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
Apple Warning Retail Stores of iMac and Mac Mini Supply Constraints?
AppleInsider reports that Apple issued a note to its retail stores yesterday stating that no further orders for a number of the company's desktop computers would be accepted, suggesting that supplies of the machines are running dry ahead of product updates. The note refers to all iMac configurations and the low-end Mac mini as being affected. For example, Apple Retail on Monday issued an advisory ...
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Touchscreen Remote for Apple TV?
Boy Genius Report claims that it has received an image of a product mockup for a forthcoming touchscreen remote that may be launched alongside an updated Apple TV. While the mockup appears to show a rather sophisticated (and likely costly) device that initially seems hard to believe, the report notes that the source providing the image is the same one who accurately offered information on...
iPhone Hardware Accessories Prompt App Downloads
Image from iLounge
iLounge reports that authorized hardware accessories for the iPhone and iPod touch now possess the ability to prompt users upon connection if a companion App Store application is required for the device to function and link the user directly to the App Store listing for the required application. When connecting such an accessory to an iPhone or iPod touch for the first time,...
Filemaker Releases Bento 3 Personal Database Software
Apple subsidiary FIlemaker today announced the release of Bento 3, a significant update to the company's personal database software. Priced at $49 for a single-user license or $99 for a five-user family pack, Bento 3 adds integration with iPhoto, sharing of libraries over local networks, and new options for viewing information. "Think of Bento 3 as a powerful, easy way to bring together all of...
Vodafone to Begin Selling iPhone in UK and Ireland in Early 2010
Vodafone today announced that it will begin offering the iPhone 3G and 3GS for sale in the UK and Ireland in early 2010. Beginning today, Vodafone UK and Vodafone Ireland customers can register their interest in iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS at www.vodafone.co.uk/iphone and www.vodafone.ie/iphone respectively. Pricing, tariffs and availability information will be announced locally in the future.The...
Apple Rehires Newton Developer Michael Tchao
The New York Times reports that Apple has rehired Michael Tchao, one of the developers of the Newton, Apple's personal digital assistant platform that launched in 1993. Tchao, who returned to Apple today after a 15-year absence, serves as vice president of product marketing and reports directly to senior vice president Phil Schiller. It is not clear what his new duties at Apple will entail; Apple ...
Apple Releases iWork '09 9.0.3, Updates iWork.com
Apple today released iWork '09 9.0.3, bringing fixes for several minor issues as well as general improvements in a number of areas. This update addresses general compatibility issues, improves overall stability, updates the help, and fixes a number of other minor issues in Keynote, Pages, and Numbers. The issues addressed include:
- Reducing file size of images that have Instant Alpha applied...
Palm's webOS 1.2 Released, Does Not Re-Enable iTunes Media Syncing
PreCentral reports that Palm's webOS 1.2 has just been released, offering a number of improvements to the Palm Pre's operating system. Multiple posters in the PreCentral forums have noted, however, that the update does not re-enable media syncing via iTunes.
Last week, rumors had suggested that the update would in fact re-enable iTunes syncing in the latest move in Apple and Palm's...
Apple Introduces New Educational Software Licensing Program for Institutions
MacNN notes that Apple has recently revised its educational software licensing offerings for institutions, introducing a new Apple Education Licensing Program organized around annual licensing rather than software update cycles. The new Apple Education Licensing Program makes it easier to keep your institution's Apple software current and compliant. Coverage is purchased annually, keeping costs...
iPhone to Launch in China on October 1st
Reuters reports that China Unicom has announced that it will begin selling the iPhone in China on October 1st alongside the official launch of the company's 3G wireless network. According to the report, China Unicom announced that the iPhone will sell for an unsubsidized price of 5,000 yuan (US$732.50), although it did not note which model would be offered at that price. The company will be...
Orange Announces Plans to Offer iPhone in UK
Wireless carrier Orange today issued a brief announcement revealing that it has struck a deal with Apple to offer the iPhone 3G and 3GS in the United Kingdom, ending rival carrier O2's iPhone exclusivity in that country. Details on pricing and a launch date will be announced at a later date. Orange, which has the largest 3G network covering more people in the UK than any other operator, will sell ...
Apple Surpasses 2 Billion App Store Downloads
Apple today announced that its App Store has surpassed two billion downloads. The company also noted that there are now over 50 million iPhone and iPod touch customers, 85,000 applications on the App Store, and 125,000 registered iPhone developers. "The rate of App Store downloads continues to accelerate with users downloading a staggering two billion apps in just over a year, including more than ...
MacBook Update to Be Released Alongside New iMacs?
In a follow-up post to yesterday's report that the iMac may see an update within the next several weeks, AppleInsider claims that Apple may be planning to introduce upgraded MacBooks at or around the same time. The new models, which appear as if they could make their debut alongside a family of more versatile iMacs in the coming weeks, are expected to arrive as the most affordable notebook...
Next-Generation iMac With SD Slot, Quad-Core, Possible Xeon? New Mouse and Remote in Pipeline?
French site Mac4Ever reported [
AT&T Activates MMS Functionality for U.S. iPhone Users
As previously scheduled, AT&T has activated MMS for iPhone 3G and 3GS users in the United States, bringing to an end months of speculation and waiting since software support for the feature was introduced in iPhone OS 3.0 in mid-June.
Apple has posted a support article outlining the process for activating MMS, which involves updating a carrier settings file on users' iPhones via iTunes. Users ...
AT&T Drops Refurbished iPhone 3G Prices to As Low As $49
AT&T today announced that it has dropped prices on its stocks of refurbished iPhone 3G models while supplies last. Pricing is now set at $49 for 8 GB models and $99 for 16 GB models in both black and white. New pricing available in AT&T stores for iPhone 3G refurb devices! $49 for 8GB, available in black, and $99 for 16GB, available in black and white. Available in our stores while supplies last. ...
TomTom Car Kit for iPhone to Be Priced at $119.95 in U.S.
GPSTracklog reports that TomTom has released a brief statement noting that the GPS car kit for the iPhone will be priced at $119.95 in the U.S. when it launches next month and will be compatible with all iPhone models. The press release reportedly reads: TomTom announces today that the TomTom car kit for the iPhone will have a recommended retail price of EUR 99.99 or USD 119.95.
The TomTom car ...
Apple Launches New Environmental Publicity Initiative
BusinessWeek reports that Apple has launched an expanded environmental section of its website to offer extensive information on the company's green initiatives and provide a closer look at the environmental impact of its products over their complete life cycles, from raw materials to customer usage to recycling.
Apple, which has received criticism from environmental groups such as Greenpeace...
Next-Generation iMacs Already in Production?
AppleInsider claims that Apple has begun production of the next-generation iMac and may be set to introduce the revamped product line sometime between now and mid-October. The new all-in-one, dual-core desktops were finalized earlier in September and have been rolling off the Mac maker's Taiwanese product lines for roughly two weeks, according to two people familiar with the matter.
In addition ...
Eminem and Apple Head to Court Over iTunes Distribution
The Detroit News reports that lawyers for Apple and Eight Mile Style, rapper Eminem's music publisher, headed to court this morning over a complaint filed by Eight Mile Style in 2007 regarding improper distribution of digital downloads. The complaint claims that Apple improperly offered nearly 100 of Eminem's songs for sale via the company's iTunes Store by making a deal for distribution with...
