Joost offers free TV shows online, but test version lacks juice
Maybe Joost really does represent the future of TV, but for now it feels thin.
June 14, 2007 — -- Maybe Joost really does represent the future of television. But for now the new, ad-supported Internet TV service feels retro -- and thin.Joost lets you watch a variety of full-length TV shows for free on a computer. But there's no live programming at the moment, and the sparse lineup is underwhelming.
On my PC, I took in black-and-white episodes of Lassie from the '50s and Nickelodeon's The Ren and Stimpy Show from more than a decade ago. There's some fresher programming (but not a lot), with more promised.
Still, anyone who viewed classic TV in its heyday couldn't do what a Joost viewer can: build online communities, chat and swap instant messages, and watch whenever they want.
Indeed, Joost (pronounced juiced) is gaining attention because it is the brainchild of Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, co-founders of the popular Skype Internet phone service and the controversial Kazaa file-sharing service.
Joost is based on "peer-to-peer" technology similar to what Skype uses on calls. Like Skype, you can access Joost from any newer computer connected to the Web.
Joost has attracted high-profile content partners including CBS, CNN, Turner Broadcasting, Warner Bros., Sony and Viacom. CBS and Viacom, along with venture capital firms, are financial backers. It has also signed more than 30 advertising partners, including Coca-Cola, Hewlett-Packard, Intel and Nike.
But several questions pop to mind: Who wants to watch TV on computers? Will those willing watch anything longer than 10 minutes, the maximum length of YouTube videos? How interactive are users likely to get?
To be fair, however those questions ultimately are answered, Joost is in its early "beta" test phase.
Currently, you need an invitation from friends or bloggers to try it. What's in store:
The Joost experience. You'll have to download software onto your PC or Mac. I received a message that my new Windows Vista PC might not have the goods to run Joost. In fact, my system has more than enough memory and processing power.
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