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Joost launches PS3 video site
Internet video service Joost has just launched a special PS3 version of its site, and we have to admit it's pretty slick. The interface is designed specifically for the PS3, using the D-Pad to quickly go through the streamlined interface. Holding down the X button will bring up a special on-screen menu that allows you to quickly switch between windowed and full-screen playback. It's all very intelligently designed and easy to use.Joost follows the footsteps of YouTube, which also offers a special portal for use on PS3. However, we found Joost runs much more smoothly than YouTube, offering better video quality at a better framerate. Unlike YouTube, you'll see advertisements before your video, but the improved interface and quality make for a significantly better experience. To check it out, visit http://labs.joost.com/tv on your PS3 browser. Don't forget to hit SELECT if you want to add it to your PS3's bookmarks.
Joost testing PlayStation 3 specific browser interface
Apparently a casual mention on the Engadget HD podcast is enough to bring anyone out of hiding, as Joost follows Managed Copy out of the shadows, showing off a test of a new interface for the video streaming website that is optimized for the PlayStation 3 web browser. Simply pull up http://labs.joost.com/tv/ from the console, and then the controller buttons will easily control all the video playback from there. Joost went in the reverse of Hulu, YouTube XL and others, from desktop app to browser only, but it seems finally ready to offer new ways, through this 10-foot style interface, to get on the TV.[Via Evil Avatar]
boxee announces widened availability, iPlayer / Joost support
boxee has come a long way from its humble beginnings, and you knew it wouldn't just show up in Vegas without a little something new to share. In fact, a lot to share. Unless our memories are far worse than we imagine, this is the most substantial update on the media software since its inception. After receiving 200,000 sign-ups for its private beta, boxee has announced that it's opening its alpha to all Mac, Ubuntu and Apple TV users. Better still, the Windows flavor is sliding into private beta, and for UK users, they'll certainly appreciate the addition of proper BBC iPlayer support. Additionally, Joost support was added along with MTV Music, and a few new keyboard shortcuts were thrown in for good measure. Finally, a whole slew of bug fixes are included in the public alpha, so we're really wondering why you're still here and not downloading. Hmm? Full release is after the break.
Joost lets P2P dreams die, settles on Flash player delivery
It was a valiant effort, it truly was, but even we saw this coming. Way back when, a couple of Skype founders had a brilliant idea of trying to pump out its own software that utilized peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing technology in order to distribute videos online and circumvent the so-called bandwidth limitations. Fast forward to now, and those plans are finally being axed. According to a notice from Joost, users will "no longer be able to watch videos in the Joost software application" after December 19th. Instead, those hoping to suck up some content from the company will be forced to watch the web video player, which has practically become the de facto standard over the past year. Forrester Research analyst James McQuivey even chimed in with this gem after hearing of the development: "[P2P] as a platform for legal consumer video is dead." Tough to disagree with the man, huh?
Joost now available for iPhone/iPod touch
Joost, the on-demand video streaming service that came to the Mac a while ago, has now made its way to the iPhone and iPod touch. The video service features music videos, TV shows, and even movies ... and you can now watch all of them on the go. You can browse videos by Joost picks, popular videos, browse videos by category, and search for videos. Joost uses a custom built video viewer, as opposed to the regular video player that is used by the YouTube application. I didn't really like this custom view, nor the inability to rotate the video. I also had some troubles trying to watch a video; sometimes I would be presented with a "Playback Error." When I was able to view a video, it stuttered all the way through to the end.The Joost application is a great start for the video on-demand service, but I would like to see tighter integration with the Joost platform. Right now, this application just seems like an alternative to the YouTube application that's already built into the device. If you are a Joost addict, however, you might want to check this application out. You can download it today on the iTunes App Store. %Gallery-38298%
CE-Oh no he didn't! Part XLVI: Skype's former CEO admits eBay paid too much
Apparently former Skype CEO and co-founder Niklas Zennstrom isn't just one to take the money and run. No, he found time in his busy schedule to confess that eBay paid too much for Skype, which is something that's become increasingly evident to eBay in the past months: the company is cutting up to $1.2 billion off the $4.3 billion potential price it agreed to with Skype two years ago. "We had to chart the trajectory of growth and how fast that would run, (but) we found out that was a bit front-loaded," said Zennstrom. "We overshot in terms of monetization ... Our position in the market has strengthened ... you need to look at the long-term value of companies." Seems a little odd for Niklas to be preaching it to eBay in this scenario, but perhaps he just wanted to clear his name now that Joost has gone public and is potentially looking of suitors. He wouldn't predict if Skype could've made its original goals if he had stuck around until 2009, but somehow we doubt it.
Joost releases beta 1.0 to public
This blew by us earlier in the week, but in case you haven't grabbed it yet, the Joost beta 1.0 is now available for download to the public. So all of us plebians who haven't gotten invites to try it out yet can now inspect the groovy IPTV viewer that everyone's been talking about (and running on AppleTV) for months.There is one catch that will trip up a few of us newcomers: Joost is still only for Intel Macs, so our PowerPC brethren are left out in the cold watching TV the old fashioned way-- on a television (and at normal quality with no lag-- whoops, low blow?). The latest release also adds a few new features, including faster streaming for low bandwith connections (touche), and a few other interface tweaks. Joost is available for free, now to anyone, over on the website.Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
Browser-based WiTV video player gets sneak preview
WebwireTV got a sneak preview of a new online video client designed to compete with the likes of Joost and other higher quality online video offerings. The few differences between the two clients include a central content distribution model -- Joost uses P2P -- and support for Steve Jobs' hobby. Beyond that, WiTV doesn't have the same kind of content deals that Joost has, although the interface and the absence of any kind of software installation definitely shows potential.
Joost evaluating its hardware options
Joost, the hard-partyin', beta-stage releasin', streaming TV-service you've been watching on your PC appears to be making baby-steps towards integrating their service with somebody's third-party set-top box. Joost began making public statements this week suggesting that it's already in talks with manufacturers, although we don't know who or where. According to their executive VP of global advertising, "You will see Joost in the living room," which really only makes sense. Paradigm-shifting media delivery platform or not, people still seem to typically prefer to watch TV sitting on their couch and with their TV.[Via BGR]
Joost/Apple TV Follow-up
Yesterday, I posted that the TutorialNinjas site had gotten Joost up and running on their Apple TV. So last night I downloaded the latest Joost beta and gave it a spin. At first, the program seemed to go into a never ending "downloading your channel listings" cycle so I eventually just killed the process and opened the application again--and then it worked. You do need to run it via VNC so you can type in your account name and so you can switch channels when needed, but while its going you can switch off VNC and let it run on the TV and watch it there. Unlike VLC, it does not respond to the Apple remote. My kids are now sitting in front of the TV this morning and watching old cartoons on Joost. It works great, although you can't fast forward through the advertisements and my 802.11g network is a little underpowered for Joosting.
Joost on AppleTV
The Joost team reports that it looks like Joost is now running on Apple TV. Tutorialninjas.net lists Joost as confirmed to work on AppleTV. (See the bottom of the post under "Confirmed Working Apps"). They mention that you can watch videos although there remain some font issues. Both the Joost Team and the Tutorial Ninjas sites are short on details and there are no screen shots as yet. [via Digg]
Ars' First Look at Joost
We recently mentioned that the Joost IPTV streaming video service had released an Intel Mac compatible beta version of their client. Now Ars Technica has put up a First Look and it looks pretty darn cool. While there are still some rough edges to be ironed out with text and performance, Ars reports that "the Mac client is a near replica of the Windows client" and "provided a good Mac experience, with no real navigational or functionality problems to speak of." This sort of thing is exactly what makes the Intel transition so great. It's hard to imagine that we'd be getting nearly as many of these sorts of things on the Mac were we still on PPC. It's unfortunate that owners of PPC Macs are shut out, but perhaps they can console themselves with the thought that now they have yet another good reason to upgrade! Unfortunately, the Joost service is still closed to new users (though you can register for an invite). I've been waiting for a while, but reports like this make me that much more eager to get one so I try it out for myself.
Beta Beat: Joost 0.8 for Mac
Remember Joost, aka the Vienna Vilnius Vegemite Venice Project? It's the new free streaming TV service from the guys who brought you Skype. And the new Mac beta just went live. Joost for Mac Intel 0.8 is available for all Joost beta testers and it works great. Smooth playback, nearly identical interface to the Windows version. It's still limited to the same very narrow streaming content (National Geographic, some reality shows, music videos, etc), but hopefully this will grow over time. You can apply for the beta over at the Joost site or track down someone with a beta token to share with you. Just FYI, I have not received any tokens.
Beta Beat: We all missed the Joost Mac Alpha--but stay tuned
For a very brief time today, Joost opened up to Mac Alpha seeding. They filled their download quota within minutes. Joost nèe "The ViennaVenice[1] Project", if you're not familiar with it, offers high quality free online streaming video channels. It's from the people who brought us Skype and it's fast, clean and watchable. The good news is that next week the "final proper public beta" goes live for OS X users, although I believe it will be limited to Intel CPUs. Keep checking in at the Joost site, and if you're one of the lucky 200 who got in early let us know in the comments how it's going. [1] A famous European city that starts with "V"
Skype founders to try online video distribution with Joost
Chances are that anyone remotely in the loop these days would be familiar with "Kazaa" and "Skype," but only time will tell if folks warm up to "Joost." The duo who founded one of the most popular P2P networks as well as a mainstay in every VoIP conversation are finally naming (and launching) its video distribution service, aiming to "cheaply and efficiently distribute high-quality video over the internet" via the same P2P technology that has treated them so well thus far. Unfortunately for them, the road from here is quite rocky, especially when you consider the already well-established iTunes Movie Store, YouTube, and the variety of download-to-burn services currently available. Additionally, Joost has yet to nail down any "marquee partnerships with top film or TV producers," which will almost certainly make gaining marketshare an all but impossible chore. The one thing this rendition has going for it, however, is the general experience in comparison to other alternatives, as reports liken it to a "TiVo-like layout" that gives users next to total control over the content at hand. The company has stated that it will support itself with internet ads that behave like television commercials, which presumably won't come as any shock to consumers partaking in what Joost has to offer. Unfortunately, there's no hard details on when the newfound service will go live nor about what content will be served up, but regardless, a little more competition (and a little less dictatorship) in online video distribution is more than welcome.
