Joost - First impression... It is a start.

Getting my Joost beta invite has really taken my head in a strange direction. Instead of using and enjoying the service as most normal people would, my little brain begins to looks beyond the technical feat of creating a peer to peer Internet television network and more towards the quality of content of the service.

First off the interface is pretty good, though not stellar. One's ability to discover new channels and content is hindered by what a person has to go through just to add channels. First you have to go to your "Channel List," then you have to go to an "All Channels" area to add the channel to your personal list. Only then you have the ability to watch a new channel to THEN decide if you like it or not. It is a long way around the block to see your next door neighbor. Beyond this the Joost app has a pretty slick, though non-standard, interface. The quality of the image is a pretty good 640 x 480 pixels with compression artifacts. I have a theory as to why quality is not that big of an issue, but I will get to that later.

I believe that discovery of new content should almost be effortless. There is a "Joost" channel that does show what is new, but it is about as compelling as watching the TV Guide channel. I want an easy way to get to something that I may like.

Now on to the bigger question of content. I realize that Joost is very early on in the process of creating a content delivery system that could seriously revolutionize the way we receive television in the future. But at this particular stage of the game (and I believe in ALL stages of the game) content is king. I, too, also realize that they are getting more and more heavy hitters on board like CBS and Viacom. But right now there is nothing great on Joost to watch. I do not open the program that much. I did not not find any great content before so why would I want to try again? And the heavy hitters may find in Joost the nudge that they need every fall season that the online video provided for the last season. But will the BEST content find its way to Joost? I would theorize no, at least not at first (or second). Right now the content is on par with your Video on Demand channels that you may have with your digital cable box. It is mostly third tier content that is either promoting something new that they want you to get into, or it is throwaway content that a channel may still retain rights for but they have not room on their regular channel to really bother with. This needs to change. And it may, just not now.

Now I will pose a question, would you rather watch (A) high definition, beautiful content that is boring or would you rather watch (B) a low grade definition of content you really enjoy. If those were your only two choices you like the rest of the planet would chose (B). Why? Quality of the image does not matter that much. Really, I mean it. You like what you like and if the content is compelling to you, you will watch and in about two or three minutes you be engrossed in the content and you will have forgotten about how clear or not the image is.

Honestly, Joost is a great effort. The bugs are slowly being fixed and the content partners are coming online, but, in the end, you are not conscious of the amazing technical dexterity of Joost, you are amazed (or not amazed) by the content.

And that, my friends, is my first impression. What is yours? Tell me I am wrong. Really. I can take it.