TVSquad

Snapstream has released a new beta version of BeyondTV, the company's PC-based personal video recording software. BeyondTV 4.8.2 includes a bunch of bug fixes, and a few new features that I've been looking for for a while:

• You can configure automatic Showsqueezing (WMV or DiVX compression) of HD, SD, or all videos
• Improved performance when recording overlapping shows. If one recording is scheduled to end at 10:02, and another begins at 9:58, the program with the highest priority will win.
• Set permissions for library folders (block your kids from watching Dora The Explorer as a prank -- or you know, programs they actually shouldn't be watching).

The feature I'm most excited about is integration of a Couchville-style program guide with the web admin. Snapstream launched Couchville to much fanfare last year and then shut it down a few months ago. The TV listing site is simple, easy to use, and apparently cost the company more money than it was worth to maintain. It's good to see Snapstream salvage the technology for use in its core product: BeyondTV.

Do you hear that? That's the sound of "Taps" being played for HDTV players and recorders. Toshiba has announced that, "it will no longer develop, manufacture and market HD DVD players and recorders." Yes, it's true. Just like Beta was phased out in favor of VHS, HDTV has lost in its head to head battle with Blu-ray. As of March 2008, the manufacture of the hardware will cease, and production of HD DVD disk drives for PCs and games as well. The only exception, said Atsutoshi Nishida, President and CEO of Toshiba Corporation are laptops. "[Toshiba] continues to assess the position of notebook PCs with integrated HD DVD drives."

Snapstream has released the first public beta version of BeyondTV 4.8.1. And while you won't find a ton of major new features in the latest build, there are roughly a billion (give or take a few billion) minor updates in this release.

For example, you can now give different users different levels of access to BeyondTV. Say you don't want your spouse or kids deleting your favorite shows? Just don't give them access to the file deleting option (and try to endure the dirty looks they give you when they realize you've limited their access).

There's also a new keyword based recording feature that you can access using the Web administration feature. In other words, while you can't create keyword based recordings using the main application window yet (some might call these "wish lists,") you an login to your account using a web browser and set up automatic recordings for any program with the word "news," or "knitting," or what have you.

You can also now do frame by frame playback of recorded shows, receive email notifications of errors, and display your recording statistics like how many hours of TV do you record per day.

Keep in mind, this is still a beta release, and as such there's a long list of known bugs, and perhaps a few unknown ones. You'll need to sign up for a beta account to try out BeyondTV 4.8.1 beta. Once you're registered, you can download the software from Snapstream's beta site.

Internet video platform Joost is inching closer to a public launch. Last week the Joost announced partnerships with 32 advertisers. Today the company announced that it is allowing current users to send an unlimited number of Joost invitations to their friends.

This is sort of the Gmail version of a public beta. You can't just sign up through the Joost homepage yet, but it shouldn't be too hard to track down an invitation if you want one. Up until now, each user got a limited number of invites to distribute.

You'll need to download the latest version of Joost, which is 0.9.4. As of about noon, unlimited invites still don't seem to be available, but expect an update later today.

Well, it looks like Joost is working hard to overcome one of the online video provider's biggest criticisms: lack of any content people would actually want to watch. First the company adds classic cartoons, reality shows, and National Geographic documentary content. And now it looks like they've worked out an agreement with Viacom to provide videos from MTV, BET, and Paramount Pictures.

The announcement follows news that Viacom asked YouTube to remove more than 100,000 copyrighted videos from its site. Apparently Joost claims that it can provide tighter copyright protection than YouTube, and it's probably a safe bet that Viacom will receive a higher percentage of any revenue generated from the Joost deal: Joost needs a partner like Viacom a whole lot more than YouTube did.

Joost is still in closed beta, but you can apply to be a tester.