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.

Eric Slivka's Articles

iphone5mod cracked lightning cable

Unofficial Lightning USB Cables and Adapters Launching Soon at Significant Discounts

Wednesday October 24, 2012 9:13 am PDT by
Earlier this month, we pointed to a new iPhone 5 Flash Lightning Dock from iPhone5mod.com, one of the first unauthorized Lightning-equipped products to surface on the market. At the time, iPhone5mod told us that it was using genuine Lightning connectors sourced from Apple's supplier, but noted that it also had cracked versions that were working properly. The company is now pressing forward...
ipad mini hand 329

Phil Schiller Defends iPad Mini Pricing Decision

Wednesday October 24, 2012 8:29 am PDT by
With pricing on Apple's new iPad mini starting at $329, some observers were disappointed that the company was unwilling or unable to launch the device at closer to $249 or even $299. With competing 7-inch Android tablets selling for closer to $199, some have felt that Apple has left too much of a pricing gap when consumers weigh their tablets purchasing decisions. Reuters reports, however,...
att iphone sales 3q12

iPhone Accounts for 77% of Smartphone Sales, 62% of All Postpaid Phone Sales at AT&T in 3Q 2012

Wednesday October 24, 2012 6:40 am PDT by
AT&T today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2012, revealing that the carrier activated 4.7 million iPhones during the quarter, an increase of one million over the previous quarter as sales were buoyed by the iPhone 5 launch near the end of the period. AT&T did not specifically break down iPhone 5 sales numbers, but did note that its overall postpaid sales numbers were...
a5x a6x upgrade

Some Apple Retail Stores Offering 30-Day Window to Exchange iPads for New Model

Tuesday October 23, 2012 1:43 pm PDT by
With Apple's introduction of the fourth-generation iPad today, some recent purchasers of the third-generation model may be feeling somewhat disappointed that their new devices have been supplanted by an unexpectedly short upgrade cycle. CNET reports, however, that those who purchased their iPads within the past 30 days may be able to exchange their devices for new models at their local Apple...
retina macbook pro 13 hands on

Hands On with Apple's New 13-Inch Retina MacBook Pro

Tuesday October 23, 2012 12:35 pm PDT by
Following the introduction of the new 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro at its media event, Apple invited attendees to spend some time with the machine. Overall, the early hands-on impressions are favorable, with the reduction in thickness and weight making a significant difference for professionals on the go, but the high price tag associated with the Retina display and solid-state storage mean that...
california theatre ipad mini event

Live Coverage of Apple's iPad Mini Media Event [Event Ended]

Tuesday October 23, 2012 9:21 am PDT by
Apple is holding a media event today at the California Theatre in San Jose, California, where it is expected to introduce the iPad mini, a 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro, a tweaked full-size iPad with Lightning connector, and updated Mac mini models. A release of the company's revamped iTunes software also likely and iMac updates are a possibility. The event is scheduled to kick off at 10:00 AM...
dark gray smart cover

'iPad Mini' Name Confirmed by Smart Cover Part Descriptions

Tuesday October 23, 2012 8:03 am PDT by
9to5Mac reports that it has received confirmation of a new set of Smart Covers launching today for Apple's "iPad mini". The accessories are described as "iPad Mini Smart Covers", all but confirming that Apple will use the "mini" designation as part of the device's official name. Smart Cover for full-size iPad Japanese blog Mac Otakara claimed in late August that Apple would use the...
retina macbook pro 13 right ports

13-Inch Retina MacBook Pro Starts at 128 GB Flash Storage, Mac Mini Goes Quad-Core

Tuesday October 23, 2012 7:49 am PDT by
9to5Mac reports that it has received information on three models of the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro launching today. According to sources, the machines appear to use the same 2.5 GHz and 2.9 GHz processors found in the non-Retina models, and like the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro all of the 13-inch Retina models start at 8 GB of RAM. Unlike the 15-inch lineup, however, the entry-level 13-inch...
dominique oh

Apple Fires Chief of Korean Unit After Only 17 Months on the Job

Tuesday October 23, 2012 7:25 am PDT by
The Korea Times reports that Apple has fired the head of its Korean unit, Dominique Oh, with sources indicating that the move was related to sluggish sales in the country."Apple terminated the contract with Oh last week," Apple spokesman Steve Park said by telephone, late Tuesday. "We acknowledge that there are many speculations surrounding Oh's contract termination. But we can't do more,...
apple october 2012 event stream

'iPad Mini' Media Event Also Streaming via Apple's Website

Tuesday October 23, 2012 6:22 am PDT by
Earlier today, a new "Apple Events" channel appeared on the Apple TV revealing that the company will be offering live video streaming of today's media event. At the time, it was unclear whether Apple would also be offering a stream through its website, but the company has now updated its site to promote a live stream available online. The video stream requires Safari 4 or later on a minimum ...
adapters oct 2012

Four New Lightning Adapters, Higher-Power iPad Power Adapter Coming Today

Tuesday October 23, 2012 6:16 am PDT by
9to5Mac has received part numbers, descriptions, and pricing on six new accessories coming later today. The group includes four new Lightning adapters: the previously promised HDMI and VGA adapters as well as Lightning versions of the SD card and USB camera adapters. Also included in the list is a new 12-watt USB power adapter, which appears to be a higher-power version of the 10-watt...
uspto rubber banding invalid

Apple's 'Rubber Banding' Patent Key to Samsung Lawsuit Preliminarily Invalidated

Tuesday October 23, 2012 5:44 am PDT by
FOSS Patents reports on a new court filing from Samsung revealing that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a preliminary decision ruling that Apple's "rubber banding" patent that was a key part of the $1 billion lawsuit against Samsung has been invalidated. While numerous other reviews and appeals will undoubtedly take place in the coming months, the preliminary ruling is...
ipad mini event stream 1

Apple to Stream Live Video of 'iPad Mini' Media Event to Apple TV

Tuesday October 23, 2012 3:20 am PDT by
Several MacRumors readers have noted that Apple has added a new "Apple Events" icon to the Apple TV, with the company revealing that it will be streaming today's media event live. It is unclear if the video stream will be available through other means such as on apple.com, but Apple will presumably be updating its site with more details if the stream will be available through multiple...
apple security icon

Apple's Focus on Product Secrecy Thwarted by its Massive Supply Chain

Monday October 22, 2012 11:25 am PDT by
It's no surprise that the vast majority of Apple product leaks come from the company's massive supply chain, but Ars Technica takes a closer look at how secrecy at the company has evolved under Tim Cook in the areas where the company can exert its greatest control. The report suggests that security has indeed been tightened somewhat, in line with Cook's claims that the company has been working...
ibookstore paid brazil

Paid iBookstore Content Going Live in New Zealand and 17 Latin American Countries

Monday October 22, 2012 9:30 am PDT by
Earlier today, a MacRumors reader noted that paid books had gone live in the iBookstore in New Zealand. While the titles are not yet accessible through the main Books section of the iTunes Store, searches for various others and titles are yielding a number of book results. Blog do iPhone is also now reporting that paid books are going live in Brazil, and we've confirmed that paid titles are...
ios 6 icon

Apple Testing iOS 6.0.1 with Fixes for Keyboard Screen Glitch, Camera Flash Issues, and More

Monday October 22, 2012 7:40 am PDT by
BGR reports that Apple has begun carrier testing of iOS 6.0.1, the first bug fix update to iOS 6 since its release just over a month ago. According to the report, iOS 6.0.1 addresses several issues including a visual glitch most commonly seen on the iPhone keyboard when entering an account password in the App Store.iOS 6.0.1 should fix the horizontal lines bug on the screen when the keyboard or...
ibooks textbooks shelf store

Apple's 'iPad Mini' to Strengthen Education Presence Alongside iBooks 3.0

Monday October 22, 2012 7:22 am PDT by
Earlier this month, several sources indicated that Apple will focus on iBooks at its "iPad mini" media event tomorrow, with reports indicating that both personal and education consumption will be of key importance for Apple. Bloomberg Businessweek now profiles Apple's efforts to bring tablets into education, noting that education will indeed be an important theme of the iPad mini unveiling.Beyond...
apple samsung logos

Samsung to Cease Providing LCD Panels to Apple in 2013

Monday October 22, 2012 6:48 am PDT by
The Korea Times reports that the deteriorating relationship between Apple and Samsung that has seen the two companies reducing their component supply deals is now extending to LCD panels, with Samsung reportedly ending supplies of the panels to Apple next year.The Cupertino, California-based firm has been lowering its reliance on Samsung-manufactured displays for use in its popular i-branded...
ipad mini pricing matrix

'iPad Mini' Pricing to Begin at Approximately $329

Saturday October 20, 2012 10:11 am PDT by
9to5Mac reports that pricing for the "iPad mini" is likely to begin at approximately $329 for the entry-level Wi-Fi model, with two higher-capacity models arriving at $429 and $529. Three models of cellular-capable iPad minis will also be available and appear set to carry the same $130 premium over their corresponding Wi-Fi models as seen with the full-size iPad, putting these iPad mini models ...
imac seagate drive recall email

Apple Notifies iMac Owners of Expanded Seagate Hard Drive Recall

Friday October 19, 2012 7:56 pm PDT by
Last week, we noted that Apple had expanded its iMac 1TB Seagate Hard Drive Replacement Program to include iMac models sold between October 2009 and July 2011. The program provides for free replacement of the defective Seagate drives or reimbursement for repairs already paid for out of pocket by machine owners. Apple has now begun emailing customers for whom it has contact information...