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 Opens Up 'In App Purchasing' for Free iPhone Applications
Apple has just sent out an e-mail to registered iPhone developers informing them that In App Purchasing, previously restricted to paid applications, is now also permitted in free applications. The change also permits developers to create a single version of an application to be sold for free with limited accessibility that can then be unlocked for full functionality via In App Purchases,...
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Apple to Release Q4 2009 Financial Results on October 19th
Apple today issued a media alert announcing details for the October 19th release of its financial results for the fourth fiscal quarter (third calendar quarter) of 2009. The results will cover sales from June 27th, 2009 through September 26th, 2009, and will be released after the close of trading on Monday at approximately 4:30 PM Eastern / 1:30 PM Pacific. Apple's conference call discussing the...
'Layar Reality Browser' Appears in App Store
Augmented reality startup Layar yesterday announced that its Layar Reality Browser iPhone application [App Store, Free, iPhone 3GS only] has been approved and is now available in the App Store. Layar is one of the most prominent augmented reality platforms, which take advantage of the GPS and digital compass capabilities of the iPhone 3GS to overlay information on video feeds from the device's...
Apple to Begin Advertising Push Targeting Windows 7 Launch?
BusinessWeek reports that Apple is expected to begin an advertising push in the near future designed to lure Windows customers considering purchasing new computers due to the launch of Windows 7 on October 22nd. In an interview, Apple senior vice president Phil Schiller notes that the Microsoft launch "presents a very good opportunity" for Apple. In the coming weeks, Apple is expected to hit...
Next-Generation Mac Pro to Receive Temporary Exclusive of Six-Core 'Gulftown' Processor?
Hardmac reports that an early 2010 revision to Apple's Mac Pro may see the inclusion of Intel's forthcoming six-core "Gulftown" processor as a temporary exclusive prior to the full mass release of the processor in the second quarter of 2010. This Xeon is an evolution of those already powering Mac Pro 2009 with some new features:
- 6 cores and 12 threads for each CPU.
- 12 MB of shared cache...
Apple Releases Performance Update 1.0 to Address Hard Drive Stalls
Apple today released Performance Update 1.0, addressing hard drive pauses affecting a "small number of customers" on a number of different Mac models. The update is available in Snow Leopard (300 KB) and Leopard (322 KB) versions. This update addresses intermittent hard drive-related stalls reported by a small number of customers. For detailed information on this update, please visit this website....
Apple Continues to Demonstrate Sales Growth in Third Quarter 2009
Research firms Gartner and IDC today both released preliminary reports detailing U.S. and worldwide PC shipments for the third quarter of 2009, revealing modest growth by Apple amid an uncertain market.
Apple's U.S. Market Share Trend: 1Q06-3Q09 (Gartner)
According to Gartner's report, Apple once again maintained its fourth place ranking for U.S. shipments with an 8.8% market share on unit...
AT&T Continues to Temper Expectations for iPhone Tethering in 2009
9 to 5 Mac reports that it has received a note from an AT&T spokesperson asking the site to remove a reference suggesting that the company would support Internet tethering via the iPhone by the end of 2009. We believed it was coming later this year, until we got a note from an AT&T spokeman. He told us to correct a post that said AT&T will be delivering tethering in 2009. Specifically, he said...
'NPR News' Update Brings Live Breaking News
National Public Radio has updated its NPR News iPhone application [App Store, Free], adding access to live audio streaming of breaking news and special coverage, as well as numerous other improvements. - Listen live to breaking news and special coverage
- Revised news article view
- Improved audio streaming in low bandwidth scenarios
- Improved playlist stability
- Click the very top of the...
'Wi-Fi Direct' to Simplify Peer-to-Peer Wireless Networking
The Wi-Fi Alliance, a consortium of companies that includes Apple, yesterday announced that it has developed a new specification that will facilitate direct peer-to-peer connections via Wi-Fi between devices without the need for an intervening base station. The specification, to be made available on new products and via software updates to existing products beginning in mid-2010, would compete...
Apple Modifies Boot ROM on Revised iPhone 3GS Models to Hinder Jailbreaking
iClarified reports that Apple has apparently recently made a slight update to its shipping iPhone 3GS models, deploying an updated boot ROM that does not allow the exploit typically used to jailbreak the devices to be employed. The iBoot-359.3.2 started to ship last week. A screenshot posted by Mathieulh shows the new version number.
MuscleNerd from the iPhone Dev-Team has confirmed that the...
Apple Releases iMovie 8.0.5, Adding Support for New iFrame Video Format
Apple today released iMovie 8.0.5, bringing several compatibility improvements and bug fixes to the company's consumer-level video editing application. This update improves compatibility with a number of devices and fixes other minor issues, including:
- Improved compatibility with camcorders using the iFrame video format
- Improved compatibility with importing video captured on the iPod nano
...
Apple Developing FM Radio Application for iPhone and iPod Touch?
9 to 5 Mac reports that it has received a tip claiming that Apple is in the process of developing an application to bring FM radio functionality to the iPhone and iPod touch. The functionality would reportedly be similar to that found in the fifth-generation iPod nano, which offers the ability pause radio and tag songs for use in iTunes.
The FM radio application will reportedly be able to...
TomTom GPS Car Kit for iPhone Unboxing
Forum member The Samurai has managed to obtain the TomTom GPS car kit for iPhone from the Apple retail store in Glasgow, Scotland. After a brief appearance in several European Apple online stores that generated some confusion over what was included with the kit, the car kit reappeared late last week with shipping scheduled for 1-3 weeks. Despite the shipping date having slipped to 3-4 weeks...
iTunes LP Format Opening Up to Additional Major and Indie Record Labels
There has been a fair amount of discussion about Apple's plans for its iTunes LP [iTunes link] line of enhanced album content in recent days after Gizmodo reported on a small indie record label owner who claimed that an Apple representative had notified his distributor that iTunes LP releases require a $10,000 production fee from the label, effectively limiting the feature to larger labels able...
Disney Draws on Steve Jobs and Apple for Retail Store Makeover
The New York Times reports that The Walt Disney Company is planning a ground-up revival of its retail stores using a high-tech "Imagination Park" concept and has turned to Steve Jobs and the retail store team at Apple for assistance with the project. Jobs became a member of Disney's Board of Directors and the largest individual Disney shareholder when the company acquired Pixar in early 2006. The ...
Apple Releases Logic Pro 9.0.2
Apple today released Logic Pro 9.0.2, addressing several bugs and enhancing overall stability on Apple's professional audio editing application. This update improves overall stability and provides numerous fixes and enhancements. Issues addressed include:
- Flex Markers can align & snap to MIDI notes
- Performing a punch-in recording with Replace Mode now behaves correctly
- The I/O...
Microsoft to Extend Support for Office 2004 Until 2012
Microsoft today announced that it will extend Mainstream Support for Office 2004 for Mac through January 10th, 2012. The company had previously announced that support would end on October 13th, 2009, but in light of the significant number of users still using Office 2004 in order to take advantage of Visual Basic features missing in Office 2008, Microsoft has decided to extend support for Office ...
'MapQuest Navigator' Free Trial No Longer Offered
Late last week, MapQuest launched MapQuest Navigator, its subscription-based GPS navigation application for the iPhone, offering the application for a nominal $0.99 with a free two-week trial to be extended by monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription price packages.
In a blog update today, MapQuest notes that the free trial policy ran afoul of App Store restrictions and that it has had to...
