English Review up @ Engadget

Ill have to add this quote from comments on the engadget thread:

skyline- @ Feb 4th 2009 9:06PM
Despite the fact that the reviewer has the M8 device, the credibility of the reviewer's knowledge on the M8 is quite questionable.

This is firstly demonstrated by the fact that he refers the device to be running on Windows Mobile while it is in fact running on Windows CE6 (current versions of Windows Mobile are running on Windows CE5).

Secondly, the M8 that the reviewer has is a Test model which is not intended for markets outside of China (thus the comment of whether it works in North America is irrelevant). You cannot directly compare features of an imported test M8 with phones intended for the local market. The intended global version of the M8 will be different and have more features.

Thirdly, his comments regarding video playback are highly biased against the M8 720x480 pixel resolution PHONE. Yes there are $80 dedicated MP4 PLAYERS, but what resolution do they display? A proper comparison would be to PHONES with similar specifications in terms of resolution and processor rather than dedicated media devices. As a reference, the iPhone only has a resolution of 320x480 pixels.

Fourthly, regarding 'uniqueness', he fails to mention the RMVB video codec playback which no other phone on the current market is able to do. When you consider the fact that RMVB has a higher compression ratio than DivX and the codec's mass appeal in Asia, the M8 RMVB capability is definitely a 'unique' feature in the phone market.

Finally, he gives misleading information regarding price. The iPhone's $199 (8GB) and $299 (16GB) pricing is tied with a two-year contract with AT&T meaning the customer monthly pricing includes contribution to paying off the actual full price of the iPhone which is approximately $700 (8GB) and $800 (16GB). In contrast, the M8 would be "under $450" if MP4 Nation were to sell it on their website. That means $450 with no contract and unlocked.

Saad Rabia @ Feb 4th 2009 9:40PM

Two thumbs up for the great points. Even his video cropping point -which I mention above your comment, is completely wrong, and what boggles my mind is the fact that Ross Miller agrees with that point like a little girl, without even understanding the point out of cropping the video, or mentioning that you can still watch it full with no cropping!

The resolution and codec support alone makes this device unique in its own way.

What is even funnier, that the reviewer wonders why this is more expansive than other mp4 players!! Doesn't he notice that this is not only a media player but a phone as well with open application support and full web browser!

This, in a good manor, states why this guys video review is not to be trusted.

To be honest I am quite suprised no one from here has done a an indepth video review of the M8 yet. With so little english language coverage we really need to start getting some other reviews out there, as this forum is the No.1 site for Meizu info outside of china. In essence we are ambassadors for Meizu outside of China.

People often do not realise how much of an impact a site like engadget can have on the way a lesser known product like the M8 is recieved when they are tipped off about a story. They are the biggest tech blog in the world and have a huge impact.

The guy who runs the shop that did the review does have a solid knowledge and I think he was just in a hurry which lead to a few mistakes. He is not trying to be biased, just giving his own honest 1st impression.

This is why we really need some indepth testing particularly with different video file/compression formats and an indepth audio test using some high end ear buds. As well as an indepth review of all the devices functions. This will not only help prospective customers but also might help meizu's reputation outside of china, when you consider how little english language info is avilable.

If any can can help I would be most grateful.

after watch on that review, i wanna to ask reviewer, m8 should be compare to phone or Mp4 player? if m8 video performance lousy this means other phone video is suck? i know some latest mp4 player can play 720i or event 1080i video， but problem those mp4 player cant make a phone call ..? so that means mp4 player suck?
just feel review like compare apple to orange.

Why has no one on here written an English review of the M8? Because due to the distribution policy of the M8, it is not available for most of our users. Judging by the fact that the current M8 is a China-only product, Meizu wants to keep it that way.

Reviews generate interest and buzz (and can, like in this case, spread misinformation), and in the end is counter productive for Meizu, who want to keep the M8 low-key overseas. Who benefits from the buzz? Gray market vendors. These people give Meizu a great headache, because when in need of warranty, they often refer the user directly to Meizu, who's unprepared for international English support. This forces Meizu to employ English-capable staff for just to take care of the items that grey market vendors sell. This time, however, Meizu has been pretty tight with serial number control and have publicly stated they will not help in these situations anymore.

Unless in China, I still recommend those interested to wait for a real international release, or get something else in the meantime.

What do you mean by serial number control? Since I live in the US, does that mean I can't send my M8 to Meizu when there is a problem? I can speak Chinese.

That is the first review that I have seen that has slammed the M8.

Originally Posted by SteveMB93

That is the first review that I have seen that has slammed the M8.

hmm. . .no offense, but it was far from a slam. .
i'd expect a fanboy to slam it on every aspect possible. . call into question this guys' credentials all you want. . but he did make effort to highlight, from what he saw, good and bad points.

irrespective what what ppl may think in so far as he's unintelligent or ignorant - he didnt try to slam it but tried to give it a fair review

Originally Posted by spo22a

hmm. . .no offense, but it was far from a slam. .
i'd expect a fanboy to slam it on every aspect possible. . call into question this guys' credentials all you want. . but he did make effort to highlight, from what he saw, good and bad points.

irrespective what what ppl may think in so far as he's unintelligent or ignorant - he didnt try to slam it but tried to give it a fair review

Yeah but he did put it down on some fronts when he clearly didn't know much about the item itself. Yeah he can name of soundchips and the benefits of them but thats no use to the normal user who is looking for comment on the features of the device, which he didn't seem to have studied up on. One example is him constantly switching between; 'it has a 1.3 p cam', 'it has a 3.0mp cam', 'it has a 3.2mp cam'.....FOR GOD SAKE MAN, WHICH DOES IT HAVE ALREADY???( and yes I know it has a 3.2mp cam)

i saw the review and is quite fair... i dont see any fan argument on his statements. As a matter of fact i buy the M6 on his store after watching the review he made about the M6. He say some specs wrong but he also say he was in a kind of hurry... lets see what he had to say on his 2nd review

Having used the M8 for about ta month and using it on ATT I felt that the avi quality was pretty good considering that iphone can't even play avi. However I felt that they overrated the web browser.

I have to agree with error in his last post above.

I have been (probably) the most vocal on how the 'phone' is buggy but the PMP aspect of the M8 is great.

I found video playback to be a bit jerky (i think i might have posted about that earlier) but as a media device with a sim in it, the M8 is ok.

@Sere83: the reason why no one who owns the phone overseas has made a review about it is basically (IMHO) because we are not completely satisfied with the device. And, any review would have to highlight the BETA nature of the M8.

I think the reviewer was not unkind to the M8, and hopefully this will spur Meizu to be better rather than just have fans gush praises about them. But knowing (somewhat) the Chinese mentallity i believe they will just brush off this review as nonsense (i fear).

If and when the reviewer posts more detailed reviews, i fear that they will be even more negative, as the numerous bugs may be brought to light.

A/V Media is not my strong point so i had basically believed that those were the M8s strongpoints, i still believe the device is a good media player, but i am sure the reviewers greater knowledge on those matters could not be all wrong.

The question whether the M8 should be compared to a Phone or another Media player is somewhat moot, as the M8 itself is far from a smartphone, so it would loose the other half of the comparison if its media capabilities were compared to an iphone or HTC. So, what do you compare it to? a phone or a media player... at least it could win on average against media players rather than smartphones.

...and of course on price as well. But, as i mentioned in another post the price to value ratio is still not favorable for international users.

yeah, I guess I would just like to see a comprehensive english review so I can see some facts and figures and actually guage how well the device really performs as both a media player and a communication device. However It is already very clear the M8 is far from perfect and pretty much a beta product.

I never really thought I would be considering an iphone but in terms of value and the fact that it has far more functionality than the M8, the iPhone murders the M8 for the international customer particularly here in the UK. I can get an iPhone on O2 with a pay and go service (meaning no monthly line rental charges and I can just top up my credit when ever I want) plus 12 monthes unlimited 3G internet access for £350 which is very close to the price of the M8 for international customers.

Obviously this is bound to be the case based on apples enormous buying power and the fact the M8 (unlike the iphone) is a new product, essentially still in development and is only made for the China market. Nevertheless as I suspectd while Meizu has been messing about the game has moved on. Toshiba are dropping a 1Ghz snapdragon based device (although Winmo 6.1 is still terrible) and not to mention the Palm Pre which will also be a lot more powerful than the M8.

Unfortunately as people have been mentioning before, the M8 seems not be good value for the international customer. Not only because the price after exchange/handling/charges etc gets bumped but because internationallly avilable phones of a smilar price have a lot more functionality mainly in terms of connectivity and internet and obviously support to. At the same time Meizu are playing catch up in both the domestic and internationl phone and Mp4 player market. I really hope the M8 can mature into a solid product and they can bring a solid mp3/4 player to market soon too.

You've got to realize that ********* is reviewing according to their opinions of all the stuff that have passed through their hands thus far. They sell those stuff, so they should have a pretty good handle on comparable PMPs. In fact, the guy almost sound apologetic that video playback was so bad in comparision to the rest of the phone.

All in all, it's a pretty fair review. Future firmwares might improve the video playback capability, but as of now, with the Meizu product page citing 720x480 30fps playback for all the video format, is just plain untrue advertising.

Originally Posted by SteveMB93

That is the first review that I have seen that has slammed the M8.

yh, its a bit of a wake up call, isn't it?

well on the main story, my bet to as why the video is lagging a bit, would be that the testers have been pushing the device a bit, as per video.
Maybe the videos that have been displayed have been of a quality a bit to high for the M8, i know ill be testing this when i get mine.

The odd movie wouldnt to bad to have lying on your multimedia phone for ocasional pleasure, i know i use my Ipod classic for it so why not the M8

all in all i mean it isn't time to made a official review. we haven't the final version. So I think it is like a review of a beta version from a pc game.
I can't understand why *********.net made a official review of the Meizu m8 test version.. Other people haven't so much information and can think that the m8 is out (with some less bugs in the video) or think that *********.net have a official version with this bugs.

The M8 is pretty much final... Or the hardware, at least.

Wait, isn't this guy supposed to give praise for something that he's going to sell? Beats the crap out of me. And is the Audio really that bad?!? I thought they used a quality DAC.

I don't think he will be selling them, since they are hard to get outside of China.

I don't believe audio is as horrible as he makes it sound like, since the Meizu is using quality Wolfson chips.He probably has never heard the music from headphones.

Blah, from what I can gather. It is a site based in Hong Kong. So it shouldn't be too hard for him to get a supply after it is released.