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
White iPhone 4 Proximity Sensor and 'Death Grip' Tested
Italian site iSpazio has been able to get its hands on a white iPhone 4 as several European outlets have begun selling the device ahead of tomorrow's official launch. With the new iPhone in hand, the site has put together a handful of videos [Google translation] testing out a few of the areas of concern users have had with the black models, most notably the proximity sensor performance and...
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Apple Hints at Future Turn-by-Turn GPS Directions With Traffic for iPhone
As part of its Q&A regarding location tracking posted earlier today, Apple discloses that it is currently collecting "anonymous traffic data" from users' devices with the aim of providing an "improved traffic experience in the next couple of years". What other location data is Apple collecting from the iPhone besides crowd-sourced Wi-Fi hotspot and cell tower data?
Apple is now collecting...
Last Year's Comments From Steve Jobs and Andy Rubin on Privacy
In the wake of a highly-publicized disclosure last week regarding iOS location tracking and discussion of similar activity found on Android-based devices, All Things Digital has gone back and cut together a video clip of comments from Apple CEO Steve Jobs and Google mobile boss Andy Rubin on privacy to remind readers what key executives have said about the issue in the recent past. Jobs'...
Apple Releases iPhoto 9.1.2 and Snow Leopard Font Update
Apple today released a pair of software updates via Software Update and its support download pages, bringing an updated version of iPhoto and a fix for font issues on Mac OS X Snow Leopard.
iPhoto 9.1.2 adds new card themes and fixes a host of minor issues with the company's photo management component of iLife '11. This update adds new card themes to iPhoto '11. It also improves overall...
TomTom Brings Homer Simpson Voice Guidance to iPhone
GPS navigation firm TomTom today announced that it has brought its Homer Simpson celebrity voice for turn-by-turn directions to its U.S. iPhone applications, appearing as a $5.99 in-app purchase. Developed in partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products (FCP), The Gracie Films Worldwide Brand Division and Locutio Voice Technologies, the original Homer Simpson voice (recorded by Dan...
Android Jumps Past iOS in Overall U.S. Smartphone Usage
Earlier this year, we pointed to a report from media research firm Nielsen indicating that Apple's iOS was just barely holding off Android in smartphone usage in the United States. But continued strong growth from Android that saw the platform easily leading the pack among the most recent smartphone acquirers left little doubt that Android would quickly pass iOS in total penetration.
New...
Amazon Responds to Apple's Trademark Lawsuit Over 'App Store'
Just over a month ago, Apple filed a trademark lawsuit against Amazon over the company's use of the term "Appstore" for its own Android application marketplace. According to the suit, Apple is seeking an injunction to prevent Amazon from using the name, which Apple believes infringes upon its own "App Store" mark.
GeekWire reports that Amazon has now filed an official response (PDF) to...
Another White iPhone 4 Sold in Belgium [Updated]
While we noted earlier today that preparations are moving full speed ahead for a debut of the white iPhone 4 within the next day or two and shipments making their way to retail stores, some retailers have jumped the gun and begun selling units to customers. Once such case popped up late last week in the UK through Vodafone, although the carrier apparently quickly clamped down on the rogue sale. ...
Apple Expected to Charge for Cloud-Based Music Storage Service
CNET reports that Apple is expected to charge customers a fee in order to use its forthcoming cloud-based music storage service, a new product said to be rapidly approaching completion. The company could, however, offer a free introductory period to give customers a chance to test out the new service and gather a user base. Music industry insiders told me that Apple has indicated it could offer...
Preparations for White iPhone 4 Launch Continue
As we've been noting, Apple is gearing up to finally release the white iPhone 4, with all signs pointing to a release over the next few days, possibly as soon as tomorrow.
Engadget posts photos of a shipment of white iPhone 4s that have reportedly arrived at a Belgian retailer just ahead of the launch, indicating that Apple's distribution channels now have stock in position for immediate...
Sharp Developing Thinner p-Si LCDs for Sixth-Generation iPhone?
According to a report [Google translation] from Japanese newspaper Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun (via AppleInsider), Sharp has been tabbed as a manufacturer for next-generation poly-silicon (p-Si) display technology for the sixth-generation iPhone due in 2012. The technology, which permits electrical components to be integrated directly into the glass surface, is said to allow for thinner and lighter...
Apple Releases iMac Hard Drive Firmware Update 1.0 for 2010 Models
Apple today released iMac Hard Drive Firmware Update 1.0, a new update to address issues with system booting on the company's current-generation "Mid-2010" iMac models. About iMac Hard Drive Firmware Update 1.0
This firmware update fixes a hard drive issue that may prevent some iMac (21.5-inch and 27-inch, Mid 2010) systems from booting properly.The update weighs in at 767 KB and requires Mac ...
Federal Lawsuit Filed Over Apple's Location Tracking in iOS [Updated]
In what shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, Bloomberg briefly reports that a lawsuit has been filed in U.S. federal court targeting Apple over privacy concerns related to location information being stored on iOS devices and in backups for those devices. The lawsuit is almost certainly the first of many regarding this issue. Apple Inc. (AAPL) was sued for alleged privacy invasion and computer...
Apple Delaying iMac Orders, Refresh Due Next Tuesday?
9 to 5 Mac reports that Apple has begun delaying iMac orders, notifying customers that shipment of their orders is being pushed back to next week. The move comes ahead of an expected iMac refresh that may be set to occur on Tuesday of next week. Due to an unexpected delay, we are unable to ship the following item(s) by the date that you were originally quoted:
Z0JP, IMAC 27/5750/SD
will now ...
Steve Jobs on iOS Location Issue: 'We Don't Track Anyone'
There has obviously been a lot of discussion about last week's disclosure that iOS devices are maintaining an easily-accessible database tracking the movements of users dating back to the introduction of iOS 4 a year ago. The issue has garnered the attention of U.S. elected officials and has played fairly heavily in the mainstream press.
One MacRumors reader emailed Apple CEO Steve Jobs...
White iPhone 4 Sold By Vodafone UK?
Engadget reports that it has received photos from a reader who claims to have purchased a white iPhone 4 through Vodafone in the UK today. The carrier has reportedly been gearing up to receive shipments of the device, but it now appears that the units may in fact be arriving and have slipped out for sale in a few instances. Now, we've secured a few images of a 16GB model from a separate source...
Apple Inks Deal With Warner Music for Cloud-Based Storage Rights?
Just as Apple's cloud-based music storage service has been said to be ready to go amid claims that Apple has inked two of the four major record labels to deals permitting the service, CNET now reports that Apple has reached a deal with Warner Music Group (WMG) in support of the plan. Apple has an agreement with Warner Music Group to offer the record label's tracks on iTunes' upcoming cloud-music...
European Sources Point to White iPhone 4 Launch on April 27th
Earlier this week, Norwegian site Mobili.no reported [Google translation] that it had received information claiming that the white iPhone 4 will debut on Wednesday, April 27th. Several reliable sources who wish to remain anonymous, says now Mobili.no that the white version goes on sale in the Norwegian mobile shops this coming Wednesday, 27 April.
It will be distributed in both Telenor's and...
Conde Nast Slowing Plans for iPad Magazines Amid Weak Sales
Ad Age reports that Conde Nast, one of the early iPad supporters in the magazine industry, is slowing down its plans to bring more titles to the platform, citing slow sales of its existing titles. "It's a shift," one Conde publisher said. "The official stance was we're going to get all our magazines on the iPad because this is going to be such an important stream. The new change is maybe we can...
Production of New Thunderbolt-Equipped MacBook Airs Set for Next Month?
AppleInsider reports on a new research note from Concord Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claiming that Apple is set to begin production on new Thunderbolt-equipped MacBook Air models late next month, setting the stage for an update to the company's popular ultra-thin notebooks. Kuo tells AppleInsider that his latest round of checks with suppliers and system builders in the region reveals that...
