.0.1 or later, and ...
App Store Customer Reviews Now Require Purchase
Apple is now requiring that users who wish to review an App Store application actually have downloaded the application. Clicking on the "Write a Review" link on an application's App Store page now generates a dialog box if the user does not own the application.
Users have complained in the past that the App Store reviews have been riddled with poor reviews and comments from users who have...
Apple Recalls iPhone 3G USB Power Adapter
Apple has issued a recall on the USB power adapter included with the iPhone 3G. Apple has received reports of the metal prongs breaking off of the adapter and remaining lodged in power outlets, creating the risk of electric shock.
According to Apple's support article on the recall, the adapter was included with every iPhone 3G sold in the US, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, El...
Apple Releases Pro Applications and Final Cut Server Updates
Apple today released two updates for users of their professional creative software packages.
Pro Applications Update 2008-03 includes Compressor 3.0.4 and Qmaster 3.0.4 and is recommended for all users of Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Server, and Logic Studio. According to the release notes, the update addresses an issue with missing clusters in Compressor and Batch Monitor and missing...
Apple Releases iPhone Configuration Utility 1.0.1
Apple today released iPhone Configuration Utility 1.0.1 for Mac OS X, an update to its standalone software that assists corporate system administrators with creating configuration profiles that allow users' devices to communicate with their enterprise systems. The update weighs in at 9.3 MB and requires OS X 10.5 or later.
The initial version of the utility and related web utilities for OS X...
Apple Releases Remote Desktop and RAW Compatibility Updates
After releasing Mac OS X 10.5.5 and a number of other updates yesterday, Apple today released a few additional software updates.
Apple Remote Desktop 3.2.2 Admin (30 MB) and Apple Remote Desktop 3.2.2 Client (2.8 MB) What's Included:
- Improved reliability with the Copy Items command.
- Upgrade Client Software command now uses unicast packets for improved reliability on some networks.
-...
Apple Releases HP Printer Driver 1.1.1
Apple today released HP Printer Driver 1.1.1. The release notes suggest that this update contains a fix for an issue with LaserJet Printer Presets.
The update weighs in at 405 MB, requires Mac OS X 10.5.3 or later, and will only be visible in Software Update if a printer requiring the update "is connected to your computer or a print queue has been created for an earlier version." Apple...
Apple Releases MobileMe Control Panel and Bonjour Updates for Windows
In addition to yesterday's previously-reported hardware and software releases, Apple also released two minor updates specifically for Windows users.
MobileMe Control Panel 1.1 (for Windows) weighs in at 1.6 MB and requires Windows XP Home SP2, XP Professional SP2 or Vista SP1 or later, iTunes 8.0 or later, and a MobileMe account.
Bonjour for Windows 1.0.5 weighs in at 2.1 MB and requires...
Adobe to Unveil Creative Suite 4 on September 23rd
Adobe is hosting a webcast to publicly unveil Creative Suite 4, their next-generation graphic design, video editing, and web development application package, on September 23rd. Advance registration is requested in order to obtain viewing instructions. No specific details on the content of the webcast have been announced, and the release date, package options, and pricing for Creative Suite 4...
Apple Releases Final Cut Express Update 4.0.1
Apple today released Final Cut Express Update 4.0.1 via Software Update for existing Final Cut Express 4 users. This update addresses compatibility issues with AVCHD camcorders, improves stability when using third-party FxPlug plug-ins, and addresses a number of other minor issues.
For more information about this software update, see the Release Notes.
Changes detailed in the Release Notes...
Details of iPhone 2.0.2 Firmware 3G Connectivity Improvements?
RoughlyDrafted reports on details of the iPhone 2.0.2 firmware 3G connectivity improvements. According to a "source close to AT&T," the connectivity issues have been caused by iPhones demanding that cell towers devote more power than necessary to their connections. When a "critical mass" of iPhones, all demanding excessive amounts of power, are connected to a cell tower, the transmitter runs...
Apple Releases ProRes QuickTime Decoder 1.0
Apple today released ProRes QuickTime Decoder 1.0, which allows Mac and PC users to view Apple ProRes files through QuickTime. ProRes, released as part of Final Cut Pro 6 in April 2007, is a post-production format targeted at video editors and offering uncompressed high-definition quality at standard-definition file sizes. The Apple ProRes QuickTime Decoder software allows both Mac and Windows...
New iPhone Ads: 'Lonely Planet', 'Cro Mag', 'Vicinity'
Apple has posted three new iPhone commercials to their site. The three commercials illustrate the use of the App Store to download apps directly to the iPhone using different examples.
- 'Lonely Planet': demonstrates downloading Lonely Planet's Mandarin Mobile Phrasebook [App Store] in order to learn how to ask for a restaurant recommendation.
- 'Cro Mag': demonstrates downloading Pangea...
Apple Releases MacBook Air Software Update to Address Video Playback
Apple today released MacBook Air Update, addressing issues with video playback and processor core idling. Whats New in this Version
This update is recommended for all MacBook Air computers, and addresses issues with video playback and processor core idling.
Third-party software that modifies processor operating characteristics such as frequency and voltage is not supported and should be removed ...
September Apple Event Rumor: 'iTunes Unlimited', iPhone iDisk Access?
Update: This is believed to be fake.
A number of Apple rumor sites, including MacRumors, have received an anonymous tip purporting to describe details of a "Late September Apple Event". The source describes MobileMe upgrades that will allow the iPhone and iPod touch to access a user's iDisk storage, as well as the introduction of "iTunes Unlimited", a yearly subscription model for digital...
