We can't remember the last time we purchased a phone because it possessed 700+ individual components, a stainless steel housing or a front plate that takes a fortnight to create, but Motorola's hoping you start to care about that kind of minutiae right about now. The admittedly gorgeous AURA (previously coined
V70) is the world's first handset with a 16-million color
circular display, and aside from making / receiving calls with the utmost clarity, it also boasts a Swiss-made main bearing, 62-carat sapphire crystal lens, a 2-megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, microUSB port, quad-band GSM connectivity, a microSD card slot, multimedia player and up to 7.3-hours of talk time (400-hours in standby). The 4.97-ounce handset is available exclusively from the MOTO STORE for $1,999.99, with pre-orders shipping out beginning December 4th. Who's in?
[Thanks, Paulo and Jake]
Read - Dedicated AURA website
Read - Motorola AURA press release
posted October 21st 2008 11:07AM
I'm sorry but this phone looks very cheap, like below entry level cheap. Are you sure this isn't $20?
What putz was responsible for allowing this piece of shit to hit the market?
MOTO, with all their woes, are turning to a uber-high end phone? In this economic climate?
They are so fucked! They need everyday consumer phones/at reasonable prices. I can see Jobs laughing his ass off.
First you have M$ spending close to a half billion bucks trying to convince pc users to be a pc(whatever) when 99% of the computers sold have M$'s OS running it. It is like trying to sell an umbrella to a sea lion. What the FUCK for!!!!
Hello! Anyone the hell home.
Now MOTO drops this bling ass crap. And for two grand.
I have my LG envy and my ipod touch. Thank you very much.
the v70 failed to sell (rightly so... it was a piece of junk). what makes them think this will?
It's pretty. Has a technological feat (until we're given explanation) that no one else has done. A truly unique form-factor at the expense of a large screen and HENCE a small phone, PHONE I say! Selling as a luxury item that in time should come down in price... (let's just hope Moto learn from the debacle that was the RAZR over-sell) Does Moto deserve any success after what they did to all of us? Well perhaps that's where all the resentment comes from
Completely sucks!!!
This is everything I thought the iPhone G was going to be!
The V70 was a POS; making it $2000 doesn't make it better.
I'll wait for the $20,000 Swarovski crystal-encrusted edition, thank you.
Like some one said earlier, this is not marketed for any one who is putting comments on Engadget. Plus this is a high tier phone, high profit, low quantities, it will be very limited, most likely under a million phones for ever, hence the high price tag.
It looks pretty, and people like Paris Hilton will rock this bad boy no matter what any one here says... just because they can.
No 3G and a 2MP camera? For $2,000?
I'm sorry, but anyone who buys this is just buying for the looks (which are questionable), or t because they're THAT rich.
i had this phone about 6 years ago. it was called the motorola v70.
So they took the Motorola V60 from like 6 years ago, gave it a color display and bumped up the price? Rediculous
minus 50dkp to you Motorola
thats just an ignorant comment. The phone looks nothing like the V70, its just the same form factor. Its like you saying any flip phone is the same because they all flip open. You have not touched the phone, seen it in person or even played with it yet.
IS THAT THE o-Phone?!?!?!?!
Oh, look! Its HAL9000!
I don't understand why people who don't understand luxury think it is idiotic to market or buy a luxury product....just because motorola does makes phones an average joe can buy doesn't mean that they have no right to make phones targetting a specific segment....Its not only gucci and versace who have a right to sell expensive stuff...motorola can do it too...
$2,000? fir a Motorola? LMAO!
They should call it the Motorola SYC (Saw You Coming)
This has already been pointed out, but if you are reading these comments this phone isn't for you. There is a definite market for phones that are more expensive than you would ever spend, an extremely high margin market.
Guess what, that watch you have is really nice for $10 isn't it? It even has a calculator! Wonder why anyone would buy a watch that does much less but cost $5,000?
And for those complaining about the lack of 3G, get over yourselves. This phone isn't meant to sure the internet with. If you aren't using the phone for the internet it is stupid to have 3G. Yep, if you are just using it for phone calls and text messaging than you want a 2G phone. Longer batter life and better coverage, not bandwidth are key.
This has already been pointed out, but if you are reading these comments this phone isn't for you. There is a definite market for phones that are more expensive than you would ever spend, an extremely high margin market.
Guess what, that watch you have is really nice for $10 isn't it? It even has a calculator! Wonder why anyone would buy a watch that does much less but cost $5,000?
And for those complaining about the lack of 3G, get over yourselves. This phone isn't meant to sure the internet with. If you aren't using the phone for the internet it is stupid to have 3G. Yep, if you are just using it for phone calls and text messaging than you want a 2G phone. Longer batter life and better coverage, not bandwidth are key.
why is it that moto doesn't make something like this... only reasonably priced. this phone is gorgeous and if they made like.. a cheep consumer version, maby they wouldn't be in the shitter like they are now
What the hell! Looks like something from from 6 years ago.
Going to wait for the $40 Chinese knockoff before I don't buy it.
Maybe if we pray for Motorola they'll learn their mistakes. The keypad looks uncomfortable, the screen is small and round, its 2 grand, and most likely runs the same outdated OS as the razr. Wasn't poor UI and poor design a key factor in Moto's problems?!
You people crack me up. This phone isn't meant for you. It's not meant to be a smartphone. It's a fashionista celeb status symbol phone. The people who will buy this are the people Motorola wants to buy it. And that's not you, engadgeteers.
Wow, that interface is gorgeous!
Lose the sapphire face in order to drop $1200 off the price, and you might convince me.
I like it!! It looks both modern and vintage at the same time. Of course i won't buy it, but i'm glad to see something totally different from our current cell phone layout.
Hmmm... where have I seen something similar to this before...
http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/09/microsoft-pranks-with-ofone-apple-rolls-eyes/
I'm sure some people will actually buy it! They better get insurance on it. I would cry if I dropped this thing on the sidwalk. Ha Ha
www.PicFire.com
Good to see a failing company investing in something useful.......oops meant useless
Motorola seem to have spent a lot of moeny trying to make this look good but I don't even think it looks that great. I'm not a big fan of swivel phones and there are loads of other phones on the market that look much better.
Maybe when I see one in real life my opinion might change.
I read a scathing review here but tend to agree - http://techsage.typepad.com/the_mobile_tech_sage/2008/10/the-new-motorola-aura.html
funny how all the complains and yet the phone is already sold out at their website ( was about to order one seriously )
they might now sell alot of these but at 2000 a pop their run their profits.