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

apple thunderbolt display front side

Apple Thunderbolt Display Supplies Begin Running Short at Third-Party Resellers

Monday January 14, 2013 9:12 am PST by
AppleInsider notes that inventories of the Apple Thunderbolt Display have begun running short at third-party resellers such as Amazon and MacMall, perhaps providing the first hints of an upcoming redesign. The display remains in stock at the company's online stores, but shortages tend to show up at third-party retailers first as Apple prioritizes shrinking supplies for its own outlets. One...
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Apple Maintains Third Place in U.S. PC Sales for 4Q 2012

Monday January 14, 2013 6:43 am PST by
Research firm Gartner today released its preliminary personal computer shipment data for the fourth quarter of 2012, showing a mixed market for manufacturers. Overall, Gartner saw a 2.1% year-over-year decline in PC sales in the United States, compared to a 4.9% decline on a global basis. Gartner's Preliminary U.S. PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 4Q12 (Thousands of Units) In the...
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Oracle Updates Java 7 to Address Security Vulnerability

Monday January 14, 2013 5:36 am PST by
On Friday, we noted that Apple had taken the rare step of using its anti-malware tools in OS X to disable existing installations of the Java 7 browser plug-in due to a major security vulnerability that was being actively exploited in the wild. Apple's anti-malware system is capable of enforcing minimum version numbers for plug-ins such as Java and Flash, and Apple simply updated its blacklist...
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Apple Slashes iPhone 5 Part Orders Due to Weak Demand

Sunday January 13, 2013 7:06 pm PST by
The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple has slashed component orders for the iPhone 5 this quarter, responding to weaker-than-expected demand.Apple's orders for iPhone 5 screens for the January-March quarter, for example, have dropped to roughly half of what the company had previously planned to order, two of the people said. The Cupertino, Calif., company has also cut orders for components ...
java 7 blacklist

Apple Blocks Java 7 Plug-in on OS X to Address Widespread Security Threat

Friday January 11, 2013 9:34 am PST by
As noted by ZDNet, a major security vulnerability in Java 7 has been discovered, with the vulnerability currently being exploited in the wild by malicious parties. In response to threat, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has recommended that users disable the Java 7 browser plug-in entirely until a patch is made available by Oracle.Hackers have discovered a weakness in Java 7 security...
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Next-Generation iPad and iPad Mini Rumored for March Launch

Friday January 11, 2013 7:27 am PST by
Topeka Capital Markets analyst Brian White today released a new report highlighting some of his observations from this week's CES in Las Vegas, noting that "checks" at the show suggest that Apple is looking to launch the next-generation versions of the iPad and iPad mini in March.Our checks at CES indicate Apple will release the iPad 5 and the second-generation iPad mini this March. The iPad 5 is ...
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Apple Adds Streaming Movie and TV Service Watchever to Apple TV in Germany

Friday January 11, 2013 7:00 am PST by
As noted by The Next Web, Apple has added support for new movie and TV streaming service Watchever to the Apple TV in Germany.Essentially a German version of Hulu launched by Vivendi this month, it offers local, European and international movies and TV series for €8.99 a month. Key features include the ability to choose between a German dubbed version of international movies, or the original....
phil schiller

Reuters Pulls Story on Phil Schiller's iPhone Comments Following 'Substantial Changes' to Source Article [Updated]

Friday January 11, 2013 5:41 am PST by
Yesterday, a report from the Shanghai Evening News including comments made by Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller about Apple's refusal to build "cheap" devices was widely re-reported throughout both the Apple-focused rumor scene and in mainstream media. Schiller's comments were viewed by some as a direct rebuttal to recent rumors from The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg that Apple is...
luca maestri

Xerox CFO Luca Maestri Joining Apple as Corporate Controller

Friday January 11, 2013 5:16 am PST by
Xerox today announced that Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri is leaving the company to take the position of Corporate Controller at Apple. The move will be effective February 28."Luca is a stellar finance executive whose contributions have brought great value to the transformation of Xerox into a services enterprise,” said Ursula Burns, Xerox chairman and chief executive officer. "He's...
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Phil Schiller Says Apple Wouldn't Sacrifice Quality for Market Share in a Cheaper iPhone

Thursday January 10, 2013 9:41 am PST by
Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller is accompanying CEO Tim Cook on his trip to China, and the Shanghai Evening News has published an interview [Google translation] with Schiller in which he addresses recent rumors of a cheaper iPhone. The report was first brought to our attention by Macerkopf.de, but The Next Web has since obtained a better translation and confirmed with Apple that the report...
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Yields of 27-Inch iMac Displays Expected to Improve Next Month

Thursday January 10, 2013 8:58 am PST by
Apple's 27-inch iMac continues to be in short supply, with Apple quoting 3-4 week shipping estimates for new online orders, compared to shorter but still substantial 7-10 day estimates for the smaller 21.5-inch models. Even before launch, the new iMac was projected to be in short supply into 2013, due in large part to issues with Apple's new display assembly process that includes laminating the...
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Steve Jobs' Efforts to Support Ousted HP CEO Mark Hurd and Protect HP's Legacy

Thursday January 10, 2013 6:46 am PST by
As part of an extensive look at HP and whether CEO Meg Whitman will be able to turn the legendary computer company around, Bloomberg Businessweek shares an anecdote revealing how Steve Jobs reached out to ousted HP CEO Mark Hurd in 2010 both to provide support and to offer assistance with repairing Hurd's relationship with HP in an unsuccessful effort to prevent the company from entering a...
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Amazon Launches 'AutoRip', Offering Free Digital Versions of Purchased CDs

Thursday January 10, 2013 6:02 am PST by
Seeking to enhance its profile among music buyers, Amazon today announced the launch of AutoRip, a new service that offers customers who purchase physical CDs through Amazon free digital copies of their purchases through Amazon Cloud Player. The service is also retroactive, meaning that customers who bought any of the thousands of eligible CDs through Amazon since 1998 will automatically find...
cook miit jan13

Tim Cook Meets with China Mobile to Discuss 'Cooperation', Shares Thoughts on Chinese Markets

Thursday January 10, 2013 5:39 am PST by
As speculated following his arrival in China earlier this week, Apple CEO Tim Cook has met with representatives of China Mobile, the world's largest carrier. Reuters notes that the two sides discussed "cooperation", but no additional information on the status of long-running negotiations over the iPhone have been revealed."In the morning, Apple's CEO Tim Cook visited China Mobile's headquarters. ...
apple thunderbolt cables

Apple Revamps Thunderbolt Cable Lineup with Lower Pricing, Shorter Cable Option

Wednesday January 9, 2013 12:35 pm PST by
As noted by 9to5Mac, Apple today revamped its Thunderbolt cable lineup, dropping the price of the existing 2-meter cable from $49 to $39 and adding a new 0.5-meter cable priced at $29. Thunderbolt cables remain relatively expensive due to the electronics included inside the cables to manage the multiple protocols supported by the standard. The complexity and expense has both slowed deployment ...
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Pebble Smart Watch to Begin Shipping January 23

Wednesday January 9, 2013 8:35 am PST by
Popular Kickstarter smart watch project Pebble, which broke records by raising over $10 million in its funding push, has announced at CES today that the device will begin shipping to Kickstarter backers on January 23. With over 85,000 orders placed, it will take approximately 6-8 weeks to fulfill the Kickstarter orders, after which the watch will be available for general sale. Image from Eng ...
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Former Anobit CEO Discusses Acquisition by Apple, Contrasts Cultures of Apple and Intel

Wednesday January 9, 2013 8:03 am PST by
Just over a year ago, Apple acquired Israeli flash memory firm Anobit, and now that Anobit founder and CEO Ariel Maislos has left the company to start his next venture he has been able to share some details on his experiences with Apple. ZDNet covers an interview with Maislos at a recent meeting of the Israel Semiconductor Club, an event where Maislos shared details about how the acquisition came ...
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T-Mobile USA Planning to Offer iPhone and End Subsidies Within 3-4 Months

Wednesday January 9, 2013 5:36 am PST by
Following up on yesterday's report about T-Mobile USA already having 1.9 million iPhones operating on its network as it moves toward a launch of official sales later this year, Reuters reports that the carrier should begin selling the device within the next 3-4 months. T-Mobile is planning a similar timeframe for its move to end device subsidies in favor of installment plans and lower monthly...
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T-Mobile USA Now Supporting 1.9 Million iPhones, Adding 100,000 Per Month

Tuesday January 8, 2013 12:40 pm PST by
Ahead of its previously announced plans to begin officially offering Apple mobile devices such as the iPhone sometime this year, T-Mobile USA has have already seen its customers bring 1.9 million iPhones onto the carrier's network. The number, which was noted by TmoNews, is growing by 100,000 devices per month.With the numbers [T-Mobile CEO John] Legere mentioned, it’s easy to imagine that...
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iPhone5mod Launches Translucent Mod Kit in Seven Colors for iPhone 5

Tuesday January 8, 2013 7:47 am PST by
iPhone5mod continues to launch both unofficial Lightning accessories and other interesting products for iPhone owners, and the company today has announced its Translucent Mod Kit for the iPhone 5. The kit includes an entire set of parts to turn an iPhone 5 translucent on the rear and sides, offering users willing to disassemble their devices a rather unique look. Due to high cost and...