I'm all Joost up!

This week Joost released their first public beta of their new video-on-demand service and let me tell you, it is damn impressive.  In my opinion, you are looking at the future of broadcast television.  While the platform is primarily clip based now, you can certainly see the potential of this new medium which all runs through a thin client you install on your PC (works on Windows & Mac's).

Screen Shot:

Some interesting features i thought were cool after about 10min of review:

• Channel chat - chat options while you are watching a show
• Targeted ads - ads appear in the lower part of the screen and seem to be logical when they display.  they also don't seem to get in the way of the experience.  There are multiple ad units that run and all seemed well timed. For instance, while watching the Red Bull Fighters Video, I was shown the subtle title sponsor Red Bull logo, and an ad for Degree Antiperspirant.
• Widgets - platform is going to be open which will allow developers to build around it
• Channel list - you can create your own programming list and watch what you want
• Major players - i was impressed to see things like the MLB Postseason '07 and Comedy Central featured in their respective genre's
• Depth of content - there already is something for everyone on Joost.  I was surprised to see so much content already available in the Beta
• Speed & Quality - application is very fast to load, and there is no loading time. shows queue instantly - video and sound quality are very good, clear, very little (if any) clipping at all.
• User Interface - the UI is sexy, and slick, and easy to understand & navigate
• A real power button - just cool and simple, when you click the power button the entire box shuts off like an old TV console.

I could go on and on.  Looks like we have another time killer on our hands. In my head, when I combine this technology with video tagging technology like VideoClix, I see a whole new platform emerging, and, a whole new way to think about the TV box & the movin' pictures.

Remember, this is just in BETA - imagine what is coming.  Start thinking now advertising braniacs - could it be Web 4.0?  Why not?

Join us wont you...

WBV

Comments

[wolfy says...]

I agree. User control is the future. And I won't mind being marketed to if I don't have to watch pantyhose adds. Same way I don't mind google scrubbing my emails to tell me about things I already know I'm interested in.

-M