Spout is a social networking site aiming to give users a better way to find new films.
Described as a hybrid between MySpace and Netflix, Spout was founded by four filmmakers in Grand Rapids, Michigan, who wanted to create a web experience that was a “trusted place between the multiplex and the film festival”.
Spout users are connected by their personal profile, which grows and changes dynamically every time they visit the site and express an opinion about a movie. Results are based on user submissions alone and none are computer generated.
Spout originally launched in March 2006 and has undergone several upgrades since, the most recent upgrade included a new feature called MovieMind that provides recommendations based on expressed user interest. For example, by entering Startup.com a user receives a list of movies they may enjoy that are similar to Startup.com as recommended by Spout users.
It’s not the most technologically advanced Web 2.0 site, but the simplicity is a positive. Ignore the positive review for Babel on the front page and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. The drag and drop functionality in MovieMind is smart and providing dynamically generated links to other sites is an inclusive move that improves the overall user experience.
There is no title?
Enough social networks please … we don’t need anymore … lets build something actually useful!
they employ a brilliant idea, for thows who got it
Easy to use and very fun to build lists and ratings on.
LOL LOL
Netflix has already dedicated quite a bit of time and energy on their recommendation engine and website, which I have to say is bar none the best available online. They still have that 1 million prize to optimize their systems up in the air.
How do you compete with that?
And why are people so insistent I make new friends every single time I go online?
Here’s something I just made, called: iPoop.com, it’s like Myspace meets Netflix mets Youtube. You can watch me poop online in a youtube video while renting a DVD as well and then all the while you can make fake friends that wants to pitch you something.
Very addictive website.. I could spend all day on this site!
How is this really different from Flixster? Less users?
The social aspect of this has some possibilities – but it doesn’t seem like their algo is exploiting it. For instance, if “like minded” individuals (namely, your friends who have a high “favorite movies” correlation) highly rate a movie then it’s probable that you’d find it just as entertaining. I also think they could do a little bit more with their “widgets” – well, in this case they’re badges – would be great if I could have a flash-based ticker showing my favorite movies for all of my myspace friends to check out. Just my two pennies.
@6 Photogirl
Thanks for the comment, you shill.
I just tried MovieMind. Entered ‘kids’ and this is what I got:
Shoot! Error on Spout?
Congratulations! You found a bug. Let us know and we’ll fix it. Contact us
It seems I have to check it back tomrrow.
Stupidest movie ever saw was last star wars. Darth Vader wears stupid ski mask with fully loaded nerd glasses.
@Photogirl
Did the SPOUT founder hired you give a good comment?
This is the same old Social Networking website that wish to buyout by some company.
lol. hahahah Photogirl
MikeM just set mousetrap!
Check out my interview with Spout COO Bill Holsinger-Robinson:
http://www.cent...view-with-spout
I like Spout, I think their emails are pretty good too.
Hey guys, thanks for the thoughts and feedback on Spout, and thanks for the writeup Techcrunch!
We’re really interested in helping people find really great movies based on their relationships and hooking them up with different ways to get to those movies, one of them being our own DVD store. We’ve learned a lot…and we still have a lot to learn. We’re working on (what we think are) some pretty great things right now that should be launching in the next few weeks, so please check us out!
To #5 above re ipoop.com
You are really missing the boat here.
What you really need is PLATFORM, like justin.tv, that enables anyone to create a social-poop-commerce site.
@5 and @16 – can it be called Poopr.com and actually be like a poop log? Where people login and keep track of their crap? They can network with others in the area, make new friends, add friends, photos, videos… endless possibilities!!!
hey, another one of these. that’s nice.
but they seem to be missing tag clouds, so it’s clearly web 1.0, and therefore has nothing to offer.
hmmm…..
http://www.spou...Type=All_Recent
Looks like a tag cloud.
I’ve been using Spout for awhile now. Like 30boxes and del.icio.us and other sites where I can keep my stuff for free (so far anyway) and apart from my hard drive, and accessible by phone, I like it a lot. I like having my movie lists available by rss feed. I like having a place to build many different lists of things to watch. And I like that it’s not tied to paying for a Blockbuster or Netflix account. I’m too old for the social part. Doesn’t grab me, but having my lists there frees them up for all the ways of seeing movies (download, vod, borrowed, etc). The rental queues are no place to keep your lists, and they are not safe. Kill your account, and your list is gone. And of course, the more movies you have in your queues, the less likely you’ll get to see the new ones as soon as they come out.. heh. So. I hope Spout makes it. Because it’s useful to me. And it’s all about me.
#7 Because so far at least, it’s not populated by 14-year-olds, and more than just the blockbusters. A lot of indie film fans at Spout. And podcasts from the film fests… and.. it’s smart?
#whoever said widget with favorite movies… yeah. I so want that too. But I want to define which lists for my widget, or have mutiple widgets. Or…
I don’t know that we need another Myspace et all.
http://myspace.com/
yet another niche SN, many more to come; sit tight
Worthless crap mashed up with worthless crap = worthless crap that’s even smellier.
Incredible. I’m glad between the 2000 posts about the Facebook platform (widget nerds unite!) and this one about Spout, we’ve really covered where today’s best and brightest technology talent is headed. I’m sure Y Combinator has about 10 of these worthless crap type products ready to launch. Are Michael Arrington and Nick Gonzales ready?
its time for netflix to rethink on social networking
This is actually what I’ve been trying to find lately. I will check this out imediatelly.
I met these guys at SXSW last year and was very impressed with the team and the execution of the concept, since it could easily be a me-too site. I actually recommended it to two (non-techie) movie buffs last week and they seemed to like it. Also, before you accuse me of being a shill – I have to disclose that I have one of their giveaway t-shirts somewhere in my closet.
I like Spout because it doesn’t force you to make connections with people…it can be used like an IMDB (quick movie lookup) or a Netflix (community reviews sans the rental part). Basically, I use the people on there to read reviews. I also contribute by writing my own impromptu reviews on movies I want to champion or inform others about. Regardless of why Spout’s in business, I don’t care. But I get personal value out of using the site and community content…isn’t that what the web is about?
sprout is a good name, but can you buy stuff on it? kinda, but not as well as other Amazon, Amazon and, oh, Amazon. can you create a community on it? kinda, but not as well as other MySpace, FaceBook, and any other of the million similar startups. so what’s the point? Tag clouds?!
@2 Agreed. All social networked-out. Just like being portal-ed out ages ago.
To butseriously (and others, you know who you are) –
Who paid for that plug? This whole convo feels suspiciously like half of the people here are on the Spout payroll. Sigh…but that’s TechCrunch.
cool, hybrid to make the better one.
randy from fsbo North Carolina
I’m too old for the social part. Doesn’t grab me, but having my lists there frees them up for all the ways of seeing movies