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
Mophie Introduces New 18-Watt Powerstation PD Batteries for Fast Charging
Mophie, Apple's retail and online store partner for external batteries, today announced a pair of new Powerstation PD batteries supporting 18-watt fast charging over USB-C to charge your phone to 50 percent in as little as 30 minutes.
Just a few months ago, the company launched a high-capacity 45-watt USB-C PD battery aimed at providing power for MacBooks, but the new Powerstation PD and PD...
Read Full Article • 16 comments
2018's Biggest Apple Leaks: iPhone XS and XR, iPad Pro, Macs, and More
As 2018 comes to a close, it's a great opportunity to take a look back at the year that was. Yesterday we shared our review of everything Apple announced during the year, and today we're taking a look at the rumors and leaks that gave us details on Apple's plans ahead of those announcements.
This year saw the typical iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch updates, although there were a few wrinkles...
Apple Releases New 'Color Flood' iPhone XR Ad
Apple today shared a new iPhone XR ad entitled 'Color Flood' on its YouTube channel. With Cosmo Sheldrake's "Come Along" as the soundtrack, the ad features a cast of hundreds dressed in colorful jumpsuits running through an otherwise empty town.
In one easily missed touch, there's a quick glimpse of purple-suited cast members pouring out of the back of a van that sports the license plate...
Review: 2019 Lexus ES Features Optional Widescreen CarPlay, but Remote Touch Trackpad Interface Is Cumbersome
A few months ago, the 2019 Lexus ES became the first vehicle from Toyota's luxury brand to add support for CarPlay, built on top of the brand's Enform 2.0 infotainment system, and Lexus now has a half dozen 2019 models announced with CarPlay support.
I've had a chance to spend some time with a Lexus ES 300h Ultra Luxury hybrid model that includes a number of technology features, so here's a...
Apple Warns Chinese iPhone Ban Would Force a Settlement With Qualcomm, Result in 'Irreparable Harm' to Apple and Others [Updated]
In a court filing related to the ongoing dispute with Qualcomm that has resulted in a partial ban on iPhone sales in China, Apple this week warned that upholding the ban would cause "truly irreparable harm" to Apple, other companies, and consumers if Apple is forced to withdraw its devices from the market, according to Bloomberg.
The ban would cost Apple millions of dollars a day and affect...
Australia's Commonwealth Bank to Support Apple Pay Starting Next Month
Commonwealth Bank (CBA) today announced that next month it will become the second of Australia's "Big Four" banks to support Apple Pay, ceding to customer demand after a multi-year dispute with Apple over fees and access to the NFC chip in iPhones. CBA is the largest retail bank in Australia and has long been a notable holdout from Apple Pay.
Angus Sullivan, Group Executive of Retail Banking...
Algoriddim's djay for iOS Goes Free With Optional Pro Subscription, Updated With New Live Performance Tools and More
Algoriddim's djay apps for iOS and Mac have long been among Apple's favorite apps to show off at keynote events and in annual "best of" lists, with slick designs, demo-friendly interfaces, and utility that supports both fun and creativity with music and video.
Given djay's visibility as a popular premium app, it's a significant development that with today's introduction of djay 3 for iOS,...
Hands-On With the iPhone XR Clear Case From Apple
It took nearly two months following the on-sale date for the iPhone XR, but Apple's highly anticipated clear case for the colorful device is now available. We're not entirely sure what the delay was in launching it, and it's currently the only first-party case available for the iPhone XR, so we went hands-on with the new case to see how it stacks up.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel ...
Review: 2018 Accord Hybrid Offers Honda's Quality Display Audio Infotainment System With Sensible CarPlay Integration
Honda consistently ranks as a top five best-selling car brand in the United States, so it's worth taking a look at the company's Display Audio infotainment system and how well it works with CarPlay.
Honda was one of the first car brands to support CarPlay, starting in late 2015 with the 2016 Accord, and the company has since expanded support across nearly its entire lineup. I had the...
Qualcomm Says Every Android Manufacturer Will Have 5G Flagship Phone by End of 2019
Apple is reportedly waiting until at least 2020 to roll out next-generation 5G cellular data technology in its iPhone lineup, but according to Qualcomm president Cristiano Amon, "every" Android handset manufacturer will have a flagship phone with 5G support across U.S. carriers by the end of next year, reports CNET.
By the holidays next year, every flagship handset -- at least when it comes to ...
Mac Developers Reminded to Have Their Apps Notarized as Apple Tightens Security
Apple today reminded Mac developers that it is encouraging them to have their apps notarized, meaning that the apps have been scanned by Apple and checked for malware and other security issues.
Notarization is not currently a requirement for apps distributed outside of the Mac App Store, but Apple says it will "more prominently highlight notarization status" starting in the spring of 2019....
Review: Volvo's 2019 S60 Sedan Offers a Striking Sensus Infotainment Display and CarPlay, but Usability Needs Some Work
As car infotainment systems go, Volvo's Sensus system is certainly an eye-catcher with its gorgeous 9-inch portrait display dominating the center stack, so I was excited to have an opportunity to go hands-on with Sensus to see how it works and how well it integrates with CarPlay, which is broadly supported in Volvo's lineup.
My test vehicle was a new 2019 S60 T6 AWD R-Design sedan, and the...
Kuo: AirPods With Wireless Charging Case Expected in Early 2019, All-New Model in Early 2020
In a brief research note highlighting Apple's suppliers for its popular AirPods wireless earphones, noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that new AirPods with a wireless charging case will debut in the first quarter of 2019, with an "all-new design model" following in the first quarter of 2020. The updates are predicted to drive strong sales growth for the product.
We attribute AirPods'...
New Details on Apple's Negotiations With iHeartMedia Surface
Earlier this month, Financial Times reported that Apple had held talks with U.S. radio company iHeartMedia regarding the possibility of Apple taking a financial stake in the struggling radio company that filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. Despite its financial troubles, iHeartMedia remains the largest radio station owner in the country with over 850 AM and FM stations.
Financial Times...
Apple Launches New iPhone XS Case and Apple Watch Band Color Options
Apple today quietly released new iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max silicone cases, as well as Apple Watch Sport Bands, in three new colors: Hibiscus, Mellow Yellow, and Pacific Green. In addition, Apple has begun selling the new Nike Sport Loop and Sport Band options that debuted on nike.com earlier this month in Celestial Teal, Olive Flak, and Smokey Mauve.
iPhone Silicone Cases ($39):
-...
AirPlay 2 and Dolby Atmos Help Apple Make Inroads as a Hub of Your Home Entertainment Ecosystem
With the release of AirPlay 2 earlier this year and the follow-up addition of Dolby Atmos support for Apple TV with tvOS 12, there have been significant improvements in the home entertainment experience for Apple users.
While AirPlay 2 support initially launched for HomePod with other speaker and receiver brands to come, the rollout has taken a bit of a time, and in fact there are still only a ...
iPhone XR Now Available SIM-Free in the United States
Apple has made the iPhone XR available SIM-free in the United States, allowing customers to purchase the phone unlocked and unassociated with any carrier. Customers can then choose to obtain a SIM from any carrier of their choice.
SIM-free iPhone models typically debut in the United States up to several months after the initial product launch as Apple prioritizes supplies for upgrade users...
15-Inch MacBook Pro AMD Radeon Pro Vega Graphics Options Now Available to Order
Following its October 30 media event, Apple quietly announced in its MacBook Air press release that new AMD Radeon Pro Vega graphics would be coming to the 15-inch MacBook Pro as of November 14, and the new options have just gone live in Apple's online store.
The high-end 15-inch MacBook Pro can now be custom configured with with Radeon Pro Vega 16 graphics for an additional $250 or Radeon...
Many 27-Inch iMac SSD Configurations Disappear From Apple's Online Store, Likely Due to a Bug [Updated]
In what is likely the result of a bug, a number of SSD custom-built configuration options have disappeared from Apple's 27-inch iMac lineup in its online store, with 1 TB and 2 TB options now missing entirely.
On the 27-inch iMac, available storage upgrades have varied depending on which stock configuration is used as the starting point, with the low-end and middle-tier models allowing...
Review: 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Shows Off Solid CarPlay Integration With Uconnect Infotainment System
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is home to a number of vehicle brands, including Dodge, Jeep, Ram, and of course Chrysler and Fiat. All of these brands include FCA's Uconnect infotainment system, the most recent version of which, version 4, began making its way into vehicles for the 2017 and 2018 model years. Vehicles with Uconnect 4 support both CarPlay and Android Auto, and I recently had an...
