The Rupert Murdoch-owned paper ran a couple of very odd stories this week

Murdoch launched The Daily on Apple's iPad in February. Photo: PED

There's not much doubt, Rupert Murdoch declared on his Fox News cable network last year, that Steve Jobs is the best chief executive in the U.S.

"He's got such incredible focus," he told an interviewer. "He's got such power inspiring the people around him who work for him. And, you know, it's -- it's a highly, highly disciplined company... and it makes beautiful products."

That was in June 2010, when Murdoch was still plotting with Apple (AAPL) to launch The Daily. The owner of the now defunct News of the World has been busy with more pressing concerns, but we haven't heard much from him lately about Jobs' incredible focus or the beauty of Apple's products. In fact, a couple of stories in the Wall Street Journal this week suggest there may have been a shift in the editorial wind at Murdoch's News Corp. (NWS) properties.

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