It's nice that J.Wong has finally decided to start redesigning the GUI (and some of the external layout too), but unfortunately I dislike all the proposed changes so far:
1. The new standby screen now looks very Vista / Windows Mobile.. just like every other WM smartphone out there.. and there are plenty of those already! M8 needs to look more special/unique than that, and the current layout (even if too iPhone-ish) does a better job at that IMO.
I fear that if this is the new GUI direction, then the M8 will become just another WM device, and will no longer be a direct competitor to the iPhone. Personally, in that case I don't think it would interest me any more.
Why not change just the obviously similar design elements (icon design, button locations, transition effects, navigation structure, different skin, etc.) but keep the overall concept?
(I know I mentioned it before, but what I mean is something like this:
New Meizu M8 Picture)
2. The 3 round speaker holes on the top changed to an iPhone-ish single long hole. I really like the 3 holes, and I think they gave the M8 more personality, so I really don't like this change if it goes through.
3. Finally, I didn't like the bottom 3 equal circle buttons, but this new version with the middle button bigger is even worse IMO.
There's a MUCH better alternative on the Meizu BBS:

