This movies stars the Academy Awards Best Actress, Natalie Portman. It was filmed in 2009 and general released early 2011, I wonder if this has anything to do with Portman’s Best Actress win in 2011.
Portman’s character is very similar to the role she played in Black Swan that won her the Best Actress title in 2011. The actor who stood out in the movie was the young Charlie Tahan, brother of Daisy Tahan, who played a very believable boy stuck in the middle of a bad divorce and remarriage of his father, played by the TV actor, Scott Cohen.
The plot of the movie is simple and Portman’s character is the “other woman” who caused the break up of her boss’ marriage. Ironically that was the same reason her mother divorced her father. Portman also struggle with the guilt of her 2 weeks old baby dying in her arms.
I was more mesmerized by Tahan’s character and his struggle to cope with the changes in his life more than Portman’s character.
For Portman’s fan this may be a must see but for me I think Tahan is an up and coming actor we can expect much from. Hopefully he does not fall into the traditional child actor predicament like Gary Coleman or Dana Plato, but shines like Drew Barrymore.
This is a good movie to go to if you don’t have anything else to choose from at the box office.
Rating Legend:
Must watch before you dieWait for the Blu-rayBuy from iTunes StoreRent it on iTunesWaste your time elsewhere
This is one of the worst 3D movie i’ve ever watched. There are hardly any 3D scences and the ones that are in the movie did not have to be 3D. The worst part is that none of the theaters in Hong Kong are showing the non-3D version.
As usual Johnny Depp played Captain Jack Sparrow that has no care in the world except for his own hide. They brought back some previous characters from past editions of the franchise like, Barbossa played by Geoffrey Rush and Gibbs played by Kevin McNally. Since this is the fourth edition of the franchise the originality of the plot and characters were not there, one will expects the screenwriters to go the extra distance to make the movie more special. I think this lack of originality started with Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End when the movie became very unbelievable and strange.
If you do not live in an area where they offer the non-3D version, I recommend you wait for it to become available in iTunes Movie Store, Netflix or airline entertainment system. But I think even fans of Depp will be disappointed with this movie.
Rating Legend:
Must watch before you dieWait for the Blu-rayBuy from iTunes StoreRent it on iTunesWaste your time elsewhere
You do what Stefanie Gordon did yesterday on her Delta flight from New York City (LGA) to West Palm Beach (PBI) and takes several photos of the Space Shuttle Endeavor’s last lift off from Kennedy Space Center (KSC). That single action did not gain Stefanie her celebrity status but what she did when she got to West Palm Beach did.
After getting onto the Delta flight in LaGuardia (LGA) she sent her last tweet and turned off her iPhone 3GS, because she decided not to pay for in-flight WiFi, and then proceed to sleep through most of it. Until the plane began its decent to Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) and the pilot came on announcing the Space Shuttle Endeavor has just lifted off KSC.
In technology we are use to dealing with the chicken and egg scenario. Where one technology break through cannot happen until another happens.
With LTE (4G), many carriers are waiting for consumer hardware manufactures to catch up before they invest in LTE infrastructures. Consumer hardware manufactures are waiting for mass consumer acceptance of LTE before they develop LTE consumer hardware. The consumers are waiting for contents that require high bandwidth to be available before they invest in LTE hardware or carrier plans. Finally content providers are waiting for the general availability of consumer LTE carrier infrastructure, hardware and tariff subscriptions before releasing content that require LTE class content.
So it was a delight to find out CSL Hong Kong decides to make it’s first move to break the stalemate of LTE development in Hong Kong with its launch of Asia’s first commercial LTE network back in November 2010.
In technology we are use to dealing with the chicken and egg scenario. Where one technology break through cannot happen until another happens.
With LTE (4G), many carriers are waiting for consumer hardware manufactures to catch up before they invest in LTE infrastructures. Consumer hardware manufactures are waiting for mass consumer acceptance of LTE before they develop LTE consumer hardware. The consumers are waiting for contents that require high bandwidth to be available before they invest in LTE hardware or carrier plans. Finally content providers are waiting for the general availability of consumer LTE carrier infrastructure, hardware and tariff subscriptions before releasing content that require LTE class content.
So it was a delight to find out CSL Hong Kong decides to make it’s first move to break the stalemate of LTE development in Hong Kong with its launch of Asia’s first commercial LTE network back in November 2010.
Today CSL further encourages the development of LTE (4G) technology in Hong Kong with the release of its LTE/DC-HSPA+ USB Modem by ZTE to existing 1010 subscribers.
CSL says their LTE network is now active in 80% of the locations in Hong Kong where previously only have 3G coverages. Over the next few month all locations where 3G coverage is available will also be equipped with LTE coverage.
During the initial launch last year only selected Corporate customers of 1010 have the option to sign up for LTE service. In February CSL made that available to all 1010 corporate customers. Now with the official release of their LTE/DC-HSPA+ USB modem they are making the LTE service available to all existing 1010 customers. This limitation is due to the hardware supply restrictions of the USB modem from the manufacture [ZTE]. In a few weeks when supply of the USB modem becomes plentiful all 1010 customers will be able to enjoy the LTE service.
BTW: Well not all 1010 customers, because the current USB modem from ZTE; which CSL calls “Express 100”, is only compatible with Windows computers. Since I am a Macintosh user I cannot attest to the speed of this modem first hand.
[Update: May 17, 2010, 08:00]
According to CSL the Macintosh compatible version of the LTE/DC-HSPA+ USB modem will be available in a few weeks.
CSL – Express 100
At the moment the USB Modem is a much larger device when compared to existing 3G USB modems. You can see my photo of it using a standard AA battery for size reference. Fortunately, according to CSL when the smaller next generation version becomes available in a few months, all current subscribers will have 12 months to upgrade for free.
A hopeful statement from CSL, is that they say hardware/service product ranges will also broaden over the next few months. It will include MiFi devices and LTE tablet computers to name a few.
CSL – Executives
Along with the broaden hardware selections, CSL is recognizing the different data needs of its subscribers and will be migrating from a “single user single device” mentality to a “multiple users multiple devices” mind set when designing tariff plans to suit the needs of its current and future subscribers. This is very refreshing to hear being spoken by mobile carrier executives of any company. Along with this new thinking CSL will not be imposing any data cap on any of their unlimited data plans, aside from enforcing their standard Fair Use Policy. Any enforcements of this policy will be done in partnership with the subscribers in question, and CSL will work with them to understand their unique data needs so to come to a mutually acceptable solution for all parties.
CSL claims that they have the best mobile network in Hong Kong and the 3rd best in the world, and they believe that they have sufficient bandwidth to support heavy data usage. As a result they say, “we welcome high usage users to subscribe to our 4G services”.
CSL LTE USB Modem Launch – Video Conference DemoCSL LTE USB Modem Launch – Video Conference While Watching HD Video on YouTube Demo
To demonstrate the speed of their LTE network, CSL shows off several typical tasks: Download and Uploading files using a FTP client, Video Conferencing and doing the previous while watching a HD video on YouTube, one may do on their personal computers. The demos are impressive but I cannot provide any hard figures as to the actual Down and Up Link speeds, since I cannot experience it myself as explained above.
Although I compliments CSL for making the necessary investments to support the development of LTE in Hong Kong, I feel that CSL’s strategy is flawed. To properly break the stalemate of LTE development in Hong Kong is not to focus on the needs of the masses, but on the early adopters. If the early adopters buys into the service and technology, and snow ball into adoption for the masses. As a result breaking all stalemates pertaining to LTE development.
So USB modem should not have been CSL’s initial hardware offering, this device will only satisfy the needs of notebooks and netbooks users. Both of these computing devices are so 2010, current trend are mobile network enabled devices and tablets. Acknowledge that LTE compatible versions of these devices will be available soon, but to ensure the most number of customers with legacy devices can take advantage of the CSL LTE network, they should have focused on LTE compatible MiFi devices like Sprint and Verizon did in the USA.
I was trying to work while at the Starbucks but this “kid” next to my table is telling his female friend about his forth and final break up with his CX flight attendant girlfriend.
On one hand he say she is totally crazy and not suitable for him but on the other hand he keeps saying that if the girl goes to London, where he will be next week for four months, things will be different.
This guy really has a problem. He tells his friend how the girl does not understand him and she is way too demanding. He also says that he loves her and she is good for him.
This evening I saw the movie Just Go With It at AMC Cinemas, Pacific Place, Admiralty, Hong Kong. One of the movies from my Must See Movies list.
It is a romantic comedy starting Adam Sandler as Danny and Jennifer Aniston as Katherine where Nicole Kidman has a supporting role as the evil Devlin Adams. Danny is someone who lost fate with marriage and decides to use marriage to get into the hearts of women.
In technology we are use to dealing with the chicken and egg scenario. Where one technology break through cannot happen until another happens.
