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Content was just one part of the equation. The larger problem was that Joost assumed people would download a client, after all they did it with Kazza & Skype. B

by prakash 17y ago

Content was just one part of the equation. The larger problem was that Joost assumed people would download a client, after all they did it with Kazza & Skype. By then, the dynamics of the consumer had changed (thanks in large part to you-tube) -- people didn't want to download software to watch videos. Just because something worked for you in the past, doesn't necessarily mean it would work in the future. Joost could have done a plug-in similar to flash/silverlight that was a one-time download, this plug-in could have done all the things their download client would have done. Hindsight, of-course is 20/20. It will be interesting to see what else they build using the core from JotID.

brk 17y ago
I don't think the client interface was the "larger problem" at all. Their client was a one-time download, just like the plugin you suggest. I downloaded it, installed it, and then after that it was really never a considered decision again. While some people think "the browser" is the universal client for every conceivable app, I think that is far from realistic or optimistic. And I can almost guarantee you that if Joost had a client you needed to download every single time you wanted to watch something AND put in a 12 character alpha-numeric key BUT had an in depth library of high-quality content, people would be gladly using it today. I tried Joost for a while after I got an early invite. The stand-alone client and associated bugs and quirks never mattered to me so much as the fact that there was nothing compelling on Joost to watch.
- alain94040 17y ago
  After all, iTunes is a client you need to download once. Hasn't hurt Apple a bit.
TrevorJ 17y ago
the sales numbers for television shows on itunes would beg to differ. I don't deny that installing the client was part of the problem, but not a huge one.

by prakash 17y ago

brk 17y ago

I don't think the client interface was the "larger problem" at all. Their client was a one-time download, just like the plugin you suggest. I downloaded it, installed it, and then after that it was really never a considered decision again. While some people think "the browser" is the universal client for every conceivable app, I think that is far from realistic or optimistic. And I can almost guarantee you that if Joost had a client you needed to download every single time you wanted to watch something AND put in a 12 character alpha-numeric key BUT had an in depth library of high-quality content, people would be gladly using it today. I tried Joost for a while after I got an early invite. The stand-alone client and associated bugs and quirks never mattered to me so much as the fact that there was nothing compelling on Joost to watch.

alain94040 17y ago
After all, iTunes is a client you need to download once. Hasn't hurt Apple a bit.

TrevorJ 17y ago

the sales numbers for television shows on itunes would beg to differ. I don't deny that installing the client was part of the problem, but not a huge one.