Microsoft Windows Phone Head Andy Lees: The Full AsiaD Interview (Video)

It’s a great time to watch this interview with Andy Lees, president of Microsoft’s Windows Phone unit, since the software giant is holding a big event in New York on Monday to celebrate the U.S. launch of devices running the new Mango version of the smartphone.
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Spooking Flipboard: Yahoo’s Livestand — Followed by Google’s Propeller — Set to Launch Next Week

Memo to Flipboard, Pulse, CNN’s Zite and AOL’s Editions: You might want to make some room in the crowded news and social reader space — you’re about to get some bigfoot company.
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Google Calls Justice Department Second Request on Motorola Deal “Pretty Routine” (If Four Percent Is Routine)

The acquisitive search giant plays the odds again in Washington, D.C., with handset purchase.
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News Byte

Google’s Woodside to Lead Motorola Mobility Integration

With Margo Georgiadis leaving her gig as COO of Groupon to return to Google as president of its Americas business, the search giant has given Dennis Woodside, the executive currently in that position, a new role: Overseeing the integration of Motorola Mobility. By far the largest acquisition in Google’s history, the purchase of Motorola Mobility brings with it a groaning board of integration challenges. But according to Nikesh Arora, Google’s senior vice president and chief business officer, Woodside is prepared for them. “He wanted a new and exciting challenge,” Arora told Bloomberg. “We wanted a capable pair of hands.”

Exclusive: Flipboard Confirms $50 Million Funding at $200 Million Valuation

Late last month, BoomTown posted about a huge venture funding effort by the high-profile and even more highly designed social media reading app for the Apple iPad, Flipboard. Today, its co-founder and CEO Mike McCue confirmed a $50 million round at an eye-popping $200 million valuation, in a wide-ranging interview at the start-up’s Palo Alto, Calif., HQ.

Exclusive: Yahoo Nabs Microsoft Exec Brett Wayn to Help Local Efforts

After it struck its online advertising and search partnership with Yahoo, Microsoft tapped longtime Internet exec Brett Wayn to work with Greg Nelson durung the integration. Well, Wayn must have liked what he saw at the Silicon Valley Internet giant, since he is bouncing there from his job at the Redmond, Wash. software giant to run local efforts at Yahoo.

No New Splashy Engadget Editor Yet, But AOL Site Cleaning Begins

AOL will begin rolling out its plans to overhaul its panoply of content sites as soon as today, a key part of its integration with the Huffington Post, sources familiar with the situation said. The New York-based Internet portal, which paid $315 million to acquire the high-profile news and opinion site, will essentially close down dozens of its dedicated content sites–some being shuttered completely and others integrated with existing Huffington Post sites.

AOL Layoffs Coming Soon, Followed by Champagne and Cookies for Advertisers When HuffPo Deal Closes

There’s no question it’s a jarring contrast–layoffs versus champagne and cookies. But that’s the reality at AOL as its acquisition of the Huffington Post closes this week, even as it sheds employees as part of its ongoing turnaround effort.

Video: Ning's Andreessen and Rosenthal Talk About New Social Chat Service Mogwee

Yes, it’s actually called Mogwee, which was the codename for the new mobile social communications service being launched tonight by Ning, the high-profile social networking platform. Part Twitter, part SMS, part Path and any number of such social start-ups, Mogwee actually stands for “more great weekends.” Here is a video with Ning CEO Jason Rosenthal and Chairman Marc Andreessen talking Mogwee.

HP Will Put Palm Print on Windows PCs

Finally, a bit of clarity on Hewlett-Packard’s plans to “drastically expand” its webOS operating system to the PC and their implications for Microsoft. HP may be going all-in with webOS, but not to the eventual exclusion of Windows. HP CTO Phil McKinney says the company is working on bringing an integrated WebOS experience to the PC.

Viral Video: Happy 100th Birthday to IBM!

Web Commerce Isn't Really Social…Yet