We just released the latest version of the demo (1.1) which shows huge improvements particularly for its performances. You can download it here.

Here is some of it's cool aspects:

• All the compatible media are directly uploaded from the integrated Web-browser, they are automatically stored in the local content library and can be directly played without any complication.
• It's also an all-in-one software that can be used as a Web-browser, a music, video and podcast player, and that can synchronize your computer with your mobile phone or MP3 player.

As you may already know, Omega Tribes is based on the Omega Media Player technology, which is used by Orange for its Media Player. Here is a video (in French) of Benoît De Malartic, Project Manager at zSlide, in which he showcases the Orange Media Player.

Our Managing Director, Bruno Carsenti, gives a nice explanation about Omega Tribes:

"The Internet gives the chance to any content producer to reach his audience.Tools like video sharing Websites and podcast portals are useful to become well-known, but for instance they don't allow movie producers to distribute videos with a very high definition, or choose their business models and the protection level of their movies."

"Today, Omega Tribes allows these producers to take control of their content in order to better capture their audience. And that's just the beginning, we will offer marketing services as well as monetization and online commercial distribution."

What is underlining in this study is that contrary to what people think, young people are not automatically attracted to the illegal aspect of downloading. Indeed they use it only as a result of the lack of compelling legal options available to them.

As rightly stated by the Institute behind this survey, this represents a real opportunity for music companies which should take advantage of this growing request.

As for us, we try to contribute to the rise of these legal P2P networks by developing file sharing software and services such as Podmailing and media player technologies like Omega Media Player that represent the main components of music and video downloading platforms.

Here we go! It was announced yesterday on TechCrunch France, we are launching today our white label media software offer named "Omega Tribes".

We already have a great article on Mashable.

Press release + screenshots + videos + links on zSlide's web-site.

Omega Tribes targets small companies, start-ups, non-profits, independent producers, amateurs and video bloggers or Podcast creators who distribute quality content on the Internet. Omega Tribes allows them to manage their content distribution through an all-in-one media player which combines audio, video, podcasting, RSS and Web browsing.

The white label media player Omega Tribes is built on the same technology as Omega Media Player which is used by the operator Orange for its Media Player which generated 37 million downloads in 2007!

Omega Tribes has advanced multimedia functionality and is extremely fast to implement since it can be fully customized and packaged on request, for distribution to Internet users, in just a few hours.

Moreover, the software and customization service are offered to the first video-bloggers and podcasters who will contribute to make buzz around our product, contact us for more details.

All these downloads where made thanks to the Orange Media Player which is used to download music and Video On Demand. Great news because this software used by Orange, which is a kind of iTunes optimized for mobile phones, has been developed by us for 3 years.

Indeed, Orange Media Player is based on our Omega Media Player platform which is available as a white label software for all kinds of uses, from amateur podcast broadcasting, to distribution platforms for major operator and media groups in the fields of music, video, games, eBooks...

So, they say Joost is doomed because it requires a software install, and the competition offers the same kind of stuff inside the Web browser. The article raises the question in these terms:

If a high-profile startup with rich, famous founders and tens of millions in investment can’t entice users to venture outside the walls of the web browser, what hope is there for other special-purpose browsers like Songbird and Miro?

This view is oversimplistic, however. The real competition for Joost isn’t YouTube, it is BitTorrent. And BitTorrent requires a special client, proving that users aren’t averse to downloading software if they see enough benefit.

For me the issue is very clear. You can't convince people to install software if it's only to do the same thing as in a browser but only a little better. It can only work if the software offers something useful which is not possible at all in the browser. The difference must be disruptive.

So, let's start thinking about compelling use cases that you are not going to get in a simple browser...

First idea that springs to mind is downloading content for synchronization on digital devices. Actually that's the reason why iTunes had so much success, piggybacking on the success of the iPod. Now all mobile phones are becoming very capable portable media players and people need media player software that solves the same need for all the other devices apart from the iPod/iPhone.

That is what we offer, as a white label solution named Omega Media Player. Be sure to bookmark it: we have a beta demo coming very soon.

Other reasons to install a software is to transfer very large files between people, Podmailing does just that. So, sorry for the reckless self-promotion, but this explains why we do downloadable software at zSlide, among other things.

It is a very good thing for the legal download's fans who will surely celebrate the news by intensive File Sharing sessions.

Funny to read that a few minutes after I watched the excellent documentary "Steal this Film II". It's like you almost need to be a computer yourself to keep up with the speed at which the media are changing.

From what I read elsewhere, they won't do it with DRM but rather with an iTunes model. Sounds smart. I guess they need something like Omega Media Player to do it right.