Meizu's M8 MiniOne shipping January 17th?
By Conrad Quilty-Harper 
posted Sep 16th 2007 10:01PM
posted Sep 16th 2007 10:01PM
[Thanks, Alexander]
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A Price tag over $700 makes this thing less desireable to me than an Iphone. If it had 3G and 15 GB of NAND memory, it would probably be worth the money.
I just doubt I could trust this thing if it was made in China. Firstly I doubt the build quality could be that great and secondly, I'd worry about Lead Paint or exploding batteries.
When is SONY or Toshiba gonna make a worldband iphone clone?
15 GB NAND memory isn't likely. Memory tends to come in powers of 2 (2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, etc.) 16 GB is more likely than 15 GB.
Its Meizu; their mp3 players are pretty amazing, as good as or better than those designed in Japan, South Korea, and America. I'm willing to bet that at least half of the products within a 5 foot radius of you (including the computer you submitted the comment from) were made in China; there's no need to go xenophobic now that the mass media is pandering to it.
That said, I've been watching news about the MiniOne/M8 for a while and it looks like the holy grail of converged devices. Unfortunately it is also priced as such. With mass manufacturing, hopefully it'll drop into affordable range.
Uhh.. Your iPhone would be made in China too, y'know.
Just sayin'.
As a matter of fact, my computer was made in Mexico, interestingly enough.
It's not third world anymore. They are now referred to as LDCs(less developed countries). I guess they didn't want to hurt their feelings.
@william
dude chill, you sound like my old sunday school teacher.
@william
the Chinese stealing from foreigners?
what about the invention of paper money (not to mention paper itself)? who stole that? the compass? gunpowder? toilet paper?
all Chinese inventions. Go crawl back in your hole and wipe your ass with your fingers.
@Cheapy your a moron, if you haven't noticed, the majority of recalled goods have been for US Companies manufacturing/OEM from China i.e. Hasbro, Mattel and even the pet food was an American company. Electronics from China are still safe and so are 99.99% of all things that come from China and 'third worlds'. What's dangerous is ignorance like yours.
Shame Meizu is taking so long, i think they will be loosing a lot by taking so long to release their products.
These are good MP4 players from China:
http://www.mp4nation.com/products/index.php?PID=mp4
damn!All the pro-china comments got highest ranked.........Largest population + propaganda = world domination!!!!!!!!!!!DAWGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
You souldn't buy the product "MADE IN CHINA"... It's a waste of money. It will help Communism. It will help People's Liberation Army. It will help terrorism.
Wow... all anti-China posts are ranked as "Lowest Ranked." Great work, Chinese Communist Party!
not profitable for them to it,,, others like the d718i tri-band iphone have hit the market for 1/2 the price of the recently reduced iPhone price.
http://www.gadgetgreats.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=774&HS=1
Once people stop getting hyped about built-in memory, and get hip to expandeable memory card slots, and other features such as removeable batteries, wifi etc, will the big companies comply to your above request...
It costs more than an i-phone and is in chineese. the only real plus side is it runs a different OS but that might not acctually be a plus. so why buy one? And hopefully it isnt made out of lead or anti-freeze
Hasn't it been reported numerous times that it'd be less than the iPhone? "Straight from the horse's mouth"?
Wasn't there a recent press release by Meizu that stated that the M8 (American version) wouldn't come with phone capabilites? Or was I just hallucinating?
Most original phone I've ever seen.
You're welcome. I am really disappointed with the price tag, but it could also be since it is a reserve-type purchase and they are probably not even sure of the price that they will pay.
Also, I'm not trying to sound snobbish because I really like engadget, but that image is outdated. I believe the new m8 design is cleaner and more sophisticated. Especially without the big M logo on the bottom. Check it out
Maybe they want to compete in price with the iphone, but haven't noticed the price cut. It really looks familiar, and if I were them I will cut the price in half to compete with the iphone in a better situation, no chance here, too much iphone killers around, so the Meizu needs to reinvent the wheel and bring fresh ideas and design.
Good luck and a happy return on investment, you will need it.
-
whataboutmac
Actually the 16GB version will NOT cost $1000 or $700. I thought we had that cleared up. 2990 CNY which is around $400. http://meizu.com/bbs/dispbbs.asp?boardID=22&ID=505281&page=1
I love how everyone start their comments with a smiley on Chinese boards. Is that customary over there? Or are they all laughing their ass off the entire thread? I can't read Chinese!
Engadget are well aware that the 16GB model only costs $400 but they just cant bring themselves to post something positive/true about Apple product rivals.
Engadget, STOP getting 'news' from a place (Negri Electronics) we already established in other news release comments as a SHADY IMPORTER who jacks up prices to get preorders and isn't representative of the real price. This is just a random shady import website, NOT A SOURCE FOR REAL FACTUAL NEWS. Read the comments in previous 'miezu price released!' (ha) blogs from people that have seen this same schtick from Negri before.
Even if it was $700, it would be a deal compared to the iPhone or Nokia N95. I mean unlike the iPhone it is supposed to have a REMOVABLE BATTERY.
Ok last post. I didn't know you couldn't use HTML. Here's the link.
http://images.meizume.net/uploads/a1bd27f13e.jpg
Why buy 2 iPhones when you can buy this PDA with an interface ripped off the iPhone instead, for the same price?! And IT RUNS WINDOWS Mobile! Oh the joy!
Not.
First of all, you could almost get 2 8GB's if the M8 were
$800. But it won't be $800 and it will have 16GB of memory and a removable
battery.
Idiot.
Runs Windows CE, not Windows Mobile...
The Meizu M6 4GB version is about $90. It has more features than the old nano for half the price. The M8 will NOT be almost $800.
republic_of_cheats, do you mean Foxconn who was making iPods for Apple?
Actually, the products that are designed in the U.S. and manufactured in "China or other third-worlds" are okay, as long as quality control can be maintained, but the products that are designed/stealed and made in China, just like this Meizhou's knockoff, are "crap" you should avoid like the plague. They may be "cheap"(no?), but there is clear evidence that most Chinese imports, esp. toys, are contaminated with illegal levels of pesticides, lead and mercury... Just stay away from the chinese-made piece of crap like the plague. ;)
@Cheapy
Just a guess, you watch Fox News dont you?
Hey CHEAPY, Steve was asking for republic_of_cheats. Forgot to change back your log-in name before the reply?
And seriously, stop copying and pasting your crap all over these blogs. It's not doing anyone any good and makes your look more like a tool every time you do it.
Doesn't Apple have quite the track record for sueing companies that "steal" their designs/interfaces? the OS looks pretty similar to the IPhone.
"Doesn't Apple have quite the track record for sueing companies that "steal" their designs/interfaces? the OS looks pretty similar to the IPhone."
You're right... the "home" screen looks a lot like the iPhone which in turn looks a lot like Palm OS screens. If you recall, Palm PDAs had icons on the home screen as well as a set of soft buttons across the bottom, a touch screen, and rectangular rounded corner case years ahead of the Apple iPhone.
Also, Windows Mobile devices have had plug-ins (i.e. SPB Pocket PC Plus, SBSH iLauncher) which allowed icons on the Today screen with any background as well.
I won't argue that the Meizu M8 does not look a lot like the iPhone... I'm just saying there's only so many ways you can design a handheld touchscreen device before they all start looking alike.
It would be bad news for the handheld industry if Apple even attempts to sue Meizu because where would it stop if they were successful? Samsung for the F700 even though it was displayed before the release of the iPhone? How about the LG Prada?
I can't answer for the M8, but I do own an M6 and also a Teclast (chinese) Mp3 player and these players are my choice over the any of dozens (yes dozens) of players I have here (starting with the original Nano and through the new Nano tubby).
The Meizu and Teclast players I have are original designs and not knock-offs and are as good as anything designed in the USA, Germany, Japan or Korea.
What you have now is also a cheap knockoff of other brands: As you know, Meizu and other Chinese sweatshops have been "blatantly" ripping off every imagineable products known to humankind. The victims used to be iRiver, Cowon, Samsung, Sony and other established makes in Asia, but Apple is added to their target list nowadays. Here in Asia, the Chinese are "known to be" some of the "least creative" people on this planet; most Asians look down on the Chinese and most of us think that being called chinese is quite offensive remark. Anyway, "the Chinese need to stop piracy of copyrighted products".
Dear Truth_hurts,
Your words of deception and your distorted world view disgust me. You jerk.
Love, theoninator.
hey "truth_hurts", your mom's calling you, it IS bedtime, afterall. you must be extremely tired especially considering all the trolling you've done for today. it's ok now, go to bed, wake up in a century and start trolling again, but just stfu and go to bed for now.
oh and, your propaganda is kidding no one. yup, whatever you've been saying is pretty much disregarded by all of us. ouch. the truth indeed hurts, doesn't it.
bye bye now, shoo
If it costs less than $99, I'd consider this "Made-in-China" disposable product, though I know their quality is far "inferior". Other than that, bur-bye, Meizhou a.k.a. one of the most "notorious Chinese knockoff makers".
i like my chances with apple because most of these other companies since they are not base in the US really think they can get away with anything, and sometimes they do, for a example sony its one of them that if you misplace your receipt your screw, they dont even talk to you because they know your screw, and if your lucky to find it thats when they start hitting you with excuses and all kinds of things, apple for example, as long as its apple they will fix it no questions ask or even replace it, with out charging you a single penny, i dont have nothing against chinnese companies but i been burn so many times that am starting to loose hope on their products
"i like my chances with apple because most of these other companies since they are not base in the US really think they can get away with anything"
You mean like how Apple strong armed AT&T to go along with a 14 day return policy as opposed to 30 days like the rest of AT&T's phones? How about that restocking fee if you returned the phone within 14 days?
You may also want to read up on some reports of bad service with batches of Macs with leaking capacitors. Just do a Google search. Apple is just another corporation out to make money and will push the limits on how much they can get away with like any other company (i.e. requiring everything be done through iTunes for complete control).
Thank goodness there are still other products to choose from.
$788.50 ? is it made of gold? with diamonds inside? even then i wouldnt pay that much for it.
Finally!
iPhone chiller. Aye M8-eee. Shiver me timbers. In two months it'll have a price cut from $700 to $200. No price cut explanation necessary. No store credits. No angry outbursts. Nobody cares.
I'm thinking that's just a random rendered interface, but why does it look like the iPhone UI with stolen Vista images and icons?
Wow, some of you guys need to get out of that rock you live under and actually look up reviews on other Meizu products. Yes they are Chinese, and the Chinese are known for cheap products, but that doesn't mean that everything from there is crap. Meizu have been making MP3 players that are superior (in build quality and feature set) to the comparable iPods while costing less money. Also, I really don't see how they can be worse that past iPods since I know many people that went through between 2-4 iPods in under 2 years time.
yea, that price is way too high, no matter how many features they're stuffing into it. not to mention meizu's touchpad technology on the miniplayer is far inferior to the ipod's, so i question how well the touch screen will work on this one.
still, if it gets released for the $400 price that it needs to be at, people might even think they're getting a discount
Interesting... it has taken a long time... for all of this meizu hype, they really haven't been delivering... 16gb? in a pmp yea, but in a phone, you'd use up your battery tryna listen to just 1gb at a time...
My favorite is still the Digitalrise d718i.. they are a new company, but their iphone version is 1) available, 2) has removeable battery, and memory card slot, plus, it is come in White as well...
http://www.chinagrabber.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1382&HS=1
and oh ya, about tha minione, Jan 17 is like right before Chinese New year... even if it does come out before then, the production will be halted for 2-4 weeks....
We cannot dismiss China manufacturing as all products are made overseas and quality and manufacturing skills have improved rapidly. What isn't made in China? Actually China is better than many other Asian sources and they sent a man into space recently. Agreed that a totalitarian state is not sustainable, but we don't exactly live in total freedom either.
The point here is that the m8 is a knock-off iPhone just to make money, not a legit company trying to incorporate design elements of iPhone or otherwise. It's just a copy-cat without OS-X, so who cares. If you want a Windows based mobile device, look at the new HP iPaq or better yet buy an iPhone and unlock it.
actually if u read the apple boxes "designed in california, made in china"
GOD why spread rumors and crap, last i checked meizu said that the 500+$ rumors are FALSE and FAKE and has said several times to stop believing them, the original pricing was 300$ for a 8gb and 400$ for a 16gb so how could the price of a Chinese made hardware be more expensive than the american counterpart?????
Common sense dictates that the price is incorrect that you are telling people for the sheer fact that companys like meizu are known for undercutting the big western companys by almost half.
look... windows mobile is just too stripped down an OS, and applications for it usually suck balls...
on top of that apple bought the touch control patents... aside from the lil' gui on the main screen and the physical look of the phone, it will be NOTHING like an iphone... internet explorer on windows mobile SUCKS... (except on the PPC6700, and similar... Treo IE sucks) outlook on windows mobile sucks... attempting to install most apps on windows mobile is a chore... the damned phone CRASHES! and you have to pop the battery out to reset... on an iPhone style casing removing the battery is not an option...
IT WILL SUCK... I'm converting to a Mac fan, their hardware works mainly because they control the manufacturing of all of their products and their OSes and hardware are designed by the SAME COMPANY!
in short, microsoft had no hand in the hardware development SO Windows mobile will not be optimized for it, nor will it have any great features that couldn't be found on a PPC or WM Treo
Negri Electronics has received a lot of cirticisim on popular sites like Howardforums for their false information so I would advise everyone if you are seeking a truthful source on the M8 please visit www.meizume.com.
wow the defend china moonbats are out in full force tonight..LOL. Get a grip guys. lets be real. The chinese make substandard things and hilarious reworded knockoffs. Anyone saw the Wee DVD player? Or the now infamous Norkia?
Maybe we're just low ranking the IDIOTS.
I kind have an impression that all anti-China people are just repeating the same stuff...over and over. like that "truth hurts" guy. ok, you'v made your point, but u don't have to re-paste your entire comment again as a reply!
I'm looking forward to some reviews first before I get too excited. The iPhone has a lot going for it, but it's too restrictive for my tastes. Plus, for the same reason I have a Creative, I just don't like having the same toys as everyone else. I really don't care if Meizu is a copycat. If the product is good, I'm more than happy to pay to play.
In response to anything Truth_hurts has posted:
"Truth_hurts" indeed. The truth is meizu makes superior products for less money than overpriced apple products. The truth is that most people have literally and figuratively bought into the idea that any product with a partially eaten apple badge on it proves it is of the highest quality, that it is pure, that it is original and defines what paths other electronics companies should follow. The truth is the badge represents an effing monopoly.
The truth is that meizu borrows no more from apple than other competing mp3/media players have, and no more than apple borrows from its competitors. You can't "pirate" (???wtf???.. and "counterfeiting" is equally ridiculous) design from other companies - like it has been said, other competitors to the iphone like the prada also have similar designs, some of which where released _before_ the iphone. It really is natural for electronics to go slim, and for screen space to cover as much of the important face of the device as possible. (China may be known for piracy, but piracy means stealing software - it's only a result of the weak economy of china and the practicality of shelling out big bucks for stuff like windows. At least they have a real reason for stealing their software - the americans who complain about chinese software theft meanwhile sit on their money bags and download all the latest professional programs, games, and OSes for free (this is a generalization of course).) Your phrase which cobbles together something about the u.s. treasury, a fabricated percent "95", and piracy, has absolutely nothing to do with the subject you are trying to make a case for. Do you even know what the word piracy means?
Let me tell you something - racism is all about taking a group of people and applying a stereotype to all of them. Saying all chinese companies are just ripping off everyone else, and that they have low quality control every time is completely ridiculous. Try googling the line
meizu "research and development"
and I think you will find that they are not simply taking apple design and changing the logo. Any claims you have about meizu's likeness to apple products need to be equally applied to many other electronics companies, both chinese and otherwise. It's also pretty clear it's unfair to say all chinese products go through low quality control, considering your /godly/ apple products come through chinese factories just the same. If nothing else, let history be proof that stereotypes are not accurate. Or is it true that anyone who posts nerdrage comments on engadget has never been laid?
You're wasting your breath it's clear there are a few posters, all coming from the same source no doubt, that pounce on every story involving a Chinese company and spam the comments with xenophobic diatribe. They have an agenda to push and are not interested in reasoned debate.
I agree with Alan, but nonetheless, very well reasoned and versed thoughts.
As for the trolls/tools, the best thing we can do is to ignore them.
(And low-rank them :)
Thanks so034 for calling that guy out. It really hurts when you see someone use blatant stereotypes esp. racial ones. The xenophobia in this guy just cuts through my heart. If what he/she said was true maybe "established" companies should cease manufacturing their products in china, but here they are happily making their products knowing the general working conditions in china. And to Truth_hurts, you should know by now if it weren't for the foreign push to exploit chinese labor, china's economy wouldn't be screwed like it is now. Besides Meizu is one of the chinese companies that makes high quality pmps equal or better that "godly" apple ipods. Thanks again so034.
The generalisations of Chinese produce being put forth here are about a decade out.
They started out with cheap fabric knock-offs, then progressed to electronics copyright theft. Now, however, they're really beginning to catch up on the design and manufacture of such goods.
I was recently at a trade show where the Chinese product often equalled or surpassed the Western versions. All were manufactured with ISO 9000 and had current CE certification.
Give it another ten years...
PS a lot of the cars were built on the same production line as the western ones they were ripping off - just "after hours"
Fake, ignore this piece of news.
> damn!All the pro-china comments got highest ranked.........Largest population + propaganda = world
Yeah.. I noticed that too. I'm pretty sure that Chinese are busy clicking "+" button :)
Meizus - no wifi
Apple - 2-year-handcuffed-contract & no email client
...sticking with the HTC Universal
Meizu-16GB
Since when is China a third-world country? Did I miss the memo?
While certainly some products made in China are not high quality due to poor quality oversight, not all are. Most of the stuff that you wear or what you use is made in China, just check the labels. But you don't see things falling apart left and right, do you?
Personally, I find the looks of this device more appealing than iPhone. However, it's just a promo shot, it could be crap in real life, or maybe it could be the holy grail of convergence gadgets that iPhone was suppose to be. For $700 bucks though I'm not gonna buy it either way.
Judging by your comment. I am assuming you are another find product of the Broken American Education System.
Another month, another Meizu vaporware release. When do they, you know, actually ship?
Oh, and lol, it will be nothing like the iPhone apart from superficially. Lets just say they think they've created the same product as soon as the exterior looks the same, riding on the backs of the companies that do the actual R&D.
Produce some of your own IP, boys...What's that, it takes actual time? Yep, welcome to the real world kiddies.
Nothing special about China, except cheap labour and total lack of respect for other people's hard work...Not a single thing designed & manufactured in China is innovative...unless it's a Western/Japanese/Korean company that tells them how to make it.
All I can say is 1 mil iPhones sold - before the end of Sept.