Fusion Garage's Latest Creation (Update)

Fusion Garage is a company founded in 2008 with a vision to revolutionize mobile computing. At first, the company's idea was to use the browser as an operating system, similar to Google's Chrome OS. The difference between Fusion Garage's idea and Chrome OS. Is that Fusion Garage wanted to implement their idea on a tablet computer. They did.

The JooJoo tablet was created, a $499 tablet that ran an OS similar to a browser. All the apps you one were merely websites, and, although there are some extremely powerful and productive web apps, it just wasn't enough to keep Fusion Garage's JooJoo tab afloat.

The Grid 10 Tablet

As JooJoo died off, Fusion Garage was quietly planning something else. Something they thought would be big.
Something they call Grid.

The company recently introduced the Grid brand of products. The two devices that are currently up on their  website, the Grid 10 tablet and the Grid 4 phone, run Fusion Garage's new, Android based operating system, GridOS. GridOS is an individual operating system built on top of Android that provides a completely different user interface.

Although there is not much info about GridOS on the Fusion Garage website. The folks over at Engadget got a sneak peek preview, and we got to see a little more about the operating system. Firstly, the UI is very much based on the clean, simple grid-based style. It's a style that looks nothing like Apple's iOS or Google's Android. However, it does very slightly resemble the clean and simple look of Windows Phone 7. Also, the operating system comes with an emulator that allows it to run Android apps, although you'll have to download the apps from somewhere besides for the Android Market, as GridOS does not support.

The Grid 10 tablet device is available for pre-order now, but, at $499 for the 16GB WiFi only version, it's not cheap. However, you will get some great features such as data sync between any Grid devices, as well as the Grid desktop app for your desktop or laptop computer. The 10 inch tablet sports a sleek design, a high resolution display, and a front facing camera.

The Grid 4 Smartphone

The Grid 4 smartphone, not yet available to order, also will run Grid OS, and, like the tablet, sports a sleek and attractive design. The 4 inch phone has a 800 x 430 resolution, as well as a front and rear facing cameras. It will go for $399 unlocked. Carriers will be announced closer to the fourth quarter release date.

Overall, these two devices are sleek and simple, and, running an OS that is also sleek and simple, they may have a chance in the tablet and smartphone market. The problem with any tablet is the lack of apps, and, although Grid will have a native app store later this year, the fact that Android apps are supported is a great advantage.


(UPDATE: FusionGarage has lowered the price of the Grid10 by $200, making the entry-level version only $299)