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

imacs 2011

Apple Releases iMac Graphic FW Update 3.0

Wednesday February 29, 2012 9:15 pm PST by
Apple today released iMac Graphic FW Update 3.0, addressing an issue that could cause hanging and freezing on iMac models.About iMac Graphic FW Update 3.0 This firmware update fixes a graphics issue that may cause an iMac to hang under certain conditions.The download weighs in at 481 KB and requires OS X Lion. Apple does not specify on the download page which iMac models require the update, ...
iPad Mini comparison t

Production of 7.85-Inch iPad Rumored for 3Q 2012 at the Earliest

Wednesday February 29, 2012 9:02 pm PST by
DigiTimes, which has several times in past addressed rumors of a smaller 7.85-inch iPad, has published a new report today claiming that Apple's manufacturing partners have been delivering samples of the device to Apple ahead of mass production that would start in the third quarter of this year at the earliest.Makers in Apple's iPad supply chain have started delivering samples of 7.85-inch iPads...
white ipad 2 oblique

8 GB iPad 2 Coming Alongside 16 GB and 32 GB iPad 3 Next Week?

Wednesday February 29, 2012 8:51 pm PST by
The sometimes-reliable DigiTimes reports that Apple is planning to launch a new 8 GB iPad 2 model next week alongside the iPad 3, presumably seeking to reduce costs to make the device as affordable as possible while also differentiating the offering from the iPad 3. The strategy is similar to one used by Apple for the last several generations of the iPhone, where the company has discontinued the ...
amsterdam store staircase

Stunning Photo of Glass Staircase at Amsterdam Retail Store

Wednesday February 29, 2012 8:04 pm PST by
Thomas Schlijper posts a stunning photo of the glass staircase at Apple's new Amsterdam retail store in the historic Hirsch building. The store, which opens to the public this Saturday, is Apple's first in the Netherlands. Previously-revealed floor plans for the location show a large two-level store with a massive 20-seat Genius Bar extending along one wall of the first floor. In the weeks ...
apple store app account

'Apple Store' App for iOS Updated with Account Management Features

Wednesday February 29, 2012 11:24 am PST by
Apple today updated its Apple Store app [App Store] for iOS to version 2.1, adding several new features and making the app available in the Netherlands for the first time to support the Amsterdam store opening this week. Among the most notable additions to the app is a new "Account" section where users can update their billing information and addresses as well as shipping addresses right...
apple tv bay area march 8

Apple 'Stalling' in Replenishing Reseller Stocks of Apple TV as Shortages Hit Apple Retail

Wednesday February 29, 2012 8:47 am PST by
While shortages of the Apple TV at numerous high-profile resellers have been documented for weeks and part numbers indicating an update alongside the iPad 3 next week have been revealed, AppleInsider now notes that Apple has specifically been stalling in delivering promised shipments of the device to resellers.For three consecutive weeks, the Cupertino-based company has failed to make good on its ...
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Thinner MacBook Pro Models in 13-Inch and 15-Inch Sizes Coming in April?

Wednesday February 29, 2012 8:28 am PST by
In addition to its report today about a potential 14-inch MacBook Air, DigiTimes also claims that Apple is expected to launch its thinner MacBook Pro models perhaps as soon as April. The report is a bit inconsistent in describing the timing, initially stating that the debut would be in April "at the soonest" while later simply mentioning that they are expected in April. The report specifies ...
aapl 500b market cap

Apple's Market Capitalization Hits $500 Billion, Stock Up 34% in 2012

Wednesday February 29, 2012 6:32 am PST by
Apple's stock has hit yet another psychological milestone today, pressing through to reach $500 billion in market capitalization. Apple passed the milestone in after-hours trading yesterday, but has just now passed it in regular trading as the trading day opens. At the end of January, we noted that Apple had seen a remarkable 50-point gain during the first month of 2012 that saw the...
larger macbook air question

Apple Considering 14-Inch MacBook Air to Focus on Asian Markets?

Wednesday February 29, 2012 6:20 am PST by
DigiTimes reports that Apple is considering launching a 14-inch MacBook Air model, a move that would appear to be targeting Asian markets where the size is popular with consumers.Apple is reportedly considering launching a 14-inch MacBook Air and may start mass production in the near future to fully enter the Asia PC market, according to sources from the upstream supply chain. Currently,...
mainstage

Apple Releases MainStage 2.2.1 via Mac App Store

Tuesday February 28, 2012 2:07 pm PST by
Apple today released MainStage 2.2.1 [Mac App Store], an update to the company's software for bringing virtual instruments and effects to live performances. According to the full release notes, the update addresses sixteen separate issues, with the company highlighting the following:The MainStage 2.2.1 update addresses overall stability and performance issues including: - Resolves several...
photospy

iOS Photo and Video Privacy Issues Highlighted with New Test Application

Tuesday February 28, 2012 12:41 pm PST by
Earlier this month, privacy issues related to the uploading of users' address books to developers' servers were cast into the limelight as Congress requested details from Apple on how private information is handled and protected. While Apple quickly responded to note that it would be addressing the issue by requiring explicit permission to be granted by users for apps to access their address...
stollerys bloor toronto

Flagship Apple Retail Store Coming to Toronto's Bloor Street?

Tuesday February 28, 2012 11:00 am PST by
Urban Toronto reports that it has received information indicating that Apple has reached an agreement to occupy 1 Bloor Street West in Toronto, potentially signaling plans for a major new flagship store in the heart of one of Toronto's major commercial districts. Stollery's clothing store at 1 Bloor Street West in Toronto The space is currently occupied by Stollery's, a 30,000 square-foot...
ipad 3 event invite

Apple Issues Invitations for iPad 3 Media Event on March 7

Tuesday February 28, 2012 9:06 am PST by
In line with expectations, The Loop reports that Apple today sent out invitations for a media event scheduled for next week Wednesday, March 7. The event will be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco and is scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM Pacific / 1:00 PM Eastern. The tagline on the invitation reads "We have something you really have to see. And touch." Image from The ...
cnbc ipad 3 tweet

CNBC Claims LTE Quad-Core iPad 3 Coming at New York Media Event Next Week [Updated]

Tuesday February 28, 2012 8:11 am PST by
CNBC has just issued a Tweet claiming its sources have indicated that Apple will indeed be launching a quad-core iPad 3 next with 4G LTE cellular data capabilities next week. Interestingly, the tweet claims that the unveiling will take place in New York, a departure from the company's typical major announcements that have taken place either in San Francisco or at the company's headquarters in...
ipad 2 airplay tangled

Part Numbers Suggest Imminent Availability of iPad 3 and New Apple TV

Tuesday February 28, 2012 7:59 am PST by
9to5Mac reports that reliable source Mr. X has revealed part numbers for at least some models of the iPad 3 as well as an updated Apple TV set-top box. According to the report, Apple is releasing three different variants of the new iPad, going by code names J1, J2, and J2a, with the presumption being that J1 corresponds to a Wi-Fi only model while the J2 variants correspond to models with...
ipad 2 ipad 3 caliper

iPad 3 Rear Shell Measures in at 9.5 mm Thick, 0.8 mm Thicker Than iPad 2

Tuesday February 28, 2012 7:14 am PST by
While comparison photos of the iPad 2 rear shell and a claimed iPad 3 rear shell have shown slightly increased thickness for the forthcoming model and reports have suggested that the difference is roughly 1 mm, no measurements had surfaced to quantify the exact difference in thickness between the two devices. Apple.pro now points [Google translation] to a new photo showing both shells being...
mastered for itunes logo

Apple Reportedly Developing High-Definition Audio Format with 'Adaptive Streaming'

Tuesday February 28, 2012 6:26 am PST by
The Guardian reports that Apple is currently working on a new audio format that could allow the company to offer "high definition" audio via iTunes. The format would also integrate an "adaptive streaming" component that would allow music being accessed from iCloud and iTunes Match by portable devices to be automatically adapted to fit bandwidth or storage constraints.Apple is working on a new...
ipad 2 best buy 50 off

Best Buy Preparing for iPad Updates with $50 Price Cut, Inventory Cuts

Monday February 27, 2012 1:12 pm PST by
Potentially signaling its belief that the launch of the iPad 3 is imminent, Best Buy is now offering $50 discounts across the entire line of iPad 2 models, with pricing now beginning at $449.99 for the 16 GB Wi-Fi model. Furthermore, Engadget reports that Best Buy has begun updating its internal inventory management systems to reflect a "deleted" status for iPad 2 models. Best Buy...
evi screenshots

Apple 'Working With' True Knowledge to Address Concerns Over Evi's Similarities to Siri

Monday February 27, 2012 10:37 am PST by
Last month, we reported on Evi, an app from True Knowledge that offered some of the same features as Apple's Siri. While Evi lacks the system-level integration of Siri on the iPhone 4S, it does offer greater information content and expanded device compatibility. TechCrunch reported yesterday that Apple has now contacted True Knowledge with the suggestion that it will soon remove Evi from...
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iOS 5.1 Beta Reveals Evidence of Simultaneous Development on A5X and A6 Chips

Monday February 27, 2012 9:25 am PST by
While Apple has been rumored by several sources to be planning to deploy a quad-core processor as part of what was presumed to be a new "A6" system-on-a-chip in the iPad 3, that assumption was called into question earlier this month with the appearance of a logic board photo showing an "A5X" package instead. Some have suggested that the implication of the package being a beefed-up A5 would limit ...