Meizu's 16GB MiniOne M8: $989 in 2008?

Official word from China is that the Meizu MiniOne (AKA, M8, the original iPhone killer) is expected to go up for sale in early 2008. While the final specs and price have still not been confirmed, that hasn't stopped importers from listing the 16GB version of the 3G MiniOne for $988.50 and a claimed "in stock" date of December 7th -- a date which may live in infamy (again) if true.

[Via PMP Today, thanks BrianB]

[Johan S @ Jun 30th 2007 6:59AM]

That thing better have the awesome responsiveness of the iphone (it won't)

And it better have a high res 800 pixel width resolution (it won't)

And it better have in call video capability to allow video conferencing and showing people this is what I'm looking at. (it won't)

[will @ Jun 30th 2007 7:13AM]

dude, someone's licking apple's nuts. such a fanboy. wow. how can you judge something that hasn't even come out yet?

[chadow @ Jun 30th 2007 7:14AM]

And you better admit its a better product if it does (you wont)

;)

[Mitch @ Jun 30th 2007 8:42AM]

"3.3-inch, 720 x 480 pixel touchscreen display"

Wrong, its better.

[kadajawi @ Jul 2nd 2007 1:35PM]

It as far as is known for now supports video conferencing (does the iPhone? Don't think so, without a camera for that)

[Dobba @ Jun 30th 2007 6:54AM]

Alessandra Ambrosio came to me in a dream last night, tore of her clothes and told me she was going to do things to me I swear are illegal in some parts of the world.

Guess what? Wasn't real. Just like this phone at present. Nothing but computer generated mock-ups.

Y'know - iPhone 'killer' or not, who cares - it just adds to the pot of better phones but when they have a proper physical solid phone to show other than a mock up we can all start singing it's rejoices.

Until then, it's nothing more than a fantasy. I'm gonna grab me 40 winks, I hear a Brazilian chick a calling.

[-_- @ Jul 26th 2007 10:24AM]

You, sir, make an excellent point wrapped in a simile that is almost worth taking sleep medication for.

[geezer @ Jun 30th 2007 7:17AM]

The world today seems absolutely crackers,
With nuclear bombs to blow us all sky high.
There's fools and idiots sitting on the trigger.
It's depressing and it's senseless, and that's why...
I like Chinese.
I like Chinese.
They only come up to your knees,
Yet they're always friendly, and they're ready to please.
I like Chinese.
I like Chinese.
There's nine hundred million of them in the world today.
You'd better learn to like them; that's what I say.
I like Chinese.
I like Chinese.
They come from a long way overseas,
But they're cute and they're cuddly, and they're ready to please

Gosh, I love Monty Python :D

[Richard Lai @ Jun 30th 2007 7:41AM]

Hmm... my ginger friend had always told me to check out that Monty Python, but which one is it?

[jilie @ Jun 30th 2007 7:19AM]

it gotta be a hard job to beat a dead horse

[BeyondtheTech @ Jun 30th 2007 8:07AM]

Maybe I was dreaming, too...

But did I read somewhere that it was supposed to be like half the price of the iPhone? And what's with December 7, 2008? Good Lord, Star Trek XI will be out by then and iPhone would definitely be at least a 2nd generation iteration already.

[Sinbios @ Jun 30th 2007 8:26AM]

It will be STOCKED on December 7, 2007, and up for sale in early 2008. Dunno why they're not aiming for the Christmas season, but eh.

[Dean Lowe @ Jun 30th 2007 10:29AM]

Christmas isn't a big reason to buy things in China. I guess, in China, Jesus doesn't tell people to buy shit for his "birthday" like everywhere else.

[周鹏 @ Jun 30th 2007 8:07AM]

Wow!Meizu Always give us good news,except something will be delayed or something is so expensive.

[M@ @ Jun 30th 2007 9:18AM]

Also why would you buy this? You know the 3G wont even work in America so it is pointless and you are paying more of a knockoff and all so far it has is a bigger hard drive....

[Keyn @ Jun 30th 2007 9:58AM]

No doubt, these speces they're giving are great, but do you really need 720x480 on a screen THAT small, yeah that will totally make a difference :o). Just like the difference between watching a movie on 720p or 1080p on a 20" widescreen TV. By the way good luck using Windows Media Player on this thing, like that ever won usability prizes. Do the math, Apple has experience in PMP since the beginning. This is just a Windows-based PDA which let's you make calls. Do you really expect this thing to do just as well or better with just that Windows platorm to rely on. The iPhone is made to do some particular tasks and Apple built a platform just for that purpose. Why do you think 3d party apps have to be made with AJAX, so they can't mess with the platform. I hope for the better because Windows Mobile 6 has great features but lacks great control. I hope there will be great apps made with AJAX because IE on Windows Mobile 6 also supports that.

[just a resident cynic @ Jun 30th 2007 3:20PM]

Actually buddy... YOU do the math, if this thing runs on Windows Mobile that means it already has something that the mobile apple devices will never have - an open platform for third party developers. Only letting developers use ajax etc for their apps is not a blessing - (and regardless of whatever their PR says) it _is_ a limitation and its one that's done soley for the sake of preserving their eco system tie-ins with getting you to buy apple approved h264 mp4 content bought from itunes, or say charge you for ringtones.

Allowing _real_ third party apps means you can get things like this for the phone;
http://software.palminfocenter.com/product.asp?id=8
….and thats is just one link I found from typing in "windows mobile mkv" into google just now to prove my point.

As for the increased rez - if it was the other way round and iphone had the 720x480 .....would you still be making the same comment? This could easily benefit web page viewing over wifi (& 3G/3.5G) and video as well as for UI.

And before you start saying that apple's UI etc cant be matched - take a look at what a guy who barely knew how to use flash and mortscript made in under 6 weeks for his windows mobile device;

http://www.downloadsquad.com/2007/06/25/better-than-the-iphone/

This is just a small sample of what a real open-ness to third party apps can do for your device - and if the 8 & 16 gb meizu M8w's make it to the UK, I've got a fair idea of what my next phone could be.....

be more open minded because this thing defiantly has just as much if not more potential than the iphone does.

[just a resident cynic @ Jun 30th 2007 3:25PM]

first link got cut off should be this

http://software.palminfocenter.com/product.asp?id=8905

"Audio:
CorePlayer Mobile allows you to take back your media! Enjoy your music with these supported formats: MP3, AAC, MKA, WMA, WAV, OGG, Speex, WAVPACK, FLAC, MPC, AMR, ADPCM, ALaw, MuLaw, MIDI

Video:
"It simply works!' Is what we hear from the community and what sets CorePlayer apart from other mobile media players. It support these formats and containers:
Video: CoreAVC (H.264), MKV, MPEG-1, MPEG-4 part 2 (ASP), DivX, XviD, WMV, MJPEG
Containers: Matroska, TS, PS, 3GPP, MOV, AVI, MPEG-4"

[Aries81 @ Nov 30th 2007 8:53PM]

I agree. Compare: The Windows operating system, much like a well-used Jenga Puzzle (holes in it's core EVERYWHERE). The Mac operating System: Solid like a rock. HMMMMM.... What to choose :-)

[Murfo @ Jun 30th 2007 11:11AM]

I'd take a Meizu over an iPhone everyday. Better resolution, 3G, more space and most important: 3rd party software. that means free software, emulators(woohah snes etc), flash and many more stuff. Ohhh, and copy-paste works fine.

[ecsk2 @ Jun 30th 2007 11:14AM]

It wouldn't be accurate to call this company an importer of phones, there are also other reasons for SERIOUS CONCERN in regards to this company!

Please refer to this thread:
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1107812&page=12&pp=15


Things to consider:

A) "Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau due to failure to respond to a complaint."

B) "NEGRI INVESTMENTS" is registered as a company that handles "Residential Property Manager"

C) The "company" was "Created: 2006-12-06"


Do you really want to send a company dealing with APARTMENT MANAGEMENT $1000 for a mobilephone, that you might have to contact BBB about later, only to get NO RESPONCE?

http://web.archive.org/web/20040330121556/http://www.negriinvestments.com/

[Err0r @ Jun 30th 2007 11:17AM]

I CAN'T BELIEVE ENGADGET POSTS THIS KIND OF JUNK, THIS IS FAKE!

/Err0r from Meizu Me (www.meizume.com)

[luke @ Jun 30th 2007 11:44AM]

this is bullshit, at least gizmodo has corrected their mistake... http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/iphone.s-estranged-cousin/meizu-minione-runs-989-next-year-273933.php

[Thomas Ricker @ Jun 30th 2007 4:15PM]

Uh what mistake did we make exactly. It is a fact that Meizu's official corporate voice responded with an early 2008 date. It is a fact that some no-name importer has the M8 up for sale for $989. It is also general knowledge on Engadget that importers charge fees for their services. The post even says the specs and price have not been confirmed.Oh, and I'm one of the few people in the english press who has even spoken directly to Meizu about the M8.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/17/meizu-discusses-minione-at-cebit-us-and-europe-launches-expecte/

Thomas

[BrianB @ Jul 2nd 2007 9:42PM]

Price and full specs are still unconfirmed. That's what the letter from Meizu says. Heh, I wrote like a paper journalist when I should've come out with title like this: Don't buy the "Chinese iPhone" From This Site.

[sfokevin @ Jun 30th 2007 12:48PM]

Why is it taking until December 7th???? You would think they could have knocked off the iPhone sooner given that Steve told them about it back in February!!!!

[Jamar @ Jun 30th 2007 1:04PM]

They're aiming to beat the iPhone's official Asia release date (apparently mid-2008), that much I can tell. And I'll welcome them- because Meiu is far more open (I like to use my Java appli *offline* and not have to rely on the browser for appli)

[Deezee @ Jun 30th 2007 3:12PM]

Why does that say 988 bux? That cant be the real price can it?

[Genius of the Crowd @ Jun 30th 2007 5:42PM]

The Meizu M8 doesn't run on Windows Mobile 6, it runs on Windows CE 6..there's quite a difference.
From the looks of it, the phone will be running a Meizu UI on top of Windows CE. There is a lack of third party support at the moment for CE devices.

[ecsk2 @ Jun 30th 2007 7:46PM]

"Thomas Ricker @ Jun 30th 2007 4:15PM

It is a fact that some no-name importer has the M8 up for sale for $989"

Why do you call an online site by Ryan Negri (with UNSATISFACTORY RECORD with BB after 6mo of being online) who deals with APARTMENT MANAGEMENT an "no-name importer" his "Negri Investments" collects rent from tenants as seen from his site:
http://web.archive.org/web/20040330121556/http://www.negriinvestments.com/

Not sure what your definition of "up for sale" is but there nothing legit about the Negri Electronics prices nor tactics.

[Deezee @ Jun 30th 2007 8:07PM]

Never mind just saw the real price is $450. Whew.

[Randomness @ Jun 30th 2007 9:31PM]

OK, so everyone just getting to this party, the article is talking about some random asia importer site called Negri, with NO connection to Meizu, who posted a price and release date trying to get preorders and rip people off. Don't buy from them, this is just a scam. Engadget is turning into a tabloid mag... :-|

From more official sources, the M8 is still looking like a 1Q08 release date, with variants of 4GB($250), 8GB($450), and 16GB($?).

[ecsk2 @ Jul 1st 2007 10:11AM]

"the article is talking about some random asia importer site called Negri"

Ryan Negri and Negri Investments deals with COLLECTING RENT FROM TENANTS as an Aparment Management company. See my posts above and links.

[just a resident cynic @ Jul 1st 2007 7:16AM]

Well Genius, one could still google and find out that even if the was less third party development than with windows mobile - its still a more than what apple is letting people do. There are actual SDK's. And if one were to google some more one could also find out that there is this for windows CE devices

http://www.hpcfactor.com/qlink/?linkID=105

....And one could also find out that there is even a version of VLC player being developed for windows ce devices which is being updated nightly. Third party apps still enables functionality that exeeds what the iphone will let you play natively.

this is just what is out today - with sdk's free avaliable, Imagine what can be out tomorrow...

[ryan @ Sep 29th 2007 1:06PM]

ecsk2

You really have issues with everything dont you.

Do me a favor, contact Negri Electronics and have a conversation with them.

Its really sad that you go out of your way to do things like that. I have been a customer of his for over 3 years, dating way back to their Ebay days.

Its just a shame people like you, who never spoke to, purchased from, or even emailed them, can feel so much anger that you have to post things like that.

Your comments about them collecting rent, why pay them for a cell phone that youll have to contact the BBB about later.

its humorous really. Its just too bad for an honest hard-working company that there are people like you on the web.

[Aries81 @ Nov 30th 2007 8:49PM]

While the M8 SOUNDS GREAT, It's probably never going to happen. If it does, it's not going to be nearly as good as it claims.