Video: Motorola Aura in action

After we got done drooling over Engadget Mobile's hands-on gallery with the Aura, we thought we'd take the thing for a quick spin on video. It's really impossible to convey how sharp and choice this thing looks and feels in person, but we did our best. Video after the break.

[James B. @ Jan 11th 2009 7:11PM]

Looks pretty slick and simple to me!

[Nando @ Jan 11th 2009 7:46PM]

And a 300dpi resolution screen?! Daaamn... It's like magazine-quality. lol

[0megapart!cle @ Jan 11th 2009 7:54PM]

No shit. Have you not guessed the fact that this phone is not about the software? It is about the hardware, through and through. And the hardware is AMAZING!

This is really a proof-of-concept of Motorola that it still knows how to produce best-in-class phones, not a product designed to sell. It is becoming less and less important for the hardware maker to have good software custom-made in house, with Palm's new software (which I suspect will eventually be offered to third parties if the Pre is successful), and Android.

[Flashpoint @ Jan 11th 2009 8:15PM]

I find it hard to believe there is actually a market for these. Palm Pre and iPhone make these look so ...lame

[Smart People Play Tuba @ Jan 11th 2009 8:42PM]

"Choice?"

I haven't heard "choice" used as an adjective since "Ferris Bueller."

[Brian @ Jan 11th 2009 9:12PM]

@Flashpoint

You know what makes a rolex look stupid? a digital casio. But people still buy rolexes, right?

It's abut the look, and materials that go into the phone. Like the plastic that's in your iphone, or the cheap glass that's in your imac/macbook. Except that this phone has materials of the highest quality, styled ad molded perfectly.

[RyanTV @ Jan 11th 2009 9:38PM]

@ Brian

I'm sorry, but comparing a fine time piece that can quite literally become a family heirloom to a mobile phone that will see a year, maybe two, of use is just ridiculous.

Is there a market for these? sure. Somewhere out there are a few dingbats with more money than sense.... But honestly, I imagine that the insanely wealthy are more apt to have a a blackberry than anything like this.

The Aura one one of those "because we can" gadgets. The manufactures make them with over the top materials and components just so they can slap a large price tag on them and say they have made the first [enter gadget here] in the world with [enter stupid feature here].

Now the problem is that Motorola really CAN'T make gadgets like these. They are quite literally failing as a company and to put resources into a one-off type luxury gadget just doesn't make much sense fiscally.

/$0.02

[Grant H @ Jan 11th 2009 7:12PM]

Weren't you mocking this a while back?

[Richard Glitter @ Jan 12th 2009 12:26PM]

I think they were mocking the whole concept of it, which is a bit ridiculous (although now I can see why Moto did this, trying to raise some quick capital for a dying handset division). But i'm sure the build quality and screen quality are very impressive nonetheless, which is what they are praising in the video.

[nerdtalker @ Jan 11th 2009 7:13PM]

Even if it's ridiculously expensive and feature-lacking, you've gotta hand it to whoever designed that thing, it's classy like a fine swiss watch. It looks nice and slick.

[KAIKAI @ Jan 11th 2009 7:25PM]

*cough* iphone *cough*

[Freestyle Farfetchd @ Jan 11th 2009 7:37PM]

Yes, this is so obviously an iPhone clone, it has a screen, and is more for show than anything else.

300DPI is insane, by the way. I thought the iPod Nano was pretty good with it's 200DPI screen.

[KilgoreTrout @ Jan 11th 2009 8:06PM]

This thing is the exact opposite of classy, unless you think a gold, diamond studded Rolex daytona is classy.
Not all swiss watches are classy, some are made for those who think they can buy their class by showing how much they can afford to spend for usless and bad taste objects like this Motorola.
Class, like God, is in the details, but only in those details that make functionality and form blend in a seamless (I would'nt dare saying perfect) unit.
Moreover class is never found in an object but in how that object gets used.
The only "classy" way to use that motorola is to avoid it altogether.

[KAIKAI @ Jan 11th 2009 8:39PM]

*disclaimer
i ment that comment for the like first 7 words of his post :D

[maveric101 @ Jan 11th 2009 10:10PM]

since the screen is circular, would've been awesome if they had made the screen rotate as you slide the phone open so the orientation stays constant relative to the keypad.

[Anthop @ Jan 12th 2009 12:56AM]

Psh. oPhone clone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WazA77xcf0A

[Neil @ Jan 11th 2009 7:14PM]

spinwheel?
i'm so lost. haha.

[porovaara @ Jan 11th 2009 7:14PM]

Oh. Wow. Hot.

Now.

[Corey @ Jan 11th 2009 7:15PM]

Looks great....but the menu looks awfully sluggish

[Shadow08 @ Jan 11th 2009 7:35PM]

Slow? It's called animations.

[Homeboy @ Jan 11th 2009 8:19PM]

Well what do you expect, it's a typical Motorola, great design with a shitty OS.

[TomL @ Jan 13th 2009 6:46PM]

Yeah, I agree.

The design of the phone is definitely different and creative, but the slow menu is HORRIBLE.

[Jeremy K. @ Jan 11th 2009 7:17PM]

The interface seems laggy.

[Daren @ Jan 11th 2009 7:34PM]

thats what i was thinking... Though she could of just been clicking slow trying to display it for reporters.

[zounds Padang @ Jan 11th 2009 7:58PM]

Exactly. On paper this looks really good but it just dosn't *feel* elegant. It feels like any old flip phone with an amazing screen.

[Alex @ Jan 11th 2009 7:19PM]

Does it take circular pictures? I can imagine that would be offputting?

[GBeatzRecrds @ Jan 11th 2009 7:21PM]

dildo phone

[Jeremy K. @ Jan 11th 2009 7:22PM]

are you blind?

[the happiest mac @ Jan 11th 2009 7:50PM]

he has a weird girlfriend...

[the happiest mac @ Jan 11th 2009 7:33PM]

looks like a fancy dumbphone...

[Gad Get @ Jan 11th 2009 8:24PM]

Very perceptive.

[Techran @ Jan 11th 2009 7:35PM]

What an Fugly piece.

[tylerstempinski @ Jan 11th 2009 7:40PM]

Will It Blend?

[the happiest mac @ Jan 11th 2009 8:27PM]

for spending that much i hope not!!!

[LEE @ Jan 11th 2009 7:43PM]

.....hmmmmm FOR 2 GRAND, SHOULD IT NOT DO SOMETHING EARTHMOVING......SAY LIKE A POCKET OREGASUM......well maybe just good vibes.....

[h0rk_ @ Jan 11th 2009 7:52PM]

this is possibly the biggest fail on the internet at this moment in time

[Omivaun @ Jan 11th 2009 7:54PM]

It's pretty, but it's got as much substance as cotton candy. the only people I can see buying this is the upper class that don't know any better.

[PCIV @ Jan 11th 2009 8:02PM]

If it wasn't for the price, I would buy one easily. I was a fan of the v70 and the w550, so I actually like this phone. It's like a slider, but with a bit more look-at-me factor.

[Jon Nelson @ Jan 11th 2009 9:13PM]

Exactly, if this phone weren't $2,000, I'd seriously consider buying it. I've got a WinMo phone right now, but this thing just looks so slick, I might be willing to give up my full keyboard if it runs as smooth as it should at that price point.

[nicko.dvz @ Jan 11th 2009 8:02PM]

Kinda reminds me of the oPhone...
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=WazA77xcf0A
LOL.

[Decoy @ Jan 11th 2009 9:10PM]

Yes! +1

[Edinator @ Jan 11th 2009 8:03PM]

I love how she says "It's a great phone as well"

I think it would have made more sense if the screen was a touch screen. That wheel looks too small.

[CraigJ @ Jan 11th 2009 8:04PM]

as far as phones go this is awesome. Personally I like beautiful, well made things. However, this is no more functional than the RAZR. The software looks a lot better, but this is just a phone, not that there is anything wrong with that; some people just want a phone and don't want to browse, do e-mail, etc. There is definitely a market for this, and in terms of "high end" phones I fine this refreshing, considering it's not gold plated and crystal encrusted

[justin @ Jan 12th 2009 4:18PM]

Craig, you have it just right bud.
It is exactly the phone I've been looking for. I am looking for a NORMAL phone, without a camera, but with superb reception! When I see apple's Iphone, I see "douche", unless a hot girl is using it.

What has been pissing me off lately on the phone market is that all phones have a camera, they force you to browse the internet, or they simply have a bunch of state of the art useless software that you'll never use.

The only extra thing I want on a phone is an alarm! A caculator is nice! More importantly, a phone with superb reception!

[bandigolo @ Jan 11th 2009 8:08PM]

16 million colors is fantastic, but let's keep in mind that the HTC phones basically have 300 dpi on much bigger screens (albeit with 65k colors). Not that the HTC phones can compete with this thing on pure style points, but still.

I wonder how scratch resistant the glass is. I can't even imagine the level of pissed I'd be if my keys gauged that screen.

[username @ Jan 11th 2009 8:13PM]

if you could afford this phone chances are you arent going to be driving yourself

[bandigolo @ Jan 11th 2009 8:15PM]

*gouged

[bandigolo @ Jan 11th 2009 8:16PM]

@ username

keys to the yacht. Duh.

[Gad Get @ Jan 11th 2009 8:23PM]

"if you could afford this phone chances are you arent going to be driving yourself"

Unless you're like Tony Stark.

[superhobo @ Jan 12th 2009 12:31AM]

Tony Stark is not stupid enough to buy this.