JTV (Justin.tv) was a popular live streaming platform that was launched in 2007. It allowed anyone to broadcast live video content on the internet. In 2014, the company rebranded as Twitch, which is now one of the leading platforms for live streaming gaming content.
While JTV itself no longer exists, many people who used the old Justin.tv service are still curious whether JTV had its own mobile app back in the day for live streaming on the go. In this article, we’ll take a look back and examine whether JTV had a mobile app and the functionality it provided.
A Brief History of JTV
Justin.tv (later renamed JTV) was founded in 2007 by Justin Kan, Emmett Shear, Michael Seibel and Kyle Vogt as a way to broadcast live video content online. The service gained popularity fast as it allowed anyone to create their own live video streaming channel.
In the early days, Justin.tv was used by people to live stream all kinds of content – from their daily lives and activities to live events and gaming. The open nature and popularity of the platform led to issues with copyright infringement, leading Justin.tv to eventually focus more on supporting gaming-related live streams.
The Pivot to Twitch
In 2011, Justin.tv launched Twitch.tv, a site dedicated solely to video game live streaming. Twitch grew quickly, and in 2014, the parent company Justin.tv was rebranded as Twitch Interactive to focus entirely on the booming game streaming market.
Twitch has since become synonymous with video game live streaming and boasts over 2 million unique creator channels as of 2021. However, before this pivot to Twitch, Justin.tv and its suite of mobile apps served as the original home for live streaming on the go.
JTV Mobile Apps
During its heyday, JTV offered official mobile apps that allowed users to watch and broadcast live video streams on their phones and tablets:
Justin.tv Mobile App
The main Justin.tv app provided a mobile experience for accessing the Justin.tv website and its features:
– Watch live video streams from any Justin.tv channel
– Live broadcast your own video stream
– Chat with other viewers in stream chats
– Manage your Justin.tv account and profile
– Receive notifications when favorite channels go live
This app was available for iOS and Android devices and offered the core JTV live streaming functionality on mobile. It was simply an extension of the jtv.com website, allowing users to take their video streams and viewing experience on the go.
Twitch Mobile App
With the launch of Twitch in 2011, a dedicated Twitch mobile app was also released:
– Access Twitch’s game-centric streams
– Live stream gameplay from your phone
– Chat with gaming communities
– Follow favorite streamers and get notifications
– Clip and share game highlights
The Twitch app focused solely on gaming content and streams, separating it from the more general purpose Justin.tv app.
Justin.tv Broadcaster App
For mobile broadcasting specifically, JTV also had a Justin.tv Broadcaster app. This provided enhanced tools and controls for live streaming on mobile devices:
– High quality video broadcasting
– Monitor live viewer comments
– Manage stream chats
– Share streams to social media
– Video recording option
By separating the broadcasting features into a dedicated app, it offered more customization for mobile producers than the main Justin.tv app provided.
Key Features of JTV Mobile Apps
The main features that enabled mobile live streaming and viewing of Justin.tv and Twitch content included:
Mobile Streaming
– Use phone or tablet camera to live stream video
– Streaming modes:
– Front facing for vlogging/commentary
– Rear facing for IRL streaming
– Screen capture of mobile gameplay
– Streaming broadcast controls:
– Start, stop, pause
– Camera swap
– Enable mic/audio
– Stream title and category
– Chat options
Mobile Chat
– Real-time chat while watching streams
– Participate in stream chats from mobile
– Chat with streamers during broadcasts
– Emotes and custom channel chat options
Discovery and Notifications
– Browse categories and games to discover streams
– Search for streams, games and channels
– Follow favorite broadcasters
– Get notifications when followed channels go live
Account Management
– Register and login to a Justin.tv/Twitch account
– Manage account settings and profile from app
– Beam mobile broadcasts to registered account
– Save favorite channels
JTV Mobile App User Experience
The Justin.tv and Twitch mobile apps provided an extension of the website experience to phones and tablets. Here are some aspects of the JTV mobile app user experience:
Convenient Live Streaming
The apps made live streaming accessible and convenient from mobile devices. Streamers could broadcast mobile gameplay, vlogs, their daily life or events to their audience from anywhere.
Portable Viewing
Fans could watch their favorite Justin.tv and Twitch streams and chat from their mobile device on the go. Streams were not restricted to desktop viewing.
Fast Channel Switching
Switching between live channels and streams was fast and seamless in the apps. Easy channel hopping enabled viewers to multitask and follow multiple broadcasts.
Interactive Experience
From participating in chats to following channels and clipping highlights, the apps provided an interactive viewing experience beyond passive consumption.
Optimized Mobile Layouts
The apps featured mobile-optimized layouts with touch friendly controls and interfaces. Navigation was tuned for smaller screens.
Push Notifications
Timely push notifications alerted users when channels they followed went live, keeping them connected from their mobile device.
Stable Streaming
The apps delivered reliable low latency streams that made watching mobile broadcasts smooth and stable instead of choppy.
Mobile App Platform Availability
The JTV mobile apps were available across both major mobile platforms – iOS and Android:
iOS Apps
– Justin.tv
– Twitch
– Justin.tv Broadcaster
JTV’s complete suite of apps was downloadable from Apple’s App Store for use on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices running iOS 5.0 and above.
Android Apps
– Justin.tv
– Twitch
– Justin.tv Broadcaster
The apps could also be found on the Google Play Store for any Android smartphones and tablets running Android 2.2 Froyo and newer.
This broad cross-platform app availability brought the JTV experience to the vast majority of mobile users.
The Demise of Official JTV Apps
While the JTV mobile apps served the platform’s community of creators and viewers well for several years, they were eventually phased out and shut down.
Removal from App Stores
As Justin.tv transitioned over to Twitch, the Justin.tv branded apps disappeared from both the iOS App Store and Google Play Store. By late 2014, only the Twitch app remained downloadable on mobile.
Discontinued App Support
Existing Justin.tv app installs continued to function for some time after removal from the app stores. However, they ceased to receive any major updates, bug fixes, or compatibility improvements for new OS versions.
User Migration to Twitch
JTV’s user base migrated over to Twitch’s platform and mobile app. Twitch became the sole focus on mobile as Justin.tv services shut down for good in 2015.
Live Streaming Market Consolidation
The rise of platforms like YouTube Live and Periscope also led to fragmentation in the live streaming space. Twitch chose to zero in on its niche of gaming live streams rather than compete with general mobile broadcasting apps.
Could JTV Return?
While the JTV brand and Justin.tv platform are defunct, there are still traces of its mobile app history:
User Sentiment for JTV Features
There is some nostalgia and interest among old Justin.tv users for features that have not transitioned over to Twitch’s current mobile app, like unlimited streaming time and general purpose (non-gaming) streams.
Mobile Live Streaming Resurgence
A resurgence in mobile broadcasting driven by apps like TikTok has fueled speculation that Twitch could expand into broader IRL streaming again. But Twitch has given no indications yet of reviving any classic Justin.tv mobile features.
Live Streaming Startups Filling the Void
New mobile startups like Cameo are introducing general purpose live sharing features reminiscent of Justin.tv’s early mobile app capabilities. So JTV’s spirit may live on through other streaming innovators.
Conclusion
In summary – yes, JTV did have mobile apps for watching and broadcasting live video streams on Justin.tv and Twitch. The Justin.tv app provided a robust mobile experience that extended the website’s capabilities to smartphones and tablets.
Dedicated Justin.tv Broadcaster and Twitch apps also catered to the app needs of creators and gamers specifically. The iOS and Android app support delivered core JTV functionality to mobile users and supplemented the desktop experience.
Though these official JTV mobile apps are now defunct, pieces of the mobile experience they pioneered can still be found through Twitch’s current app and the broader evolution of live streaming apps. The mobile broadcasting genie that JTV let out of the bottle continues to live on and inspire live video innovation on phones and tablets to this day.