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
Google Debuts New Android-Focused Music Download Store
Google yesterday officially unveiled its full Google Music service, including a music download store offering a number of the same features as Apple's iTunes Store. The new Google Music store arrives as part of the Android Market and seems designed to attract users to the Android platform by offering an alternative to Apple's iTunes ecosystem. Like the iTunes Store, Google Music offers...
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Apple Releases 4.4.3 Software Update for Apple TV [Updated]
Apple today pushed out a new 4.4.3 software update for the Apple TV, although the company has yet to specify what improvements are included in the update. The new release, which arrives as Build 9A4051, comes on the heels of a series of releases last month that started with version 4.4 to include support for iCloud's Photo Stream feature as well as several other additions but which required...
Skype Adds Facebook Video Calling Support
Back in September, Skype debuted a new Skype 5.4 for Mac Beta offering Facebook integration in the form of chat and news feed support. The company has now expanded that integration to include support for Facebook video calling.Initiating a Facebook-to-Facebook call from within Skype is quite easy; all you need to do is connect your Skype and Facebook accounts. Then, select a Facebook friend...
Code Strings Hint at Possible iChat Services for iOS
RazorianFly points to a Tweet from developer John Heaton revealing strings within the iOS code making reference to iChat-related services such as Jabber and AIM that are not currently supported directly by Apple on iOS. Speculation has naturally turned to the possibility that Apple is working on an application to integrate full iChat capabilities into iOS, although that may be something of a ...
Apple Pulls Back on iPad 2 Display Orders as iPad 3 Production Begins to Ramp Up
Digitimes reports that Apple has pulled back on its fourth-quarter orders for iPad 2 display panels, although the reduction appears to be part of an overall strategy to prepare for the launch of the iPad 3 early next year rather than a shortfall in customer demand. According to the report, Apple stockpiled components for an extra 4-5 million iPad 2 units during the third quarter, allowing it to...
Apple Removes 'Texas Hold'em', its Only iOS Game, from App Store
In a bit of an interesting move, Apple has removed its Texas Hold'em game from the App Store, potentially marking the end of the only game Apple ever produced on its own for the App Store. Texas Hold'em began life as a game for non-iOS iPod models, debuting in late 2006. As Apple introduced the iPhone just a few months later, rumors circulated that Apple was getting serious about gaming, in...
Native Gmail App Returns to App Store
As noted by Google, the company's native Gmail app for iOS has returned to the App Store. The app debuted two weeks ago, but was quickly pulled after a bug breaking notifications was discovered as soon as users began installing the app.Two weeks ago, we introduced our Gmail app for iOS. Unfortunately it contained a bug which broke notifications and displayed an error message, so we removed it...
iOS 5.0.2 Coming Soon to Address Battery Issues? iOS 5.1 to Bring New Siri Integration?
German site Macerkopf reports [Google translation] that Apple is working on two separate software updates for iOS 5, looking at both near-term battery fixes and longer-term improvements to Siri. Macerkopf tells us:iOS 5.0.2 coming very soon, solving the battery bugs. Should arrive before the end of next week. Apple is working hard on the update. In addition Apple ist working on the first big iOS ...
Samsung Tweaks Galaxy Tab 10.1 Design for Relaunch in Germany
German site mobiFlip.de reports (via FOSS Patents) that Samsung has apparently relaunched the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Germany, tweaking the design and releasing it under a new Galaxy Tab 10.1N name in an attempt to skirt around the injunction against selling the original design. New Galaxy Tab 10.1N (top) vs. Galaxy Tab 10.1 (bottom) The most obvious difference from the front of the device is...
AT&T Customers Remaining Loyal as Verizon and Sprint Gain iPhone
MarketWatch reports on comments from AT&T executive Glen Lurie noting that the carrier's churn rate has remained steady since Verizon and Sprint began offering the iPhone earlier this year. Some observers had expected that AT&T might experience a significant amount of customer defection once it lost iPhone exclusivity in the United States, as the carrier has been the target of a number of...
Sony Looking to Cut Out Cable Providers with Web-Based TV Service
Last week, we noted that Sony was working hard on efforts to change the way users interact with and view content on their television sets, with CEO Howard Stringer openly acknowledging that the company was trying to find a way to compete with Apple's integrated ecosystem that is expected to expand to include television sets in the relatively near future. The Wall Street Journal now reports...
Apple Names Art Levinson Chairman, Disney's Bob Iger Joins Board of Directors
Apple today announced that Art Levinson has been named Chairman of the Board of Directors. The former Genentech executive has served on Apple's board since 2000 and has been a co-lead director since 2005. In addition, Disney president and CEO Bob Iger has been named to the board.“Art has made enormous contributions to Apple since he joined the board in 2000,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. ...
Annual iTunes Connect Shutdown Set for December 22nd-29th
As noted by MacStories, Apple has sent out an email informing developers that it will be shutting down the iTunes Connect portal for the App Store over the Christmas holiday as it has the past several years. This year's shutdown will extend from December 22nd through 29th, two days longer than in past years.We strongly recommend that you do not schedule pricing changes through the interval...
Apple TV Drops to $89.99 at Amazon and Best Buy
As noticed by 9to5Mac, both Amazon and Best Buy have dropped their prices on the Apple TV by $10 to $89.99. Interestingly, Amazon has also added a "2010" designation to its Apple TV title, leading to speculation that the retailers may be making room for a potential update to the device. Third-party retailers are, however, usually not particularly accurate sources of information on new...
Steve Jobs Envisioned Using Unlicensed Wi-Fi Spectrum for Apple Mobile Phone Network
IDG News Service reports on comments made yesterday by venture capitalist John Stanton claiming that Steve Jobs had been investigating the possibility of using unlicensed Wi-Fi spectrum as way to bypass carriers in setting up a mobile phone network in the years before the iPhone debuted. While the idea proved to be infeasible, Stanton's description of Jobs' vision fits with the Apple...
Apple and NTT DoCoMo Still Discussing iPhone Agreements in Japan
The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple and NTT DoCoMo are still in discussions over a potential agreement to bring the iPhone to Japan's largest carrier. The carrier is concerned, however, over Apple's unwillingness to allow DoCoMo to install its own applications such as its popular e-wallet and mail services on the device. NTT DoCoMo is also concerned over Apple's unit volume commitment...
Samsung's Patent Cases Against Apple to Ramp Up in 2012
Following a recent commitment to step up its attacks on Apple over claims of patent infringement related to 3G technologies, Samsung appears set to launch into the primary phase of its campaign during the first half of 2012. While some initial posturing has seen some early discussions in court over Samsung's claims, Samsung appears to be opting to forego seeking temporary injunctions against...
Android Tops 50% Share of Smartphone Sales, But Apple Still Dominating Profits
Research firm Gartner today released its results of worldwide mobile phone sales for the third quarter of 2011, once again revealing how delayed purchases ahead of the iPhone 4S resulted in a dip in unit sales and market share for Apple. According to the report, Apple's share of the total mobile phone market came in at 3.9% for the quarter, down from 4.6% in the previous quarter. The...
Apple Releases Mid-2010 MacBook Pro Video Update for Snow Leopard
Apple today released MacBook Pro Video Update 1.0 (Snow Leopard), a new update addressing issues with freezing and blank video on mid-2010 MacBook Pro models.This update addresses an issue where MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2010) computers may intermittently freeze or stop displaying video.The update is a Snow Leopard version of the Lion update released three weeks ago. Additional information on the ...
Siri Protocol Cracked, But Unique iPhone 4S ID Requirement Hampers Distribution
Applidium, the developers who brought the open source video player VLC to the App Store only to have it pulled over licensing issues, have announced that they have reverse engineered the protocol used to allow Siri to communicate with Apple's servers. Citing an example in which they were able to communicate with Siri servers directly from a computer, the developers note that they were able to...
