While there are already 3rd party responses to this situation made via the Android underground over at XDA Developers, it’s beyond important that Samsung responded so quickly via the statement you see below. This sort of situation, in the past, was one where a company might take a bit of time to fix and – in come cases – not fix it at all. Now that we’ve got the internet, Samsung sends messages out as quickly as possible to avoid public relations disasters.

Samsung is aware of the potential security issue related to the Exynos processor and plans to provide a software update to address it as quickly as possible.

The issue may arise only when a malicious application is operated on the affected devices; however, this does not affect most devices operating credible and authenticated applications.

Samsung will continue to closely monitor the situation until the software fix has been made available to all affected mobile devices.

The devices that may have this venerability include the Samsung Galaxy S II, the Samsung Galaxy Note II, Samsung Galaxy S III, and MEIZU MX – just so long as your device has an Exynos processor inside. This exploit can also potentially affect all devices using Exynos processors 4210 and 4412 using Samsung kernel sources. If you don’t know what any of that means, just chill, Samsung’s fix is coming up quick.

If you want to hack and make your device more secure while you’re potentially mangling it yourself, then by all means, fix it now! You can do this by heading over to XDA Developers forum post via supercurio and make it work. Interestingly you may be breaking your front-facing camera and MHL output in the process, and there’s no warrantee or guarantee included – so good luck!

[via Android Central]

Interestingly, Meizu announced an increased DPI for the high-end phone, but not the screen size. If the screen stays the same size at 4.0 inches, its resolution would need to increase to 1024×600 to achieve the 292 DPI that the company claims. The 8 megapixel camera is paired with a F/2.2 lens. The new model will be a modified “Flyme” OS based on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, an improvement over the Gingerbread-based MX. Capacities of 32GB and 64GB will be offered for 2999 yuan and 3999 yuan respectively, the equivalent of about $475 and $635. The phones will go on sale through Meizu’s retail partners in mainland China and Hong Kong, with no international plans for the moment.

Effective immediately, the original MX will be discounted to 2399 yuan (check out our in-depth review here). Whether it’s worth it to grab the older model or wait for the newer one will rest almost entirely on how much you value speed. In a surprising move, the MX Quad-core will be available white with four pastel-colored swappable battery covers. Quad-core smartphones have truly come to the forefront now – it’ll be interesting to see how the offerings from NVIDIA, Samsung and Huawei differ, and how Qualcomm’s Krait platform competes when it arrives.

This device is currently available in China and can readily be purchased through carriers and resellers of hardware if you’re in the area. Should you want to use this device in the United States, you’ll want to make sure it’s set for English right out of the box or you may have a bit of trouble (provided you aren’t able to read Mandarin) working with this device’s many interfaces – each of them available in several languages, thus is the power of Android. What you receive here in this unique handset is a high-end experience in both a unique piece of hardware and a unique custom-made user interface working over Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread – with a planned upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich sometime in the future.

Hardware

Though there was a very early report of a chipped case in one of the first review models that was released, Meizu has since replaced the back cover with a more substantial back battery cover – you wouldn’t know the difference unless you had both covers in your hands, and even then the differences are next to impossible to spot. So we’re fully confident now that the phone is solid all the way through. The way the back cover attaches to the bulk of the device is unique in that it clips on throughout but has two metal pins that are spring loaded at the bottom of the phone. There’s no chance this back cover is coming off unless you want it to come off, I can say that with confidence.

The white back and black front of the device give it a lovely two-tone look that’s rare in the market today, with a set of light-up arrangement-switching lights surrounding the center Home button – which sticks outward instead of the usual inward we see with such smartphones as the iPhone. The Home button does just that, brings you back to your main home screen from whatever app you’re in, and is also able to wake the device up. Because the button is out rather than in, it poses the risk of you hitting it often when you do no intend to – more than likely we’re seeing reduced battery time because it’s on in our pocket so very often unintentionally.

The lights on either side of the Home button are capacitive and can represent a number of different functions. When you see three lights in a row, you know that it’s a menu button. When you see three lights in a triangle, you know that it’s a back button. When you see one light, you know that your device is awake, but that the button will not do anything except give you haptic feedback. When the phone is asleep, these light-up buttons serve as notification lights, “breathing” in and out whenever you get a notification – be it for a message, an email, or whatever else you’ve got hooked up to give you notifications all the live long day.

The front panel is some sort of unnamed reinforced glass over a 4-inch 960 x 640 pixel resolution ASV display (aka Advanced Super View TFT LCD). This display has a 288 ppi pixel density – this compares with the 330 ppi pixel density of the iPhone 4/4S and the 316 ppi pixel density of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Note that though these displays cannot be directly compared with pixels per inch alone, it is interesting to see how close to one another they are simply based on that one count. Set them next to one another and you’ll be able to tell the difference – alone they’re all more than sharp enough for any discerning smartphone lover.

Software

This device runs on Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread with Meizu’s custom user interface “Flyme” running on top. You’ll get a good look at how this version of Android works in comparison to both Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and iOS 5.0 on the iPhone 4S in this hands-on video:

There’s another China-based app store here that’s not affiliated with Google but, strangely enough, can view your downloads folder and tell you which apps you’ve downloaded for the official Android Market – which is also on the device out of the box. Take a peek at a few other screenshots of modified applications included in this build in the gallery below, but note most what the Music application looks like here. There’s an equalizer in there! It works pretty good too, for what it is. It’s no ultra-advanced set of modifications for your tunes, but it does adjust well enough for the headphones, built-in speakers, or speaker jack you’ll be using.

Also feel free to take a glance at a set of benchmark tests done on the phone here, and note that this is the early-release developer/reviewers edition of the device, it appearing in forums across the web as having benchmarks just about 85% as good as the final release of the device. This device is, again, already available in China now. SunSpider is run on the stock web browser with T-Mobile 3G:

Camera

The camera interface you can also take a peek at in the hands-on video above, it having a decent amount of ability to take modified photos right out of the box, but not having the most extensive set of effects out of the box. Both videos and photos are at least decent and the interface created by Meizu for Flymm functions, but does have some oddities we’re not a big fan of. One example is once a photo is taken, previewing the image displays a cropped image – you’ve got to pinch to zoom out to see the full image. Have a peek at some 8 megapixel photos and a 1080p video here to make your own judgements:

The video above shows how terrible the camera can be in a dark environment, then this next video comes from someone in China using the final version of the device (and the camera) on a relatively clear day on a road. It should be pretty clear here that this camera can create big range of qualities in video.

Photos on the other hand are pretty darn nice. Check these examples out:

Battery and Phone Quality

The battery inside this device lasted us about 8 hours with medium use, needing just one charge a day if you’ve not been playing video all day. Have a peek at this indicator of how long the device will last if you’re only using it for email, a map or two, and photography: more than a day, easy.

Wrap-Up

This device appears more than ready to take on the top-tier market in China, but certainly isn’t something you’ll want to pay several hundred dollars to import here to the United States. It works with micro SIM cards from T-Mobile and AT&T, but the coverage limitations and the specs which are essentially equal to phones such as the Galaxy S II make this a device you’ll be better to pick up if you actually live in China.

The software is interesting, but does not seem to offer any large benefits over iOS or Android besides the fact that it looks just a bit different. It essentially functions the same as Android, doesn’t have an apps drawer so reminds one of iOS, and sits at about equal or a little less powerful a device on the whole mainly because of the software. This is certainly Meizu’s best effort to date, and if you do get the chance to play around with one, take it: it’s a sign of what might be coming eventually to the United States if a manufacturer here can make it profitable to offer such a different take on Android.

Take a peek at the images and video above and below, and if you’ve got any questions on the device in the near future, do not hesitate to ask!

The first version of the device, just called the Meizu MX, totes the fantastic Exynos 4210 dual-core processor from Samsung that you’ll also remember from the original Galaxy S II. This processor portends the next generation Meizu which may well be running with the Samsung Exynos 4412 quad-core chip. You can bet your biffy this device will be quick as a whistle.

All this in addition to Wong noting a few additional details which include Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich being developed for the new release, this providing Meizu’s UI with a whole new level of awesome under the digital hood. Having tried an early build with an Android 4.0 base just this past week, I can tell you thus: once they get the whole show on the road, this device will be one to be reckoned with! Now they’ve just got to promote themselves as being the most unique and simple to use and they’ll be shot off into outer space!

[via TechOrz]

As well as the Exynos processor – paired with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage – there’s a 4-inch 960 x 640 ASV display and an 8-megapixel f/2.2 backside-illuminated camera with LED flash, all in a phone 10.3mm thick. Connectivity includes pentaband 3G with HSPA+ support – Meizu uses a Micro SIM, just like the iPhone 4S – together with MHL-HDMI and USB Host, and there’s a pair of microphones for noise cancellation and a 1,600mAh battery.

Android 2.3.5 will initially ship with Meizu’s own customized Flyme OS, though the company has promised an update to Ice Cream Sandwich sometime next year. The MX will be priced from ¥2,999 ($470) when it goes on sale at the beginning of 2012. Any SlashGear readers in China looking to get the Meizu MX when it comes out?

[via Engadget]

The Meizu MX is expected to sport a 4.3-inch qHD 540 x 960 display and a Cortex-A9 quad-core processor. However, other than these specs, the rendering, and the diagram, very little has surfaced regarding the device. Specs such as its front- and rear-facing camera resolutions, RAM, and Android version still remain a mystery.

And unfortunately, this beast of a handset will most likely be limited to the Chinese market. The 32GB quad-core version is priced at ¥4,999 ($780) and the 16GB dual-core version is priced at ¥3,999 ($625).

[via Android Community]

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There’s also integrated WiFi, 3G and GPS, and the touchscreen uses – like the iPad – a capacitive layer rather than resistive.  The whole thing is expected to measure 210 x 140 x 14 mm, and the battery tipped to last for up to 12 hours use.

OS is presumed to be Android, though heavily customized in the process.  Right now we don’t know how much the Mbook might cost, nor exactly when it could arrive, though it’s speculated that we won’t see it on shelves until early 2011.

[via Electronista]

Video demo after the cut

In fact, if you still want to use your M8 as a cellphone, web browser or access the full memory on the 16GB model, then you should probably steer clear.  So far there’s no cellular connectivity, nor WiFi or Bluetooth support, and only Meizu’s 8GB model is working.  Still, there are both single- and dual-boot options, so at least you can flip between your functional phone and Android should the mood take you.

The good news is that the team responsible is working on not only fixes for all for the above, but an Android 2.0 install.  Considering this is probably the nearest we’ll get to an iPhone running Android for the foreseeable future, keep your fingers crossed they manage it.

[via PMP Today]

Other defendants include Cowon, Philips, LG, Meizu and TrekStor, amounting to twenty in total.  However it’s Apple – as lead in the PMP segment – which Tsera view as the biggest cash-cow here, with claims that they notified the Cupertino company as far back as September 2004 as to the nature of the patent and accusing them of being “wanton” in continuing the “misuse”.

Tsera is seeking ongoing royalties from each of the companies, together with damages for prior infringement.  However from Apple they’re seeking “enhanced” damages, likely a result of all that “wanton” behavior.  A jury trial has been requested, which if granted will be held in the Eastern District of Texas (Tyler) District court.

[via Apple Insider]

Check out the video comparison after the cut

The answer, it seems, is no.  The test was performed over WiFi, as the M8 lacks 3G connectivity and maxes out at EDGE.  Presumably both cellphones were in an unfettled state; browsing was begun simultaneously, and as you can see in the video below, the Meizu device lags behind the iPhone.

What’s interesting, though, is that the actual rendering itself looks pretty similar on the two devices.  One of the biggest advantages of the iPhone’s mobile Safari browser is the way it displays pages on what, compared to a desktop computer, is a very small screen.

[via GenerationMP3]

Particular praise goes to the M8′s GUI, which is apparently one of the more successful Windows CE 6.0 reworkings, and while the phone’s non-production firmware had a few issues Meizu are confirmed to be working on them in advance of the handset’s release.  Overall, IT168 declare the M8 to be more than just an Apple copy by virtue of its excellent performance.

Of course, there’s still the question of who would actually buy something so obviously “influenced” by Apple’s design.  The specs of the M8 leave a little to be desired, too; EDGE may have been enough for the first-gen iPhone, but the absence of 3G will leave owners of the newer version cold.  It’s likely to be a hit in China, however, and we’ll probably see a few make their way to the US and Europe courtesy of importers.

[via iTechNewsNet]

Even the most cursory of glances confirms that Meizu have certainly been inspired by Apple in their packaging and accessory bundle for the M8.  Despite the box screaming “M8″, inside you could easily mistake the contents for something out of Cupertino, particularly the headphones and sync cable.

I’m still fully expecting Apple’s lawyers to swoop down as soon as Meizu attempt to sell the first M8.  Whether or not Meizu did have their concept in mind before the iPhone was announced, any legal battle would probably come down to resources and time, something Apple have plenty of.

[via iTechNews]

Technically the OS runs on top of Windows CE 6.0, but it looks, and works, just like the OS X Mobile interface on the iPhone, even the finger flicks are the same. They don’t currently have a fully functional handset, they have a handset that can display 4 different images, and then they have a prototype board that has a fully functional OS.

Once they get everything figured out and working in a handset, it will have a 3.4” touchscreen with a 720×480 resolution, a 3MP camera, and GPRS/EDGE (even the good knockoffs can’t give us a 3G iPhone) it also has TV-out and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR. It will be launching in 6 months, hopefully.

[via PhoneMag]

Personally, I’m cool with a device that’s just close to the iPhone, sure, it might piss some people off, but I’d be really cool with it if when it lands it does have 3G, preferably EV-DO, but that’s just me. Anyways, Meizu will apparently be showing off the device in January at CES and then plans to begin selling it stateside by February.

So, if like me, you don’t mind the questionable origins of the device you are packing as long as it works, you should be able to get one shortly. On the other hand, it would be awesomely hilarious if Apple turned around and ripped off Meizu’s design for their new 3G iPhone, talk about getting 0wned.

Meizu M8 MiniOne coming to CES in January [via newlaunches]

Well that’s the goal of the Meizu M7, to be the iPod Touch Killer. The specs include a 2.81” touch screen at 480×288 pixels with a 15:9 ratio. The actual device dimensions are 89x48x7.3 millimeters. It can play H.264 at 720×480 a 30fps via its TV out port.

It will be available in 2, 4, and 8 gigabyte capacities ranging in price from 70 euros all the way up to 110 euros. The worst part is it looks, and appears to act, almost exactly like an iPod Touch that’s white and doesn’t have a dock connector. Its all the other features of the iPod Touch that make it the better choice, starting first with the fact its guaranteed to be yet another high quality product from Apple instead of some knockoff junk.

iPod-Touch Killer Meizu M7 Specs [via pmptoday]