m8
Latest
Leica rolls out truly special Special Edition white M8 digicam
Seems like Special Edition white digital cameras are quickly becoming a trend, and one that we'll freely admit to being fans of. The Leica M8 has gotten a fresh coat of paint (as you can see above) and it's looking pretty good. We're not hearing many details yet -- no release date or price -- but don't expect it to be cheap. The wild stuff never is.
Meizu M8 unboxing and hands-on!
Yes, folks -- things are about to get really real. We have managed, through a series of delicate negotiations, to get our hands on an honest-to-goodness Meizu M8 -- heretofore the stuff of pure legend. At first glance, the build quality of the phone is actually pretty decent -- it's mostly plastic, but everything seems to snap together firmly. The battery (which is removable, naturally) is quite large, though we haven't had a chance to test its life in any significant way. Of course, the real showpiece here is the software -- which admittedly owes its entire existence to the iPhone. We've found that it's quite snappy, and the styling and functionality of the UI is really kind of impressive (though this did spend a long time in the oven). Still, the phone's KIRF roots are clear -- you can judge for yourself in the gallery below.Thanks to the good folks at MP4 Nation for the hookup!
Meizu M8 defies the odds and officially goes on sale - again
Word on the street has it that the Meizu's M8 -- that vaporous iPhone killer from the east -- is now officially on sale, as of February 18. For real. Wait, you ask -- wasn't it available last week sometime? Well, yes and no. Apparently, the unit we've seen making the rounds was a beta version -- if you slapped down your $440-ish dollars on that one, you got something with "a fair amount of problems to be ironed out," according to DAP Review. The site, whose Chinese-to-English translator is apparently functioning better than ours, goes on to point out that while the test units had WiFi enabled, the final production version does not. A strange decision, sure, but this is a tale fraught with strange decisions. And danger. And excitement and glamor. By the way -- we just hit up the official Meizu site, and the 16GB version of this device is "out of stock" -- probably due to the rapturous reception the unit's received all over the world.[Via DAP Review; Thanks, Michael]
Meizu M8 on sale for $440: buy at your own risk
We don't have to caution those familiar with the name "Meizu" that this may not be what it seems, but we'll do it anyway for those new to the field. The outfit's long, long, long awaited M8 appears to be on sale now for anyone with $439.99 and a remote desire to own one. However, we have seen this thing "on sale" before, but outside of a few anomalous reviews, we haven't actually seen it ship to anyone in the US. In all honesty, we'd love nothing more than for this to be the real deal, but we've a sneaking suspicion that no one with half a brain is going to pull the trigger and pray for arrival. Though, the idea of surfing on top of one's handset is surprisingly enticing, wouldn't you agree? [Thanks, Lance]
Meizu M8 gets English-language video review
The Meizu M8 has been caught on camera plenty of times before, but we can't recall seeing an English-language version until now. One tester at MP4 Nation has managed to get some hands-on time with the unabashed iPhone doppelganger, and calls the audio and video playback quality a disappointment, especially given the powerful Samsung ARM CPU inside. As he eloquently puts it, "cheap MP4 players can do a better job." Ouch. Video resizing also seems to be poorly implemented, cutting off the edges when it doesn't match the 3:2 aspect ratio. It's not all bad, though, as the photo viewer and phone book has been aptly copied from Apple's flagship mobile, including multi-touch zoom, and the Windows CE-masking GUI is fluid. More videos of the M8 are promised, but in the meantime, check out volume one after the break.
Meizu M8 gets stripped of its shell, dignity
See that Meizu M8 there? See that multitool-equipped hand? Yeah, you know damn well what's going to happen next, and we think the translated text expresses it best: "Well, the last one of the screws removed, MEIZU M8 has been completely broken up in a heap before us." The M8's guts make for some predictably boring pictures (unless you're really into circuitry), but the interesting bit might come in the accompanying narrative where we learn that the phone seems pretty dang solid -- good build quality, good materials, and name-brand components. That being said, they found it wasn't quite up to the iPhone 3G's standards for sheer manufacturing prowess -- but hey, they wouldn't want to take any cues from Apple, would they?[Thanks, Jeff]
Meizu M8 doesn't have China's stamp of approval yet, so it's loophole time
Think fast: China hasn't granted you permission to sell your long (long) overdue homegrown iPhone fighter, but you've already started production and you want to start raking in the yuan tout suite. How do you make that happen? Easy! Just slap a "Demo unit (not for sale)" label on each and every one of the M8s that rolls off the assembly line and you're back in business. If you read between the lines of Jack Wong's latest correspondence with his fans on Meizu Me, we suspect that the phones being produced as of tomorrow will indeed be sold -- you'll just need a little nudge-nudge, wink-wink to get one from the shop. Nothing wrong with an underhanded dealing here and there in the name of technology, right?
Meizu M8 reviewed, worth the wait?
Can you believe it? It's been over two years since we first got wind of what would become Meizu's high-end iPhone clone, the M8. Okay, we admit to being somewhat dubious at first, and won't be entirely won over until we get one to play with, but just a few days away from its Chinese release the handset seems to live up to its promises according to IT168's full review. Other than a few faults, including an "ear-piercing" integrated speaker and issues running third-party Windows CE applications, things sound surprisingly good. The 480 x 720 3.4-inch screen received high marks, performance was rated as very speedy, and the integrated 3 megapixel camera looks to be able to take great looking pics -- assuming you turn a few lights on. It does sound like a solid device, but is it a proper iPhone competitor? In China, where the iPhone still isn't officially available, we wonder if it isn't the iPhone that's the underdog now (cue raised eyebrow).
Meizu M8 gets demoed in multi-part video form
We've already seen it unboxed and, of course, endlessly shown off by Meizu's own J. Wong, but it looks like some independent demos of the now infamous Meizu M8 are finally starting to crop up online, with one of the first coming from Chinese retailer CNMO.com. While some of the details are lost in translation, there's still quite a bit to be gleaned from the ten videos available at the link below, not the least of which is the fact that the touchscreen seems to be somewhat of an exercise in patience, to put things kindly -- check out part 8 for the challenge that is pausing a track. The phone's camera also seems to be a bit sluggish, but not completely out of line with your run of the mil cellphone camera. Touchscreen aside, however, the phone's interface does appear to be fairly slick and, yes, oddly familiar. Head on past the break to get started with part one of the blow-out, and hit up the read link to check out the rest.
Meizu M8 unboxed before December 8th launch
Can you believe it? After two years and any number of missed targets, Meizu's M8 cellphone is bound and determined to meet its November 30th 8 December launch date. As proof, they've shipped a first unit to China's PConline for review. Hmm, white earbuds, charger, and USB cable... imagine that. [Via iTech News Net]
Meizu M8 Flash demo hits the scene, looks mighty familiar
How much ASCII will be spilled, how much bandwidth utilized on this legendary (if vaporous) iPhone killer before it becomes a real reality? Like the tail end of a torrid love affair, we're not even sure if it's the phone itself that we dig or the soap opera that we enjoy so much. And now, hot on the heels of the hands-on video that has captured the imagination of the entire world, Meizu has posted a flash demo of the M8's UI for those of you thirsting for a closer look at the thing. SPOILER ALERT: It bears a strong resemblance to the interface of a certain Apple product.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Meizu M8 captured on video looking smooth, doing multitouch
Oh M8, you've grown up before our eyes. It seems like just yesterday we were looking at your early incarnations and their uncanny similarity to certain other devices. And how could we forget those times we spent together waiting for you at trade shows, and mocking checking out your early hardware? And now look at you, all grown up and caught on video doing your thing. You know what? This actually looks pretty damn nice. Sure, the obvious major iPhone influence is still there, but we have to say, Jack Wong and co. have done a pretty good job of smoothing out this UI -- and we didn't expect to see multitouch working this nicely. Of course, the clip says more than we ever could, so go and wrap yourself in your grandmother's afghan, grab a steaming cup of coffee, head out to the porch of your 19th century farmhouse, and just listen to the wind chimes and smooth sounds of this video as you take a tour of the Meizu M8... after the break.[Via MP4 Nation Blog]
Meizu's M8 ready to rock the US and Europe on an iPhone tribute tour?
Feel those little hairs standing up on the back your neck? That's guarded anticipation son, the kind that comes from a Chinesed iPhone landing Stateside with the impact of a giant set of balls. According to yet another launch-related post in the Meizu forums, Jack Wong has accelerated plans to kick his M8 cellphone into India and China (WiFi-less to meet local restrictions) by November 30th. Then "maybe" he'll launch in the US, Hong Kong, and Europe by December 24th. Oh sure. Our take? There's no way in hell that this highest of high-profile clones lands Stateside or on Western European soil without being met by a friendly Apple lawyer holding a court-issued ban on all M8 imports. No matter how much we're dying to play with it.[Via Electronista]
New Meizu M8 screenshots looking decidedly flashy
A handful of M8 screenshots have found their way onto Meizu Me courtesy of our usual suspect, Jack Wong, and we've got to say: if these are real -- and by all indications they probably are -- then one of the most illusive, most vaporware-prone handsets in recent memory might just actually be ready to launch in December. There's still a heavy iPhone influence in much of the phone's interface, but they appear to have tarted up key areas like the home screen just enough to make an impact of their own. Looks a little too vertigo-inducing for our tastes, but it seems a heck of a lot more polished (and with a heck of a lot more original thought mixed in) than your average ripoff.[Thanks, Lino]
Meizu M8 apparently launching in China, India this December
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]
Leica's D-LUX 4, C-LUX 3 and M8.2 digicams get fully detailed
Don't even bother wading through the Polish translations -- Leica has finally got its act together and pushed out English releases to explain its latest trio of cameras to the world. First up is the C-LUX 3, a pocket-friendly shooter that packs a 10-megapixel sensor, 25 to 125-millimeter 5x optical zoom lens, all-metal chassis, optical image stabilization, face detection and a 2.5-inch LCD monitor. Movin' on up, we've got the 10.1-megapixel D-LUX 4, which adds in the ability to extend its zoom range of 24 to 60-millimeters via lens adapters, and a choice of either an additional flash or a 24-millimeter optical viewfinder. Last up is the highly anticipated €4,400 ($6,236) M8.2, which keeps the 10.3-megapixel sensor but adds in a metal blade focal plane shutter, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal coverglass for the LCD, a new "snapshot mode," redesigned bright frame lines in viewfinder and a Quick Override setting. Pricing for the earlier two is still undisclosed, though they should be available in shops this October / November, respectively.Read - C-LUX 3Read - D-LUX 4Read - M8.2
Leica trots out D-LUX 4, C-LUX 3 and M8.2 digital cameras
We'll be straight with you -- we're still struggling to wade through Google's machine translation of a few Polish releases, but the long of short of it is that Leica has finally announced the long-expected M8.2, D-LUX 4 and C-LUX 3. All the good stuff (pricing, ship dates, availability regions, etc.) seems to be missing, but the Leica faithful won't mind paying a translator to figure out what the links below really mean.Read - D-LUX 4 and C-LUX 3Read - M8.2[Thanks, Peer]
A functional Meizu M8 UI, CEO Jack Wong finally caught on video
After what feels like centuries of waiting (and suffering through that painful CeBIT demo), we finally get to see the Meizu M8's OS in action... and it's not as bad as you think. Sure, the interface is totally derivative of the iPhone, and there is that pesky cursor floating around, but all-in-all it looks like the company has managed to knock out a decent -- if incredibly familiar -- UI for its long-delayed phone. Still, there's some low rent hilarity in this video. Our favorites? The smattering of soft porn pictures and video, and Meizu CEO and all-around bon vivant Jack Wong revealed in a reflection... wearing a face mask! Check the clip after the break (and freeze frame of Mr. Wong). Update: Despite our excitement about Jack Wong in a face mask, some readers have pointed out (and we agree) that it's actually the camera he's using to film the video.[Thanks, Patrick P.]
Meizu M8 gets detailed in new words, pictures
As you may have noticed, Meizu CEO J. Wong just can't seem to stop talking about his pride and joy, the M8, and he's now let loose yet another pair of new pictures, as well as some further details on the phone. Somewhat surprisingly, J. Wong says that the device will only be available in white initially (which he apparently likes better anyway), and that it will officially be called simply the M8, and not the "M8 mini one" as it had been officially known before. He also reiterates that the company plans to finally release the phone in October, or November "at the latest." Head on past the break for the second pic, and hit up the link below for a few more tidbits.[Via PMP Today]
More Meizu M8 images released, device itself still unreleased
Say what you will about J. Wong and his band of merry imitators at Meizu, but they sure are sticklers for details, which has led to a number of delays and endless tweaks to their now infamous M8 phone. As you can see in this latest pic apparently let loose by none other than J. Wong himself, they now seem to be putting the finishing touches on the device's web browser and, as you might have guessed, they aren't exactly taking their inspiration from Nokia. Hit up the link below for a few more pics, just don't expect to find any further word of an actual release date for the phone or anything like that.[Thanks, Kevin]
