iTechNote

The brand new online TV brought by Janus Friis and Niklas Zennstrom, the father of Skype and Kazaa respectively has a final name. Yesterday it was The Venice Project today it is Joost. I first came about knowing Joost back in December last year when it was still a private project. Apart from the final name, the official website now has a FAQ, a mailing list and a beta program.

Joost is a new way of watching TV on the internet, which uses new and established technologies to provide the best of both the internet and TV worlds. We’re in the process of making it as TV-like as we can, with programs, channels and adverts.

Apparently, the user needs to download an application that serves as the usual TV box. In other words, it is not web-based service like YouTube. Mac and Linux users have to wait a little longer to try out the product. Windows users can sign up for a beta test now. If you are not lucky enough to evaluate the beta, other beta testers might give you a hand by inviting you just like Gmail before.

You might wonder how the channels in Joost work. They are a bit different from the conventional TV channels. They are a playlist of videos that act like a continuous stream of video when they are played. In other words, they are more like recorded TV programs than a TV.

The playlist may only changes few times a day. You watch the same contents as everybody else who starts playing ten minutes later (as long as the videos are not updated). When the whole list is played, it simply replays from the beginning. Joost does not mention how often the list is updated. Advertisements may be included as videos in the playlist.

The application looks a lot like an interactive TV on the set-top boxes. It combines instant messaging that supports Jabber/Gmail account, a content rating mechanism, a search engine and a plug-in system.

Watching TV is no longer alone again just like gaming. The new online TV brings sense of community to the usual living room only experience. Just imagine watching FIFA World Cup with the new online TV for a second!