Meizu MiniOne to miss CES; Jack Wong promises it'll be at CeBIT, your next softball game

We would have honestly been more surprised if Meizu had actually shown up at CES with a working MiniOne, but according to CEO Jack Wong it's not going to a happen because Meizu is busy "finetuning" the device -- and that it'll make its long-awaited debut at CeBIT in March. We'll see when we see -- Apple's lawyers would have us stalling as well -- but we were definitely suspicious when Wong also promised that the MiniOne would take us to California next week to meet its pro skateboarder friends and then drove off in an white '89 Camaro.

[rawhead @ Jan 6th 2008 1:09PM]

You know what this suggests to me? That, regardless of whether or not you like the iPhone, or Apple, you have to admit that it is a technological marvel. I mean if a knockoff manufacturer devotes a whole year to do nothing but frikkin' copy it to its bones, and still can't pull it off due to whatever reason (price? hardware? software?), that really says something about what they are trying to imitate.

[Vëon @ Jan 6th 2008 3:06PM]

A technological marvel that can't even send a SMS to more than one person at a time. Or MMS. Or copy-paste. Or record video. Or transmit data faster than dial-up. Or...

The iPhone is the slickest, most beautiful phone I've ever used. It's UI is a thing of wonder. So I guess I'd agree it's an *artistic* marvel. A marketing master piece definitely. A technological marvel? Not so much.

Anyway, your point is moot. The MiniOne's specs are completely different from the iPhone's (assuming it really exists). It's design and, let's say, 'operating philosophy' are the same, but hardware-wise, they're as different as any two random phones.

[rawhead @ Jan 6th 2008 3:24PM]

@Vëon

"A technological marvel that can't even send a SMS to more than one
person at a time. Or MMS. Or copy-paste. Or record video. Or transmit
data faster than dial-up. Or..."

Actually, everything you mentioned are things that the iPhone "could"
do, but don't currently, due to the lack of software (at least, not
natively... some of those are addressed by 3rd party software).
Besides, that's not the point, really, at all... all those things
are, as you know, stuff that other phones can already do, and I agree
it sucks that the iPhone can't do them already, but obviously, those
things aren't what's limiting Meizu from releasing their rip-off
clone.

[Richard Lai @ Jan 6th 2008 6:08PM]

rawhead: just for the record, firmware 1.1.3 is able to send SMS to multiple recipients.

[rawhead @ Jan 6th 2008 6:58PM]

@Richard Lai

Thanks for the tip. I knew I'd read that somewhere, but didn't have the source so didn't mention it.

[Michael LaFramboise @ Jan 6th 2008 1:20PM]

I can't even imagine what would happen to them if they would've actually shown up w/ that crap at CES... I mean honestly, cut all the "inspired by..." bullshit, if you can't see that this is a complete ****ing rip-off down to icons, and gradients, then you're either

a) ignorant
b) blind
c) have your head shoved up your ass
d) all of the above

[SteveMB @ Jan 6th 2008 3:04PM]

It's not ripping off the iPhone, it's ripping off the LG Prada. If you can't see that, you're ignorant. But this phone is 10x better than the iPhone. It even features an INNOVATIVE removable battery, LOL.

[IamfromIndia @ Jan 6th 2008 4:37PM]

SteveMB// You're replying(excuses) to all the negative comments posted here. Maybe you should work for Meizu as a spokesperson. No one really pays respect to the company who doesn't realize the importance of other's intellectual properties.

Why is it not ripping off the iphone? It's copying inside(OS, GUI) and out. You must be really 'ignorant' to call this a LG Prada copy and "10x" better than the iPhone. BTW, no one calls removable battery "innovative" these days.

[SteveMB @ Jan 6th 2008 4:46PM]

You are right, I should work for them. I would get paid, wouldn't I? That's a great idea! I was kidding when I said a removable battery was innovative, but what's unfortunate is that the iPhone doesn't have one, LOL. Actually I do mean it when I say that the M8 is 10x better than the iPhone. The ability to add 3rd party apps (something the iPhone can't do) with Windows CE is definitely a plus.

[Scott @ Jan 6th 2008 6:03PM]

And we all know that Windows CE has really been taking the market by STORM the last 10 years of it's existence. I mean, I hardly know anyone that DOESN'T have a Windows CE device and also think it's easiest thing to use ever! Oh, and...LOL!

[deviousduck @ Jan 19th 2008 8:57AM]

If your talking bout looks then yeah.. but as someone else has already said they are different in the way they operate

1st: the iphone is not 3g minione is
2nd: minone screen resolution is alot better
3rd: iphone has only a 2mp camera... jesus bit behind arent we
4th: minione extras camera on the front for video calling, gps, digital tv tuner...

So it make look very similar but operates different if you ask me meizu are doing what appple should have taken the time to do in the first place and release a full product.... i vote for the rip-off

[jd @ Jan 6th 2008 1:39PM]

mann. if these chinese engineers slacking off and taking more than a year to reverse-engineer the iphone. they should be all fired.

by the time minione comes up the next gen iphone will be announced.

[SteveMB @ Jan 6th 2008 3:02PM]

If they reverse-engineered this, it wouldn't have a removable battery. This thing is unlocked as well.

[Panathas17 @ Jan 6th 2008 1:39PM]

COOL!!! No we get to play softball with an iPhone-knockoff product... technology eh?

[TomTom2007 @ Jan 6th 2008 1:40PM]

why don't you just go crawl back to the hole you came from!

[Mr Corsini @ Jan 6th 2008 1:57PM]

hahaha, what a bunch of C**K suckers, nothing like the smell of apple fan boy in the morning. Aren't you boys gonna be late for your daily apple cult meeting? This weeks topic is 'how to brainwash the public with closed platform low specd overpriced phones and make them believe they are getting a great deal and that we are the gods of originality. hahahahahahahaha

[derX @ Jan 6th 2008 2:41PM]

A little crazed much?

I am not an Apple fanboii, however, I am level-headed. Now, the iPhone was announced before the miniOne. Although on paper the MiniOne > iPhone, the iPhone was still announced first thus the MiniOne is, in fact, a rip off.

And, Mr Corsini, give Apple all the crap you want, it's the only finger operated touch screen phone without major complaints about its touch screen.

Apple's devices might not do it all, but what they do they done well.

[SteveMB @ Jan 6th 2008 3:03PM]

How does the Meizu knock off the iPhone? If anything it's a knock off of the LG Prada. And then the iPhone would be a knock off of that.

[derX @ Jan 6th 2008 3:27PM]

SteveMB, I completely get what you're saying, the LG Prada was announced first.

But seriously, do you really think they were thinking: OMG, HOW CAN WE RIVAL THE LG PRADA'S SUCCESS?

I think not. Clearly it was the iPhone. Seriously, the iPhone has much more buzz than the Prada, who the hell talks about the Prada nowadays (especially relative to the iPhone)?

[roole @ Jan 6th 2008 3:34PM]

Get serious, SteveMB. Please check the history of Apple's patent filings on the iPhone, which starts as early as 2002, before you make outlandish -- and (no pun intened), patently false -- claims.

[SteveMB @ Jan 6th 2008 4:36PM]

Please enlighten me and "Show me the Patents" IT doesn't matter which one is more hyped about, the M8 would be ripping off the Prada.

[roole @ Jan 6th 2008 6:37PM]

Oh man, do I have to teach you how to use Google!?

[SteveMB @ Jan 7th 2008 9:35PM]

To prove your point, YOU, and only YOU, need to post your information.

[XiozTzu @ Jan 6th 2008 1:58PM]

fine-tuning = reverse-engineering

[jake @ Jan 6th 2008 3:20PM]

It's not reverse engineering as the miniOne shares no specs with the iphone except maybe the looks of the ipod touch. I don't get why none of you get that through you thick skulls.

[XiozTzu @ Jan 6th 2008 10:05PM]

When those no talent ass clowns start making some original stuff maybe then I will give them respect. Until then this is a lame iPhone rip off.

[Mr Corsini @ Jan 6th 2008 2:04PM]

yeah reverse engineering thats right....What has windows CE 6.0 got to do with OSX? in what way is this operating system a copy of the iphones? what has an ARM 667mhz processor got to do with the iphones processor? Totally different processor requires different firmware coding. What has a 720x480 regular touch screen got to do with 480x320 multitouch screen? uninformed clown. Know the facts before you spout bulls**t on here.

[SteveMB @ Jan 6th 2008 3:03PM]

And there's a removable battery.

[zzebi @ Jan 6th 2008 2:32PM]

By the time they release the MiniOne, the iPhone will have been on the market for almost a year.
Here we should really appreciate Apple because they can actually deliver real products in quantity and lead the market with them. Other makers are 1-2 generations behind them in both user friendly mobile phones and portable media players and just continuously trying to catch up.

[nintendo fanboy hater @ Jan 6th 2008 2:33PM]

i love how ppl hate on the iphone cause their beoved windows can hack it... even when they have had a year to figure it out after copying everything about it

[SteveMB @ Jan 6th 2008 3:03PM]

What the hell are you talking about?

[nintendo fanboy hater @ Jan 6th 2008 2:33PM]

i love how ppl hate on the iphone cause their beloved windows can hack it... even when they have had a year to figure it out after copying everything about it

[silverblackvoid @ Jan 6th 2008 2:39PM]

hey man, ur a racist. change ur engadget avatar.

[zzebi @ Jan 6th 2008 2:45PM]

It's been a year now since the iPhone was first introduced. Even a year ago, it was already a finalized hardware and almost fully finalized software as Jobs demonstrated it on MacWorld 2007. We can be completely sure that Apple has been developing iPhone 2 with much upgraded hardware for at least a year now. Since they have now lots of experience with the original iPhone, it is certain that they are very close to announcing a new version that will blow the competition away ... again. By the time Meizu MiniOne is released, iPhone 2 will be out (or introduced) and make it look obsolete already.

[SteveMB @ Jan 6th 2008 3:04PM]

Yeah, we'll see about that. I can tell you're an Apple fanboy.

[zzebi @ Jan 6th 2008 3:14PM]

Well, so far it looks like it's not Apple who needs to prove that it's capable of producing quality and successful products. Now I want to see the MiniOne in the stores. They've been in the news for almost a year with their "iPhone killer" but there is still no release date... Of course I'm talking about major US stores and not black/gray import of an illegal Chinese product. So far it seems like there is no way they can legally sell it in the US since the GUI is almost a bitwise copy of the iPhone's.

[SteveMB @ Jan 6th 2008 4:39PM]

If anything, it copies my 10 year old Palm's interface. How do we even know that is the final GUI? We don't, that's the problem.

[SteveMB @ Jan 6th 2008 3:03PM]

How are they notorious? Is the M6 a knock off? Not even close. Shut the hell up, and crawl into your hole.

[Mr Corsini @ Jan 6th 2008 3:04PM]

yes this is correct. But remember Meizu is a chinese company that make products primarily for the chinese market. The majority of the country cannot afford an iphone. It is plain stupid to compare a giant multinational corporation with millions of dollars for R&D with a small chinese company which only manafacturers 2 or 3 products. I think Meizu will have done amazingly well to outspec the first gen iphone and promise a release in march. If this phone is introduced at Cebit and functions well it will be an amazing feat by such a small company.

[roole @ Jan 6th 2008 3:21PM]

LOL!

Dozens of CES-related posts, all on non-Apple products and yet, what generates the most comment? An article about a (possible, or even vaporware) knockoff of an Apple product!

Why does it seem sometimes like Apple sets the agenda even when it is absent?

[SteveMB @ Jan 6th 2008 4:40PM]

I think you mean a knock-off of an LG product. Besides, this thing would kick the iPhone's ass.

[derX @ Jan 6th 2008 4:50PM]

Wow, SteveMB, you really aren't letting this thing go, are you?

We get it. You have your little calendar out in front of you and have the Prada being announced before the iPhone. Good for you.

The matter of the fact is just because the Prada was released first, doesn't mean it was the muse for Meizu. If you hold the Prada side-by-side with the iPhone and MiniOne it's pretty damn clear where the inspiration came from. There really wasn't a craze for touch screen phones like this before the iPhone.

To argue with those FACTS would make you, in fact, ignorant.

---------

Per usual, nothing personal.

[SteveMB @ Jan 6th 2008 5:02PM]

Is Meizu really ripping off the iPhone by using buttons with rounded corners? Or are they ripping Palm off? http://www.devour.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/ipod-vs-palm.jpg

[derX @ Jan 6th 2008 5:16PM]

....SteveMB, you cannot be serious.

WHO THE HELLS COMPARES WHETHER BUTTONS HAVE ROUNDED CORNERS OR NOT?

Know what, I realize that reason and logic do not appeal to you so I will try to to string together a string of random phrases and hopefully something will click for you. Here we go:

Red apple run faster than zebra cakes check out the ostrich that out ran famous US president Colonel Sanders, just do it, you're a star!

Worked?

How about some subliminal messaging.

Below is an excerpt from Shakespeare's Hamlet.

To be or not to be, that is the question;
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The [iPHONE]slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing, end them. [IS] To die, to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and[CLEARLY] the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to — 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. [WHAT'S]To die, to sleep;
To sleep, perchance to dream. Ay, there's the rub,
For in that [BEING] sleep of death what dreams may come,
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause. [RIPPED] There's the respect
That makes calamity of so long life,
For who would bear [OFF]the whips and scorns of time,
Th'oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
The pangs of despised [HERE] love, the law's delay,
The insolence of office, and the spurns
That patient [NOW] merit of th'unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat [ENJOY] under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscovered [THIS] country from whose bourn
No traveller returns, [WELL-WRITTEN] puzzles the will,
And makes us rather bear those ills [WORKS] we have
Than fly to others that we know not of? [OF LITERARY]
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,
And thus the native hue [ART] of resolution
Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprises of great pitch and moment
With this regard their currents turn awry,
And lose the name of action.

[PenaltyKillah @ Jan 6th 2008 10:33PM]

Yick... so they won't risk getting arrested on American grounds... Jack Wong and his pirate mafia Sino-capitalists are certainly the sneaks... and the miniOne looks so much thicker. And does anyone remember Vista's interface being ripped off? Microsoft should hire some lawyers by now, if they want some easy money...


... and the M6 miniPlayer's far overrated.

[Err0r @ Jan 6th 2008 10:56PM]

Great theory, except that Microsoft has people at Meizu working on the M8 too.

[SteveMB @ Jan 7th 2008 9:37PM]

M6 far overrated? What are you smoking boy? Besides, this thing is using Windows, so I don't know how it would knock off another copy of Windows.

[SteveMB @ Jan 7th 2008 9:37PM]

M6 far overrated? What are you smoking boy? Besides, this thing is using Windows, so I don't know how it would knock off another copy of Windows.

[Discosis @ Jan 6th 2008 11:29PM]

Well, I picked up an M6 in Hong Kong last week ... it's fantastic.

[Alan Strangis @ Jan 7th 2008 4:49PM]

Copy/Paste FTW!

Seriously, people griping about it being an iPhone knock off, so what? ALL these products evolved from something earlier... Palm begat Pocket PC begat Newton begat Treo begat WinMob begat iPhone ad infinitum. (yeah and a couple of those might be in the wrong order... I leave that up to anal crowd to dissect).

Hell, if Palm (or Sony's Clie division) was smart about 3 years ago and listened to the fan base at 1src etc., it would have made everything about the iPhone's innovation a moot point except multi-touch/rotate. I'm not the only one who wanted a phone crammed into a Palm TX or Sony TH55 back in 2004-2005. When I switched to WinMob a couple of years ago, one of the first things I did was a 3rd party launcher that has nice big icons like the iPhone (though it didn't exist in the day, so it was to simulate the Palm Launcher).

The point is, Apple helped take some of the fugly out of the smartphone market and added some great new concepts, but they didn't invent it. In some cases, they dumbed it down.

If a so-called knock off maker wants to make a WinMob device that looks more iPhone sexy, why not? Knock off artists have been doing this since the Levi jeans rush in mother Russia. Well before the iPhone came out I had a 3rd party launcher on my HTC Wizard that made it's start screen look a lot LIKE what I thought Palm's Launch should be (coincidentally, a lot like the iPhone).