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Imagine being able to search, chat and send instant messages to friends while you watch a full-screen high quality program or flip to any of the more than 150 channels online, many of them available to International viewers. Now you can enjoy all these and more with Joost. The cool thing is that you now have access to many of these programs which will pretty much never reach local shores, watch what you want, when you want and as often as you want. What’s more, it’s free!

I am talking about the new free broadband TV service called Joost (pronouced “juiced”) available worldwide via the Internet. You need to get Joost, because as it proclaimed on the website, it combines “all the things you love about TV, fused with the interactive power of the Internet”.seriously! Currently in private beta, Joost is expected to roll out its full general release by the end of the year.

The genesis of Joost
The latest brianchild from the duo who brought the world Skype and Kazaa, Joost is the revolutionary Internet service that streams TV shows, movies, music videos, documentaries and much more direct to your computer. Joost works by downloading software that allows the transmission of content via the Internet, without the need for an additional set-top or cable box. Unlike popular video site YouTube, Joost users can only view, but not upload content, preventing anyone from posting copyrighted material.

Content, which is acquired directly from the copyright owners, is then made available through the service, much like via a regular TV. There is even a channel guide and a synopsis of each show. As content is obtained from different markets, there are geographical boundaries and restrictions. For example, only US residents can watch shows from US television networks like Comedy central or Adult Swim. On the other hand, international viewers can catch games on World Poker Tour which those living in US cannot.

There are 150 channels in all, and users here have access to more than 30 of them. There is a race car show, IndyCar series; a music channel, Intimate and Interactive and my personal favourite, Swimsuit Illustrated on Demand. Yes! Swimsuit Illustrated!

Swimsuit Illustrated on Demand should not be the only reason to get Joost, although it’s a good one. There are so many other reasons for international viewers to sign up and they come in the form of music, documentaries, animation and comedy shows, many of which are not available in local shores.

Right off the bat, the introduction video throws a video montage of shows available on Joost. Once you access the main menu, the Channel Catalog lets you add any or all the shows onto your own channel guide. Each channel guide lists a selection of programs to view and switching between shows is no different from clicking a button on your TV remote.

The only difference is the slight delay between channel surfing, but the end result is a satisfying one. You can pause, forward, rewind or skip to the next clip just as easily. As the Internet is suppose to be free, so hopefully Joost can look at dropping the geographical limitations of streaming shows.

Add to that, a remote controller, recording function and/or limited downloads for my portable media player for viewing on the go, for future Joost upgrades and I’ll have to seriously consider why I’m still paying for my cable set-top box at home.