Motorola's nearly unattainable AURA gets gobs of hands-on photos
By Darren Murph 
posted Oct 27th 2008 2:25AM
posted Oct 27th 2008 2:25AM
[Thanks, Drei Drei]
Please note: If you're a current Engadget commenter, you do not need to re-register. Simply login and you will be prompted to select a username.
Form over function. Fully.
O.K. my previous statement may be redundant to a point.
Artistry only goes so far as the eyes in most cases. And as far as cell phones go this one still only offers up the basics. It's not a really big upgrade to stuff that's already on the market. It's expensive sure. But it's ugly. The display is intriguing because it's the first spherical design of it's kind. All in all, it's more of the same with an interesting bevel. Looks like Motorola enterprising egotism in phone form.
Any form-lover (myself included) would rebuke you for what you just stated.
It's quite... hideous.
Luxury phones are a disgrace to the world of gadget. I hate them.
There's nothing wrong with a beautiful form, but when it completely compromises function, there's A LOT wrong.
Now this aura, besides the cool rounded screen, it looks really bad when it "swings" open.
God I'm feeling old! It's not the first of it's kind it's barely an evolution of their much older v70
http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_v70-333.php
@Bibbly53
A phone with a spherical display?? Now that I would like to see...
There is not one thing in that picture that would make me take this $2000 Aura over a $200 V3x or a $200 iPhone 3G.
I took the pic link and looked. I think it's beautifully designed and the screens are gorgeous. It's some very serious implementation of metal and glass with virtually no plastic, save for the antenna which is necessary. Of course this is a prototype and those aren't sales pics. Not everyone is interested in an iPhone-ish smartphone or a flip phone. Some people want a phone that is primarily a phone, but I'm not so sure about how good it will feel to use. Still, it's way too expensive for me, perhaps even silly but if the price is no object fashionistas run with it, it could be a success. One thing is for sure, it doesn't look like everything else out there.
Are Motorola's design team members humans?
I'd think you'd want the two panels reversed -- you'd want the part that goes to your ear behind the part that goes to your mouth -- not vice versa. Neat round screen though. Buttons are awfully weird.
If it was like that you probably wouldnt be able to press it against your ear though.
Sure pay $2k for somthing that looks like crap
This looks great in which country?
If you have a credit card, they'd ship it.
Check it out in the moto store: http://www.store.motorola.com/mot/en/US/adirect/motorola?cmd=catProductDetail
Product Specs: http://www.motorola.com/motoinfo/product/details.jsp?globalObjectId=268
Bad script for store AURA page.
http://www.store.motorola.com/mot/en/US/adirect/motorola?cmd=catProductDetail&productID=93799XQBSA&showAddButton=true&filter=601600*&MessageType=catDisplayStyle&MessageType=catDisplayStyle&OP=filter&FormName=query&FormName=query&DispStyle=B2CStyleCategory&filterDispName=MOTOSTORE+Exclusives&catKey=601600&showAll2ndLink=false
*revised
If this one doesn't function, google: "motorola store USA" - click MOTOSTORE Exclusives in left side column. ARUA should either have a banner or a spot in the store listings very visibly.
In Soviet Russia you don't talk on phone, phone talks on you!
I actually really dig the look. The screen placement and shape are pretty sweet.
The pricetag, though? Double that of my first car.
Aww you cheated the reply-game. But yeah, your second comment is spot on.
I know Motorola is in dire need of a cash injection and with the falling sales, this phone isn't going to do much for them. Period.
Bye Bye Moto.
Well, for all you haters I have seen and held this marvelous creation in person and it truly is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship.
It has a 62 carat sapphire crystal lens and with 700+ individual components all hand made, for those lucky enough to purchase one will have there aura experience extended to the highest standard. It doesn’t matter whether it has all the gizmo’s it’s an extension of your personality, it’s the look that counts and with the world 1st 16million color, circular lens it truly feel and looks the part
Microsoft Ophone in disguise.
The phone for the ultimate tool!
this phone aint got no alibi.
It ugly! It ugly!
Y, L, G, U...
"We must set goals to be a successful company in today's world. Gone are the days the razor(s), i present to you... THE MOTOROLA UGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!"
No, no, no. The last line is,
"Backwards you is ugly too!"
I find it fugly... Everything looks nice but the big (relative to the whole phone) circle screen makes it look fugly to me.
That is actually a really slick design. Too many of the commentators here know dick about style (not surprising when all they ever praise is the iphone).
WTF? Some think the phone looks bad, some, like yourself, think it looks good. That's the extent of the differences between the two groups. If you're going to disagree, do it without being an arrogant self-important bitch. You obviously have a very superficial knowledge of style, if any, because if you did, you'd know that style is not objective. If it were, everyone would look pretty much the same. Next time you open your mouth to say something, well, just don't.
Counterpoint: your avatar is from a T-shirt Hell knockoff site.
Lets all agree they are both ugly...
But one will continue to sell for some reason.
And the other will sell about 5 and raise more questions about the future of the company.
It would of been cool if it was a candy bar phone, not with a swivel.
It's been done. It's been overdone.
Will it have an unintuitive and needlessly complex menu like other Motos?
What's ironic is that the phone says right on it "DO NOT PHOTOGRAPH".
I actually like it, but would rather us that money toward food. =0
Aside from the round screen, that phone really doesn't look good. Actually looks kinda cheap to me. Not well designed. It has none of the flashiness or precision construction that i'd expect from something that's $2000.
That has to be the ugliest least ergonomic and most dysfunctional phone ever.
If I were signing up to a low cost cell phone plan and that were one of the free phones offered, I would skip over it.
Never seen a Nokia 7600?
This design is clearly inspired by the timeless fashion of props designed for forgettable made-for-tv sci-fi movies filmed cerca 1992, most likely somewhere in Manitoba. Bravo Motorola, Bravo!
That phone kicks ass. I dare you to walk by me on the street talking on that thing
Was the guy eating cheetos covered in fucking olive oil when he took the pictures?
Every single photo is covered with grimy ass fingerprints :)
This thing really looks like a phone my 5 year old sister just got.. It was filled with candy and makes nice sounds when you press the buttons.. and it cost 3 euro.. what's the big fuss about this one?
I've seen that candy phone, even here in the US! That one was modeled after the V70 which was obviously Motorola's inspiration for this phone.
the screen is absolutely gorgeous
me likey. reminds me of that old swiveling one they had back at the turn of the century.
ewwww... this is soooo ugly, ridiculously ugly
actually I quite like it, I used to love my old V70 though, and that got quite a few comments.
im suprised at all the negativity personally.
if it wasnt 2k, i'd consider it
I would like that the the next generation of mobile could cook. xd
Designed by Microsoft
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WazA77xcf0A
"Behold, the AURA!"
It's pretty nice, actually, in an Art Déco kind of way. It doesn't seem as though they are taking full advantage of the circular display yet — no point in having all these rectangular screens on it, and why not have option names cling to the inner bezel more? — but all in all it gives the impression of an item from "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow".
Russian Beeline network here!
It looks like a pay as you go phone from Wal-mart.
Plain UGLY
This makes the G1 look beautiful.
I have to hand it to Moto for trying something new, but will stick with my Serene :)
I cringe at how ugly this phone is..
way to go moto
Absolutely friggin gorgeous. The art deco designs on the cover plates gives it a sllightly Stargate SG1-ish look. I can see it filling a niche for people that want something unique, and don't want to go with the iPhone two-handed approach.
A few things I'd have done, however:
The screen should have been touch sensitive, and being circular would be ideal for a gesture-based command/menu system. Perfect for people that want to use one thumb to do all the work. Then put the keyboard/dialer into the display as well - offering a choice of standard grid or old-fashioned circular button arrangement, thus obviating the need for a physical keyboard entirely. I'd also throw in voice message recording and memory card capability as an absolute must, along with a similarly-styled bluetooth headset.
There is no defence possible of the price tag without a more developed engineering and user concept.
I really like this phone- about the only thing I don't like are the details in all of the flat parts of the phone- I think it would look cleaner with smooth or brushed finishes. Though I'd have to see one in person- most people seem to be forgetting the RAZR was $700 when it dropped and it is now free. The V70 was $800 in 2002 when it dropped and made it down to $100 to $200. If this phone finds itself at $300 to $500 fans of fashion phones would definitely be buyers because this is a truly unique phone- and from the posts here it is obvious that a lot of gadget fans are not big fans. :)
I don't understand why reviewers can't wipe off their fingerprints before taking pictures...
From Rapture to you...
I wouldn't take it if it were free with new activation.
Looks like something only black people would want and use.
cool a phone with a fingerprint