Kent Newsome recently wrote on Joost and doesn't think much of the premise. His story reminded me that I haven't done an update on the service for a time.
The company just issued another beta release of the software, and it is getting very stable, at least on Windows XP SP2. I've been looking for new content through the online channel guide. However, it was only when this site and its channel and new content feeds was pointed out to me was I able to discover the new Warner Brother's Sci-Fi channel, with two Max Headroom shows, three Time Trax, the Aqua Man pilot, and several shows from the first season of Babylon Five. More new shows are added daily to multiple channels, including several very old and very classic cartoons — featuring Betty Boop and Felix the Cat, as well as classic Looney Tunes.
Upside is that the picture is getting quite good and when I sit in my TV watching chair and send the signal from computer to my LCD TV, I get a really nice picture and little hesitation or breakup for most of the shows. Its a nice alternative if you don't want to pay for cable or satellite, but still want to have access to video content outside of your own movies.
Downside is that more Max Headroom shows are needed. Oh, and Joost is the most uncommunicative company I have ever seen that's dependent on the beta process and word of mouth. Company personnel never participate in the forum, update the company weblog, or respond to bug submissions. Surprising considering the number of RDF community members associated with the application and company. This is probably the shape of things to come: don't expect interaction to be with anyone other than other service users.
I'll have to look for a privacy statement to see if the site stores information about what shows I watch, and whether I'd be embarrassed if my viewing habits became public fodder. However, I'm a weblogger, little embarrasses me.
Again, if you want an invite, drop me a comment with your name and email address (emails are not published).
