It happens all the time…you find a good online content site and as soon as you want to use it to watch a program, you’re slammed with a terrible download from the site. Difficult software that downloads in a way that might not be good for your computer (or if you’re a bit on the cautious side, think might just be malicious anyway)—ultimately causing you to halt the download and abandon the site. Among other problems this is one of the things that happened to Joost. Today, however, Joost is to launch its new site and as it seemed at the Joost cocktail party at MIPCOM in Cannes, it’s going to be good.
Change has been on their horizon. The major consideration of where (if anywhere) Joost was going began when Danny Passman, Head Of Programming, from Dailymotion and new engineering VP Matt Zelesko from Comcast were brought into the game. One of the major criticism of the site was that its content was disorganized and didn’t span enough types. Another was that the downloadable software to use the site was too difficult and uncertain. The new site offers a barrage of new and revamped features.
It is now using industry-standard Flash video technology from Adobe Systems. A big difference. This allows users to access the site easily and view content without the trouble of the old software (which would often malfunction). It’s also been orchestrated to build a Joost community modeled heavily on the advances that have taken place in social networking sites. Users are allowed to see what other users are watching and gain suggestions and comments from them. Viewers can also create groups dedicated to programs or artists. Not just another instance of social networking sites influencing how online content is being demanded and consumed, but observing that this is the way people like to watch online content.
Also new is the JoostFeed, which aggregates all of the new content that is available on Joost to help guide a person’s Joost experience. The JoostFeed is viewable on Joost or can be exported to any online social tool or website [so, newsfeeds can be exported to Facebook, for example]. Joost is also working with a number of third-party platforms, including Boxee and reddit to make it easier for people to use and access Joost across the web.
Content has as well been upped. “Joost is adding substantially more TV shows, movies, and music videos to its library and is striking deals with a whole new range of advertisers.”
The only thing that is missing, but I am sure they are working on, is the user experience whereby the platform remembers what a user watched and suggests similar or related content to you when you log back in. In the meantime, however, the interactive aspect of the Joost experience will push a viral effect that should help their user base grow.
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October 25th, 2008 at 9:04 am
[...] response to how it would affect groups like Joost (click here for our recent article about Joost) or Dailymotion Huggers seemed enthusiastic about the prospect of [...]