Normally I wouldn’t bother covering a point update. However just a short time after their initial release, Joost has totally revamped their iPhone video player interface. The original app suffered from a variety of usability issues, and a biggie was poor button placement leading to inadvertently killing video playback. (Check out that huge X near the aspect ratio/zoom button.) The new player controls and layout are definitely more polished, yet still retains a unique feel (compared to Apple’s built-in player controls). Unfortunately, Joost’s content selection is still hit or miss. Mostly miss. And video can only be accessed via WiFi, no EDGE or 3G. Which also leads me to question Sling Media’s product guy on the likelihood of Apple approving 3G SlingPlayer/Slingbox streaming.
I probably shouldn’t complain too much… both the app and videos are free. Thanks, Joost. Maybe. ;)
I should also mention we don’t know if the streaming decision was made by Apple or Joost. (Ustream will go over 3G, as another video example.) However, I do know for a fact from a few app developers that Apple’s approval process appears inconsistent, random – it just depends which reviewers you get, what they happen to notice, and what happens to irk them I guess.
Joost has been trying to get a 3G version approved for months by Apple and this release was submitted for approval early in December , from what I heard from some of the Joost people it was supposed to work over 3G.
Im sure staff at Joost have a in House version that does work over 3G but Apple wont aprove any 3G video streaming apps it seems .
Two comments –
1) Any updates to Joost simply means it will suck [faster] [with a nicer interface] [in Edge or 3G]. I mean really, besides my 12-year old niece, is there a market for the content?
2) Just out of curiosity, Dave, but why do you comment on your own stories? (Or did you simply post this from content located elsewhere (and I missed the credit))
Frank, two reasons I comment on my own stories. It’s usually that after thinking about the post/topic a bit more, I realize I have more to say or feel that I need to clarify or elaborate a bit. Additionally, I try to keep the posts pretty tight when I can – content ends up on and scanned by Google News and select posts are syndicated to other sites. So some of the more conversational, opinionated, or tangential stuff I may drop down here.
FYI, Orblive has been available in the App store ($9.99) for a few months. It can stream Live TV via wi-fi and 3G/Edge. I have had it a few weeks now. I can view all of my Verizon Fios channels directly on my iPhone anywhere with no add’l data charges. I have had a few weeks where my usage exceeded 10 gigs downloaded with no complaints/warnings from AT&T.
Joost does work over 3G/Edge on my iphone as of (01.10.09) don’t ask me how it does this cause i really don’t know. I have a jailbroken iphone and my wifi is screwed up (basically does not work at all). When i boot up Joost i get the wifi error message however it continues to load videos. I will sometimes crash but its works at least 50% of the time just over 3G.
I noticed that joost works over 3g recently too, not well but works.. I’m glad. I was getting an error while watching some videos when the network all of a sudden switched back to 3g from wifi.