» The Venice Project screenshots
The Venice Project screenshots
A few days ago, the
Venice Project (now Joost) entered its invitational beta phase.
I'm a bit late on blogging and others already did it, but well, this
project keeps you so busy... and this week was the Christmas party! (see pics on Flickr)
Participants to the closed beta have received a number or invitation token they can distribute to whoever they like. The number of invites is still very limited since the datacenter is not yet ready (should be up and running quite soon though), and seeding a P2P network needs a bit of infrastructure.
So you can apply for being a beta tester, or ask someone in the project team or current testers for an invite, but unfortunately you are likely to have to wait a bit before being able to see the thing for real. In the meantime, we cleared some screenshots with the content owners so that you can have a preview of what your next-generation TV will look like. The simple fact that we ensured to have permissions from the owners for screenshots show how much legally clean we want to be: content owners are our partners.
So here is what it looks like:
Technically, the client software is based on Mozilla, that brings portability (we'll have the Mac and Linux versions soon) and a nice component and plugin infrastructure, and the user interface is written in SVG, XUL and JavaScript, using RDF for all metadata, with loads of C/C++ underneath.
Next time, I'll talk about all the Java that powers the backend servers!
Participants to the closed beta have received a number or invitation token they can distribute to whoever they like. The number of invites is still very limited since the datacenter is not yet ready (should be up and running quite soon though), and seeding a P2P network needs a bit of infrastructure.
So you can apply for being a beta tester, or ask someone in the project team or current testers for an invite, but unfortunately you are likely to have to wait a bit before being able to see the thing for real. In the meantime, we cleared some screenshots with the content owners so that you can have a preview of what your next-generation TV will look like. The simple fact that we ensured to have permissions from the owners for screenshots show how much legally clean we want to be: content owners are our partners.
So here is what it looks like:
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Main screen: the TV! The movie plays full screen, and when you move the mouse the basic controls appear. At bottom are the navigation controls and mini-EPG. At the left "My Channels" goes to your bookmarked channels. On the right "My Venice" brings all the community features. Finally, at the top, the current channel's logo opens the door to channel-specific overlays and plugins (see Lassie below). |
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Navigation controls and info about the current movie,
the mini-EPG
and the search engine. These aren't visually separated enough in my opinion, meaning you sometimes confuse the EPG display and the current movie. But that'll be fixed. |
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Browsing "my channels" shows the list of the channels you bookmarked in the channel catalogue (no screenshot yet). |
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Choosing the Off The Fence channel brings the channel content, with infos about all content. Every movie is available instantly, when you want, without buffering nor download! It's TV I told you! |
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Information about another programme in the Off The Fence channel. Lovely pandas! |
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Clicking "My Venice" in the main screen brings the various plugins available. Show here are the chat room for the current channel, ratings and an RSS ticker. You can also log into your favorite Jabber account and chat with your friends, inviting them to watch that excellent documentary about sharks! |
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Good old Lassie is here! Ah, memories... This screenshot shows a channel-specific overlay, providing more information on the current movies, some interactive content, shopping, etc. |
Technically, the client software is based on Mozilla, that brings portability (we'll have the Mac and Linux versions soon) and a nice component and plugin infrastructure, and the user interface is written in SVG, XUL and JavaScript, using RDF for all metadata, with loads of C/C++ underneath.
Next time, I'll talk about all the Java that powers the backend servers!
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VeniceTV is all about DRM say copy-protection. Is that true? I cannot record those video-streams to a videorecorder, right?
If that's true then I do not want to have VeniceTV on my PC!
No you cannot record the video streams as a file. But there's no viewing limit of any sort: all movies are available all times, provided that you're online of course.
Looks really great Sylvain.
Already applied to be a beta tester and I nearly can't wait to receive an invitation.
You wouldn't have any extra invitations, vould you?
Hello Sylvain,
Is there any chance to get invited to the BETA other than waiting for an email? I could very well have a bunch of content from the community that I'm building online through Surfing Videos. www.yousurftubes.com
I'm hoping to turn my exploit into a niche web channel that caters to the Surf Videographer/Film-Maker. Not just the guy with a videocamera taping his friends out surfing.
Cheers,
Dean C. Smith
Please anyone send me invite to soulles@gmail.com
I'm going to try this: it seems fantastic!
This must truly be the future distribution of TV content! Great! any idea to beg for a beta invite? (t.dahlen@gmail.com ;))
Hi,
Could someone please send my an invite? alphaxono (at) gmail (dot) com
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
sound very intersting.
Please send me invite to idofrido@gmail.com
Hello Sylvain. Your post about The Venice Project was really great. As a Independent Content Producer in Brazil I am very excited of get available the drama content we have in Brazil. At least the content we produce in Parana State where I live. As manhy others I send my request for Beta Test but not receive any. So, I am also asking for anyone that could gently send me one at lrmproducer@hotmail.com. Best Whishes for all.
Looks like a good Appln. In a year it could become as popular as Skype. I am waiting on my invite, it will def put my TV tuner cards to rest. Good luck. -GGR
Can someone please send an invite, I am dying to try this program out.
Please can anyone send me invitation to Venice project mantasvaluckas@gmail.com
please :(
Nice thing this Venice Project.....Sylvain, can u send me a beta invite ,please?
kh9kp@home.ro Thanx.
I would love an invitation please. vispop at gmail.com
Send me an invite if you get the chance! Thanks in advance!
i would love an invitation to this....chicagochris20@hotmail.com : ) thanks!
Hello. I'm experienced user & could be a good beta tester. Please send
me invitation token, if it possible. Thanks in advance!
azoulai@gmail.com