DNAStream, a neo-TV contender that is similar to Joost in style, boasts with two major differences: no downloads, and little apparent advertising.DNA Stream’s “mutant television” model explains itself as “video that corresponds to your DNA.” In less elaborate terms, it keeps track of the videos and shows a user likes in order to serve more relevant material. The application is web-based, so unlike Joost, it requires no software download.
Michael Arrington of TechCrunch suggests Joost may want to “find a quiet way to eventually shut [DNAStream] down.” The site, of Spanish origin, received positive feedback from the blogosphere, including sites like Mashable and Go2Web2.
Joost is still in beta but has generated the interest of numerous ad sponsors and TV networks, including VH1, which premiered the network show I Hate My 30s on the online network. One of the biggest critiques of its business model is that it requires a data-heavy download of its users.
However, the growing dependency of new technology on high-speed internet may also become a concern in the near future.
