You know, normally when a software company releases version 1.0 that means it's time for the product to leave beta. But Joost 1.0 is out this weekend, and it's still in private beta. That means you can only download a copy if you're already a beta tester or have a friend who's willing to share an invite.

And that might not be such a bad thing, because despite the new 1.0 label, Joost is still definitely beta software. Version 1.0 sports a redesigned interface, improved performance with low-performing internt connections, and an integrated update service so you won't need to download an installer from the web next time you want to install a new release.

Or at least, that's what the release notes say. We weren't able to see the new interface on either of our test rigs running Windows Vista. While we followed the directions requiring Vista users to install Joost 1.0 as an administrator, we couldn't get the channel menu to show up. When Joost 1.0 loads, it automatically begins playing the last video we'd been watching. But if you want to change channels or switch to another video in the same channel, you're out of luck. Or at least we are. Anyone have a better experience with this "update?"

Update: It looks like Joost has added a download link to their front page, meaning the public beta has begun. No more invitations needed. Also, a few days into the beta, we noticed that our difficulty pulling up the channel guide has disappeared. Perhaps it was a network congestion issue, but the beta seems to be working well now. And finally, Joost has added links to featured content to their web page. Want to watch La Femme Nikita episodes? Just click the "play now" button to launch Joost and the show will begin to play.

[via eFluxMedia]

Microsoft is showing off its new Internet TV platform at Digital Life, a whole one day before the service is rolled out to every Windows Vista machine.

Here's the good news: It looks pretty cool and dramatically increases the amount of internet video you can access from within the Windows Vista Media Center interface. Here's the bad news: The content is only kind of interesting.

While we were hoping to see Microsoft take on Joost and VeohTV here by offering full length streaming episodes of TV, so far the only content you can access is the same material available via MSN Video. That means the only TV series you can watch is Arrested Development and while there's a movies section, it currently includes nothing but trailers.

There are full length music concerts, and links to content from various TV networks. But again, most of what you get are clips, not full length episodes.

Internet TV launches tomorrow as a public beta, so there's a chance that Microsoft will sign up new partners before the official launch. But when your public beta is not just available to all users, but actually pushed out to their machines, the line between beta and full release is kind of blurry.

Looking for a way to view online video on your TV without dropping $350 on a newfangled "version 2" Windows media center extender? D-Link's DSM-520 media streamer costs more than a hundred bucks less than its newer sibling, and all you have to sacrifice is Windows Vista Media Center support.

What that means is you can plug the DSM-520 into your TV and stream video from your networked PC or from the internet. You just can't peruse your Windows Media Center menus.

But starting next Thursday, you'll be able to watch more than 200 "channels" of online video. D-Link is planning on releasing a firmware upgrade on October 4th that will enable "active-TV technology" on DSM-520 boxes. The service will include 200 channels with content from popular TV networks and online video sites like Comedy Central, MovieLink, VH1, Reuters, and the BBC. You can also add your own online video sources, which you can then navigate using a remote control and 10-foot interface.

Microsoft is expected to launch an internet TV section for Windows Vista Media Center users today. But D-Link's free internet video service might be a good alternative if you're not planning on buying a new home theater PC anytime soon.

Microsoft is rolling out the public beta of Internet TV for Windows Vista Media Center tomorrow. If you've got a machine running Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate, a new option should pop up inside of your media center interface, cleverly titled "Internet TV."

Windows Media Center already includes an online showcase section with access from content providers like Comedy Central, VH1, and MTV. But for the most part, those sites already have video content on their websites, and have simply designed a Media Center interface for accessing that video with your remote. Internet TV beta is a whole new platform for watching online video.