Meizu M8 apparently launching in China, India this December
By Donald Melanson 
posted Sep 29th 2008 4:50PM
posted Sep 29th 2008 4:50PM
All indications have certainly been pointing towards the Meizu M8 finally, actually being released this year, and it looks like things just got a tad more official, with Taiwan-based retailer Geek IT Stores announcing that it's signed up as a distribution partner. While it didn't announce a date in its press release, a bit of prodding by Tech Ticker apparently convinced the company's sales head to reveal that the phone would be released in December, with China first on the list to be followed shortly by a roll-out in India, where it'll run you between Rs. 18,000 and Rs. 22,000 (or roughly $384 to $469) for the 8GB model -- which, incidentally, is apparently the only model that'll be available at launch.
Update:some new UI pics here.
[Via Electronista, Tech Ticker]
Update:some new UI pics here.
[Via Electronista, Tech Ticker]
what's this now?
I wouldn't mind them, if they didn't try to act so oblivious to the fact that the M8 is clearly a carbon copy of someone else's work.
@PJ
“Those Taiwanese, they're innovators!”??????!
Meizu is a company in China Mainland,they are all Chinese!
Apple could really learn a thing or two from Meizu.
Learn what? How to take two years stalling the release of your copycat phone with a slow leak of computer simulated images?
@MacVicta
Congrats on killing a perfectly good joke.
No, how to make an "iPhone killer" that costs more than an iPhone. That's just awesome and how ingenius to make it more expensive, with less memory. Those Taiwanese, they're innovators!
it costs less than a retail unlocked iphone..
Is that Flash on the Meizu!!!?
I wish the iPhone had that....
omfg what a piece of cheap knock-off crap
And yet it offers more than the iphone so Knockoff? yes Cheap? yes Worth buying? YES
nah. the features/hardware will look great, but the OS will suck hard ... count on it.
Knives_Out It runs WM6 i believe..that or CE...either way it should be good.
I'm going to have to say this thing looks way to close to the iPhone, I prefer to go with the HTC touch HD as oppose to this thing. I for one love the iPhone, but i hate the iPhone trend.
Nice
Yeah, that doesn't look like the iPhone at all.
What's an iPhone?
ITT: People who have never heard of the M8.
ITT: you're not on 4chan anymore
ITT: Only OP is FAIL.
go here and educate yourselves >>>> www.meizume.com.
Meizu are actually said to be contributing to the devleopment of windows mobile 7 as they are one of the first companies in the world to devleop a cell phone using a Win CE 6.0 architecture which Microsoft are using as the basis of Windows Mobile 7. Bare in mind the M8 will have one of if not the most powerful CPU's of any phone currently available. SAMSUNG ARM sc6410 @ 667Mhz. Plus 256MB of ram.
No mobile phone manufacturer I am aware of has even attempted to make a fully customised Win CE 6.0 interface yet for a cell phone. Very few companies are even developing using the platform yet. Even Pmp manufacturers like Cowon and Iriver are still using Windows Ce 5.0. Windows Ce 6.0 has had its whole kernal redesigned from scratch, it can run thousands more processes at once and is bound to be superior in many other ways.
HTC and all those other companies are trying to customise a dated platfrom (Windows Mobile 6.1) which was never meant to be used for finger touch input. All those qualcomm CPU's are sluggish at best and the UI's of all those cutomised winmo 6.1 phones look dated and feel convoluted once you get deep into the menu system. Those CPIU's also have poor 3D graphic acceleration and cannot support high res video properly.
Everyone can keep shouting clone all they want, but it simply shows a lack of knowledge and understanding. The components that will be used are some of the best and most cutting edge available. I believe they may also use ta Wolfson audio chip, the company are said to produce some of the best audio decoding chips around. This phone has been in development for 2 years. The video shows the great potential this phone is already showing.
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=iDQ-coSHPCQ
Unlike the original renderrings (which were very clone like), the interface bares little resemblence to the iphone. People need to start realising what a great achievement this handset will be if it is recieved well and functions smoothly. Meizu ( a small chinese mp4 player manufacturer) will have in essence done what no other multi national corporation on the planet has been able to do to date. Produce a finger touch based call phone to rival the user experience of the iphone. Except it will have none of apples self imposed restrictions. Avery welcome addition to the market IMO.
the CEO looking at the phone photo gallery of little asian girls and zooming in and out... on a demo video.. a little creepy. but some nice unintentional comedy right there
Little resemblence? I noticed quite a bunch of features that worked exactly the same way than iPhone... Talk about innovation. It's a sophisticated clone, no matter what you say. I guess Meizu just had to change the design in order to avoid legal issues with Apple.
Sure, it's awesome but it's goind to be poorly supported and just another iPhone clone. But I welcome the competition, maybe that'll bring some nice features to my iPhone in the future. I hope Apple takes the situation as a challenge and not a threat. They'd be forced to loosen their policies... Which would be awesome, of course.
If you were in the industry as a developer you'd know a lot more folks are on WM7. And WM7 for the mobile platform isn't going to support "thousands" of processes. Sorry. your enthusiasm is nice to see, but sadly misplaced. WM7 != Jesus.
Also, lets not get carried away. Their CEO, officially and unofficially has released videos showing how cool this thing is and how much it's like an iPhone (they had even ripped off the 'clown fish' wallpaper in their video!). When the CEO doesn't have any respect for intellectual property (rip-off), I lose respect for the company as such.
WM7? Maybe it will be as good as Vista...
This news is also completely unsubstantiated and has no substance to back it's claims. Please look at Geek IT's website >>>
http://www.geekitstores.in/
they seem to sell cheap junk and it doesn't even work.
News like this has gone a long way in tainting Meizu's reputation. 95% of the info reported by many of these blogs about meizu is actully untrue.
Ok... so, it has somewhat impressive hardware specs, on paper. If those megapixels in the camera really makes for good pictures (Transcend lens quality in tech-specs) or how less tangible things like touch-panel, reception, voice quality ACTUALLY comes out well though?
Remember: This is a Chinese MP3-player manufacturer, who makes their first cellphone. Quality concerns anyone...?
But whatever, it'll be fun and looks decent... oh...whaaat... wait, THAT much for a CHINESE (not even Taiwanese...) iPhone knock-off TWO YEARS later?!
Err, no thank you. Go innovate.
I'll much rather go HTC touch or actual iPhone (if it wasn't locked and overpriced that is :D)
The iPhone isn't overpriced in the least bit. Can you not pay 200 bucks for a phone? A RAZR is that much.
An unlocked RAZR is under 200. How much is an unlocked iPhone? Oh yeah...
I own a Meizu M6 and it is even better than my previous iriver player. And that means quite a lot.
If the M8 is as good as the M6, and works well, I would take it any day over the iPhone. Even if it would cost more. Which it won't, as the iPhone 3G 8 GB costs 866 € at least, with conditions which are worse than almost any prepaid card gives you. No thanks. Is the iPhone overpriced? No, smartphones are expensive. But the M8 will cost much less, and probably have better sound quality, which matters to me.
You have to remember that the Meizu M6 is not their first MP3 player. They made many MP3 players way before the M6 came along so the reason why the M6 is so great because they've had tons of experience with MP3s...now when it comes to cellphones...its a completely different story as they have to fight an uphill battle of cramming so much stuff onto a single PCB...and make it work.
I skipped the Meizu M8 for an iPhone 3G this generation. I'm more than 100% sure the next Meizu phone will be awesome but a first phone for a Chinese company...its probably best to let them develop it.
you are clearly ignorant, and know little about mobile phones, and their software and hardware systems. You also show little knowledge of distribution channels and the way these companies source compoenents. Your views are bascially of no use to any one, as they are poorly informed.
A number of huge tech websites including cnet.com in the past have reviewed meizu's products before, their M6 player was recieved very well, go look at any review they have also been accredited with having some of the best sound in the industry. And before you show how inbred you really are, and start talking about china, I don't suppose you have heard of a small company by the name of LENOVO? yes they are chinese and are universally acknowledged as having some of the best build quality and standards of any PC manufacturer on the planet.
Whatever country you are from, bare in mind there would be no HTC without china there would also be no iphone without China, there would also be no US economy bail out without china. In a relatively short number of years, you will probably find it hard to get a job because a chinese person will be in your place. Read books before it's too late for you.
Simon the Meizu fanboy strikes again.
Simon either works for them ... or needs to get a life.
OHHHH!!! Fenqing !!!!!!! Zhong guo jia you!
Actually, I both live and work in China and have had two Meizu MP3 players, M3 namely, before the "nano and mini days". Excellent sound quality. I also used to work in the industry, namely with Shanghai Hatress Tech Co.
I am fully aware how component sourcing works in China. For instance, 99% of MP3 players they make are based on Sigmatel/Philips chipsets (just like the big brands), yet quality varies A LOT. Most of the quality work really lies in the small parts and ASSEMBLY. Putting shit together right is HARD. If you're putting together something more complex, like a cellphone, it's even harder.
Look at Ningbo BiRD, now there's a few Chinese phones for you.
Now there wouldn't be any quality what-so-ever in China if it wasn't for Taiwan, Hong Kong and, to some extent, the westerners. There would be no iPhone without Taiwan, because the Chinese would FUCK IT UP. Education and management has sucked badly in China for the last 100 years and there are very little of that talent still, it'll take time for them to develop.
Chinese companies sure are rising up on a LOCAL level in low-end segments. Procter and Gamble are feeling the sting. Li ning sports shoes are big, sure. Does Nike give a fuck? Would even the Chinese MUCH RATHER buy Nike if they had the money? Definitely. Would everyone who could afford it go iPhone? Yes, Yes and Yes. Is the iPhone a massive status symbol in China? Yes. Go to Muse on a friday night and count them.
I manage a large group of Chinese people and won't be out of work anytime soon.
Not the debate I want to get into, but i guess my point is: Quality concern with anything Chinese is very much VALID.
^^me
harr you deserve a +1
Actually, the M8 has it's own operating system. Not based on Windows CE6 or anything. It was made by Meizu itself...
drats! I bet this will go into Pakistan as well, which will hurt the iPhone re-sale value there... and i was hoping to sell my iPhone 3G in summer for a good little profit!
haha, I would hardly call me a fan boy considering I own no meizu products and never have. I just dislike it when people try and make a judgement and expect people to take them seriously when they clearly have absoultely no knowledge at all. Why not actually do some research and find out about something before spouting drivel? it is of no use to anyone and they are in essence wasting their time and other peoples time who choose to read it.
The only reason I have shown some supprt for Meizu is because they are doing something different to other manufacturers and making a device with some great functions and what looks to be a strong UI unlike 90% of other big name manufacturers.
The problem is people do not know about meizu or the process that it took them to get top the stage they are at. They are a very small company who have achieved so much in a very short time. If you read the Chinese meizu forums there are thosaunds of deep discussion between the CEO with fans and forum mebers talking about thousands of different tweaks & adjstements they have made to the device and polls and discussions where he asks people opinons and ideas and takes on board different perspectives so he can imprrove the device. They have made this device in a very unique way and if you read these thousands of posts you really start to understand how much the CEO cares about this project and how much time and energy him and his team have devoted. They are not trying to make a fast buck by knocking off apple and producing some cheap half arsed crap. They have devoted years to thsi project and spent thousands upon thousand of $$$ on it. They have been inspired by Apple no doubt, and at times their business practices have not fitted in with the western model, but people need to realise that what they are trying to achieve is actually unique amongst mobile phone manufacturers and the device they are producing is also unique.
So when some missinformed person comes along saying 'ahh thats a piece of crap clone' I feel to defend them as they are reputable company that is actually trying hard to create a strong product with some unique functions.
can you run over it with a truck?
Can it play Doom?
Will it blend?
Can it play Crysis?
The answer to all of those including your's is yes...the aftermath I'm not so sure about.
Only if it's a Mac truck.
Everyone keeps calling this an iphone ripoff yet this was announced days before the iphone. The only real rip off was the the original OS was modified to look like the iphone OS. So the iphone is a Meizu knock off.
So, by saying that this shit is NOT a rip off because it was announced a few days before the iPhone making the iPhone a knock-off of the M8 you're basically saying that the iPhone was created in just a few days...I think you might be wrong.
Even the Meizu guys were comparing it to the iPhone from day one. Their goal was to create something that was just like it but better, more affordable, and unlocked. That was the whole idea.
I'll go one step farther: The WHOLE COMPANY makes nothing but Apple knock-offs, due to the founder's love of Apple products and the loose copyright infringement laws over there.
This all reminds me of a Simpsons Halloween episode which involves Groundskeeper Willy and the word "Shinning".
I would half expect to turn it over and see a little apple on the back, until a "Meizu Genius" comes up to me and says "No, it's not an Apple, it's a Cumquat."
But seriously, I've spent some time in a country over-run with knock-offs, and they hardly compare to the real thing. Steve Jobs must have his panties in a twist.
PS. Here is an old Engadget Posting (like two years old) with original mock-ups of the M8.
http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/29/meizus-m8-apple-lawyers-start-your-engines/
Apparently it was supposed to be faster and cheaper back then too.
Leave it to some Taiwanese company to say they'll make something cheaper, faster, and better, only to take a really long time to create an inferior product which is a clear rip-off of another. Though it isn't the first time:
http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1678
Meizu.....?!?!? Never heard in India. But not bad for Rs. 18,000/- Will sell my O2 Xda II mini and get it. !
Sometimes its funny how people are ignorant. Right now I also understand why Android's GUI is made as its is made - just to overcome the criticism that Google phone mimics iPhone. I believe that it wont be hard to recreate the iPhone's GUI on Android. Just imagine - Android with iPhone skin... and desperate screams from Jesus phone fanboy's side - "Bastards, they killed Kenny!!!".
Yes, its definitely clear that MeizuMe creators have took and recreated many ides of iPhone. Yes, its clear that they will have problems in USA market. But its also clear that they wanted to create the device with ultimate freedom. I am not sure they will succeed in long term, but if not, someone else will.
Good luck, MeizuMe! You will need it!
Engadget is not only predicting the exchange rate of dollars in december (they would be the only ones that dared) but also they seem to think there will still be dollars by then, such optimism.
It's anyway a bit weird of the company to try to guess item prices in december right now, even in local currency, I mean for starters the price of oil could double or half between then and now, and those things do have to be shipped after all.
None of the Rights to market Meizu M8 has been issued by Meizu to any of the international companies or Brands not even to us at "i-Next" or to Geek IT Stores..."i-Next" is the only brand in India to resell or distribute Meizu products in India, and we confirm this news that none of the rights have be allotted to us or to Geek IT Stores.
Dear All:
We would like to make clear that in India Meizu products are only available & distributed in India through "SUDARSHAN" and their Brands "i-Next" & "Pyramid India Sales". Please note any Meizu available without any proper channel other then this are not authorised to sell Meizu products in India at present. We at "SUDARSHAN" are completely liable to provide distribution, marketing , after sales and all type of technical service supports in Indian market. We are committed to provide the best service in the Indian market by supplying Meizu products in a proper channels.
We have recently found that Amit Nayak has been marketing "Meizu" and "Meizu M8' in the name of "GEEK IT STORES"^ & "GIZMO GURU" on www.meizum8.in which are totally unauthorised for sell, market , distribute or to provide services. "Meizu" has not given any rights of certificates to market or to take any bookings of "Meizu M8" in the Indian market to any one including us or none of the marketing certificates have been given to Amit Nayak. It is advisable to all "Meizu" fans in India to make the proper purchase of your "Meizu" products only from the proper channel.
Our warranty policy at "SUDARSHAN" limits to "One Year Replacement"*
*Terms & Conditions apply.
SUDARSHAN:
"i-Next"
211,"D" Block,
ITC Towers, Majura Gate,
Ring Road, SURAT - 395002 (INDIA)
Ph: +91 261 305 3415
(M):+91 99094 37799,
(24hrs): +91 97261 74105
email: inext.surat@yahoo.com, inext.surat@ymail.com
http://www.hotfrog.in/Companies/i-Next
http://www.clickindia.com/detail.php?id=1036451
http://i-nextindia.com
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