The basic plot of this movie is simple. Lord Voldemort, the epitome of evil, is trying to destroy Harry and take over the world. Harry, driven by love for his friends, is trying to stop the dark lord Voldemort by destroying all of his Horcruxes, objects that contain pieces of Voldemort’s soul. Only when all of the Horcruxes are destroyed is Voldemort rendered powerless.

One interesting aspect of this struggle between good and evil is Rowling’s comment that pure innocence can not exist without evil. Harry who represents everything that is right in society is permanently linked to the dark lord. Therefore his ‘good’ always contains some evil, however, it is Harry’s ability to manage the evil inside of him that is truly noteworthy. It is the ability for an individual to compartmentalize their evil that makes someone pure.

The movie itself was packed with action. The director did a great job representing the immense size of this final battle. The sheer amount of death eaters, Voldemort’s followers, makes it clear that the final battle for civilization is about to occur at the gates of Hogwarts. Although several pieces of foreshadowing spoiled the ending for me, anyone who read the books will find these elements exciting. I don’t want to ruin any of the plot twists for people who have not read the books but I can say they are very well done and are quite exciting.

Overall, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is a must see movie. Not only because it ends a historic series with a bang but on its on merit. HP7P2 has all the elements needed for a great film: action, quality acting, even comedy all wrapped up into the fantasy world no can deny changed the landscape of witchcraft. Two thumbs up.

Season five has just begun, and I hope you stick around for the ride. Check out season one to get a taste for characters, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

On the Michael Sherlock broadcasting network however, Conan would be a cornerstone of my content. His comedy is fresh, his opinions spot on, and frankly, his jokes are funny. Conan appeals to younger viewers, which some view as a negative, but I believe keeps him from the stale humor we currently see at 11:35.

Next up, Craig Ferguson. Occupying the 12:37-1:37 time slot, Craig offers a racier comedy I enjoy. Accompanied by his robot sidekick Geoff Petersen and his audience full of hobos, Craig’s monologues and intimate interviews are excellent. His story telling is a joy to listen to and his sometimes deep messages make you think, and laugh, at the same time.

To wrap the night up, enter a live comedy club. Featuring stand up routines from one or two fresh comics, this segments closes a night full of laughs with an opportunity for new individuals to make it big. Quality performers can repeat on the show while those not rated as highly by the audience never return to make way for different people.

So, that’s my dream lin-up. Both Conan and Craig are currently working with TBS and CBS respectively, but I can always dream right? What comedians do you love, and who would compromise your dream late night line-up?

Bitbop is solely owned by News Corporation. News corp is also a significant shareholder of Hulu (27%) which explains why we haven’t seen Hulu itself adopt the mobile platform. Clearly Bitbop is the mobile Hulu replacement which begs the question, why make two separate services dividing mobile and desktop computing? Obviously there is a reason, probably relating to advertising and operating costs, but an immediate answer isn’t available.

At CTIA, Bitbop demoed their service on a BlackBerry but state that both iPhone and Android versions of the application will be launching as well. Video looked good on the Blackberry Bold’s 480 x 320 pixel screen according to users who tried the service.

I recently spoke with Paula Batson, a prominent member of the PR team behind BitBop, to get some more information on this breakthrough service. Answers to content related questions remained vague as this service has yet to enter beta but it sounds like their soon-to-be announced partners include several other high-profile networks.

Will Bitbop include all fox shows?
“We have partnered with several large content providers and as such our programming will not just be Fox but rather a wide range of programming across networks. We anticipate a formal content announcement later this month. I think its fair to say viewers will be blown away by the breadth and quality of content available on bitbop.”
Quote from Reid Genauer, VP Marketing Fox Mobile Group

Will there be a delay as to when new programs are available, similar to the 8 day delay for House on Hulu?
There will be a slight lag in terms of when programs air and when they will be available on Bitbop. It varies by network and will likely be 1-3 days.

Are you open to partnerships with CBS, ABC, and other content competitors?
100%. Bitbop is intended to be a content distribution platform for many content providers. As noted above we have already partnered with several large networks.

Will full seasons of shows be available for viewing, or just a few of the most recent episodes?
A few of the most recent episodes for each show will be available at launch.

Will the $9.99 monthly charge include movies or just television shows?
The monthly charge will just include television. Movies will be sold a la carte.

Does the video resolution scale depending on data connection?
We have various content resolutions that the app dynamically chooses [from], [the app chooses] the best profile based on the connectivity.

Will streamed video look different than downloaded content?
The downloaded content uses the highest resolution of video available.

Will downloaded video be unwatchable after your subscription ends? If so, how will it be regulated?
Yes the downloaded content is removed from the handset at the end of the subscription using our proprietary DRM implementation.

I specifically asked about the video resolution available to users but didn’t get an answer. I expect to get more information on this service as we approach launch. Additionally, I will be a part of the BitBop beta and as such will be able to provide you more feedback on this service.

Bitbop Video Promo:

Let me say this, the recipe was easy to follow and was delicious once it was done. However, the filming for this was tedious and the clean-up was a hassle, specifically because the oil splashed everywhere. Next time you are channel surfing and pass by a cooking show, just remember how much work it is for the people behind the camera.

Before you watch the video, I’d just like to disclaim that I am not a fluent Spanish speaker. In fact, I’m sure it is apparent to some of you. I’d like to apologize for butchering the language and hope you take this video at face value, an amateur cooking show.

O’Brien on his contract

From NBC’s perspective, Leno gets more views than O’Brien. However, these ratings are clearly slanted suffering from a small sample of less than eight months and the fact that Leno doesn’t have to compete with another NBC late night show before his. In fact, O’Brien has seen a major upswing in viewers as of late so who’s to say O’Brien isn’t the better long term option.

In spite of NBC’s terrible management of O’Brien, Conan is still cracking jokes, on NBC’s dime. On a recent episode O’Brien introduced crazy comedy bits that aren’t necessarily funny, but crazy expensive. One sketch involved a $1.5 million Bugatti dressed as a mouse with a Rolling Stone’s theme song while another featured Kentucky Derby winner Mind That Bird watching restricted NFL super bowl footage estimated at $4.5 million.

Jay Leno, who has bashed NBC for their blunders, will be returning to The Tonight Show March 1st. I respect Leno for defending his friend and can only imagine how awkward it will be to continue hosting the show. Leno has been hosting The Jay Leno Show at 10PM for the last few months but the show has failed to live up to the hype.

But what’s next for Conan. Straight from NBC, “Under terms of an agreement that was signed earlier today, NBC and O’Brien will settle their contractual obligations and the network will release O’Brien from his contract, freeing him to pursue other opportunities after September 1, 2010″ meaning we could see O’Brien again in few months. Interesting how his time off is almost the same length as his opportunity to host The Tonight Show.

No one knows what the future holds but I expect to see O’Brien back in late night. Just as David Letterman took his comedy elsewhere after NBC screwed him, I expect O’Brien to venture to Fox to spearhead their lackluster late night offerings. Conan has a great niche with the younger crowd which fits Fox’s mold. It is rumored that USA, TNT, TBS, Comedy Central, HBO and Showtime also have interest in O’Brien’s talent.

It’s a shame NBC had to screw up their line-up. The mix of Leno and O’Brien was great. In fact, I’m a huge Conan fan and don’t currently plan to watch Leno on The Tonight Show. Hopefully, Conan enjoys his time off but gets back in the saddle shortly.

• Joost. Joost is an online video website that allows you to watch all types of media from films, to music videos and TV shows. Categories are broad ranging from tech and gaming to animation or action. After watching a short ad, you are greeted by the standard definition video of your choice. Joost even has a free iphone application for watching all of their content on your iPhone or iPod touch. The only downside to joost is that it is more of an aggregator of free video content then a place to find a new TV show.
• Hulu. Hulu has become my favorite online method for watching television shows. Supported by all the major companies, this legal online video site can supply you with all the latest TV shows you want for nothing more then a few thirty second ads. Hulu even offers several movies to wet your whistle. At 480p, shows look fine and are easily enjoyable. In fact, Hulu even offers a few episodes in 720p for everyone who wants the extra resolution.
• External TV Antenna. A TV antenna is a great way to get free, high or standard definition video as soon as it is available. Many companies, like NBC or Fox News, broadcast their programs live over the air just waiting for you to watch them. Many new HDTV’s have built in antenna’s for picking up this OTA content so check your current model first. Otherwise, you can buy an external antenna. From their, you can watch the content live on your tv or connect the antenna to your computer and record these broadcasts. For more information on TV antenna’s, check out antenna web, they have everything you need to know.
• The iTunes Store. Apple’s itunes is most widely known for it’s mp3 selection. However, apple has expanded their offerings and now sells standard and high definition TV shows and movies. (You can even rent movies from the store.) Older movies cost $9.99 while new releases cost around $15. Not all movies are available for rent though, but those that are cost around $4. TV shows cost $2.99 an episode or you can buy a season pass saving a little per episode.
• Netflix. With plans starting at $4.99 a month, it’s never been easier to rent DVD’s. While it does take a day or two to ship to your home, netflix is a great service for anyone who wants content delivered straight to their door. In fact, netflix has a huge library of blu-ray movies too so you can enjoy full 1080p content right on your television set. Furthermore, a small portion of their content can be watched instantly on your computer to compensate for shipping times.

With internet media booming it has never been a better time to cancel your cable subscription. Of course having cable is the easiest and most consistent method for obtaining this media when you consider how easy it is to loose OTA signals or for your internet to go out but is having your media as soon as it is released as important as the money it costs? That depends on you and how much money you can save.

I have already talked about waiting to buy blu-ray players and movies but I also feel that physical media overall is coming to an end. Right now, the internet is the most efficient way to enjoy media. You don’t have to drive to a brick and mortar store, hope they have what you want, buy it if they have it, and drive home and enjoy. By the power of the internet you can press a few buttons on your computer and you can enjoy that media in a few minutes. Plus, the cost of digital media is much cheaper than physical media furthering the overall feeling that digital is taking over.

Netflix allows their users to enjoy movies and tv shows on their website. This way, you can simply log on and view the files. (Granted right now the selection is slim but more titles are coming) Recently, netflix began offering a set-top box which allows the user to stream that same online media directly to their tv over the internet. You can’t store the files on the device but you can watch them in somewhat standard definition.

Similar is to be said about apple. For a long time they have had a huge online music library which honestly can not be beat. Over the past few years they have branched out to movies and television shows which have grown to include all the major studios besides NBC of course. Last year apple launched the apple tv which allows media to be streamed to or stored on the device in high definition or standard definition. Earlier this year apple released a software update which allows media to be purchased directly on the apple tv itself. This is one of the easiest ways to enjoy digital media. Simply turn on the device, browse the media you want, download and enjoy. HD content delivered seamless to your tv; thats a great product!

My advice is to wait until the bugs are worked out of digital media distribution and then upgrade your hardware if need be. In all reality though, you probably already have the hardware you need to enjoy this media. In the coming years digital media will continue to expand so expect great things and amazing hardware. Conventual media is changing so it’s important you follow technology, understand how it works, but more importantly, enjoy it.