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SINGAPORE : Another week, another tablet. This time, it has been rolled out by Fusion Garage, a two-year-old Singaporean start-up that's been making headlines recently due to its embroilment in a lawsuit with prominent US technology blog, TechCrunch.
But more on the device first. Dubbed the JooJoo (apparently an African word that means "magical"), the US$499 (S$700) tablet computer is expected to be launched in the United States by the end of the month, and in Singapore by the first half of the year.
The JooJoo has a 12.1-inch capacitative touchscreen display that recognises multitouch finger gestures. It runs a customised operating system (OS) that, according to Fusion Garage, boots up in 9 seconds. Weighing 1.1kg and sporting 4GB of built-in storage, the JooJoo also comes with WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. A USB port allows you to plug in a wired keyboard for conventional typing or a thumbdrive so you can view media files.
The OS is centred around web browsing and Internet services like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. It runs Flash-based applications and games and high-definition movies. You can open several browser tabs to switch between tasks and websites. It also comes with a 1.3-megapixel camera and a microphone for video conferencing.
We had a go on a pre-production model of the JooJoo and found the hardware well-built and sleek.
The device was easy enough to use with touch input and the browser provided a full desktop-like experience when it came to surfing the web.
However, there were kinks, like a dim display and the lack of accuracy and responsiveness when it came to the touch inputs.
The user interface was missing a few gestures to allow us to sift through our browsing history or simply to close browser tabs.
Mr Chandrasekar Rathakrishnan, founder and chief executive of Fusion Garage, explained that these issues would be sorted out in the final production model.
Future models might even come with 3G connectivity, he added (we did spot a SIM card slot on the pre-production model).
The tablet wasn't always known as the JooJoo. It was formerly called the CrunchPad, and started life when TechCrunch's high-profile founder, Mr Michael Arrington, attempted to create an affordable tablet computer.
Mr Arrington had collaborated with Fusion Garage till November last year, after which the local startup announced that it would go its own way.
TechCrunch filed a federal lawsuit against Fusion Garage, alleging that the latter was guilty of fraud and deceit, misappropriation of business ideas, breach of fiduciary duty and unfair competition.
Earlier this week, Fusion Garage announced that it had filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.
"The controversy associated with Fusion Garage is not a controversy that we went after," Mr Chandrasekar told Today.
"It was a controversy that came as a result of breaking up with TechCrunch.
And the reason we broke up with TechCrunch? It was an acquisition discussion that just didn't work out. We felt that we were better off going our own way.
"Despite feeling that way, we offered Michael Arrington to be part of this venture - just not with the majority control that he desired - and we went on our own."
On Thursday, Fusion Garage announced a deal with the CSL Group, a Malaysia-based mobile phone and netbook manufacturing and distribution company that would fund the manufacturing of the JooJoo.
Production of the JooJoo will be handled by a Taiwanese manufacturing company, Mr Chandrasekar said.
He declined to disclose the number of pre-orders for the JooJoo received, but said that it had "exceeded expectations".
Mr Chandrasekar added that Fusion Garage is in early talks with government agencies for possible applications in the public sector, such as education.
It is also in discussions with media companies and mobile operators.
Despite the controversy surrounding the JooJoo, Mr Chandrasekar remains bullish: "I think the result of the lawsuit will be known soon and the success of the product is the best answer I can give to the people who do not believe."
- TODAY/il
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