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Meizu M8 Officially released Today
comment: 8 | Wednesday, February 18 (2009) 06:21AM | Posted by Michael
I just received word that the Meizu M8 goes on sale today. I haven't kept up with the latest news on this long overdue phone, but I could have sworn Meizu was already selling it. After a little brushing up, it turns out they were selling a beta version which has a fair amount of problems to be ironed out. Ironically, the test version has WiFi enabled, while the Official release does not.

Official Specs:

  • Capacity: 8 or 16GB
  • Display: 3.4" Touchscreen (720 x 480 resolution)
  • OS: Mmobile (based on Windows CE 6.0)
  • Audio: MP3, WMA (and WMA Lossless), AAC, Ogg, FLAC, APE, AMR
  • Video: MPEG-4, WMV, Divx, Xvid, H.264, FLV
  • Built-in 3.2MP Camera
  • Voice recorder
  • Battery Life: 21.5 hours for Audio, 7 hours for Video from removable Battery
  • Supports English and Chinese language
  • Dimensions: 108 x 58 x 12mm (weighs 118 grams)


The 8GB model will sell for 2,380 Chinese Yuan, or about $348US and the 16GB version (currently not available) for 2,880 Yuan, or about $421US.

Meizu News
Comments

mhelliwell
Location: Victoria, BC, Canada
Comments: 44
 		Feb 18 (2009) 10:26AM  

Until they release a touchscreen player sans phone ala iPod touch, I'm staying away.



Blade

Comments: 11
 		Feb 18 (2009) 06:49PM  

Sweet. Check out that display resolution. That is quite impressive for a phone (right?).



duck33

Comments: 39
 		Feb 18 (2009) 07:20PM  

So the first Windows CE 6.0 phone OS wasn't even the overhyped WinMo 6.5 that released the other day. As buggy as the review might have said it was, it's surprising what Meizu made when the biggest software company in the world, can't even make a decent consumer and multimedia friendly OS

by the way mhelliwell it's coming soon as the M7



Sternfan91
Location: Northern New Jersey
Comments: 89
 		Feb 18 (2009) 08:02PM  

Removable battery. Take that, Apple!

I'm perfectly satisfied with my EnV though



jbhitter24

Comments: 351
 		Feb 18 (2009) 08:42PM  

has anyone looked at meizu's global site? there really outdid theirselves with the M8 products page. better than most others i've seen.

[Linky]



chengdude

Comments: 120
 		Feb 19 (2009) 01:27AM  

After a little brushing up, it turns out they were selling a beta version which has a fair amount of problems to be ironed out.


Actually the beta "test" version and official version are the same phones with the same firmware, just once crucial difference: The "official" release will either have WiFi disabled or will have the Wifi hardware entirely removed to satisfy the overlords in Beijing. WiFi on mobile phones isn't allowed in China in order to protect the revenue of the mobile carriers and to give said Powers-That-Be the control over how WiFi will be implemented countrywide.

The question no one has definitively answered (in English, at least) is if that WiFi chip has actually been physically removed. If it's still there, then just like with the "test" version, you can crack it...in fact the shop you buy it from will do it for you.

As for the firmware, yes, there are still issues. Some of the firmware's features (and, thus "bugs" for those outside China) are rather localized to use in China. No matter which version of the phone you get, it's all the same firmware and beta or not, the revisions will be compatible. Speaking of that, I was rather surprised that a major firmware revision didn't accompany the official launch. To Meizu's credit, they are releasing updates frequently, though. A few more and hopefully it'll hit v1.0.

Because Meizu has already sold so many "test" versions, this seems like a really soft rollout; about the only difference is that you can buy an M8 directly from Meizu's website...in China, at least. And yeah, totally not a surprise that there's no 16GB at launch, although with the fatter profits they would bring I'm sure Meizu wants them out as much as any fan does.

by the way mhelliwell it's coming soon as the M7


Not likely.

Meizu is literally betting the farm on this phone and a (cheaper) M7 derived from work on the M8 would just cannibalize sales of its (much more profitable) big brother. I would guess Meizu's next move will be an internationalized version of the M8 with revised firmware and (less likely) additional connectivity options. If sales of the M8 completely tank, I think an M7 would be a tail-between-the-legs option, but for now Meizu wants to be your next phone vendor.

Further out, an M7 will inevitably appear -they are following the Apple Model after all- but only after they wring every sale out of the M8.





[ edited Feb 19 (2009) 01:43AM ]



Michael
Location: New York City
Comments: 2786
 		Feb 19 (2009) 02:42PM  

Thanks as always Cheng! I wrote it up assuming they were the same phone hardware wise (i.e. WiFi is just disabled), but based on how people reacted to the official version I assumed that one had a more stable FW version than the beta/test release.



Step666

Comments: 149
 		Feb 19 (2009) 05:01PM  

@Blade: not so much any more, there's a fair number of phones available and coming soon with higher resolution screens than that.



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TheDarkSide
Personally, I didn't buy any of those clips, great deal nonetheless - enjoy!!!!

DaHarder
TDS...

I couldn't help myself - In for 3 of those WOOTs - LOL!

DaHarder
Yea! It's here Android 2.1 for the DROID

TheDarkSide
Sandisk Sansa Clip 8GB MP3 Player for $32.99 on woot: [Linky]

Dominic
lol

Step666
[Linky]

TheDarkSide
Forgot the link: [Linky]

TheDarkSide
OMG!!!! I can't post the meaning of my name, but #2 & #3 is actually me. But, I did get a decent amount of action cause I'm great @#1,............

Dominic
That's great...my skills are average at best

Step666
Yeah but my one's true


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