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
Apple Launches iTunes Store Movie Downloads in France and Ireland
Apple today announced the launch of movie downloads for its iTunes Stores in France and Ireland. The offerings include both purchases and rentals and come from major studios such as 20th Century Fox, MGM, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Disney, and Warner Brothers, as well as smaller European-focused studios. iTunes movies start at €7.99 for catalog title purchases, €9.99 for recent releases and €13...
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Adobe Creative Suite 5 Now Shipping, Free Trials Available
Adobe today announced that it has begun shipping Creative Suite 5, introduced earlier this month. Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced the availability of the Adobe Creative Suite 5 product family, the highly-anticipated release of the industry-leading design and development software for virtually every creative workflow. With more than 250 new product features, the Creative...
U.S. Apple Retail Stores to Close From 4-5 PM Tomorrow in Advance of iPad 3G Launch
As noted by 9 to 5 Mac, Apple will be closing each of its over 220 retail stores in the United States from 4:00-5:00 PM local time tomorrow to prepare for the launch of the iPad Wi-Fi + 3G. Even Apple's flagship Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan, typically open 24 hours a day, will close for preparations. The store will be closed from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 30, to prepare for the...
Valve Announces May 12th Debut for Steam on Mac OS X
In a very brief press release, Valve Software today announced that the public launch of Steam for Mac OS X is scheduled for May 12th. Officially announced in early March, Steam will bring a major game distribution platform, including Valve's library of popular games, to the Mac. Valve today announced the public release of Steam for the Mac is May 12. Please stay tuned for more information.A...
Finder of Lost Next-Generation iPhone Identified [Updated]
Wired reports that it has identified the person who last month found a next-generation iPhone in a Redwood City, California bar and later sold the device to Gizmodo. Brian J. Hogan, a 21-year-old resident of Redwood City, California, says although he was paid by tech site Gizmodo, he believed the payment was for allowing the site exclusive access to review the phone. Gizmodo emphasized to him...
iPad Competitors Begin to Disappear Even Before Being Released [Updated]
Microsoft's "Courier" booklet-style tablet concept
Silicon Alley Insider yesterday noted that HP appears to be putting its "slate" tablet computer on hold as it looks to complete its acquisition of Palm. The move appears to be related to HP needing to make decisions about how exactly it will integrate Palm's webOS smartphone operating system into its product roadmap. An analyst asked what HP...
Apple Releases Aperture 3.0.3
Apple today released Aperture 3.0.3, addressing a number of issues with the company's professional-level photo management and manipulation software. This update improves overall stability and fixes issues in a number of areas. The key areas addressed include:
- Applying adjustments such as Retouch or Chromatic Aberration
- Creating and using Raw Fine Tuning presets
- Viewing, adding and...
Adobe CEO Responds to Steve Jobs' 'Thoughts on Flash'
The Wall Street Journal is currently conducting an exclusive interview with Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen regarding an open letter posted earlier today by Apple CEO Steve Jobs sharing his thoughts on Adobe's Flash technology and reasons why Apple has not included support for it on iPhone OS devices. Video clips and the full interview will be available later, but the Journal is currently providing...
Jon Stewart on the Lost Next-Generation iPhone
Jon Stewart, host of the comedy news show The Daily Show, offered an extended segment on yesterday's show addressing the ongoing saga of the lost next-generation iPhone that was acquired by Gizmodo. The clip has been receiving a fair bit of attention today due to the show's popularity and Stewart's angle on the story taking Apple to task for its role in events.
Stewart's monologue, which...
First iPad Wi-Fi + 3G Arrives a Day Early
Engadget reports that despite Apple's plans for iPad Wi-Fi + 3G pre-orders to be delivered tomorrow in the U.S., at least one lucky customer has had their shipment slip through the cracks and be delivered a day early.
While no details on hidden differences between the 3G and Wi-Fi-only versions have been noted, the one image posted is clearly of a 3G-capable model as distinguished by the...
The Joy of Tech Posts 'Steve Jobs Email Reply Generator'
Apple CEO Steve Jobs has been receiving a fair amount of attention of late for his email replies to customers. The replies are typically very short and to the point, but still demonstrate an unusual level of customer interaction for a customarily private CEO of a major company.
Popular comic site The Joy of Tech this week has taken advantage of Jobs' responses to create an amusing Steve...
Apple to Charge Up to $1 Million for iAd Placements?
The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple is reportedly looking to charge up to $1 million to companies interested in participating in the company's forthcoming iAd mobile advertising platform. Those companies looking to be launch partners could be looking at sums of up to $10 million. Apple is making waves on Madison Avenue with its price tag, which comes with initial demands for greater...
Steve Jobs Posts 'Thoughts on Flash' Open Letter
Apple CEO Steve Jobs today posted a lengthy open letter offering his "Thoughts on Flash" in an attempt to clear up some of the controversy over Apple's relationship with Adobe and its unwillingness to incorporate Flash capabilities into its iPhone OS devices. I wanted to jot down some of our thoughts on Adobe's Flash products so that customers and critics may better understand why we do not allow...
iPad Wi-Fi + 3G Pre-Orders Now Shipping in U.S.
Just one day before they are due to arrive in customers' hands around the United States, iPad Wi-Fi + 3G pre-orders are finally beginning to see mass shipping confirmations from Apple. As noted yesterday, shipments had been staged in various locations around the country, enabling the rapid delivery times.
Several customers have reported that their orders are shipping via standard overnight...
Apple Releases MobileMe Control Panel for Windows 1.5.2
Alongside yesterday's release of iTunes 9.1.1, Apple also pushed out an update to MobileMe Control Panel for Windows. Version 1.5.2 of the utility brings compatibility with the new version of iTunes. MobileMe Control Panel is required to manage iDisk settings and to sync contacts, calendars, and bookmarks on a Windows PC.
This update is required for Windows computers running iTunes 9.1.1.The ...
HP to Acquire Palm in $1.2 Billion Deal
HP today announced that it will acquire Palm in a deal valued at $1.2 billion. The deal brings Palm, struggling to reinvent itself as a smartphone company after being a major player in the PDA market, into the fold with HP, a traditional computer company that has yet to make a signficant foray into the smartphone market. HP and Palm, Inc. (NASDAQ: PALM) today announced that they have entered into ...
Next-Generation iPhone to Go on Sale During WWDC?
Mashable reports that Apple may be planning for the next-generation iPhone to go on sale immediately after an introduction at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) scheduled to begin on June 7th. Over the last two years, Apple has revealed both the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 3GS at WWDC. However, the release of the actual iPhone hardware has traditionally come a few weeks after the...
AT&T Posts Fact Sheet Regarding iPad 3G Data Service
In addition to details posted last month by Apple on how 3G data service will be managed on Wi-Fi + 3G iPad models due for launch this Friday, AT&T has now published a fact sheet (PDF) offering additional information on iPad data service.
AT&T notes that its "monthly" domestic service plans actually consist of 30-day cycles that will automatically renew unless the customer elects to cancel...
Apple Purchases iPhone 'Personal Assistant' Company Siri [Updated x2]
Robert Scoble reports that Apple has purchased Siri, a company that has developed a free personal assistant application for the iPhone and iPod touch. Selected as the Most Innovative Web Technology in a contest at this year's SXSW festival, Siri offers automated personal assistant services by integrating a rapidly growing number of third-party services such as OpenTable, FlightStats, and...
iPad Wi-Fi + 3G Customers in the U.S. Anxiously Await Shipping Confirmation
With U.S. pre-orders for Wi-Fi + 3G iPad models set for delivery on Friday, many customers have been anxiously waiting for information on the shipping status of their orders.
Since yesterday, dozens of MacRumors forum members have been noting that their order statuses have updated to "Prepared for Shipment", revealing that shipment is imminent. There have been a very small number of reports...
