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India’s Digital News Monitor

Amazon Launches Junglee.com Marketplace In India

Hoping to tap into India’s rapidly growing e-commerce market, Amazon (NSDQ: AMZN) is launching Junglee.com in the country today.

Endgame: RIM's Balsillie, Lazaridis To Step Down From CEO Roles

Research in Motion (NSDQ: RIMM) has finally decided to get serious about its predicament: co-CEOs Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis are stepping aside after a disastrous year in which the company squandered its once-dominant position in the smartphone market.

 

WSJ Poaches Narisetti From Washington Post

The reverb from Kevin Delaney’s departure from the Wall Street Journal for Atlantic Media Group just hit DC: WSJ alum Raju Narisetti is headed back to the Journal, swapping his role as managing editor of the Washington Post responsible for digital for managing editor of The Wall Street Journal (NSDQ: NWS) Digital Network. Narisetti, the founder editor of India’s Mint newspaper, also will be a deputy managing editor of the Journal. Release below.

Jerry Yang Has Left the Building; Resigns From Yahoo, Alibaba Boards

Investors won’t have Jerry Yang to blame anymore. In a stunning move announced after the markets closed, the Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO) co-founder resigned from the company’s board of directors and from all other positions—effective immediately. Just as quickly, Yahoo’s stock jumped in after-hours trading.

CES: Our Coverage In Pictures

This past week we’ve been covering the Consumer Electronics Show, reporting on everything from Apple’s quiet tablet competitors to the unprofitable Motorola’s struggle to regain its footing, and Microsoft’s phone-in of its last keynote, to Intel’s big plans for 2012. Learn what it all means and below, check out our our coverage in pictures (and links):

paidContent 2012, NYC: New Speakers; Last Chance For Early Registration

Our acclaimed one-day event, paidContent 2012, returns to The TimesCenter in New York City on March 1. Now in its third year, paidContent 2012 is where we look at the most pressing issues and opportunities in digital media—what’s happening now, what’s to come, and what it all means at the start of this pivotal year.

With our intense focus on newsworthiness, paidContent 2012 is being programmed in real time to make sure we capture what’s top of mind for you, today, in your industry. Our theme this year, At the Crossroads, explores convergence—how entertainment, advertising, publishing, television and news companies are finding ways to be meaningful and profitable online, uncovering the overarching lessons applicable to all industries as they forge new paths in the digital space. 

What's Coming In 2012

Last week, the paidContent staff analyzed the sectors we cover most, highlighting the key people, companies and trends to watch in 2012. Some key topics: Apple (NSDQ: AAPL), internet TVs, publishing, advertising, legal and the age of ubiquity. Below, links to our coverage:

Register Now: paidContent 2012, March 1, NYC

As 2011 draws to a close, we’re looking forward to paidContent 2012: At the Crossroads, March 1, 2012 at the TimesCenter in New York City.

Digital is at the crossroads. While last year’s efforts are starting to show results, other areas are now facing huge disruption. It’s all happening at breakneck speed, making it even more of a challenge than ever to understand what it will all mean for your business. On March 1st, we’ll convene industry leaders, innovators and disruptors across the digital landscape to hear first-hand what’s working, what’s broken, what’s new, and what’s coming next—and to learn from each other.

With that in mind, here are some of the sessions we’re developing:

Save The Date: paidContent 2012, March 1, NYC

If you’re reading this, you’re already aware of how important it is to be in the know about the constantly changing world of digital content—the startups, mergers and acquisitions, the business models, the successes and failures. We bring you news and analysis every day with that need to know in mind and on March 1st, we’ll meet in person at TheTimesCenter in New York City for paidContent 2012 to explore what’s working, what isn’t, what’s new and what’s next.

It’s the third year for our one-day, cross-sector signature event bringing together industry leaders and entrepreneurs, innovators and disruptors from across media, book and magazine publishing, entertainment and information—and it couldn’t come at a more pivotal moment.

Comparing The New Aggregators, Part 2

As tablets become more of a increasingly popular household fixture, the companies that package content for the devices continue make their own upgrades. Flipboard, often seen as the top dog among news aggregation apps, recently added an iPhone app, multiple accounts and larger social media footprint. Meantime, some new apps have rolled out or gained momentum, including Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO) Livestand, News Republic, NewsMix and News360. They’re going up against players like Zite, Pulse, Ongo and Float. Here’s an update to our chart from September that includes all the latest changes from the new-style news aggregators.

Comparing E-Readers And E-Reader/Tablets: Kindles, Nooks, Sony, Kobo

Just last month, Amazon (NSDQ: AMZN) rolled out its Kindle Fire, the first Kindle designed as a full media device—not an e-reader with some frills. That announcement was followed by Kobo’s announcement of the Vox. And, as expected, Barnes & Noble (NYSE: BKS)—which already had a touchscreen color e-reader that some hackers were converting into an inexpensive Android tablet—announced its Nook Tablet. 

Apple Vs. Microsoft Vs. Google Vs. Dropbox: A Cloud-Computing Guide

“Where did the computer go?” was the slogan Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) used in 2004 when it launched the first of its current range of iMac desktop computers. The question was designed to draw attention to the ingenuity with which the company’s designers had managed to pack the components of an entire desktop computer into what was effectively an enclosure for a large flat screen. But actually it’s a question with a more contemporary relevance, because nowadays most of us rely on “computing” that’s provided by machines we never see and could not locate even if we tried. They are somewhere out there in the internet “cloud,” which is how so many of us came to be users of something called “cloud computing”.

paidContent Entertainment 2011: Full Coverage

Here’s your chance to catch up on a jam-packed paidContent Entertainment—or brush up on the details for all of you who spent Thursday at The London in West Hollywood and joined virtually by live stream. Find out what Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari, thinks content companies can learn from drug dealers; what Dawn Ostroff, president of Conde Nast Entertainment has in mind at her new gig; what Mark Suster, partner of GRP Partners, thinks Netflix (NSDQ: NFLX) needs; how Mario Queiroz, product development VP of Google (NSDQ: GOOG), explains Google TV isn’t a cord-cutting device; and much more. Plus, keep an eye out for the video coverage, coming soon.

This Thursday: paidContent Entertainment, Hollywood

paidContent Entertainment: Everything Everywhere is this Thursday, November 3rd in West Hollywood. We’ve tweaked the program, the format, and the panelists to keep the topics timely and the day moving. What you can expect is everything you’ve come to expect from paidContent-including forward-thinking discussions and high-level networking. If you haven’t already done so, a few seats are still available. Register today.

The packed day includes Q&As with

»  Dawn Ostroff, President, Condé Nast Entertainment
»  Jim Lanzone, President, CBS Interactive (NYSE: CBS)
»  David Maisel, Special Advisor to Rovio, Former Chairman, Marvel Studios
»  Mario Querioz, Vice President of Product Development,  Google (NSDQ: GOOG) 

A look at the devices changing the way we get media by
»  Jim Louderback, CEO, Revision3

And insights from
»  Mark Suster, Partner, GRP Partners
»   Robert Tercek, Digital Content Veteran / Former President, Digital Media, OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network

The hashtag for the event is #pcE11.

Steve Jobs To Biographer: 'I'm Going To Destroy Android'

Steve Jobs swore to “destroy Android” in his anger over what he saw as outright copying of Apple‘s ideas in Android phones unveiled early in 2010, according to a new biography being released following his death this month.

paidContent Entertainment, Nov. 3, LA: Ostroff, Maisel Among New Speakers

Join us for paidContent Entertainment: Everything Everywhere event on November 3rd in West Hollywood, our one-day, fast-paced conference that explores the nexus of digital media and the entertainment industry. This interactive, single-stage event will take an incisive look at the biggest challenges facing in the entertainment world.

In this constantly changing and fast paced industry, sometimes it’s important to stop and see how all the pieces fit together. Consider: in the space of a few days, Netflix (NSDQ: NFLX) canceled plans to completely separate streaming from DVD and signed an eye-catching deal with the CW; cloud-based VOD scheme UltraViolet went live; Universal announced a premium VOD, then canceled when exhibitors threatened a boycott; and Disney (NYSE: DIS) and News Corp. (NSDQ: NWS) took Hulu off the block. Then there’s the upcoming launch of the Kindle Fire, which will unlock Amazon’s media assets for mobile use, and ... you get the picture.

We’ve added some new speakers to help us put the puzzle together, including two successful entertainment execs applying their considerable skills to new endeavors:

»   Dawn Ostroff joined publisher Condé Nast just last month as president of Condé Nast Entertainment, a new endeavor for the development and distribution of video and film initiatives as well as creating original web content. Ostroff launched the CW as president of entertainment, greenlighting Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries and the other programs that netted that deal with Netflix—worth up to $1 billion for the Time (NYSE: TWX) Warner-CBS (NYSE: CBS) joint venture.

»   David Maisel, who launched Marvel Studios and was chairman until Marvel Entertainment was sold to Disney, is now special adviser to game developer Rovio. Maisel is helping the company build its entertainment strategy, including bringing game franchise Angry Birds to the big screen. He’ll serve as executive producer for any Angry Birds films; his executive producer credits already include Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger.

Other new speakers include: Christy Tanner, General Manager and Executive Vice President, TV Guide Digital; Lisa Donovan, Co-Founder, Maker Studios; Dana Settle, Founding Partner, Greycroft LLC; Lisa Donovan, Co-Founder, Maker Studios; and digital entertainment vet Courtney Holt. Stay tuned—more announcements to come. Until then, here’s our speaker list so far.

Times Of India Grabs English Soccer Highlights For Indian Mobiles, Website

Times Of India’s online division is getting mobile and internet highlights of English soccer’s Premier League, after cutting a deal with online sports rights operator and broadcaster Perform Group.

BlackBerry Users Revolt Against RIM As Disruption Spreads

Smartphone maker Research In Motion (RIM) is facing a user revolt after tens of millions of users in Europe, the Middle East and Africa suffered a second day without services such as BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), as the company struggled with problems at its hub in Slough, Berkshire.

Apple Co-Founder And Chairman Steve Jobs Has Died

Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) co-founder Steve Jobs has died, the company said late Wednesday. He was 56.

New $60 Aakash Promises To Kick-Start Indian Tablet Market

Move over, Kindle Fire - the world has a new cheapest tablet computer. India’s government has announced a new Android-powered tablet called Aakash priced at between $35 and $60 that could set a light under the booming country’s digital content market.