Web-based Joost player in closed beta, no word on public release date

Ian Lamont — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:48:26 -0400

The long-rumored Web-based Joost player is getting closer to release. Yesterday, two participants in the Industry Standard's prediction market described receiving invitations for a "closed beta" that enables Joost to work in a Web browser, and this morning the company confirmed that a small number of people are testing a "new product." However, the company declined to give more details about the product or the release schedule unless The Industry Standard agreed to refrain from reporting the news until a date determined by the company.

Regular Industry Standard prediction market participant David Kuan said that the new Web-based Joost player renders videos within a browser after a 7.43 MB plugin is installed. Kuan confirmed that it worked in IE 7, but also said there were bugs. He and another user described the test in a comment thread for an Industry Standard prediction that forecast Joost would be forced to announce a Web-based player by November 1. The prediction was made in March, after The Standard noted that Joost's standalone client application was losing ground to Web-based video services such as Hulu and YouTube.

Rumors of a Web-based Joost have been circulating for months. In mid-June, the Silicon Alley Insider said that Joost CEO Mike Volpi stated a Web-based service was weeks away from launch, but the product never materialized over the summer.

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Prediction: Joost will announce a Web-based viewer by November 1, 2008
Opinion: 10 'Net services that will succeed (and 10 that will probably fail)
Ian Lamont: Techmeme analysis, part II: 15% of sources account for more than 70% of headlines
Ian Lamont: The real problem with Google's Blogger service: Neglect
Jordan Golson: Intel continues the WiMAX/LTE war of words
Jordan Golson: The TechCrunch50 and DEMO sponsor-off

Web-based Joost player in closed beta, no word on public release date

Ian Lamont — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:48:26 -0400

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Prediction: Joost will announce a Web-based viewer by November 1, 2008
Opinion: 10 'Net services that will succeed (and 10 that will probably fail)
Ian Lamont: Techmeme analysis, part II: 15% of sources account for more than 70% of headlines
Ian Lamont: The real problem with Google's Blogger service: Neglect
Jordan Golson: Intel continues the WiMAX/LTE war of words
Jordan Golson: The TechCrunch50 and DEMO sponsor-off

Web-based Joost player in closed beta, no word on public release date

Ian Lamont — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:48:26 -0400

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Prediction: Joost will announce a Web-based viewer by November 1, 2008
Opinion: 10 'Net services that will succeed (and 10 that will probably fail)
Ian Lamont: Techmeme analysis, part II: 15% of sources account for more than 70% of headlines
Ian Lamont: The real problem with Google's Blogger service: Neglect
Jordan Golson: Intel continues the WiMAX/LTE war of words
Jordan Golson: The TechCrunch50 and DEMO sponsor-off

Web-based Joost player in closed beta, no word on public release date

Ian Lamont — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:48:26 -0400

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Prediction: Joost will announce a Web-based viewer by November 1, 2008
Opinion: 10 'Net services that will succeed (and 10 that will probably fail)
Ian Lamont: Techmeme analysis, part II: 15% of sources account for more than 70% of headlines
Ian Lamont: The real problem with Google's Blogger service: Neglect
Jordan Golson: Intel continues the WiMAX/LTE war of words
Jordan Golson: The TechCrunch50 and DEMO sponsor-off