Beta tester review of The Venice Project (with screenshots!) (now named Joost)

Written by centernetworks - December 14, 2006
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Venice ProjectI had the chance to participate in the beta of "The Venice Project", the next project of the Kazaa and Skype founders. The website describes the software as a new venture that combines the best elements of the TV experience with the most powerful Internet technologies.

To me, this sounds like another Peer-To-Peer application or a video download service. But it definitely is not. At this point, there is no access to Live-TV, it is more like a Video-On-Demand (VoD) service.

Once you have installed and registered the software you see a big channel list with content from various partners of The Venice Project (TVP), such as "MTV Staying Alive", "The Diddy Channel", "Live @ Much", World Poker Tour events, "Nettwerk", the Lassie series, Warner Bros. Records, Green Day and Red Hot Chilli Peppers videos and concerts, a Paris Hilton channel (with behind the scenes videos) and a few more, mostly independent channels like BoomChicago, Lazy TV. A lot of the content is music based (clips, full concerts or making of's). But we even spotted a few documentaries such as a special about the Egyptian pyramids and one about a Porsche 911.

The client application

The software is a just under 10 megabytes and Windows only for now. The beta is restricted to one user and you have to login with your email and password. After each launch you have to agree to a Non-Disclosure-Agreement. Once you agree, you see the interface/navigation:
Venice Project

On the first glance you recognize a few buttons. One big lacking element of the interface is the missing Hot-Tips. If you hover a button you don't get a description of it. The first time it is a trial-and-error process. The main menu is a simple list and is easier to understand. You select a point with your mouse or your keyboard.

Video quality

The quality is pretty good, not HDTV good but okay for a video service. Of course the quality changes from movie to movie and you often have compression effects. All videos are encoded with a 4:3 resolution which causes very ugly black bars on displays with a resolution of 16:9 or 16:10. The encoding bitrate seems to be at around 1000kbit/s.

Other features

The Venice Project has a little more to offer than just TV. A pretty cool feature I like is the plugin to chat with other people watching the same show as you. With this can see what other users are watching the same and directly interact with them. You can also add your Jabber or GMail account and chat with your buddies via TVP. A RSS-Reader and a rating option for each show/episode is there as well. We have found out were we can see ratings, but I am sure there will be a solution in the final application. If you added your Jabber or Gmail account, your buddies can see what you are watching on "The Venice Project".
Venice Project

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This is what surprised me the most. Like in real TV you have short commercial breaks or loading screens and during that time you see a short ad. They are no longer than 3-5 seconds.

Corsin Camichel is a Swiss Internet geek with interests in sharing and learning, software, programming, BarCamps and gadgets. He writes "something" at "Geekness - with fresh and clean air".

Venice Project

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The Venice Project - Beta test and news
from Geekness - with fresh and clean air on January 23, 2007 - 2:30pm

Since a little while I am a beta tester for The Venice Project. I was very excited when I got the invitation and played around with. You know ask why I did not write anything here. Well, that is because I wrote a little article for CenterNetworks. You...

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Submitted by Jay Bryant on December 16, 2006 - 11:38pm.
Subject: can you send me a friends

can you send me a friends invite to the beta?

Submitted by pokusman on January 7, 2007 - 7:41am.
Subject: Invitation

I'm from Slovak Republic. I'm experienced user, programmer and could be a good beta tester. Please send me invitation token, if it possible.
Thank You very much (pokusman @ gmail . com)

Submitted by Lars Schouw on January 16, 2007 - 8:17pm.
Subject: Please send me a beta invitation

please send me a beta token to lars at schouw dot com

I am an IT professional since 10 years now.

Thanks
Lars

Submitted by Anonymous on March 23, 2007 - 12:10am.
Subject: if ur so smart, why cant you

if ur so smart, why cant you say "i have been an IT profession FOR 10 years now.

Submitted by Shaun on February 23, 2007 - 10:18am.
Subject: Joost Swap

Hey if you need an invite so bad, why not head over to www.joostswap.com and offer something in return. If you have invites, see what you can get.

Submitted by Anonymous on February 24, 2007 - 8:28am.
Subject: invite me please!

Could someone send me a joost invite please... thank you thank you

My email address is [ **amos**folarin**78@***hotmail.com (without the **)]

other links
ffox
photos
blogbitz
searchutil
linux
atrm

Submitted by Sudheer on March 30, 2007 - 2:14am.
Subject: Joost invitation

Hi friends, i'm little late here.....please send me a Joost invitation to me...i'm very much interested to test it....sudheerdg@gmail.com

thanks in advance

Submitted by just_me on March 31, 2007 - 8:01pm.
Subject: please send me an

please send me an invitation...just tell what i have to do...juancame@gmail.com

hugs from colombia

Submitted by Adriana on December 18, 2006 - 12:23pm.
Subject: The Venice Project

Can you get me a Token for the Venice Project.
I already applied but they say that you can only get in if Invited.

Pls give me this Xmas Present!

A. Freitas

Submitted by PD on December 18, 2006 - 6:05pm.
Subject: invite

can u send me an invite for the venice project.

Submitted by Anonymous on December 19, 2006 - 12:21am.
Subject: can you send me an invite?

that would be sooo cool.
my e-mail is cmg925@yahoo.com

thanks.

Submitted by centernetworks on December 19, 2006 - 12:31am.
Subject: no invites sorry

I am sorry we have no invites at this time, we will post if/when we get some.

Submitted by andrewdeng2008 on December 22, 2006 - 6:23am.
Subject: hello centernetworks

hello centernetworks
nice meeting u here ..i am a netpal from china ...recently i have heard of something about the Venice project and have got huge interested in this stuff ...i am so eager to get a invitation offer to experience it ..much thanks here ...
welcome to china in 2008 here is Beijing Olympic Game then ...at that time ..maybe i can send a ticket offer ..:)
stay happy ...my address: andrewdeng2005@gmail.com

....................

Submitted by Brian Wewer Nielsen on December 22, 2006 - 1:55pm.
Subject: Is it possible to be invited to paticipate in the beta test

Hi

I am from Denmark and would like to paticipate in the beta test. Can you invite me?

The Danish Guy

Submitted by Anonymous on December 23, 2006 - 3:43pm.
Subject: I want to become beta tester

Can you please send me invitation token, so I could test The Venice Project.
I have a good internet connection (down/up - 2048/256) and I could be a good beta tester.
my email is alexei AT premiere(minus sign here)search(dot_here)com

Thanks a lot.

Submitted by makrem on December 24, 2006 - 9:55am.
Subject: Please,can you send me a

Please,can you send me a friends invite to the beta?

Submitted by Piano Lessons on December 25, 2006 - 1:00pm.
Subject: Isn't this similar to Veoh?

The combination of a downloadable player and P2P seems to be the same model as companies that already exist (like veoh.com). What's the difference?

Submitted by mike earle on December 26, 2006 - 5:02pm.
Subject: Internet TV the way it is supposed to be!

So, imagine all of this but with both a PC client and a set top box offering dvd quality to your television. Ability to browse the web on your TV via the set top box and go back up to 7 days in the program guide (on any channel)and launch a show you may have missed. Ok, there is more, also a full nPVR. Live linear channels from major US broadcasters, VoD, subscription VoD. All 100% legal under content distribution agreements with the rights holders… Tv on the PC is good (we offer it as well) but TV belongs on the, well, TV. We will be in full beta late January, come see us if you want a service that looks and feels like digital cable or satellite, but with more interactivity and better picture quality.

Mike
www.tvanywhere.org

Submitted by kphigo on December 31, 2006 - 7:30am.
Subject: invitation

if possible...
my mail is: kphigo@hotmail.com

thank you!!

Submitted by Michael_ on December 31, 2006 - 8:32am.
Subject: Can someone send an invite,

Can someone send an invite, please.
Thanks in advance!
//Michael
bjx6776@yahoo.com

Submitted by Anonymous on January 3, 2007 - 9:23am.
Subject: Hello. I'm from Suomi. I'm

Hello. I'm from Suomi. I'm experienced user & could be a good beta tester. Please send me invitation token, if it possible.
Thanks in advance!
wiseboa@gmail.com

Submitted by Abrahao filho on January 3, 2007 - 2:46pm.
Subject: Subject: can you send me an

Subject: can you send me an invite?
that would be sooo cool.
my e-mail is abrahaosmf@gmail.com

thanks.

Submitted by Jordan Perr on January 4, 2007 - 1:28am.
Subject: WOW

WOW!!! I LOVE IT!!!

PLEASE OH PLEASE SEND ME A TOKEN FOR BETA!!!!!! IF YOU DON'T, I WILL SURELY DIE!!!!

-k9calamity@gmail.com

Submitted by InfoRealityTV on January 5, 2007 - 12:53pm.
Subject: Could you send me TOKEN for beta!! pleaseee

Could you send me TOKEN for beta!! pleaseee
rommark@gmail.com

Submitted by MietekN on January 5, 2007 - 4:53pm.
Subject: Hi I am from Poland and

Hi

I am from Poland and would like to paticipate in the beta test. Can anyone invite me?

MietekN namiltd(AT)poczta.onet.pl

Submitted by pokusman on January 7, 2007 - 7:40am.
Subject: Invitation

I'm from Slovak Republic. I'm experienced user, programmer and could be a good beta tester. Please send me invitation token, if it possible.
Thank You very much (pokusman @ gmail . com)

Submitted by tim on January 9, 2007 - 11:32am.
Subject: tried Venice project this weekend

i tried it out this weekend (i have no invites) and thought the service was very slow, and heavy on memory usage. The content was nothing special. the quality was ok (could be my nvidia 64mb video card)

Submitted by Mserrano on January 9, 2007 - 6:55pm.
Subject: Anyone can send me a token?

Anyone can send me a token? i Work for a broacasting company in France and we´re very interested on this project.

cprivado @ gmail com

THKS

Submitted by Anonymous on January 10, 2007 - 11:51am.
Subject: Hello I would like to

Hello
I would like to receive an invitation to the venice project if possible

tnx

Submitted by Sean Mallory on January 11, 2007 - 11:51am.
Subject: hello, can someone send me

hello, can someone send me an invetation to the "Venice Project-Beta" pls?
to the email: sns5@walla.com
thanks.
p.s: i will give an GMAIL ACCOUNT for this FREE- NO CHARGE.
thank you very much!!!
Sean Mallory

Submitted by Anonymous on January 22, 2007 - 11:48pm.
Subject: Who are you

I have been trying to track down a Sean Mallory from Perth for the last 20 years or more. Have you ever lived in Perth Australia and if so when. Would like to hear from you.

Submitted by Jesper on January 16, 2007 - 6:12am.
Subject: Can someone send an invite,

Can someone send an invite, please.
Thanks in advance!
//Jesper
kumpel2000@gmail.com

Submitted by multimolti on January 16, 2007 - 9:30am.
Subject: invitation

please send me an invitation, too
thx
moinks@googlemail.com

Submitted by Lars Schouw on January 16, 2007 - 8:18pm.
Subject: Please invite me to....

please send me a beta token to lars at schouw dot com

I am an IT professional since 10 years now.

Thanks
Lars

Submitted by Krishan on January 16, 2007 - 10:48pm.
Subject: Joost TV invite

Hi please could you give me a invitation or a link to Joost TV. This would be much appreciated. krishan.tk@gmail.com

Submitted by plat on January 17, 2007 - 8:13am.
Subject: Please send me a beta

Please send me a beta invitation

davide.schenone@gmail.com

thanks

Submitted by PG on January 17, 2007 - 9:57am.
Subject: Invitation

I would really like an invite if possible...

pgferro (at) netzero.com

Submitted by Anonymous on January 17, 2007 - 2:39pm.
Subject: Much appreciated for a Joost

Much appreciated for a Joost inviation account!

ericonlinedrive at gmail.com

Submitted by Mike on January 22, 2007 - 4:38am.
Subject: Joop Invit

Hello Guys,

Would love to receive an invitation if any one has a spare one.

please send to steven_76 at romandie.com

Thanks in advance.

Mike

Submitted by Ramo on January 22, 2007 - 6:33am.
Subject: Joost Invite

I would really like to try out the Joost program. Could anyone please send me an invite?

My email is: flusher69@gmail.com

Thanks.

Submitted by Michael on January 22, 2007 - 10:37am.
Subject: can you send me the software

can you send me the software or tell me how to get it?

Submitted by Anonymous on January 22, 2007 - 12:59pm.
Subject: Please send me a beta

Please send me a beta invitation

Submitted by Tony Hastevik on January 22, 2007 - 1:23pm.
Subject: S E E K I N G __ I N V I T E - JOOST - special background

S E E K I N G __ I N V I T E
I have 20 years experience and expertise in IT, specifically
wireless telecomm. Interested in Joost as a means of
getting plugged across the seas. I lived in Sweden half of my
life and my wife is Danish. We live in the "entertaintmen
enclave" of Santa Monica, California and travel to and from
Scandinavia several times per year. There are no European /
Scandinavian offerings on cable and naturally we are far of
the Nordic sat foot print. I would like to get involved in
the project for what it could do to eventually bridge this
Euro-American entertainment gap.

Tony

Submitted by Diana on January 23, 2007 - 3:23am.
Subject: Geeky Fun

Cool. This sounds like a lot of geeky fun.

Can I have an invite? LOL Just kidding.

Submitted by centernetworks on January 23, 2007 - 8:46am.
Subject: Diana - I don't have any

Diana - I don't have any more tokens right now... but when I get some I will trade you for a dozen donuts. HA HA HA

Submitted by Mason Cole on January 29, 2007 - 6:27am.
Subject: Joost Invite

I would love an invite just like everybody. If you get one please send it to me at Masonfactor@gmail.com. Not sucking up but I loved your review.

Submitted by GM on January 24, 2007 - 2:14am.
Subject: Yes, I'm just like everyone

Yes, I'm just like everyone else. If there's a kind soul out there, I've been dying for a Joost invite. I'm looking everywhere.

axisone@gmail.com

Thank you!

Submitted by TobiasWK on January 28, 2007 - 3:57pm.
Subject: The Venice Project... now

The Venice Project... now joost is really looking so great!
Im also hunting for an invite :)
tobias ( at ) saybot.dk

Submitted by Heike on January 29, 2007 - 10:43am.
Subject: invitation joost

Hello all together,

I'm very interested in Joost but I can't find somebody who can give me an invitaion :-(

I'm a likeable German girl and would be very very happy if somebody helped me!!!

Thanks a lot :-)

Heike (heikea.g@gmx.de)

Submitted by Dan on January 29, 2007 - 6:39pm.
Subject: Invitation

Can anyone please send me an invitation to Joost??? I would love to give it a try after so many things which I read about this. If someone would be so mercyfull to send me one I will be very greatfull!!!
Thanx!!!

Submitted by Anonymous on February 2, 2007 - 12:45am.
Subject: could someone please send me

could someone please send me a joost invite trentpark@speakeasy.net

Thank You

Submitted by Anonymous on February 6, 2007 - 10:18am.
Subject: if podible invite

if podible invite me....
agrin@hotmail.com

Thanks.

Submitted by Anonymous on February 6, 2007 - 8:03pm.
Subject: Invite please

I'd love an invite, please send to whtvrrob@gmail.com
In exchange i can offer you a free 100 mb webpage as long as mine is up, it'd be yourchoice.teamholbert.net and it would be adfree. Thanks and email me or contact me via whtvrrob on aim.

Thanks again

Rob

Submitted by Anonymous on February 7, 2007 - 6:12am.
Subject: Joost

Could someone please send me an invite to Joost. I would really appreciate it! My email - Jordan_mouse@hotmail.com
Cheers Jackcon

Submitted by namooth on February 7, 2007 - 7:08am.
Subject: Invite any one?

thanks.
namooth @ gmail.com

Submitted by Anonymous on February 20, 2007 - 2:00pm.
Subject: Please send me an invite to Joost

Could someone please send me an invite to Joost. I would really appreciate it! My email - nateperkins@bellsouth.net
Thanks
Nate

Submitted by Ben on February 23, 2007 - 9:08am.
Subject: Please

Could someone please send me an invite to Joost. Thank you very much!

bobrazovsky @ gmail.com

Ben

Submitted by Patrick on February 9, 2007 - 11:19am.
Subject: Joost Invite

Could anyone send me an invite to halbtuerk {at} web.de?

Thanks in advance

Submitted by BurntEnd on February 14, 2007 - 12:46am.
Subject: Please lump me in on the newbie want’s a Joost invite... list

Got anymore Joost goodies for a bored IT slave with a bright shiny new DS3 and nothing to run on it?

I'd more that thrilled to be able to post regarding the experience on the site as well to share observations and future tokens with other CN users.

Submitted by Anonymous on February 20, 2007 - 4:45pm.
Subject: Can you send me an invitation?

Can you send me an invitation?
Thanks
zemberek88@yahoo.com

Submitted by Anonymous on February 26, 2007 - 9:54pm.
Subject: i would really like an

i would really like an invite too, outlamed@yahoo.com

Submitted by Teca Bravo on March 1, 2007 - 2:40pm.
Subject: Joost

P-L-E-A-S-E IS THERE SOMEWHERE OUT IN THIS HUGE PLANET A SOUL FUL OF GOOD WILL THAT WILL BE ABLE TO SEND ME AN INVITAIOTN TO JOOST!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!!
I SUBSCRIBED ME BUT IN VAIN UP TO NOW....!!!!!

I AM FROM RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL AND HAVE BEEN CRYING ALL NIGHT LONGING FOR JOOST!!!!

tecabravo@hotmail.com

Submitted by Bruce Wagner on March 7, 2007 - 4:28pm.
Subject: I host a television talk show

"All new beta-testers now get tokens allowing them to invite friends and acquaintances, and these tokens will give you instant access to Joost™."

I host a television talk show from here in New York City.

I would love to try out Joost asap...

PLEASE send me a token so that I can beta test Joost....

bruce@brucewagner.com

Submitted by brucewagner on March 7, 2007 - 4:46pm.
Subject: All new beta-testers now get tokens...

(sorry, I posted twice by accident. no delete button! :)

"All new beta-testers now get tokens allowing them to invite friends and acquaintances, and these tokens will give you instant access to Joost™."

I host a television talk show from here in New York City.

I would love to try out Joost asap...

PLEASE send me a token so that I can beta test Joost....

bruce@brucewagner.com

Bruce Wagner
brucewagner.com

PS -If you WANT an invite, email me and I'll add you to a list to send you an invite as soon as I get some. :) to return the favor!

Submitted by Adrian on March 8, 2007 - 11:37am.
Subject: Joost Invitation for grabs

Hey guys,

I have an extra invite to give away on my blog.....

Submitted by Alfonso Bermudez on March 9, 2007 - 7:12pm.
Subject: Invitation to Joost

Please send me a beta invitation to Joost

Thanks

lovebird785@yahoo.com

Submitted by tiger on March 15, 2007 - 8:06pm.
Subject: could i have one please my

could i have one please
my mail address is: wuy777@gmail.com
thanks so much

Submitted by Anonymous on March 18, 2007 - 2:19pm.
Subject: Hi could a kind hearted soul

Hi could a kind hearted soul that has an extra invitation please send one to me. I've been suffering with Crappy streaming television because i cannot afford cable. With high internet cost's its to much to afford.

I would be forever greatfull and would be a great beta tester.

My name is Brandon Hil
email rioz3n3@gmail.com

thank you

Submitted by Jigsaw hc on March 23, 2007 - 2:19pm.
Subject: Joost beta

I've been trying out the Joost beta and I really like it. The videos look great.

Submitted by Anonymous on March 27, 2007 - 2:06pm.
Subject: Joost Invite Please

subject says it all, Joost invite please,

ericrick at yahoo dot com

Submitted by shawn on March 28, 2007 - 3:10pm.
Subject: would love an invite. Was a

would love an invite. Was a beta for gmail before i got married. sent out over 250 invites for gmail. would love one for joost.

iliveonaboat@gmail.com

Submitted by uma on March 28, 2007 - 8:10pm.
Subject: Joost Invite Please

Joost Invite Please ! to ukurri@yahoo.com

Submitted by Raja on April 4, 2007 - 2:25pm.
Subject: Please send me a joost

Please send me a joost invitation rajagopal_p2.atrateof.yahoo.com

Submitted by bottel on April 6, 2007 - 2:28am.
Subject: i'm a 55 years young

i'm a 55 years young divorced housewife with 6 children so i got plenty of time to be beta tester ..

Submitted by bottel on April 6, 2007 - 2:33am.
Subject: the housewife of 55 forgot

the housewife of 55 forgot to tell you she loves donald duck

v.d.v@pandora.be

Submitted by Carles on April 12, 2007 - 6:40pm.
Subject: Joost invitations available

Joost invitations available at Joost For Everyone Project http://fabricat.110mb.com/joost-invitations

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