Joojoo is dead(e27.sg)
e27.sg
Joojoo is dead
http://e27.sg/2010/11/11/the-joojoo-is-dead-but-fusion-garage-plans-new-products/
8 comments
With hindsight this would have been a flop even with TC's backing. In a way TC have got away without a failed product to their name. I think TC assumed that Apple would be launching that iPad at $1000, and that they could then shift the JooJoo for $500 easily. Wrong - Apple's pricing approach has changed.
I seem to remember Arrington wanting to release at a price point of about $200 or less. The price didn't go up to $500 until after FG broke with TC, I believe.
At $200, it would have been an interesting competitor, but I don't think they had a viable product at that price.
At $200, it would have been an interesting competitor, but I don't think they had a viable product at that price.
I think viable metric would be to see how android tablets will do on the market (by well established companies) and lessen that by a certain percentage (at least 40% - pulled that out of my ass).
The words "barge pole" and "wouldn't touch" come to mind and I didn't follow the saga apart from a quick skim over some summaries.
Well according to the story they raised another $5M so some people obviously aren't staying away.
Some people are obviously idiots. With the reputation they have of being bad business partners and no success to date, any money invested is at best a black hole.
It's interesting that they seem to believe that they need to have iPad-like apps in order to compete in the consumer market. I certainly like my apps. However, I also can't see how "native" apps could ever hope to compete against RESTful Web services of the future when the browser supports rich "native" functionality.
It sometimes feels like that I'm the only person in the tech world who feels this way. Am I being naive? Are "silo-ed" apps and app stores the only viable future?
It sometimes feels like that I'm the only person in the tech world who feels this way. Am I being naive? Are "silo-ed" apps and app stores the only viable future?
It the standard tech question of what's best for the consumer vs what people think will make them rich. You have to wait for all those people to fail to become rich before they go back to delivering what the consumer actually wants and/or needs.
Perhaps - in that article it read to me like that was being as a bit of an excuse to move to android (of course it makes sense for many reasons). It certainly sounds better than "we stuffed up - going to android" - sell the upside !
When TC was still involved we were looking at Chromium OS - which wasn't ready, and also Android. If we stayed with the project there was a good chance that it would have been Android at launch (with support for Marketplace and all the other good things that come with Android)
A preliminary hearing in August, however, struck out most of TechCrunch’s claims
That's not my recollection of it? [1]
[1] http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1695843
That's not my recollection of it? [1]
[1] http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1695843
TechCrunch has made a credible showing that it may be able to establish the existence of a joint venture under which Fusion Garage owed it certain fiduciary duties.
Depends on what other claims TC made, probably some claims with malice and intent in the wording which the judge decided there wasn't any/enough evidence to proceed with.
Depends on what other claims TC made, probably some claims with malice and intent in the wording which the judge decided there wasn't any/enough evidence to proceed with.
I think what worries me most about the Joojoo is how Chandra puts a positive spin on everything that happens. iPad came out? Oh that's okay, we think the cloud will work (not a convincing argument). Oh so little sales? Not to worry - we have higher adoption in Europe (doesn't matter in the long run). We're shutting down Joojoo (but don't worry - we've got more VC funding, learnt from our mistakes, and are going to release a whole new stack of Android-based devices!)
While I think Chandra is a nice guy, I'm beginning to question his ability to see things as it is. He's done two startups now, both with near zero traction.
A constant positive spin on everything, an inability to see or create unique value propositions (they are one product cycle behind their competitors - two if you're talking about the iPad) and you've got one hell of a sticky situation.
I support the Singaporean startup scene, I do. But I'm beginning to worry at what this says about us.
While I think Chandra is a nice guy, I'm beginning to question his ability to see things as it is. He's done two startups now, both with near zero traction.
A constant positive spin on everything, an inability to see or create unique value propositions (they are one product cycle behind their competitors - two if you're talking about the iPad) and you've got one hell of a sticky situation.
I support the Singaporean startup scene, I do. But I'm beginning to worry at what this says about us.
The decision made by Fusion Garage seems like a good one, based on where the market is going now. The company has clearly shown they can get a product built. To me, the question is whether they can shake off the stench from the mess with TechCrunch such that future marketing efforts for new products will not be pointless upon arrival.
Can the tech crowd be won over?
I'm really curious about the family of products to be released. The line that the products would talk to each other in a unique way is intriguing. It is the synergy between the iPod, iPhone, iPad, and iTunes products that is a really strong point for Apple. I wonder whether anyone has tried replicating that with Android-based systems, and done so successfully.
Can the tech crowd be won over?
I'm really curious about the family of products to be released. The line that the products would talk to each other in a unique way is intriguing. It is the synergy between the iPod, iPhone, iPad, and iTunes products that is a really strong point for Apple. I wonder whether anyone has tried replicating that with Android-based systems, and done so successfully.
I don't know if they've proven much of anything. End of life in what? 6 months? The iPad and most Android tablets will likely have updates for a few years into the future.
That's a big stinking fish if you don't even factor in the TC controversy. Anyone who bought a Joojoo is kicking themselves right now.
That's a big stinking fish if you don't even factor in the TC controversy. Anyone who bought a Joojoo is kicking themselves right now.
Straw poll: Has anybody here on HN...
a) Ordered a JooJoo?
b) Paid for a JooJoo?
c) Received a JooJoo?
a) Ordered a JooJoo?
b) Paid for a JooJoo?
c) Received a JooJoo?
Without going into the whole debacle, it seems to me at least that together with TechCrunch, they managed to build a product. Just that when it came close to launch, they royally messed things up (or whatever, let's let the courts decide).
But somewhere there is a team that can build a touch screen tablet. Whether they can build a compelling offering that competes with the rest with their plans for an Android tablet, remains to be seen.
I do agree though, it seems like they are leaving, according to them, not unsubstantial number of customers in the lurch. Let's see whether they continue to provide decent support to existing Joojoo customers.
Although, having said that, no noise from customers for lack of support, could be there are no customers to make noise. :-)
But somewhere there is a team that can build a touch screen tablet. Whether they can build a compelling offering that competes with the rest with their plans for an Android tablet, remains to be seen.
I do agree though, it seems like they are leaving, according to them, not unsubstantial number of customers in the lurch. Let's see whether they continue to provide decent support to existing Joojoo customers.
Although, having said that, no noise from customers for lack of support, could be there are no customers to make noise. :-)
We knew that Fusion Garage did the software, but did they do the hardware?
Remember that they had an ODM partner in Pegatron. Also with regards to the software, it's not like they garner positive reviews.
Remember that they had an ODM partner in Pegatron. Also with regards to the software, it's not like they garner positive reviews.
That's a good question. I do concede it is rather murky how much of the existing team was responsible and how much help they got from partners like TechCrunch and Pegatron.
It's a pity just because of the 12" capacitive tablet format...there are no shipping competitors with that size yet.
Of interest, JooJoo users have been hacking away and have figured out how to install Android, Windows, and OS X on it. I think that's what JooJoo should have done all along -- sell it as a reference platform.
I wouldn't buy it because of the cloud that hangs over the company, but the hardware looks nice.
Of interest, JooJoo users have been hacking away and have figured out how to install Android, Windows, and OS X on it. I think that's what JooJoo should have done all along -- sell it as a reference platform.
I wouldn't buy it because of the cloud that hangs over the company, but the hardware looks nice.
The VCs must be a very optimistic bunch. Fusion Garage is 2 product cycle behind Ipad, one product cycle behind the current Android tablet entrant.
I don't see the Android tablets competing with the Ipad yet (the UX experience just isn't there). However, once Android tablets pricing drops to $350 in another 2 product cycles, sales will take off as people buy Android tablet in lieu of netbooks.
As long as people are not looking at Android tablet as netbook replacement, Android tablet would continue to be a niche product.
I don't see the Android tablets competing with the Ipad yet (the UX experience just isn't there). However, once Android tablets pricing drops to $350 in another 2 product cycles, sales will take off as people buy Android tablet in lieu of netbooks.
As long as people are not looking at Android tablet as netbook replacement, Android tablet would continue to be a niche product.
The most interesting quote from the article was probably "Chandra said transportation companies, hospitals and advertising agencies were interested in a customized version of the Joojoo." If that is in fact true and they can meet that demand, then I imagine there is a lucrative niche for them in low volume, highly customized tablets. You don't have to have mass market appeal and mass market sales to be successful company.
He's talking about a market, and possible luke warm interest in people's he's spoken too. It's basically marketing.
It's going to be easier to get a iPad programmer than a Joojoo programmer so it's unlikely many places will get behind a company that EOL'd their product in less than a year's time.
It's going to be easier to get a iPad programmer than a Joojoo programmer so it's unlikely many places will get behind a company that EOL'd their product in less than a year's time.
It's going to be easier to get a iPad programmer than a Joojoo programmer
Think hardware rather than software. If you're some obscure industry and need a small number of tablets that fulfill some obscure hardware requirements do you really think Apple is going to help you? Their best bet at this point is probably to take a good look at companies like Psion. Leave the mass market behind I focus on niche hardware for niche markets. There is still a very good chance that they will fail, but it is probably the only realistic chance they have.
Think hardware rather than software. If you're some obscure industry and need a small number of tablets that fulfill some obscure hardware requirements do you really think Apple is going to help you? Their best bet at this point is probably to take a good look at companies like Psion. Leave the mass market behind I focus on niche hardware for niche markets. There is still a very good chance that they will fail, but it is probably the only realistic chance they have.
The Joojoo is basically a Linux stack with Webkit on top of it. Either way, getting programmers would not be difficult.
VC's have nothing to do with optimism, and everything to do with who you are. If you're an "insider", chances are you'll get funded even if your product is absolute crap. If you're an unknown entity, good luck getting funded even if you have a killer product.
I also think Fusion Garage will have a very hard time finding people to work with them in the future.