I want my Joost TV

While I was in Davos, I got to meet Niklas Zennstrom, the founder of Skype. Somehow he neglected to mention that he was about to revolutionize TV. Later on in the conference, I heard rumors about Joost, his new service, but unfortunately I couldn't ask Niklas for a beta invite. It would help if remembered who I was along with other couple thousand people clambering around Davos.

The buzz is that Joost is the future of TV. I signed up for the Joost beta a couple of weeks after I returned and I got the download notice in my inbox two weeks ago. I finally have managed to download the beta today.

After a couple of sputtering starts on our home 5Mb DSL line, the thing finally got going. At first I thought this is not going to work as the image started and stopped, but when it did get going it was presenting me with near DVD quality images on my PC. I hear they have a new proprietary compression algorithm, but the image and sound are pretty good.

You are first confronted with a user interface for selecting channels of information. Since I live in the UK, I don't think I have heard of any of the channels or the programs on the channels, but I understand that they are signing up some pretty amazing media deals.

From these channels, you can select specific programs to watch on demand.

Once you start watching, you get a full screen viewing experience by default. It is absolutely nothing like YouTube. It is full screen with all the normal controls that you would expect.

While you are watching, you can access a set of widget for adding comments or instant messaging a friend. If they open up the platform the way that Skype has, you can imagine all sorts of widgets being created for searching for related shows, looking up references to and from the show, historical references or simulcasting your own commentary and voice over.

One thing you should watch out for. As soon as I downloaded this, I started taking screen shots. I live in the UK, so I don't know anything about a series called Total Recall 2070, but it looked interesting. After taking this screen shot, the couple take their clothes off and start getting it on when my wife walks in. I am only talking about the first few minutes of the program. I have to explain that I am doing this in the name of research! It could probably use some sort rating on the programs, at least while I am trying it out at home and not in the office.

Anyway, I have no more invitations for 3 friends to invite to the Joost beta. Please let me know if you are interested.

Comments

[Levi]

this sounds very cool i would like to try this out can some one pass me an invite.

[domenico]

I'd love to have Joost Tv on my PC, please somebody give me invite to use joost.
my email is [email protected]

[tony]

please somebody give me invite to use joost.
my email is [email protected]

[iain Broughton]

Hi,

Any Joost invites still going? It would be greatly appreciated!

[Nelinjo]

Please send me invitation-->[email protected]

[Chris Sobottka]

Great article and information. An invitation would be appreciated! Thanks in advance.
Chris

[Peter]

I would love an invite please. [email protected] thanks

[William Lim]

Can i have a Joost Invite too?

Please email me at [email protected]

[Benny]

Hi, please send me an invite to Joost at:
[email protected]
Many Thanks, B

[karunanidhi]

Please introduce for joost account

[gujjar]

I would love to have Joost TV on my pc. Please, if any one of you have an invitation please send it. Its a request.
Gujjar

[Joe Moody]

I've been searching all the blogs for an invite but so far I've had no luck. If you've any left, might I have one?
Joe

[The Groker]

Sweet! I'd love to get an invite. Thank you. Joost announced on May 1 that they've lifted the limit on invitations: Joost now is available to an unlimited number of friends, family and colleagues of existing beta testers. Starting today, when beta testers visit the "Invite Friends" widget in the "My Joost" area of Joost, they will be able to invite anyone they know to the Joost community.

[Joe Medeiros]

I would love to receive an invite! It's really hard to find a live online TV app for my Mac.... Thanks so much...

[jb whittaker]

could i get a invite from some one please for joost tv.i cant afford cable just my internet would like to watch some tv on my computer i seen a couple of minutes and it looks great.

[Agusta]

I Sold my tv 5 years ago and been quite happy with loading down what Ive wanted to watch but Joost sounds fantastic... please... an invitation would make my world lot nicer!!

[Rod]

I would love an invite if you have somemore left!

Yours Rod

[Danilo]

Hey John,

I've been following and trying out Alfresco since the middle of last year, congratulations for the project!

I read about Joost a while back, if possible, I would also like an invite.

Cheers,

Danilo

[Eduardo]

Very impressive indeed, I would like to have one invitation too, please...

Cheers

Eduardo

[Vangrinsven Jan]

If an invitation would be possible... I'm searching for one for weeks.
cheers,
Jan

[Mark Davidson]

Wow - it looks v cool. I don't suppose any invitees would like to pass on one of your invites?

Cheers

Mark

[Jeffrey McManus]

I'd like an invite too please! (I always flinch whenever I see this company's name because we live on Joost avenue.)

[Dominic Bevacqua]

Very interesting - we all knew it would happen eventually. What is the revenue model going to be - adverts? subscription? Free open source/paid for enterprise version ;)

Would live an invite if you have any left...

[Martin Greenwood]

What an excellent and informative article! I am an ex-pat English based in San Diego, and am always interested in the geographical flexiblity this kind of product can bring. I would very much like an invite if you can spare one.