Zeus of the ‘NetReviews of the Coolest Sites on the Net

While technically the title of this post is misleading, this self-described video “taste engine” is pretty cool.  Jinni is a movie, TV, and short video search engine power by The Movie Genome.  The search capabilities are weighted more on semantics than on an algorithm (traditional search engine) that use mood, plot, genres, time period, place, audience, and praise to tag and categorize movies in a way that no other site has done before.  This allows for exploring movies in a way that’s beyond the traditional keyword search, a way that lets people choose/filter based on specific criteria, which is something no website has able to do until now.

Keeping in mind that Jinni is actually a video discovery portal and not an online video website (like Hulu for example) one of the features I really like is the social media involvement they have integrated nicely throughout.  Since this sites purpose is to help its users more easily find movies and TV shows they will like, I think this social aspect is important.  For example on the Back to the Future page they are pulling rating information from IMDb, linking to a Twitter search for the movie, as well as the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes page.  In addition the ‘Watch it’ link will take you to a page that has links to the various ways you can watch/rent/buy the movie, which includes deep links to the movie’s specific page on Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon.

So what do you think, does Jinni have a place in the competitive online video world?

As more and more TV shows, movies, and original content become available online, it’s going to be increasing harder to find the programming you’re looking for.  Which is why I think in 2-3 years time (when the majority of LCD TVs become internet capable) Clicker.com is going to be huge.  They are positioning themselves to be the directory/search engine for all online video programming.  So as people start watching online programming on their internet capable TVs (possible even in 3D), they are going to want to be able to quickly find what it is that they want to watch (directory).  And if they’re not sure exactly the program but say want to watch something funny, they are going to want to be shown a list of relevant options (search engine).  This is the future need that Clicker is already addressing, today.

Judging from the management team (the CEO is former Ask.com CEO Jim Lanzone) and its VC backing, this site has the potential to become a huge online brand and resource.  Personally I think online programming (movies, TV shows, user generated content, as well as original programming) is going expand and grow exponentially in the coming years.  But make no mistake; the reach of the internet into every aspect of our lives is an inevitable evolution that will bring about opportunity for an unprecedented shift in power, from the few to the many.  The game is changing from the old-school push model, to the 21st century pull model, where people engage in and watch whatever they want, whenever they want.  Clicker has aligned themselves to make that transition easier.  Evolution.  It’s a beautiful thing.

Using a wiki platform (same as Wikipedia and Uncyclopedia) this particular website has taken niche wiki’s to another level.  Chickipedia.com is the self proclaimed “Wiki of Hot Women”, listing the most beautiful women from all across the world.  The site boasts all of those you would expect: Beyonce, Kim Kardashian, and Salma Hayek, just to name a few.  With over 5,600 women and counting on the site, Wikipedia is growing, and growing fast.

So for all the guys out there, and the ladies too, who’ve been waiting for a site where you can check out pics, videos, and bio’s of some of the most beautiful women of the world, be sure to check out Chickipedia.

If you never thought it was possible, Hulu.com is out to prove you wrong. With hundreds of commercial free TV shows from networks such as NBC and Comedy Central, as well as hundreds of full length movies, Hulu is set to challenge YouTube’s reign as online video king.

A very modern looking and easy to use site, Hulu was launched in March 2008 as a joint venture between NBC Universal and News Corp. That backing gives the site a competitive advantage over most other online video sites that have run into legal issues by displaying copyrighted material. Hulu shows uninterrupted ad-supported programs including such TV shows as Saturday Night Live, and Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show.

There are also thousands of movie titles to choose from on Hulu, although only about 200 or so full length movies to date, which include such box office hits as: Men in Black, Jerry Maguire, and The Fifth Element, to more recent hits like, Underworld: Evolution and When a Stranger Calls. The only caveat being, before you can watch any movie, you have to first create an account (which takes all of about 5 seconds).

This free to use site is poised for rapid growth and is sure to be bookmarked by the thousands (although hulu.com is pretty easy to remember). Hulu is just one more option that brings us a step closer towards the inevitable decline of cable and satellite TV. With Hulu leading the way, the future of watching TV shows, movies, and video clips online looks much brighter.