I'm happy to announce I have a new job, as a VP of Engineering at Joost, an amazing new startup that is working to change what we now quaintly refer to as "television" through the secure delivery of mainstream, legitimately-licensed content over the internet. Founded by the same two entrepreneurs that created Skype and Kazaa, and staffed by an amazing amount of stunningly smart people I've known for years in the pragmatic open source community ;), I'm lucky to be able to be involved in such an interesting and disruptive transformation of what has become such a fundamental human activity.
At Intel (for those just tuning in, that was where I was working), I learned an incredible amount about how things work on the mega-scale - it's an amazing organization, and I'm glad I was able to spend some time there. But this new opportunity was just too good, too exciting, too terrifying :) to pass up - I'm an entrepreneur and builder at heart. There are so many people I ought to thank at Intel, but I'd like to give special mention to a person assigned to me as my "Intel buddy" when I first arrived, a friend named Tony Baker that I had known from the JCP EC. We worked together as peers in first the Managed Runtime Division, and then (after The Small Reorg) the Middleware Products Division, and then (after The Big Reorg) stayed connected (almost daily) when he went off to bigger and better things in the Systems Software Division. His guidance and advice (learned after 25 years (!) at Intel) was always valuable and insightful, and I really am grateful for it.
This change in employment has no bearing on my dedication and passion for Apache Harmony - in fact, I think it becomes something more special for me, as there's no part of my job description now that has the word "Harmony" in it, and after some introspection, I like that. While the downside is that the time I can devote to Harmony is reduced, I think that in itself will make my contributions that much more focused, and hopefully as or even more effective. The upside, of course, is a fresh perspective on the community and ecosystem. I'm a big fan of true "open community" open source. It's clear that the old school "community OSS model" is giving way to the new school "supported contributor OSS model", but I still think these are aspects orthogonal to the basic control scheme of a project, and Apache is fundamentally about individuals working together as peers, no matter what their motivation or employer. When we started Harmony, it was a passion and a labor of love for me, not a part of my job, and I honestly never really imagined that I'd find it part of my job - and here I am, back full circle. Of course, being "back full circle" with Harmony at 96% percent completion in the class library with a capable and performant virtual machine is a great place to be.
Anyway, a new chapter with new challenges, opportunities, and growth. Wish me well :)
Congratulations!
I hope it works out better for you than it did for me ;)
Woot!
Your new gig sounds like a blast! Best of luck!
And today is such a special day for the announcement.
Yes, I thought about that when doing it, but the announcement has been sitting in the queue... It's real :)
I've heard a lot of interesting stuff coming out about Joost lately. It sounds like a great project to be part of -- congrats!
Congratulations on the new job, Geir, I'm looking forward to see you around in the old world more often. ;)
May you help grow Joost like you helped grow Harmony!
Yes, yes, congrats! I can't wait til' it goes 'live' so I can finally see what all the hub-ubb I've been reading is really all about! :) I hope all is well for you.
JOOST uses the most aggressive form of DRM/Copy protection that I'm aware of. Nice to see OpenSource-guys like Geir now being in the DRM-business. Oh wait... I hate you for that!!!!
"Once an entrepreneur, always an entrepreneur", right? Makes sense. Thanks for Harmony and Geronimo, and good luck!
Congratulations!
Congrats Geir!
Maybe you should host a "Joost Developer Channel", somewhat like Channel9 or Google's Engineer videos :-)
Best of luck!
Congratulations! How many VP's and directors of ours now work for JOOST?
But... the timing of your announcement leaves me suspicious, I must say. 8-)
Geir, Congrats on the new opportunity! Thanks for the nice comments. I'm blushing. It was really great to work with you and I learned a bunch too. I'm sure our paths will cross again.
Good luck in your new Job... It's been great to share some moments with you @ Intel
Congrats Geir! Can't wait to see what you guys do over there! Awesome news. /LC
Geir, I miss you buddy!! :( Good luck in your new gig - you'll do well -- Tony and I are rooting for ya :)
Congrats Geir. =)
Congratulations on the new job, Geir!
I'm excited about this launch! Would you mind sending me an invitation?
Thanks!
Randy Bryan
Wow, that must be sweet to work on such a new and exciting project such as this.. I have a question for Joost, if the only way to set up an account is by being invited from someone else that already has a login, how does one get to be the first person that didn't need to be invited? Was it employees only? Or is there anyway to get setup without an invite? Seeing as I don't have any friends that know about Joost, much less have an account, I'm trying to figure out how I can get on!
Hello,
I am lokoing for an invite to test Joost beta.
If anyone has one, can you please send me one.
Thanks,
Vivek.
hi Geir, i thought joost was based in Europe, are they opening up a dev shop here in US?
Would like an invite Joost. PLEEEASE!!!!
I too am searching for an invite to test out this new and exciting technology. It would be great to be in on the beginning of this TV format.
oldguy@bellsouth.net
Looks like the whole world is looking for a Joost invite - including me! Could some kind soul have pity on me and send me one? Please??
Noel, I feel your pain. I want a joost invite but it's easier to find a honest politician than to get one. Congrats on the awesome job!
Joost is JUST what I need!
Being in front of my 5PCs most of the day, but idling there for a significant period, I need something to keep me connected to what happens "outside". Regular TV is a no-no and "tubes" are not on my menu either.
Joost seems to be JUST what I need so please, deliver me from my misery with a Joost invite :-)
Many thanks
Al
can i have a joost invite plz cafoingoth@hotmail.com
thx a lot
Geir, congrats on the new job. Joost sounds like a revolution in the making. I also would love an invite to try it out!
Hi there... Congrats to your new job.... Indeed Joost is a great invention...
DO you think you can invite me?
Thanks in advance!
Hey Congrats can i Get an Invite to Joost plz seems great...have funa t teh new job peace.
joe: olympicking@gmail.com
its is a really good idea and there are many medical jobs in Australia that helps medical professionals and find more http://www.fastmed.org