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
Microsoft Releases Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac 2.0.1
Microsoft today released Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac 2.0.1, an update to the company's software for connecting to Windows-based computers from a Mac running OS X. Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac 2.0.1 lets you connect from your Macintosh computer to a Windows-based computer or to multiple Windows-based computers at the same time. After you have connected, you can work with...
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Music Labels to Offer Enhanced Album Format to Compete With Apple's 'Cocktail'?
The Times reported over the weekend that the "big four" record labels are planning a November launch of a new digital album format known as "CMX" that will compete with Apple's rumored "Cocktail" offering reportedly scheduled for a September release. The world's big four record companies are to go head-to-head with Apple with the launch of a new form of album download that will include a digitised ...
Apple Again Offers Matte Display Option on 15" MacBook Pro
Engadget reports that Apple is again offering an antiglare matte display option on the 15" MacBook Pro. As with the matte display for the 17" MacBook Pro, the option costs $50.
A report last month claimed that Apple was considering bringing back the antiglare matte option on additional Macs beyond the 17" MacBook Pro in the wake of criticism from users regarding color matching issues and...
More Details on iTunes 9's Social Media Integration? [Updated]
Boy Genius Report provides additional information on the rumored updates to iTunes 9 initially reported over the weekend, which included the addition of Blu-ray support and the ability to organize iPhone applications, as well as some form of social networking integration.
The same source who provided the initial information gave additional details on the social networking integration,...
TomTom Special Media Event on September 22nd?
"Brightsite", the Twitter account of Dutch site Bright.nl, reports that TomTom has sent out a brief invitation to a special media event scheduled for September 22nd. iPhoneclub.nl reprints [Google translation] the text of the invitation in its entirety: Dear Journalist,
"TomTom will reveal the future of navigation to you" on Tuesday, the 22nd of September (from 10:30 am until 2 pm) ... Save...
Apple Working on Software Update for MacBook Pro Hard Drive Issues
CNET reports that Apple has officially acknowledged problems with some 500 GB, 7200 rpm MacBook Pro hard drives and promised that a software fix to address the issue is on the way, although no timeframe for a release of the update has been given. "We are aware of the issue and are working on a software update," Apple representative Bill Evans, told CNET News on Monday. He gave no time frame for...
CourseSmart Brings 7,000+ Textbooks to the iPhone and iPod Touch
The Wall Street Journal reports (subscription required) on CourseSmart, a service now offering e-textbooks for students on the iPhone and iPod touch. The platform consists of a free eTextbooks for the iPhone application [App Store] that interfaces with a student's free CourseSmart account, where the student is able to rent electronic editions of over 7,000 textbooks for his or her iPhone or...
Sex Offender iPhone Applications Address Legal Constraints
Last week, TechCrunch noted that the popular Offender Locator iPhone application [App Store, $0.99], a map-based application that pulls data from public records regarding the residences of convicted sex offenders, had disappeared from the App Store. While neither the developers nor Apple provided comment about the application's removal, speculation centered on a California law forbidding the...
Apple and Google Had Informal Agreement Not to Poach Each Others' Employees
TechCrunch reports that Apple and Google had an unofficial policy not to poach each others' employees during Google CEO Eric Schmidt's tenure on Apple's Board of Directors. The policy only covered contact initiated by the two companies in "head-hunting" capacities, and not unsolicited applications from employees. This news follows a report by The Washington Post in early June that the Justice...
Rogers Wireless Web Page Appears to Confirm 8 GB iPhone 3GS [Updated]
A Rogers Wireless web page appears to confirm last week's alleged screenshots of the company's internal retail software revealing a forthcoming 8 GB iPhone 3GS model. The "iPhone Comparison" tab on Rogers' iPhone 3GS page contains a chart listing the features of the iPhone 3G and 3GS, noting near the bottom that the 3GS is available in 8 GB, 16 GB, and 32 GB capacities.
Portion of "iPhone ...
iTunes 9 to Include Blu-ray Support and iPhone App Organization?
Boy Genius Report has received a tip from a "pretty reliable source" claiming to have knowledge of several new features to be included in iTunes 9. The rumored features include support for Blu-ray media and visual organization of iPhone and iPod touch applications within iTunes, as well as some form of social networking/media integration. One of the new additions to iTunes is said to include...
KT to Offer iPhone in South Korea
Telecoms Korea reports (via MacNN) that Korean wireless carrier KT has confirmed that it will be carrying the iPhone in that country, although pricing and timing for the launch have yet to be revealed. Yeon-hak, Kim, KT, CFO, said in the conference call on Friday, "Apple iPhone will be in our smartphone line-up. [We expect that the] iPhone will help to expand the smartphone market and will...
Next-Generation iMac to Offer Two 'Compelling' New Features?
AppleInsider reports that the next-generation iMac will see the inclusion of two "compelling" new features, although sources refuse to provide anything more than suggestions as to what those features might be. One of those features is said to have long been on the wish-lists of many Mac users while the other is expected to cater to the semi-professional audio/video crowd. This is according to...
Google CEO Eric Schmidt Accepted No Salary or Stock for Apple Board Service
BusinessWeek reports that Google CEO Eric Schmidt received no salary or stock compensation for his service on Apple's Board of Directors, accepting only Apple gear and a "commemorative gift" in exchange for his services. Schmidt recently resigned from Apple's Board due to limitations on his effectiveness as the two companies have become competitors in an increasing number of areas. Schmidt's...
New Analyst Mockup and Sales Estimates for Apple's Tablet
Image from Piper Jaffray
Fortune summarizes a new research report from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, who estimates that Apple could sell two million of its rumored tablet computer in 2010 at $600 each, adding a small but not inconsequential 3% to Apple's revenue stream for the year. Munster also provides a mockup (above) of what he believes the device will look like. The device, as he...
Microsoft Releases Office for Mac 2008 Updates to Address Open XML Bug
Microsoft today released a pair of updates to address a bug introduced in Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Service Pack 2 released last month that prevented users from opening some Office documents saved in Microsoft's Open XML format. A description of the issue is included on Microsoft's support document regarding the update.
Compatibility is improved. This update fixes an issue that causes...
Phil Schiller Comments on 'Ninjawords Dictionary' iPhone App Rejection
Yesterday, we reported on Daring Fireball's coverage of Apple's lengthy approval process for the Ninjawords Dictionary iPhone application that ultimately resulted in the application not only receiving a "17+" age rating but also having removed a number of "objectionable" words, including some with non-objectionable definitions, from the application.
In a follow-up post, Daring Fireball's John...
Apple Researching Methods to Detect 'Consumer Abuse' in Portable Devices
New Scientist points out an Apple patent application published today by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that discloses techniques for digitally "detecting whether consumer abuse has occurred in an electronic device." The application cites as examples assessing exposure to liquids, extreme temperatures, or excessive shock, as well as unauthorized tampering, all conditions which could cause...
Apple Rejecting All e-Book App Store Submissions? [Updated]
TUAW reports that Apple is now rejecting all e-book iPhone application submissions under the rationale that such applications are commonly used to distribute content to which the applications' authors do not hold publication rights. Rather than taking on the daunting task of assessing publication rights for each application submitted, Apple has apparently chosen to exclude all such applications. T...
Apple Releases Mac OS X 10.5.8 and Tiger Security Update 2009-003
Apple today released Mac OS X 10.5.8 for both consumer and server versions of Leopard via Software Update. The 10.5.8 Update is recommended for all users running Mac OS X Leopard and includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility and security of your Mac, as well as specific fixes for:
- compatibility and reliability issues when joining AirPort networks.
- an ...
