Hulu is the latest to appear in online video. The site, now in private beta, currently streams a wide variety of video including Fox, NBC, Bravo, E!, and Fuel TV. After my first use of the website I found their selection quite remarkable. I spent dedicated time trying to look for all my favorite shows, trying to find one they didn’t have. I also found the design interface very stylish, as well as easily useable. The video quality was very impressive, however I found the streaming audio its downfall. It sounded like a cassette tape, so there is room for approved audio.

Impressive Interface
The interface was very well put together. They have seemed to pick only the greatest of features. However, there were some unique features that I had a particular interest in. For instance, the “share feature”, where you can put together a custom clip with which you can choose the length of the video you want to send to a friend. You can also do this with the embed attribute, although in my recent discussions about Hulu I learned that these videos expire after 5 weeks. Another feature I was staggered by was a “lower lights” element, which dims the rest of the screen besides your video selection. Other classic attributes include pop out, rate, and feedback.

Video Quality
I found the video quality was very impressive, especially for streaming. I did notice a little skipping though while videos were buffering.

Overall, I think Hulu is a giant step towards better online television. Not only is this a great resource, but the greater effect it is making is room for competition. This is defiantly not your one stop for all your favorite television shows. However, I am excited to see the effect this has on online TV as well as cable TV.

- Zach Basner