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 Selling Refurbished First-Generation 5 GB iPods
TUAW notes that Apple is currently selling refurbished 5 GB first-generation iPods for $129 in its online store. Originally released in October 2001 and only compatible with Macs, the first-generation iPod utilizes Firewire connectivity and a mechanical scroll wheel. This is the very first iPod model, introduced in 2001. I don't know how they ended up there, or why they're selling them, but...
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iPhone 3GS Capable of High-Definition Video Playback?
iLounge reports on a forum posting [Google translation] at Chinese site WeiPhone in which a user claims to demonstrate 720p and 1080p high-definition video playback on the iPhone 3GS. The poster conducted a series of test using the FileAid iPhone application to transfer video files of increasing resolution and bitrate to the iPhone 3GS, finding acceptable performance on video playback up to 1980 ...
Palm Reportedly Rejected Jobs' Proposal Not to Poach Each Others' Employees
Bloomberg reveals that Apple CEO Steve Jobs reportedly approached then-Palm CEO Ed Colligan in August 2007 with a proposal that the two companies refrain from hiring each others' employees. Colligan rejected the proposal, claiming that the tactic was wrong and "likely illegal." Colligan, who stepped down as CEO in June, discussed the matter with Jobs in August 2007, as the mobile-phone war heated ...
Apple Releases Bluetooth Firmware Update 2.0.1
Apple today released Bluetooth Firmware Update 2.0.1, offering bug fixes and compatibility improvements for Apple peripheral devices. This update provides bug fixes and better compatibility with the Apple Wireless Mighty Mouse and Apple Wireless Keyboard.
It installs on all Macintosh systems with Bluetooth based on the Broadcom chipset.The update weighs in at 1.78 MB and requires OS X 10.5.7 or ...
Apple Releases Fix for MacBook Pro Hard Drive Issues
Apple today released Hard Drive Firmware Update 2.0, addressing issues with certain hard drives on the latest MacBook Pros models. Apple had been reported last week to be working on the issue, which involves intermittent "beeping" noises and occasional brief system freezes on machines using 500 GB, 7200 rpm hard drives. MacBook Pro Hard Drive Firmware Update 2.0 reduces certain infrequent noises...
Snow Leopard Box Set Briefly Appears in Apple Online Store [Updated]
MacRumors has received word that a listing for the Mac Box Set version of OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard briefly appeared in Apple's online store earlier today. While the page, which listed the box set as shipping within 24 hours, is no longer available on Apple's site, an entry for it is retrieved in Google searches for the product number, MC209Z/A.
The Mac Box Set bundles Mac OS X with iLife '09...
iPhone in Short Supply in Canada and Australia
The Globe and Mail reports that Rogers Wireless, the exclusive carrier for the iPhone in Canada has run out of stock of all iPhone models, notifying potential customers that they may have to wait several weeks before availability resumes. Rogers is advising shoppers that it is out of stock of Apple's latest device, the iPhone 3GS, which was launched in June, as well as earlier models introduced...
More Purported iTunes 9 Screenshots Surface [Updated]
Earlier this week, MacRumors received several purported screenshots of iTunes 9, as well as a screenshot of a user's Facebook page demonstrating how the rumored social networking integration would automatically post iTunes track and playlist information to Facebook. Interestingly, the screenshots also appear to depict support for third-party media players, in this case a 30 GB Samsung YH-J70.
...
Rumors of The Beatles Coming to iTunes Renewed Yet Again
A recent report that Apple has scheduled a music-focused media event for September 9th has once again sparked speculation that The Beatles may finally be coming to iTunes. The speculation is primarily driven by the scheduling of several other Beatles-related events on the same day.
In March, EMI Group announced that a Beatles version of the popular Rock Band music-themed video game would be...
Apple's North Carolina Data Center to Focus on Cloud Computing?
Cult of Mac posts an interview with Rich Miller, editor of Data Center Knowledge, regarding possible plans for Apple's $1 billion data center due to open in rural Maiden, North Carolina in 2010. At approximately 500,000 square feet and roughly five times the size of the company's existing center in Newark, California, Apple's new data center will be among the largest in the world, sparking...
Analyst Claims Two Apple Tablets Coming, One With 6-Inch Screen
In a report on the increasing hype surrounding tablet computers focused on Apple's much-anticipated tablet offerings, BusinessWeek cites market researcher Richard Doherty, who claims that Apple has developed two protoype tablet computers: one essentially an oversized iPod touch carrying a 6-inch screen and a second one with a larger screen. "There's no hotter topic [than tablets] in Asia right...
Apple Releases iPhoto 8.1
Apple today released iPhoto 8.1, adding several new options for ordering printed products. This update adds several new print product options to iPhoto '09:
- Hardcover books can now be ordered in a new extra-large (10" x13") size
- Includes three new book themes with travel-oriented designs: Tropical, Asian, Old World
- A variety of new holiday greeting cards themes are now availableThe...
iTunes Share of U.S. Music Sales Reaches 25%
Market research firm NPD today reports that Apple's iTunes was the number one music retailer in the U.S. for the first half of 2009 with 25% of unit sales. Apple's share of the total market is up from 21% in 2008 and 14% in 2007. According to NPD MusicWatch, when it comes to the unit-sales volume of music sold at retail - including paid digital music downloads and CDs - Apple iTunes leads in the...
Analyst: Apple to Sell 80+ Million iPhones in 2012, Snag 5.7% of Total Mobile Phone Market
In an extensive research report on the smartphone industry released this morning, RBC Capital Markets reveals a "new world order" in which smartphones embracing the convergence of communication, computing, and content are becoming the "next wave" of computing. Based on this evidence, RBC sees smartphones, led by Apple, Research in Motion and Palm, taking a larger share of mobile phone sales than ...
Apple Media Event Scheduled for September 9th? No Tablet Announcement?
All Things Digital reports that Apple has scheduled a media event for Wednesday, September 9th in San Francisco. The event will presumably take place at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts where similar Apple events have been held in the past, and will be focused on iPod and iTunes updates. The sources claim that no mention will be made of Apple's much-anticipated tablet computer. The event will ...
iPhone Becomes Most Popular Camera for Flickr Photos
Electronista points out that Flickr's Camera Finder is now showing that the iPhone is the most popular camera used for photos uploaded to the image sharing site. After approximately six weeks of trailing just behind the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi, the iPhone has surged into the lead with a spike in activity over the past several weeks.
Flickr notes that the data is taken on a daily basis...
Apple Releases Final Cut Studio Add-Ons
Apple today released three add-ons for Final Cut Studio, bringing additional functionality to the company's professional video editing application suite.
Compressor Droplets weighs in at 103 KB and allows users to create customized workflows accessible from clickable Desktop icons. Droplets allow you to create a standalone Compressor preset that you can use on your desktop. These droplets...
32 GB iPhone 3GS Ranks as Top Selling Mobile Phone in Japan in July
Image from Electronista
Electronista reports on data from marketing research firm GfK Japan placing the 32 GB iPhone 3GS ranking as the top selling mobile phone in Japan for the month of July. The 16 GB iPhone 3GS model claimed the ninth spot in the rankings. As the report notes, the achievement is particularly notable given the difficulties foreign phones typically have in penetrating the...
TomTom Car Kit to Be Compatible With iPod Touch and Other GPS iPhone Applications?
In the wake of the release of TomTom iPhone GPS navigation applications in numerous countries, Mac4Ever spoke [Google translation] with TomTom public relations manager Yann Lafargue and received clarification that the forthcoming companion car kit will be compatible with the iPod touch and will also support GPS navigation applications by other companies. "It will work with the iPod touch and will...
Apple Attempts to Suppress Steve Jobs Profile Article
Macworld UK points out a feature article from The Sunday Times profiling Apple CEO Steve Jobs, noting that Apple attempted several times to discourage or block publication of the piece. Apple hates personality stuff and press intrusion. "We want to discourage profiles," an Apple PR tells me stiffly, apparently unaware she is waving a sackful of red rags at a herd of bulls. Another PR rings the...
