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Steve Jobs leaves Apple's helm (week in review)

Co-founder and CEO of iconic company resigns as CEO. Also: More Facebook privacy control and RIM spins music service.

Steven Musil Night Editor / News
Steven Musil is the night news editor at CNET News. He's been hooked on tech since learning BASIC in the late '70s. When not cleaning up after his daughter and son, Steven can be found pedaling around the San Francisco Bay Area. Before joining CNET in 2000, Steven spent 10 years at various Bay Area newspapers.
Expertise I have more than 30 years' experience in journalism in the heart of the Silicon Valley.
Steven Musil
3 min read

Steve Jobs stunned the tech world by announcing he had stepped down from the helm of the iconic company he co-founded 35 years ago.

Steve Jobs at Apple: A retrospective (pictures)

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Jobs, who has been dogged by severe health problems that forced him to take three leaves of absence from Apple in recent years, announced his resignation as chief executive officer on Wednesday. His place at the top of the company will be taken by Tim Cook, previously Apple's chief operating officer.

"I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come," Jobs said in his resignation letter.
•  Text of resignation letter from Steve Jobs
•  Text of Apple's press release on Jobs' resignation

Cook, who served as Apple's COO for seven years, has long been considered a front-runner to replace Jobs and has filled in for Jobs during his three medical leaves.

Cook, 50, is credited with completely restructuring Apple's manufacturing operations, insisting that Apple shut down its overseas factories and farm out the work to third-party manufacturers. As a result, the company reduced inventory and improved margins on its entire product lineup.
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Facebook finally giving users more privacy control

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RIM unveils music-sharing service for BBM

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Report: iPhone 5 to be a dual-mode 'world phone'

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Samsung Galaxy S phones hit by EU ruling

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'Touchdroid' bringing Android to HP TouchPad

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Google settles rogue drug ad claims for $500 million

The Web giant pays out one of the largest forfeitures ever in a settlement with the Justice Department over claims that it accepted ads from rogue online pharmacies.
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FCC commissioner: BART critics may be right

Commissioner Robert McDowell says critics have raised "very valid points" about the transit agency's decision to cut cell service to prevent a planned protest, but the FCC's probe is ongoing.
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Also of note
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