Schaumburg (IL) – I am the first one to point out that the iPhone is not "half the price" and stress that the Apple phone and most other recent smartphones are ridiculously expensive gadgets as soon as you look at the money you have to pour into service contracts. In effect, a $199 iPhone or a $179 G1 are really
$2000 phones over a 2-year period if you are honest to yourself. However, now there is a phone that will cost you $2000 upfront, service fees go extra. It does not offer unusual functionality, but features precision engineering and high-quality materials.
I am talking about Motorola’s limited edition Aura rotator phone. It is the size of your average cellphone, it does not follow the recent super-sized touch-screen and it certainly is no iPhone beater. In fact, it is not even a smartphone. It is simply a fancy cellphone with unusual looks and a focus on material and engineering.
Dominating the Aura’s front blade, which rotates 180 degrees to reveal the keypad, is a circular 1.5” LCD, the first of its kind, according to Motorola. The display has a radius of 240 pixels, a 300 dpi resolution for a “photographic display quality” and a capability to show 16 million colors. There is a cover made from a Grade 1 62 carat sapphire crystal to provide ultimate scratch resistance.
The blade holding the display is made from 200 individual components, including one main bearing and 130 precision ball bearings. Motorola says the quality is similar to that in luxury cars: "On the 100,000th opening, the blade glides with the same fluidity and grace that it did on its first," the manufacturer promises. The mechanics use tungsten carbide coated gears and use hardened steel that is typically used in high-performance engines for durability. Even tiny screws aren’t just simple screws as they are nickel-chrome plated.
The keypad is made from aluminum with individually formed keys. The stainless steel housing comes with chemically etched patterns and PVD coating we know from luxury watches.
Fancy, of course, doesn’t come cheap. The Aura can be ordered now for $2000.
We live in a world that values choice and it is great that companies think beyond the usual and make marvels like the Aura available. I am just not sure, if this phone fits the current trend and if the development effort was really worth it.
Consumers are going after iPhone-like smartphones these days and they are willing to shell out big bucks for the privilege of owning one of these devices. The Aura offers a stark contrast when compared to the iPhone, T-Mobile G1 or Nokia 5800. It supports Bluetooth, but does not include Wi-Fi or 3G. The display may limit the use of web applications, but the Aura can play music, receive/send emails and SMS/MMS and its 2 megapixel camera supports picture-taking as well as video recording. The included memory capacity is 2 GB.
If you just hate the current smartphone trend and are just looking for an expensive phone, this is probably the most extravagant way to make a statement, if we leave certain gold and diamond phones aside. I just don’t think there is a huge market for devices like the Aura and Motorola should have first thought about a device with mainstream appeal and the capability to get the company out of its financial trouble.
Would you buy this phone? Share your opinion below.
I am talking about Motorola’s limited edition Aura rotator phone. It is the size of your average cellphone, it does not follow the recent super-sized touch-screen and it certainly is no iPhone beater. In fact, it is not even a smartphone. It is simply a fancy cellphone with unusual looks and a focus on material and engineering.
Dominating the Aura’s front blade, which rotates 180 degrees to reveal the keypad, is a circular 1.5” LCD, the first of its kind, according to Motorola. The display has a radius of 240 pixels, a 300 dpi resolution for a “photographic display quality” and a capability to show 16 million colors. There is a cover made from a Grade 1 62 carat sapphire crystal to provide ultimate scratch resistance.
The blade holding the display is made from 200 individual components, including one main bearing and 130 precision ball bearings. Motorola says the quality is similar to that in luxury cars: "On the 100,000th opening, the blade glides with the same fluidity and grace that it did on its first," the manufacturer promises. The mechanics use tungsten carbide coated gears and use hardened steel that is typically used in high-performance engines for durability. Even tiny screws aren’t just simple screws as they are nickel-chrome plated.
The keypad is made from aluminum with individually formed keys. The stainless steel housing comes with chemically etched patterns and PVD coating we know from luxury watches.
Fancy, of course, doesn’t come cheap. The Aura can be ordered now for $2000.
We live in a world that values choice and it is great that companies think beyond the usual and make marvels like the Aura available. I am just not sure, if this phone fits the current trend and if the development effort was really worth it.
Consumers are going after iPhone-like smartphones these days and they are willing to shell out big bucks for the privilege of owning one of these devices. The Aura offers a stark contrast when compared to the iPhone, T-Mobile G1 or Nokia 5800. It supports Bluetooth, but does not include Wi-Fi or 3G. The display may limit the use of web applications, but the Aura can play music, receive/send emails and SMS/MMS and its 2 megapixel camera supports picture-taking as well as video recording. The included memory capacity is 2 GB.
If you just hate the current smartphone trend and are just looking for an expensive phone, this is probably the most extravagant way to make a statement, if we leave certain gold and diamond phones aside. I just don’t think there is a huge market for devices like the Aura and Motorola should have first thought about a device with mainstream appeal and the capability to get the company out of its financial trouble.
Would you buy this phone? Share your opinion below.