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
Images of Microsoft 'Pink' Phones Emerge
"Turtle"
Earlier this year, word surfaced that Microsoft was in the process of developing its own smartphone, codenamed "Pink", for launch in 2010. The phone, which was claimed to be manufactured by a third-party company, has been seen as a possible iPhone rival running on Microsoft's Windows Mobile platform.
Gizmodo today published images of not one, but two phones developed under the...
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Ad Request Metrics Reveal iPhone OS 3.1 Adoption
Mobile ad firm AdMob today released a bit of data that provides an interesting glimpse into operating system versions being used on the iPhone and iPod touch. According to a survey of ad requests received during the week of September 15th-22nd, just after Apple's release of iPhone OS 3.1, 23% of aggregate users of the iPhone OS had already updated to iPhone OS 3.1. An additional 51% of users...
AT&T Announces iPhone MMS Launch for 'Late Morning' Pacific Time Friday
AT&T today announced on its Facebook page that a carrier settings update for MMS on the iPhone will be available in the "late morning" Pacific Time on Friday, the previously-announced launch date for the service. MMS Update: We know you've been eager for this service so we wanted to offer a quick update on the launch plans for MMS on Friday, Sept. 25. Late morning, Pacific Time, on Friday, the new ...
AT&T Nervous About Upcoming iPhone MMS Launch?
DSLReports claims to have received word from a source noting that AT&T is extremely nervous about the impending launch of MMS for the iPhone scheduled for this Friday. Early testing of the service has apparently already placed a strain on the company's MMS servers, resulting in a test outage yesterday and a last-minute rush to beef up capacity beyond the measures already taken. AT&T and its MMS...
Standards Board Approves Changes to Subscription Revenue Accounting
Dow Jones Newswires reports that the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has given final approval to a change in accounting regulations that will allow Apple to recognize more of its iPhone and Apple TV revenue at the time of sale. The change okayed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board helps companies that sell goods and services in bundles - like smart phones and other high-tech...
New GarageBand Lessons from Rush and John Legend Now Available
The Loop notes that Apple has expanded its GarageBand lesson offerings to add two Rush songs ("Tom Sawyer" and "Limelight") on guitar and one John Legend song ("Ordinary People") on piano. Rush's guitarist Alex Lifeson takes you through a simple way to play the intro riff to one of the band's most popular songs, "Tom Sawyer." After learning the opening riff, Lifeson then breaks down the rest of...
Adobe Announces Photoshop Elements 8
Adobe today announced the release of Photoshop Elements 8 for both Mac and Windows, bringing significant updates to the company's top-selling consumer photo editing software. Photoshop Elements 8 for Mac now includes all of the intelligent photo-editing options as the Windows version. In addition to Photomerge Exposure, Recompose and Quick Fix previews, Photoshop Elements 8 for Mac features Scene...
Apple Cleared to Sell iPhone in South Korea
The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple has received governmental approval to sell the iPhone in South Korea. The move appears to mark a substantial opening of one of the most closed mobile phone markets in the world. The commission's action comes after months of consumer pressure. For much of this year, the commission's reason for blocking the iPhone was that its built-in mapping capabilities ...
Google Releases Picasa 3.5 With Facial Recognition and Improved Geotagging
Google yesterday announced that it has released Picasa 3.5 for Mac and PC, bringing several new features to the free photo organization and editing software. The Mac version removes the "beta" tag that had distinguished it since its January launch, as Google now considers the Mac and PC versions to offer the same feature sets.
The highest-profile change in Picasa 3.5 is the addition of facial ...
Surveys Point to Mac and iPhone Sales Momentum, Strong Tablet Interest
In a note to clients issued today, research analyst Mike Abramsky reported on the results of several recent RBC IQ/ChangeWave survey questions demonstrating surging Mac and iPhone sales momentum, as well as significant interest in a potential Apple tablet computer.
In a survey of customers who had purchased a computer within the past 90 days, 25% of respondents reported purchasing a Mac...
Apple Releases Logic Pro 9.0.1, Logic Express 9.0.1, and MainStage 2.0.1
Apple today released a trio of updates for its professional-level audio applications, bringing stability improvements and a number of bug fixes.
- Logic Pro 9.0.1 weighs in at 183 MB and requires Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later. This update improves overall stability and provides numerous fixes and enhancements.
Issues addressed include:
* Flex Markers can align & snap to MIDI notes
*...
iPhone to Launch in China on October 15th?
Unwired View reports on news from China Business Times [Google translation] that China Unicom is internally targeting a launch date of October 15th for the iPhone. Pricing will reportedly be set at 1,999 yuan (US$293) for the 8 GB model and 2,999 yuan (US$439) for the 16 GB model. Both models will require two-year contracts with pricing beginning at 186 yuan (US$27) per month. We still don't...
USB Compliance Organization Sides With Apple in Palm Pre Syncing Dispute
Digital Daily reports that the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) has responded to Apple and Palm regarding the two companies' ongoing spat over Palm's attempts to allow its Pre smartphone to sync media directly via iTunes. Despite Palm's apparent misuse of Apple USB Vendor ID codes, Palm reported Apple to the USB-IF for improper use of its own Vendor ID to shut out the Pre. Palm had argued that...
Apple Releases iTunes 9.0.1
Apple today released iTunes 9.0.1 via Software Update and the iTunes download site, offering a number of bug fixes. iTunes 9.0.1 provides a number of important bug fixes, including:
- Resolves issues browsing the iTunes Store.
- Addresses a performance issue where iTunes may become unresponsive.
- Fixes a problem where iTunes may unexpectedly quit.
- Fixes a problem syncing Podcasts in...
AT&T Weighs In Against Net Neutrality Regulations for Wireless Industry
CNET reports that AT&T and other wireless carriers and wireless trade associations are expressing concern over recent comments from U.S. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski regarding his support for "Net neutrality", fearing that the current focus on wired Internet service will be expanded to included wireless networks.
The principles of Net neutrality include the...
Lynwood, Washington Apple Retail Store Employees May Stage Walk-Out
ifoAppleStore reports that employees of the Seattle-area Alderwood Mall Apple retail store in Lynwood, Washington are planning to stage a walk-out on October 3rd to protest employees' treatment by management and an unwillingness by higher-level Apple executives to appropriately address the "abusive" situation. Now, staffers at the Alderwood Mall (Wash.) retail store say their complaints about...
AT&T Deactivating 'View My Message' Service for iPhone Users Ahead of MMS Launch
Several AT&T iPhone users have reported today receiving text messages from the wireless carrier informing them that the company's View My Message workaround for receiving multimedia messages will be deactivated as accounts are prepared for MMS activation on September 25th. AT&T Free Msg: Picture & video messaging (MMS) will be available for iPhone on 9/25. While we prepare your account for MMS...
Google Adds Push Gmail for iPhone and iPod Touch Via Google Sync
Google today announced that it has expanded its Google Sync service to include push e-mail for the iPhone and iPod touch, as well as Windows Mobile devices. Google Sync, launched earlier this year, also provides synchronization of contacts and calendar entries. When we launched Google Sync for Contacts and Google Calendar earlier this year, an over-the-air, always-on connection to sync mail was...
'Layar' Augmented Reality Platform to Gain 3D Capabilities
MobileCrunch reports that Layar, one of the earliest and highest-profile augmented reality platforms for mobile devices, is in the process of adding 3D capabilities to its Android tools, opening the door for developers to offer new levels of immersive experiences. With 3D, third-party developers can now tag real-life objects with three-dimensional text, place 3D objects on top of real-world space...
Apple Releases Three New iPhone Ads: 'Dine', ' Nature', and 'Pass'
Apple today released three new iPhone commercials, airing them on U.S. prime time television and posting them to the company's iPhone ad gallery. The ads mark a departure from the company's recent theme of highlighting three App Store applications per commercial and instead feature six applications per ad. All three commercials also mention that there are now 75,000 applications available in...
