Motorola AURA -- the $2000 cell phone

[Hum]

The economy may be at its worst in years, but Motorola thinks there's still a market for a bling mobile phone. The company says the handcrafted design of its new AURA handset shown at CES is "inspired by luxury watches." And it has a price to match: $2,000 when it becomes available later this year.

What makes the phone so spendy ?

According to Motorola, it's all in the numbers: 16 million colors in a circular display that has 300 dpi resolution, a 62-carat sapphire-crystal lens, 130 precision ball bearings that drive the assisted-opening blade, 700-plus individual components that include nickel/chrome-plated outer screws and a stainless-steel housing that features chemically etched textures and patterns and requires nearly two weeks to polish.

The AURA has the same coating used on luxury watches, and it features Motorola's CrystalTalk technology, which the company claims delivers "supreme clarity" and gives "deep resonance" to calls.

Of course, it has all of the other features of a normal phone, such as a 2 megapixel camera, a music player and Bluetooth so that you can use it hands-free in your Bentley.

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[Blindlabel013]

I'm sorry, but I think it looks very bad.

edit -- It looks like a weight scale.

[+Mystic MVC]

I thought the design was kind of interesting but wow did they drop the ball on the features end. I think for $2000 people would like to see better than a 2mp camera. :p If that and Bluetooth were the two features they want to label this phone is having, that is laughable.

$2000 for looks, no thanks I'll pass. Hate to see what happens if you drop it from any sort of distance.

[James812]

I agree, looks horrible.

[Hum]

It had better have fantastic reception. :laugh:

I'd buy something like a Blackberry, for a lot less money.

[+Mystic MVC]

It had better have fantastic reception. :laugh:

I'd buy something like a Blackberry, for a lot less money.

it features Motorola's CrystalTalk technology, which the company claims delivers "supreme clarity" and gives "deep resonance" to calls.

With CrystalTalk, I bet its like talking to them if they were right next to you. Ooh, ahh, it sound so real... :rolleyes:

[MightyJordan]

This is just like the Nokia 8800, and that flopped. This will do even worse thanks to the recession and the advances in technology. The 8800 was only slightly behind, but the AURA is literally an ice age behind!

[Axel]

wow... a circular screen... i've never seen a device implement that before.

[Fish]

This will be the final nail in Motorola's coffin.

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

Great, a phone that makes rich people feel richer. :rolleyes:

[Pupik]

Still beats that "I am rich" iphone application thingy.

[Navan]

Looks cool, and I think you can't resell this phone. You buy it on some sort of contract from the company that if you don't need it any more you just simply return it to motorola.

[Colin-uk Veteran]

nokia have been making similar over priced underfeatured phones for a while now, so its nothing new :p

[Pupik]

Looks cheap in action :hmmm:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/11/video-m...aura-in-action/

[MrChainsaw]

$2000 for a phone? I'd rather buy an iPhone 3G.

[Elliot B.]

wow... a circular screen... i've never seen a device implement that before.

+1 :)

[Dc'1]

Why are phones and so on that are incredibly expensive so ugly?

[Joel]

This will be the final nail in Motorola's coffin.

Nice Ozzy. (Y)

[strekship]

edit -- It looks like a weight scale.

Glad I am not the only one.

[qdave]

i think it looks quite cool, and its very solid too.

what i dont like is price..2k for mobile...no!

maybe for 200 would still get it :p

[LTD]

Absolutely horrible interface. Just . . . horrible.

It looks like something that would happen if a pocketwatch and cellphone had an abortion.

[Unto Darkness]

I'm sorry, but I think it looks very bad.

edit -- It looks like a weight scale.

Really? I think it looks very nice in the videos. They say it has the best display, beating out Blackberry Bold/Storm/Curve 8900.

With CrystalTalk, I bet its like talking to them if they were right next to you. Ooh, ahh, it sound so real... :rolleyes:

You would be surprised. That technology is what makes Motorolas the best Phones. Nothing can compare to it. i tried it myself.

[Titoist]

The phone looks exactly like that phone from the spoof microsoft commercial talking about the Zune phone or something.

[iamwhoiam]

It looks like something that would happen if a pocketwatch and cellphone had an abortion.

:laugh: I was thinking pretty much the same.

[Syanide]

Still beats that "I am rich" iphone application thingy.

???