Michael
May 18th, 2007, 04:33 PM
Initially the Meizu MiniOne was accused of just being another iPhone clone, one of many that have popped up since the iPhone's debut. Just looking at it, it's obvious just what a clone it is. But now, unlike most all of the compeditors, could it actually be a superior device for a lower price?
A recent <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.meizu.com%2Fbbs%2Fdis pbbs.asp%3FboardID%3D22%26ID%3D505281%26page%3D1&l angpair=zh%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF8">post on the Meizu forums</a> has given the specifications for their new MiniOne, a clone of and competitor with Apple's iPhone, and it looks nicer than one might expect from an average clone. (Note: this is a mediocre translation at best, but it's a direct quote.):
<blockquote><em>"Dimensions :
58*105*11.9mm
Configuration :
CPU:ARM11 533MHZ+ CODEC Video Decoder
Memory : built-in 128MB DDR SDRAM cache
System : GSM+EDGE
Operating Systems : WIN CE6.0 based on the Windows CE kernel FOR MEIZU M8
Screen : 3.4-inch TFT VGA+ (720*480) 1600 million colors Touch-screen
Camera : Former 30W+ after 300W pixels (Auto-focus, no flash)
Battery : 1500mAH
Others : Bluetooth (access GPS) +30PIN expansion interface (OUTLINE OUT TV can access DMB can then click of the mouse keyboard joystick) Wi-Fi wireless card
Functions : basic communication functions, audio broadcast, Video Player (30-ching 3/s 720*480 AVI MPEG4 WMV and other mainstream video format excluding REAL, REAL perhaps through software decoding), 30-ching 3/s video recording, Wi-Fi wireless Internet, digital television and CPS DMB Navigation (hardware needs expansion and download maps support)"</em>
</blockquote>
Also, according to <a href="http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/04/25/meizu.minione.16gb/">this post on MacNN</a>, it will include a 16GB storage option, double that of the iPhone, making it the largest flash-based media player ever.
Meizu has a history of making iPhone clones. Their other phone, the <a href="http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/update-youre-right-meizu-m8-totally-not-iphone-clone-236270.php">M8</a>, already has the benefit of being much more affordable, the biggest concern of most iPhone critics. The iPhone is set to run US$499/$599 without tax, but according to <a href="http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/meizu-m8-pricing-revealed-most-affordable-iphone-clone-yet-241069.php">Gizmodo</a>, the MeizuOne rings in at a surprisingly affordable $310 in comparison, which also includes a 3MP camera on the back, as well as a smaller resolution camera on the front.
Meizu sure seems to like making all of these clones. But does that really make them superior? I have to wonder, if they're really so great, why do they feel the need to make so many with such small differences? They're not even the first products by Meizu that infringe on Apple's intellectual property; they've made other media devices in the past that are intended to look just a little too much like an <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.google.com%2Fimgre s%3Fimgurl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.it.com.cn%2Ff%2Faudi o%2F064%2F24%2F2006424_meizu_miniplayer_5.jpg%26im grefurl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.it.com.cn%2Ff%2Faudio%2 F064%2F24%2F263214.htm%26h%3D367%26w%3D550%26sz%3D 25%26hl%3Den%26start%3D2%26sig2%3DlKzbyk2FaOvGcm5b EzdeDw%26um%3D1%26tbnid%3D_1ETaL-HuwDrvM%3A%26tbnh%3D89%26tbnw%3D133%26ei%3D2QNORtL qJo2yigH2l7SSDA%26prev%3D%2Fimages%253Fq%253Dmeizu %2526svnum%253D10%2526um%253D1%2526hl%253Den%2526c lient%253Dsafari%2526rls%253Den&langpair=zh%7Cen&h l=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools">iPod</a>.
A recent <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.meizu.com%2Fbbs%2Fdis pbbs.asp%3FboardID%3D22%26ID%3D505281%26page%3D1&l angpair=zh%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF8">post on the Meizu forums</a> has given the specifications for their new MiniOne, a clone of and competitor with Apple's iPhone, and it looks nicer than one might expect from an average clone. (Note: this is a mediocre translation at best, but it's a direct quote.):
<blockquote><em>"Dimensions :
58*105*11.9mm
Configuration :
CPU:ARM11 533MHZ+ CODEC Video Decoder
Memory : built-in 128MB DDR SDRAM cache
System : GSM+EDGE
Operating Systems : WIN CE6.0 based on the Windows CE kernel FOR MEIZU M8
Screen : 3.4-inch TFT VGA+ (720*480) 1600 million colors Touch-screen
Camera : Former 30W+ after 300W pixels (Auto-focus, no flash)
Battery : 1500mAH
Others : Bluetooth (access GPS) +30PIN expansion interface (OUTLINE OUT TV can access DMB can then click of the mouse keyboard joystick) Wi-Fi wireless card
Functions : basic communication functions, audio broadcast, Video Player (30-ching 3/s 720*480 AVI MPEG4 WMV and other mainstream video format excluding REAL, REAL perhaps through software decoding), 30-ching 3/s video recording, Wi-Fi wireless Internet, digital television and CPS DMB Navigation (hardware needs expansion and download maps support)"</em>
</blockquote>
Also, according to <a href="http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/04/25/meizu.minione.16gb/">this post on MacNN</a>, it will include a 16GB storage option, double that of the iPhone, making it the largest flash-based media player ever.
Meizu has a history of making iPhone clones. Their other phone, the <a href="http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/update-youre-right-meizu-m8-totally-not-iphone-clone-236270.php">M8</a>, already has the benefit of being much more affordable, the biggest concern of most iPhone critics. The iPhone is set to run US$499/$599 without tax, but according to <a href="http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/meizu-m8-pricing-revealed-most-affordable-iphone-clone-yet-241069.php">Gizmodo</a>, the MeizuOne rings in at a surprisingly affordable $310 in comparison, which also includes a 3MP camera on the back, as well as a smaller resolution camera on the front.
Meizu sure seems to like making all of these clones. But does that really make them superior? I have to wonder, if they're really so great, why do they feel the need to make so many with such small differences? They're not even the first products by Meizu that infringe on Apple's intellectual property; they've made other media devices in the past that are intended to look just a little too much like an <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.google.com%2Fimgre s%3Fimgurl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.it.com.cn%2Ff%2Faudi o%2F064%2F24%2F2006424_meizu_miniplayer_5.jpg%26im grefurl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.it.com.cn%2Ff%2Faudio%2 F064%2F24%2F263214.htm%26h%3D367%26w%3D550%26sz%3D 25%26hl%3Den%26start%3D2%26sig2%3DlKzbyk2FaOvGcm5b EzdeDw%26um%3D1%26tbnid%3D_1ETaL-HuwDrvM%3A%26tbnh%3D89%26tbnw%3D133%26ei%3D2QNORtL qJo2yigH2l7SSDA%26prev%3D%2Fimages%253Fq%253Dmeizu %2526svnum%253D10%2526um%253D1%2526hl%253Den%2526c lient%253Dsafari%2526rls%253Den&langpair=zh%7Cen&h l=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools">iPod</a>.