Meizu iPhone clone makes public appearance
updated 03:30 pm EST, Tue March 4, 2008
Meizu miniOne in public
Contrary to speculation, Meizu's miniOne iPhone clone -- also known as the M8 -- has made an appearance at the ongoing CeBIT expo in Hannover, Germany. The device on public display can only display four different images, but is said to closely mimic the interface of the iPhone, including its finger-flick touchscreen motions. The miniOne operates on Windows CE 6.0 instead of Mac OS X, and is further differentiated by dedicated buttons for answering calls or playing and pausing music.
The miniOne may improve on the iPhone in a handful of respects, through the use of a higher-resolution (720x480) 3.4-inch display, a three-megapixel autofocus camera, and the inclusion of a TV-out port. It will, however, still be limited to EDGE or Wi-Fi broadband, while it is unknown how much its Bluetooth 2.0 will be capable of.
Rumors of a delay have also been confirmed, as Meizu currently says that the phone is only expected to launch in China during the month of August. [via Anything But iPod, images courtesy of SlashGear]
Wow
03/04, 03:40pm reply
At least they're not ashamed about copying it. That's a just blatant photocopy of the iPhone in almost every physical aspect.
greenG4
Grizzled Veteran
Joined: Aug 2002
Apple Legal
03/04, 03:46pm reply
Start Your Engines!
beb
Mac Elite
Joined: Jan 2002
Photocopy, except....
03/04, 03:46pm reply
But it's also a bigger form factor. I don't think I'd want that giant wedge pushing its impression out of my pants leg...
danviento
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 2005
Ya know...
03/04, 03:51pm reply
...Apple gets sued because they put a rivet in the same place someone else did on a computer case or something and have to pay out millions. How does this thing even exist?
Rance
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2002
Agreed...
03/04, 03:55pm reply
You'd have people commenting, "Is that an iPhone is in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"
Omek
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2002
Well..
03/04, 04:01pm reply
If you can't innovate..
Grrr
Grizzled Veteran
Joined: Jun 2001
Smudges like iPhone
03/04, 04:23pm reply
They even copied the iPhone "smudginess".
Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999
re: ya know...
03/04, 04:57pm reply
"How does this thing even exist?"
Simple...it's being made by a Chinese company for sale in China, which is well know for having few if any intellectual property laws that it's government chooses to enforce. Where do think all the pirated DVDs and CDs are manufactured?
ender
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Mar 1999
Re: agreed
03/04, 05:04pm reply
.. You'd have people commenting, "Is that an iPhone is in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"
No, no, no, no, no. It would be "Is than an iPhone knock-off in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?" (or it could be "...or did you just see Steve Jobs").
testudo
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Joined: Aug 2001
Really?
03/04, 05:11pm reply
Black and Beige or Black and White backing? And no one's complained about that yet?
As for copying, it's Chinese. And you know what they say: "What's made in China gets copied like you wouldn't believe and sold cheap in China." OK, to be technical, they'll copy anything made anywhere. They're probably funded by the gov't because Apple's not giving their leaders enough kickbacks and bribes to open up China for the iPhone (and who would buy an iphone in china, anyway, when you can get one of these real cheap!)
testudo
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Joined: Aug 2001