First "real" snapshots of Meizu's M8 supposedly surface

We'll be the first to admit that the first "real" photographs of Meizu's M8 still appear mighty doctored, but hey, so long as the final product looks this good, we'll be content. Nevertheless, the firm has made available three supposed snapshots for us to drool over, and while we're far beyond the point of actually believing anything these guys say in regard to a release date, the latest news on that front has the finalized unit ready for testing by the year's end. 'Course, there's still no set date for actually getting it into the needy hands of consumers everywhere, but the most recent price estimates peg the 4GB M8 at 2,380CNY ($314) and the 8GB version at 2,880CNY ($380). Per usual, feel free to peep the other two snaps after the jump.

[Via MyMiniOne]

[Argot @ Aug 12th 2007 12:33PM]

So WE are the ones being closed minded? How is pointing out that the LG Prada came out first and that the iPhone and the Meizu looks like it being closed minded?

[Argot @ Aug 12th 2007 11:34AM]

It looks kind of like the LG Prada, just like the iPhone.

[Rodrigo F. Viecilli @ Aug 12th 2007 11:36AM]

If it works properly and has a gps it will be my phone.
Still considering the htc kaiser and the new usa/3g n95 though.

[Rodrigo @ Aug 12th 2007 11:38AM]

Which will be the best: new 3g n95, htc kaiser or this one?

[Rodrigo @ Aug 12th 2007 11:39AM]

I mean considering they will have the GPS option for this one!

[Irwin @ Aug 12th 2007 11:40AM]

omg this doesn't look half bad, when do we get to see a feature list, or is there already one out

damn thats sexy

[Dinraj @ Aug 12th 2007 11:40AM]

The on-screen images are definitely simulated. The meizu design guy did'nt do a good job there. The 3rd image looks a lot more real. Real world lighting.

[Ryan Buchanan @ Aug 12th 2007 1:32PM]

The whole showing screen is photoshopped. Look at the top of the display... it doesnt match the perspective of the actual device. The top left is lower than it should be.

[Josh H. @ Aug 12th 2007 11:49AM]

That couldnt possibly look anymore like an iPhone. I mean, you gotta admit, it even has the small plastic part on the back and the 4 icons in the "dock" at the bottom. Wow.

[Argot @ Aug 12th 2007 12:00PM]

No, the iPhone is a LG Prada ripoff and so is this phone.

[Todd Long @ Aug 12th 2007 1:20PM]

@ Argot

...but the iPhone rocks the LG Prada.

[Miles @ Aug 12th 2007 2:39PM]

That's what they were aiming for.

[LuminousNerd @ Aug 12th 2007 11:50AM]

How can anybody even take this seriously? It is an absolutely blatant rip-off of the iPhone...couldn't possibly be more obvious! How is this not grouped with all the chinese iPod knockoffs?

[Argot @ Aug 12th 2007 12:00PM]

I group this phone into the LG Prada ripoffs together with the iPhone.

[LuminousNerd @ Aug 12th 2007 12:03PM]

Right...

[dxfi @ Aug 12th 2007 12:12PM]

I'm allergic to Apple fanboys.

[dj-kenpo @ Aug 12th 2007 12:15PM]

I'm allergic to LG n00bs.

[Miles @ Aug 12th 2007 2:42PM]

Parada was in development around the same time as the iPhone.

The only way either of them could've stole from each other is if they had some inside guy in the other's company.

And even then the Neo1973 had all the multi-touch and touch screen stuff announced in 2005.

[Michael @ Aug 12th 2007 2:50PM]

Yeah we know it's an iPhone ripoff already! Anyone with half a brain of common sense can see that. You don't need to point it out. But it's supposedly cheaper then the iPhone, and supposedly has better capabilities.

This is what I've been waiting for, I love the iPhone and now that Apple has set the new standard I want to see what other companies do with the same design.

[gukarma @ Aug 12th 2007 11:23PM]

People can take it seriously because it has features the iPhone lacks.

[Argot @ Aug 12th 2007 12:09PM]

Hey everybody, I'm an Apple hater! Look at me! Flame me, please, flame me! Apple developed the hardware and software for the iPhone all in less than a month after the LG Prada was revealed!

[Cristian @ Aug 12th 2007 3:08PM]

Funny, that's the same argument people make when someone calls Creative's Zen Vision:M an "iPod ripoff".

But that doesn't stop Apple fanboys from calling it such.

[Jon @ Aug 13th 2007 4:00AM]

Less than a month? The LG Prada was out here a few months before the iClone was released.

[mark @ Aug 12th 2007 12:13PM]

which came first, the lg or the ipone?

[Argot @ Aug 12th 2007 12:26PM]

The LG Prada came first. But the Apple fanbois just crank up the RDF and ignore that fact.

[Cleverboy @ Aug 12th 2007 9:55PM]

Let's get this straight. While "Argot" is clearly a hyperactive troll, its important for people looking for real info, that while the LG Prada was "demoed" first, we actually DO NOT KNOW which phone actually "came first" (much less agreeing on what "came first" refers to).

Even the Neo 1973 isn't in the "came first" category. Showing a collection of concept drawings isn't really the same as demoing an actual working product/prototype. Should Apple have showed a "concept" drawing and released all its plans 2 years ago? That'd be kind of dumb, wouldn't it?

I'd gladly say the LG Prada "shipped first", however so did the HTC Touch (which shipped early June), which was clearly influenced from the iPhone keynote in January. LG Prada did not originally have a brand partner announced like "Prada", and subsequent to the iPhone January announcement went from "neat experiment" look, to "fashion plate", going completely black and changing its original interface substantially (remember those leaked shots?) People who've used both phones say the iPhone has clearly had more QA put into its presentation. While Flash Lite is easy/quick to change visually, it doesn't actually support multi-touch yet, so there's a substantial gap in that.

I realize most people chattering don't actually pay attention to these product evolutions, but you can be sure the companies themselves do.

Proof is in the pudding however. Argot, please just STFU.

What will be really really interesting about the Meizu and the miniOne (expected delays notwithstanding), is that they may be the first substantive company to SHIP a product after having had first-hand access to the iPhone. Facing facts, they've publically admitted to copying the iPhone aesthetic, so let's move to the next step... will they be able to copy and THEN improve it with same ease-of-use, similar UI innovations (multi-touch, predictive keyboard, no scrollbars, pinching, etc), and MANY more features (GPS,removable battery,swappable memory) for less money. Throw in the benefits of an "open" Windows Mobile platform, a webkit compatible browser with zooming (or Opera), and an unlocked version will be money in the bank for them.

[Bart Lee @ Aug 12th 2007 10:43PM]

Comparing the Prada to the iPhone is a joke. LG's phone isn't even worth a mention any more. Have they sold twelve yet?

[nyuhsuk @ Aug 13th 2007 5:39AM]

Regardless, who actually 'makes' the iPhone anyways? Some sweatshop in SE Asia? Most likely?

Is there a possibility that leaks of Apple's design may have been given to this Meizu company? Just curious as most companies seem to be having their products constructed in these regions...

[Mr Corsini @ Aug 12th 2007 12:16PM]

720x480 screen res, 3 mega pixel camera, 667Mhz ARM processor, third party apps support, windows CE 6.0..........Don't sound like an iphone or an 'iclone' to me

[Philometalist @ Aug 12th 2007 12:17PM]

This is just shameless...

[greeny @ Aug 12th 2007 2:34PM]

THIS...IS...SPARTA!!!

[Jt Hollister @ Aug 12th 2007 12:19PM]

Also, even if the Prada did come first, which I'm not sure of, the Prada isn't really anything at all like the iPhone...whereas what we're looking at here is completely identical, in both form factor and even the interface. It's a completely transparent rip-off, and I hope sincerely that Apple finds a way to make their lost profits from this back.

[Garst @ Aug 12th 2007 2:13PM]

I'll give you the form factor rip-off, but not interface. How is this any different than any other PDA-style smart phone? The M8 will probably keep the bottom four icons that would be a rip-off, but the rest of the screne will most likely take on the traditional Windows Mobile main screne. You could already see a screne like this on any Windows Mobile PDA for years now, you just had to go to the Programs folder. And hopefully, Meizu will have a slot for a stylus for those of us who actually like the handwriting features of the Windows Mobile products.

[DickHardknocks @ Aug 12th 2007 12:21PM]

Ill take ANYTHING but an apple product.
And I wont look back.

ZUNE is better than Ipod.
PC is better than Mac
XBOX is better than...oops, Mac doesn't have a game console.


I'll be low ranked, but I;ll take that as a testament to apple fanboyism. :P

[Jt Hollister @ Aug 12th 2007 12:24PM]

And automatic Apple-hater is somehow better than "Apple fanboyism"? You're a moron. I hate Microsoft's guts, and I sincerely believe that they have released a whole lot of very poor product, but at least when the Xbox 360 came out I gave it a chance, and while I didn't like it, I still think it's the best console available. I don't let my hatred for Microsoft get in the way of the advancement of the human race.

[ElMAGNiFiCO @ Aug 12th 2007 2:57PM]

I don't think you should have put the Zune on this list because we all know who is dominating the music market. Microsoft sold 1 Million Zune since it came out, While Apple sold 80 Million iPod in 3 Years which is MORE then 2 Million a MONTH!!!

[yougotjokes. @ Aug 13th 2007 11:46PM]

if it wasnt for the ipod
you would not have a zune.
if it was not for mac
you would not have a pc
if it was not for playstation
you would not have a xbox
but if you did have a brain
you would not make dumb comments.

[Trenton @ Aug 12th 2007 3:35PM]

And if it wasn't for Xerox PARC inventing the mouse and GUI,
you wouldn't have Apple.

[Bogdan @ Aug 12th 2007 12:22PM]

If this unit has GPS, I'll get one as soon as it is available.
I mean SIFRIII and text-to-speech capabilities.
Do it, Meizu, and you can have my money.

[Niles @ Aug 12th 2007 12:45PM]

2001: Apple's iPod revolutionized the Portable music industry with it's simple easy to use interface, and beautiful design. In 2004 according to Apple at the macworld address, they began to develop the iPhone. The LG Prada would be released in 2006 and the iPhone after two years of development in 2007. The Meizu M8 design was released January 10th 2007 when some guy with photoshop, thought here's our next product. In my opinion the iPhone is better than the Prada and the Prada is better than the M8 which is a pathetic knockoff. Even if the iPhone was a knockoff of the Prada, at least it has some obvious design differences in it's form factor. With the M8 you just have a iPhone with WinMo and a white plastic back.

[Jeremy @ Aug 12th 2007 12:59PM]

How do you know what's better than the M8? Have you used one? I know you said in your opinion but how can you form an opinion of something you haven't tried. Is it a rip of the iPhone? Most definitely it is, that's what Meizu usually does but they do it pretty well as their players have been reviewed highly. Apple won't lose too much profit of this thing either anyway. People that were set on getting the iPhone are still most likely going to get the iPhone. The M8 will sell also but probably mostly to the people who don't like Apple and to the people who wants an iPhone alternative to work on their non Cingular/AT&T GSM network

[Mr Corsini @ Aug 12th 2007 12:46PM]

'whereas what we're looking at here is completely identical, in both form factor and even the interface. It's a completely transparent rip-off, and I hope sincerely that Apple finds a way to make their lost profits from this back.'

haha what a d**k head! this runs windows ce 6.0 how is that the same inteface as an iphone? does apple have a patent on all touch screens with icons now? this phone out specs the iphone in every department and i hope they sell millions and cut in to apples profits heavily to get them back for their disgracefully overpriced phone and the 'closed' resticted nature of their software and codec support

[Timothy @ Aug 12th 2007 5:05PM]

Too bad they won't sell a single one in the U.S. They wouldn't get anywhere before they were sued into bankruptcy. A 3 year old would be able to see what a complete rip off this is.

[jaalin @ Aug 12th 2007 12:47PM]

meizu has always opted to just rip off apple design, but what they lack for in original design they make up for in features. my meizu miniplayer is an obvious design rip of the ipod nano, but in addition to having a larger screen and video capability, it's also got a better sound chip, ogg capability, SRS sound effects, and my computer sees it as any typical usb hard drive.

similarly, the m8 phone obviously takes its design cues from apple, but the features are expanded, the size is smaller, and the build quality just as good. it's there to provide consumers a choice - i'm sure many of us wished the macbook or other previous apple products would ship with windows - the meizu m8 is kinda like that, with the iphone.

word of caution, though - while having all the increased hardware on my miniplayer, the software is clearly a few steps behind the ipod's. it lacks fluidity or the sort of user functionality that something like a cowon player would have. it's not a big problem, but for those more "sensitive" users, meizu's lack of a "soul" may be discontenting. i'm sure meizu has gotten better since my miniplayer purchase, and by using windows software much of the problem may be alleviated (at the same time creating much more!), but for me, the increased number of features and the smaller size are more important that an overall sense of "completeness."

i'd like to see a side-by-side comparison of the m8 and the htc touch!

[joe23521 @ Aug 12th 2007 2:27PM]

Okay, somebody please explain to me how the Meizu MiniPlayer is an obvious ripoff of the iPod Nano? I'm not trying to be a smartass or to defend Meizu...I truly don't see the resemblance between those two products.

[jere @ Aug 12th 2007 4:48PM]

Re: joe23521 it actually isn't very hard to notice a resemblance. Look at the icons on the bottom of the screen. Now look at the chrome lining around the screen. Now check that lone button on the bottom. That's a start for you.

[joe23521 @ Aug 12th 2007 8:15PM]

I was asking about the MiniPlayer vs. iPod Nano...Not the M8 vs. iPhone.

[jere @ Aug 19th 2007 12:03PM]

haha wow I'm stupid my mistake

[DarkAardvark @ Aug 12th 2007 12:49PM]

i think i'd still rather go with the openMoko. linux ftw?

[vern plageman @ Aug 12th 2007 12:50PM]

By the time they release this phone it will be soooooooo old school. Oh! How many ongoing patent infringements lawsuits against Apple are there right now? 6-10? Most of them dealing with the iphone display. Time will tell, who the real ripoff artists are.