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Meizu's $1300 'Zero' Smartphone With No Ports Got Just 29 Pre-orders on Indiegogo (androidpolice.com)

Posted by msmash on from the no-thank-you dept.

Chinese smartphone maker Meizu generated some headlines in January after it unveiled Zero, a $1300 smartphone that doesn't have a headphone jack, or a charging port, or a physical SIM card slot, or any buttons, or a speaker grill. The company said it would make the phone available to consumers via Indiegogo crowdfunding platform. Well, the market has spoken. AndroidPolice: Meizu set itself an eminently reasonably bar for the campaign, too, at $100,000. That may sound like a fair bit of cash, but Meizu would only have had to sell 77 phones in order to meet this goal. It managed just 29. It's unclear how many of those were Meizu employees, other than to say "not enough."

64 comments

  1. It was very brave of them to remove all ports by GrumpySteen · · Score: 5, Funny

    So brave that they crossed the thin line between bravery and stupidity, in fact.

    1. Re:It was very brave of them to remove all ports by sinij · · Score: 3, Funny

      If it doesn't have a DB-25 parallel port, I am not touching it.

      Get off my lawn.

    2. Re:It was very brave of them to remove all ports by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We went through a lot of trouble to make sure that the audio port on an Android phone could be used for serial comms, look up "audio serial" in the android market.

    3. Re: It was very brave of them to remove all ports by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      How many BizX bucks were paid for this Slashdot promotional article? 0? A few Ferraris worth?

    4. Re:It was very brave of them to remove all ports by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's a Zero. Maybe there is a Pi Zero under the covers.

    5. Re:It was very brave of them to remove all ports by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      GPD MicroPC, 6-inch Handheld Industry Laptop It doesn't have parallel, but it has serial!

      RS-232, Gigabit Ethernet, USB Type-C, HDMI, microSDXC, three USB 3.0 (or that being called "USB 3.2 Gen 1" now?)

    6. Re:It was very brave of them to remove all ports by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Not quite. My new Vapor phone crosses that line and then some. The Vapor not only does away with all ports and buttons, it removes the phone itself! No more interruptions by telemarketers, no more nagging alerts, no more anything, just nothing! Now available for preorder at a discount price of only $1,995. It's so sleek and stylish that you won't even notice that it's there. Packaging is 100% eco-friendly and shipping is free! Experience the disconnected life with the only phone that offers you true freedom - Vapor.

    7. Re:It was very brave of them to remove all ports by sheramil · · Score: 2

      Centronics, or nothing!

    8. Re:It was very brave of them to remove all ports by The+Grim+Reefer · · Score: 1

      Not quite. My new Vapor phone crosses that line and then some. The Vapor not only does away with all ports and buttons, it removes the phone itself! No more interruptions by telemarketers, no more nagging alerts, no more anything, just nothing! Now available for preorder at a discount price of only $1,995. It's so sleek and stylish that you won't even notice that it's there. Packaging is 100% eco-friendly and shipping is free! Experience the disconnected life with the only phone that offers you true freedom - Vapor.

      You forgot to add that only people that are smart enough to see it can do so.

    9. Re:It was very brave of them to remove all ports by hairyfeet · · Score: 1

      Uhh it was listed as IP68, which meant it could be submerged into 1.5m of water and be fine. AFAIK there isn't a way of making a phone with ports where you can just dunk it in a tank of water and not have issues so I could see this being a feature to those that are at risk of their phone getting wet.

      BTW for those that don't know the IP codes here is a handy guide for figuring out IP codes.

      --
      ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
    10. Re:It was very brave of them to remove all ports by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      AFAIK there isn't a way of making a phone with ports where you can just dunk it in a tank of water and not have issues so I could see this being a feature to those that are at risk of their phone getting wet.

      Moto X4 is supposed to be IP68 and there are Youtube videos of people immersing it in water. On the other hand, mine showed up with a bad speaker, and Moto wants to refund me and make me buy it all over again because I got the silver one and they won't just send me a black one under RMA, WTF? Anyway, it has a Type C port, a headphone jack, and a pop-out tray where you load a SIM and a uSD card. It's super irritating that the speaker isn't working, because I am super happy with it in every other way.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    11. Re:It was very brave of them to remove all ports by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Centronics, or nothing!

      As it happens, this device satisfies your condition. Are you one of the 29?

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    12. Re:It was very brave of them to remove all ports by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Apple will eventually cross this line. No need for Lightning port if you have fast apple wireless charging, and no need for a lighting port with wireless USB ports. Would Apple use the glass as a speaker? Yes. Innovation. Would apple use touch sensitive buttons? Yes. Last gen Home button. Apple is the bravest of them all!

  2. Pricesless "customer" list by sinij · · Score: 2

    That list of 29 names contains 100% rich sucker content and such data would be priceless on the dark web.

    1. Re:Pricesless "customer" list by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Kendal doesn't have any money, don't let her breathless fangirlism and lack of self-control in consumer buzz excitement throw you off. There's nothing of value there to steal.

    2. Re:Pricesless "customer" list by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Superkendall is female?

  3. I bought 20 of them. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Early adopting is cool as everyone knows, so I bought the first 20 of them in a fit of fangirl pique. I figure I'll be popular any day now that I've bragged about my stupidity online. /Kendal

    1. Re:I bought 20 of them. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Mom is going to be pissed when she gets the credit card statement.

  4. Wait... No Speaker? by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 1

    So the only possible way to even use this thing as a phone is with a separate blue tooth device? That's fine if you're anticipating a call, but a bit cumbersome if you're walking down main street and not hooked up.

    This is moving the smart phone even further away from being a phone and more into being a PDA.

    --
    "That's the way to do it" - Punch
    1. Re:Wait... No Speaker? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It seems that the screen was able to act at the speaker that you place next to your ear.

    2. Re:Wait... No Speaker? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Wait... No Speaker? So the only possible way to even use this thing as a phone is with a separate blue tooth device?

      On the web, there are these things called links. They are typically represented by differently-colored, underlined text. The first one in the fine summary (here, sometimes written "TFS") goes to this earlier Slashdot story (see, that was a link) whose fine summary states:

      Zero's 5.99-inch QHD OLED screen will act as some sort of a giant speaker and earpiece replacement.

      HTH (hope this helps), HAND (have a nice day)

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    3. Re:Wait... No Speaker? by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 1

      It seems that the screen was able to act at the speaker that you place next to your ear.

      Interesting... I can't imagine that working very well. And if you need to pull up something whilst on a phone call- surely your fingers touching the screen would ruin the quality.

      --
      "That's the way to do it" - Punch
  5. No it didn't by 110010001000 · · Score: 2

    It got 29 fake pre-orders from their "friends".

  6. Not very brave at all by SuperKendall · · Score: 2

    Apple manufactured hundreds of millions of smartphones without headphone jacks, knowing that consumers would in the end be OK with the choice.

    This company said they would produce this device only if they were paid enough ahead of time to do so.

    How is that brave again? Hey, I'll produce a phone made of razor blades if you you me ONE MILLION DOLLARS. Wow I am super brave!

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re: Not very brave at all by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Apple manufactured hundreds of millions of smartphones without headphone jacks, knowing that suckers and fanboys would in the end be OK with spending a ton of cash to purchase Bluetooth and/or overpriced Apple branded Status Symbol headphones.

      Fixed for you.
      Yes, Apple knew their target demographic, but for many people a $2 (or free) pair of earbuds is just fine. By raising the cost of ownership it just helps them cement their position as a maker of luxury phones, which helps stabilize their profits now that the market has reached a saturation point.

    2. Re: Not very brave at all by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I just use the lightning headphones that came with my iPhone.

    3. Re:Not very brave at all by guacamole · · Score: 1

      Apple is in a very unique position to force rather unpopular decisions upon the consumers because of the cult of mac and iOS. There is a ton of people who consider iOS effectively irreplaceable because of better apps, better security, and better APIs. So, they will eat up rather unpopular decisions like removing the headphone jack or continuing shunning away standard usb ports. Moreover, Apple knows that losing a few percent of iPhone sales because of headphone jack will be more than made up with sales of Apple's own audio accessories. However, when a Chinese phone maker removes the rather popular headphone jack to save 10 cents on its manufacture and "be just like Apple" but with no hope to make up for lost sales with its own audio accessories is just stupid...

    4. Re: Not very brave at all by filesiteguy · · Score: 1

      I haven't used headphones on any mobile devices for a few years. When I switched from Android to Windows Phone to Apple, I didn't even miss the headphone jack. On the rare occasion i have headphones on, I use bluetooth over the ear.

      --
      The Kai's Semi-Updated Website Thingy
    5. Re: Not very brave at all by rtb61 · · Score: 3, Informative

      I always use the socket, because I bought one pair of earphones and have never lost them, it's the cable, even when they fall out of your ear, they kind of just hang there and do not fall on the ground. Tell me, how many of your stick that earphone back in your ear after it falls on the ground, and the oil from your earth, pick up all the dog and bird shite and you whack that crap right back in your ear. Which is more convenient for ear phones, blue tooth or the cable often with a switch and mic on it, to change tracks, turn it off and make a call and turn it back on again, that cable does far more than just connect the earphones, it keeps them together, stops them falling on the ground and controls them very effectively and you can charge your phone while using them and they never ever need recharging.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
  7. Apple will release one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    And it will sell millions.

    1. Re:Apple will release one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

      A pet rock would sell millions, if it ran iOS and addicted low-esteem faggots could Facebook on it.

  8. At least this makes SOME sense by drinkypoo · · Score: 2

    Deleting just the headphone jack is stupid, because there are still other holes for stuff to get into. But deleting all of the ports makes at least some kind of sense, because having no ports actually does eliminate some problems. I still wouldn't buy a phone like this, but I can see what they're trying to accomplish other than selling more expensive headphones.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    1. Re:At least this makes SOME sense by weilawei · · Score: 1

      You know, we're going to see Apple announce this exact device next year at WWDC.

      But in all seriousness, I wouldn't be surprised if that actually happened. It's the logical end of the present round of form-factor updates, until the phone can be made to be invisible itself.

    2. Re:At least this makes SOME sense by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Exactly. I was just thinking what a problem it always is finding my USB cable to plug in at the airport, in the train, at my friends house, in my car, and at work. It's a constant problem.

      With this device not only will I not have that problem but I will be able to reconnect with my loved ones, face to face, overcome my phone addiction, and reduce my screen time to nothing all at the same time.

      Thanks Meizu!

    3. Re:At least this makes SOME sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Step 1: Get a Design patent for a phone with no ports
      Step 2: Wait for Apple to try to do the same thing next year
      Step 3: Threaten to Sue
      Step 4: Get bought by Apple
      Step 5: Profit

    4. Re:At least this makes SOME sense by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      It's the logical end of the present round of form-factor updates, until the phone can be made to be invisible itself.

      Yeah, or made so thin that it cuts your hand when you hold it wrong

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  9. Reboot by doconnor · · Score: 1

    How do you force a reboot with no buttons?

    My LG G smartwatch has no buttons, except a recessed one to force a reboot.

    1. Re:Reboot by tsqr · · Score: 1

      TFS is rather short on information. The original story mentioned that there's a pinhole so you can force a reset by inserting a paper clip.

    2. Re:Reboot by Powercntrl · · Score: 1

      TFS is rather short on information. The original story mentioned that there's a pinhole so you can force a reset by inserting a paper clip.

      So when your phone inevitably freezes up, you've gotta hunt down a paper clip. That's a pain in the ass enough as it is the few times you've gotta futz with the SIM card on phones which use the "paperclip eject" mechanism for the SIM tray.

      They sure went full user-hostile on this design.

      --

      ---
      DRM is like antifreeze, to the MPAA/RIAA it's sweet, to the consumers it's poison.
    3. Re:Reboot by fafalone · · Score: 1

      Well the solution in other devices has been "you don't". You have to wait for the battery to die. At least the frequency you need to has declined dramatically.

  10. do anyone give a flying shit about that? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    anyone?

  11. A 1300 gadget on indiegogo... by nitehawk214 · · Score: 1

    I no longer care about people that fall for these scams. If you failed to learn from the last few years, you now deserve to lose your money.

    --
    I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
  12. Sure... by xlsior · · Score: 1

    Develop and manufacture a complete phone for $100,000? More likely "we' ll buy a galaxy s10, and glue a portless non-removable otterbox knock-off around the thing"

    1. Re:Sure... by hey! · · Score: 1

      Develop and manufacture a complete phone for $100,000?

      Easy, if you're already a phone manufacturer. Just take one of your existing phones that has wireless charging and put it in a case that covers the USB and headphone jacks.

      --
      Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
  13. Close! by Hentai007 · · Score: 1

    Just get rid of the screen, cameras, and microphone and they'll be onto something!

    1. Re:Close! by Powercntrl · · Score: 1

      They're a few years too late, someone else already did it.

      --

      ---
      DRM is like antifreeze, to the MPAA/RIAA it's sweet, to the consumers it's poison.
  14. omg !!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    29 !!! That's almost as many comments on this thread. Fuck off with your non news.

  15. Kickstarter and Indigogo by NicknameUnavailable · · Score: 1

    Can rarely be trusted with US based campaigners, why would anyone in their right mind expect to get anything back from a Chinese one?

  16. Even morons have money to burn by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So we now know that 29 morons are wealthy enough to waste $1300 on a dumb phone.

  17. Having trouble... by Scroatzilla · · Score: 1

    ...uncrossing my eyes after reading and rereading "Meizu set itself an eminently reasonably bar for the campaign" several times.

    1. Re:Having trouble... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think the idea behind that claim is that they only wanted 100K, which obviously wouldn't be an appreciable component of the development costs. Hopefully Meizu takes this as a firm market signal that consumers don't want fewer ports and higher cost.

  18. Ports-Schmorts by slack_justyb · · Score: 1

    I get that people really love their headphone jack, I've never had an issue with Bluetooth but I've quickly learned my lesson about trying to encourage anyone on Slashdot to just use BT for everything audio, but the whole port thing aside, the thing about this device that I think really killed it. $1300 price tag. I get that Apple came out with the $1k phone just recently and what-not but look every phone maker on this planet. If current gen will now always cost $900+, I'll always go with previous gen. $500 is literally the most I will pay for a smartphone, full stop. The price tags on recent smartphones is way, way, way outside the domain of reasonable in my opinion. Clearly I am not the target audience of current gen phones.

  19. Why so expensive? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That seems like a lot of money for a bargain phone. Why did they expect people to pay more instead of less? It doesn't make sense.

    I'm not putting down the idea of cheaping out with cost-reduced designs by removing connectors that you think some people might not miss, but cheaping out only makes sense when it results in the device being cheaper!!!

  20. closed now by sakono · · Score: 1

    the indiegogo is now closed but here is a link for anyone that wanted to look. https://www.indiegogo.com/proj...

  21. Surprise surprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Unless you're a gazillionaire why would you throw away money in something like this? Even apple is losing traction with their "costs more gives less" model

    We want buttons. We want ports. Cute concept, but pass

    1. Re:Surprise surprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Damn right. Lower end offerings for computer hardware, not necessarily in a phone form factor, are getting better all the time. Look at the Raspberry Pi 3 B+. I've switched from an old Thinkpad (that turned into my desktop system due to an old battery and it not being worth repairing) to an RPi3B+ as my main desktop machine. It's plenty snappy even with "minimal" specs.

      I didn't just buy one either. I bought 5 of them and gave away 2, complete with SD cards, cases, power supplies, and HDMI cables. I also bought 2 more Cortex-A53 boards. I'm tired of where software development and hardware lockout is going, so I'm putting my money where my mouth is. I LIKE having GPIO pins on my machines.

  22. DB-25? by rsilvergun · · Score: 1

    Luxury! Why, back in my day we had nothing but a single serial line on our PDP-10s and we were thankful.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
  23. Less is more by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Next one doesn't have display, mic or speaker. Price must be at least triple of this.

  24. 29 "persons"? by Smask · · Score: 1

    How many of those are real persons and not competitors buying for disassembly/reverse engineering? And then there is the usual suspects (NSA, Russia, China, Iran, Best Korea etc)

  25. Apparently it's not a real product by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It has been reported that this is not a real product, but Meizus just feeling out the industry.