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In an unsurprising but still shocking move, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs resigns as CEO but remains with the company as chairman. Tim Cook is promoted from chief operating officer to chief executive officer.

Links from Thursday's episode of Loaded:

Research In Motion is hoping to bolster the popularity of its BlackBerry Messenger service with the launch of a music-sharing service as companies focus more attention on social networking.

The maker of BlackBerry smartphones announced late this evening the launch of BBM Music, a cloud-based service intended to allow users to create an ever-evolving library of music that can be shared with other BBM Music users. The service will offer millions of songs from the catalogs of Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and EMI. (CNET first reported that RIM was in talks with the major labels … Read more

BlackBerry to help police probe Messenger looting "role"' in U.K. riots; Chinese smugglers use epic zip-line to transport iPads and iPhones; and power companies prepare as solar storms set to hit Earth.

Facebook's new standalone Messenger app for iPhone and Android is designed to help you reach out to Facebook friends or people in your mobile contact list in what Facebook spokesperson Meredith Chin described as a "fast and easy way."

The app can be used to reach out to a single friend or a group of friends but you have to select each member of the group individually. It doesn't support the "group" or "list" functions in Facebook that make it possible to post messages to entire groups on the Facebook Web site. … Read more

It appears Research In Motion has decided to flip the switch and turn its popular BlackBerry Messenger application, or BBM, as its users refer to it, into a more full-fledged "social experience," complete with app integration, social app discovery, even some enhanced social gaming.

Buzzwords aside, BBM 6 does, in fact, change the game for both BlackBerry app developers and end users. It allows developers to create apps using the BBM API, which in turn will allow users to interact with each other from right within the BBM-connected apps. This means that newly developed games, for instance, could … Read more

If you've been waiting to dump your BlackBerry for an iPhone because you don't want to give up the free BlackBerry Messaging service that allows you to bypass carrier text messaging, then the wait is over.

Earlier this week, Apple announced at its Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco that its new iMessage feature that will be baked into the latest version of iOS software due later this year, will offer a similar messaging service that Research In Motion's BBM service offers.

In addition to seeing when and if messages have been received, just like BBM, iMessage … Read more

By the end of this year, users of Google Android smartphones should be able to sink their teeth into the next version of Android OS: Ice Cream Sandwich. But what does this upgrade really mean for smartphone users?

I was at the Google I/O developer conference this week in San Francisco, where Google announced a brand new OS upgrade for its Android mobile platform. So I was able to get the lowdown on what's expected in this latest version. Google Android OS updates have been introduced so rapidly since Android first launched two and a half years ago … Read more

We're limiting iPad 2 chat to 10 minutes of airtime because you're probably sick to the gut from hearing all the rumors, the news, and the buying guides. Suffice it to say that Apple is now offering a $100 refund to anyone who purchased an iPad 1 in the two weeks leading up to this week's announcement.

Apple's price-matching program is nothing new--it has offered a two-week price-matching deal on almost all its hardware after something new is released, but it's up to third-party distributors like Best Buy to decide whether they want to honor the deal.

If you were unfortunate enough to purchase an original iPad on February 16 or later, head to an Apple Store and don't get bitter with the employees--they don't know about releases ahead of time.

Prepare your thumbs for soreness if you own an Android or Apple smartphone, as the two operating systems may soon get BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) courtesy of Research in Motion.

BBM is a free instant messaging service currently exclusive to BlackBerry smartphone users, but Android and iOS may soon benefit from the instant communication service.

In the meantime, if you want another way to get free texting, check out… Read more

RIM may be gearing up to officially announce BlackBerry Messenger 6, the latest version of the BlackBerry peer-to-peer messaging service--BBM to fans.

Real-time gaming among BlackBerry owners is one possible new feature suggested by a source known to the BlackBerry site PocketBerry.

The rumor specifically addressed playing under the BBM log-in name, chatting with other gamers who aren't on your friend list, and integrating gaming results into your status update. BlackBerry Messenger 6 may be supported on all OS 5 devices and up, according to the rumor.

So how far off is the rumor? Hopefully it's right on … Read more