So we finally had the chance to lay palms to Meizu's M8 prototype. Better yet, we set it up side by side with it's muse, the Apple iPhone. Let's be clear, the prototype is not functional by any stretch of the imagination. It simply turns on and then slaps up one of three images representing the home screen, dialer, or media player depending upon which of the three physical buttons you press along the bottom of the main display. The capacitive touch panel does not work at all. While the physical components may or may not be in place, this is clearly a very early engineering sample. Having said that, Meizu claims that the hardware is complete and final -- they are only working on their Meizu OS tweaks to the Windows CE 6.0 base. However, the GUI and icon designs are pretty much locked in at this point with only minor changes expected before this hits China this August for a to be determined price. Unfortunately, Meizu is still working on their international deployment strategy (duh, they're looking to sign up distributors at CeBIT) so they are not willing to commit to any dates or prices. Gotta say, for all our justifiable M8 bashing, the mini One felt good in the hand and the additional hard buttons, 720 x 480 pixel display, 3 megapixel camera and likely el cheapo price tag have once again perked our interests. Still, it's a long way from it's original 3G HSDPA and kitchen-sink roots and a bit too late (GSM/EDGE in 6 months, Puh-leeze) at this point to be anything more than a novelty outside of China. Nevertheless, the development lifecycle has been fun to watch. Click through for the main features and specifications expected at launch. Video in a jiffy.
Update:
Video now available, also of
the UI.
So here are the final specs and features now expected at launch:
- quad-band GSM/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
- Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
- 802.11b/g WiFi
- 3.4-inch 720 x 480 capacitive touch LTPS TFT-LCD
- 3 megapixel autofocus camera
- 667MHz ARM11 processor
- WinCE 6.0 based Meizu OS
- H/W encoder/decoder
- 107 x 59 x 11.9-mm
- 8GB of 16GB of flash NAND
- TV-out
- phone, music, video, camera, internet browser
- automatic backlight and display orientation adjustment
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Iain @ Mar 4th 2008 4:44AM
I have to admit, I'm still tempted.
HSDPA would've been nice and it's been a long wait but that screen...
Tom @ Mar 4th 2008 5:19AM
wtf ... this thing runs on EDGE?!
Iain @ Mar 4th 2008 5:34AM
Yes, and?
CUBSWILLWIN @ Mar 4th 2008 7:31AM
finally we see it. Not much of a special thing though
BradStar @ Mar 4th 2008 12:25PM
Wait... is that a mouse I see on the screen of the Meizu? Does this mean we get a mouse with our phone?
r3loaded @ Mar 4th 2008 4:45AM
That is actually......quite nice. Now if they'd change the design of the hardware and software..
LordFarkward @ Mar 4th 2008 4:48AM
huh? you're saying that it's "quite nice" but it needs to change its "hardware and software"... so what's its "nice" bit then? the fart it lets out? :p
r3loaded @ Mar 4th 2008 4:51AM
The specs and the overall device is fine, it's just that if the design didn't look like an iPhone, it would be good.
ethana2 @ Mar 4th 2008 5:48AM
Looks like an apple product
Runs on a microsoft product
I'm sure the masses will /love/ that.
...I'm not gonna think about getting a phone that doesn't come with a linux based OS like android or openmoko. I can just imagine weird encrypted file systems and non-USB connectors... like the iPod.
Carbonize @ Mar 4th 2008 6:07AM
@ethana2 - What has the OS got to do with what connections a phone has? Last I checked USB works fine on Linux. And given that most mobile phone manufacturers have agreed(?) to use mini USB as the standard for both connecting and charging I think you will find your future phone will has standard ports.
And why would Android come with "weird encrypted file systems" when the bloody thing is open source? Does Linux come with a "weird encrypted file system"?
Sukhminder @ Mar 4th 2008 4:50AM
Regarding GUI, WM 6.1 would be a good idea, especially after looking at the X1 and Asus phones. Probably easier to steal Apple's look.
kadajawi @ Mar 4th 2008 5:00AM
Yeah, they should just release it with an ordinary Windows Mobile version, and when they ready, roll out what they have created. If the hardware is finished that shouldn't be a big problem.
Iain @ Mar 4th 2008 5:11AM
I'm sure someone will find a way of using WM 6.1 with it.
Alan Strangis @ Mar 4th 2008 9:26AM
kadajawi, I couldn't agree more.
I've been waiting for a VGA (or higher) WM phone like this for a long time, sans keyboard. Why not get a base WM6 ROM version out so they can start getting some revenue in, then release their OS as a ROM update when they're ready.
(I'd go with E-TEN but always found their hardware a little too Soviet style)
Byzil Mystwing @ Mar 4th 2008 4:59AM
That's some pretty hot phone on phone action you got going on in the gallery there :x
Reader @ Mar 4th 2008 5:02AM
Those phones aren't all the creative, if you catch my breeze.
The General @ Mar 4th 2008 10:39PM
Penis bird avatar.
ReggieXuk @ Mar 4th 2008 5:10AM
Its pretty sad how companies think copying apple will give them a successful product
Mo @ Mar 4th 2008 5:42AM
actualy meziu came up with their design before the iphone
EJ @ Mar 4th 2008 6:39AM
@mo
hahahahahahhhhaa
James @ Mar 4th 2008 1:20PM
It's pretty sad how when companies make a revolutionizing product nobody cares but when Apple makes it - they were obviously the first ones and are geniuses.
wootman @ Mar 4th 2008 2:49PM
actually meizu is a pretty well respected brand, and have been making very nice players for a while now.
Homeboy @ Mar 4th 2008 5:10AM
Finally some evidence that the M8 isn't just thin air. Looks like a decent device and you can sign me up on the "interested" list. But I'm a bit disappointed that it doesn't have a tactile Yes/No button like Samsung and LGs touch screen phones.
technophobe @ Mar 4th 2008 5:11AM
It looks simular to the iphone, and was "inspired" by it, but theres not much you can do if you want a large touch screen display
Phill B @ Mar 4th 2008 5:17AM
Can anyone explain to me why any company would actually bother putting out what's blatantly a knock-off iPhone?
I mean, if the hardware + OS are good, surely there'd be more chance of success wrapping it in a new design and selling the product on its merits rather than trying to cash in on confused consumers who think they're buying a 'cheap' iPhone!?!?
xconan @ Mar 4th 2008 5:31AM
Probably they'll focus first on the China market since Apple hasn't been able to get an agreement with one of the 3 major mobile providers over there. 2nd they do have a patent on this phone over there regardless of knock-off or not. As for the multi-touch on Meizu there was a rumor that they were focusing on multi-touch screen capability. If it's cheap and stable it'll probably be a contender to the iPhone for most consumers who can't afford an iPhone but are looking for something close...
With the resolution it may just be worth it to get one for movies on the run. Unfortunately no sdhc support was mentioned.
Patriks7 @ Mar 4th 2008 5:34AM
ok now tell me exactly how its ripping off an iphone?
oh let me guess, it has a big screen touchscreen? many phones are starting to have that (LG Prada, Armani..)
then i guess it must be that button on the bottom? my LG Prada has that too, theres no way they can do it another way to keep it easy..
well then plz tell me cause im confused about that..
so ur telling me in the past every phone company ripped each other off cause each phone has a screen and buttons?
Sam Winter @ Mar 4th 2008 5:34AM
good point. I don't know why anyone with a shred of dignity would purchase one of these obvious low-quality iPhone knockoffs. I hate all these Chinese clone manufacturers... It seems like all Chinese manufacturers can do is rip-off western design and technology without contributing anything except low-cost (read: slave-like) labor. How can they have any self-worth or dignity left?
Phill B @ Mar 4th 2008 5:47AM
"ok now tell me exactly how its ripping off an iphone?"
Well in my opinion the form factor and interface design style and layout couldn't be made by anyone except a designer who was handed an iPhone and told "lets make ours look as close to this as is possible without being sued"...
You're right about the touchscreen/one-button technology + everything else but the design of the handset is blatantly a rip off.
Patriks7 @ Mar 4th 2008 5:59AM
id say its more ripping off the ipod touch design.. but maybe thats just me..
ray @ Mar 4th 2008 5:22AM
why don't they copy those Japanese phones, they are way more beautiful than ibrick.
haggis @ Mar 4th 2008 5:42AM
this is basically an iphone
for the genaral public!
who dont want to fork out
millions and sell your house
and sign their life to apple!!
cheap ooh yeah!!
Reader @ Mar 4th 2008 5:47AM
Your breaking between every few lines caused me to try to read your comment like a poem. It's not very poetic.
haggis @ Mar 4th 2008 5:50AM
sorry mate!!!
maybe you
cant
read
poems!!!!!
ethana2 @ Mar 4th 2008 5:51AM
フォークのうち数百万です。
あなたの家を売っています。
リンゴの魂にサインしている。
...was that any better?
haggis @ Mar 4th 2008 5:58AM
that was a complete
and utter chinese ripoff of
my comment!
joe23521 @ Mar 4th 2008 10:07AM
You mean a ripoff of the Chinese language? :P
coolbee8 @ Mar 4th 2008 5:44AM
Does the screen actually look good, in terms of colour reproduction or is it just raw spec?
g2 @ Mar 4th 2008 5:48AM
This company has no diginity left so they just blindly copy. It's a complete joke and Chinese people will reject it.
ethana2 @ Mar 4th 2008 5:52AM
"no diginity left"
"they just blindly copy"
"Chinese people will reject it."
Wait, what?
joe23521 @ Mar 4th 2008 10:08AM
The question is, will they reject AND denounce it?
coolbee8 @ Mar 4th 2008 5:48AM
Can you run windows mobile 6 apps on this?
Steffen Jobbs @ Mar 5th 2008 10:28AM
Fork over millions.
Sell your house.
Sign your soul over to Apple.
That's Japanese, not Chinese
Kelmon @ Mar 4th 2008 6:47AM
Wake me up when there's a product. Without even a working prototype this thing is still vapourware. Sure, it's entertaining discussing it but comparisons to the iPhone are a bit unjustified since at least Apple has delivered something to market.
Andy @ Mar 4th 2008 6:55AM
RnD 'Chinese style':
Step 1: Buy an Apple product and copy it
Step 2: (there is no step 2)
Carbonize @ Mar 4th 2008 7:01AM
Step 3 - Add more functionality to it and better codec support.
llren @ Mar 4th 2008 8:39AM
if apple's lawyers have not started barking, then you should just shut up.
Juju @ Mar 4th 2008 8:59AM
No, like this:
Step 1. Whatever you said
Step 2. ?
Step 3. Profit!
(if you know your South Park correctly)
tutut @ Mar 4th 2008 11:48AM
China's number of patents are amongst the highest in the world, ranked 7th in 2007 with a growth rate of 40%, highest growth amongst the top perfomer
Chinese technology company Huawei's number of patents rank 4th in the world after Panasonic, Philips and Siemens.
rawhead @ Mar 4th 2008 4:39PM
"Step 3 - Add more functionality to it and better codec support."
Correction:
Step 3 - Announce that you'll add more functionality to it and better codec support and spend the next 1.5 years actually developing the device, while in the mean time competitors are actually making their products, already on the market, better.