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This section contains 913 words
(approx. 3 pages at 400 words per page)
Volume 1 Summary
The volume begins with the conception of Tristram Shandy. His mother and father are partaking in sexual intercourse when his mother asks if there is a problem with the cuckoo clock. From here, Tristram criticizes his mother's ill-timed question and wonders the effect it had on his father's performance. Tristram credits his Uncle Toby for the anecdote, whereon Tristram quotes a conversation between Toby and his father that claims Tristram's problems started nine months before he ever came into the world.
The narrator, Tristram Shandy, is prone to moving away from the facts of the subject of which he is writing and stating his own opinions. In the first volume, Tristram talks about how he does not care and how he is going to give his opinions and say what he likes. Often these opinions take the form of anecdotes. The next tale is about the midwife his mother wants at his birth. The midwife lives nearby Tristram's village, and Tristram explains how the parson and his wife took pity on the widowed midwife and helped finance her license. After another digression, Tristram introduces Yorick, the Parson. He compares Yorick to his namesake in Hamlet and the main character in Don Quixote. Yorick is a kindly and witty man, but his straightforward talking means he is misunderstood and generally unpopular. The villagers borrow his horses to ride the seven miles to the doctors, leaving him with nothing but an old slow horse. Consequently, the villagers presume he is helping the midwife, so they do not have to borrow his horses and he can start riding his faster, stronger steeds. However, the vicar proves them wrong by keeping to his old horse. At the end of the anecdote, Yorick dies with his faithful friend Eugenuis by his side.
Tristram continues by detailing arguments and disagreements between his father and mother. Firstly on the laws of their marriage, secondly on how and where his mother can give birth and thirdly the name they want to give the child. Tristram's father alludes to many strange philosophical ideas to argue his case, but his mother has a legal document to back herself.
Tristram takes the side of his father and goes into another digression about his women readers and then how his digressions are actually progressions. In between, he starts the story of his Uncle Toby. Tristram's father and his Uncle are close brothers, but unfortunately, Toby has a sensitive disposition due to a stone hitting him in the groin when he was a captain in the British army. While Tristram's father is fond of telling everyone about his sister's affair with a coachman, Uncle Toby often has to take Tristram's father aside and, with tears in his eyes, beg him to stop for the sake of the family. Tristram promises to continue with his Uncle's story in the next volume.
Volume 1 Analysis
From the onset, Laurence Sterne makes the reader aware they are reading a book; the narrator is constantly communicating directly to the reader about what he is writing. This sets the tone, and in the remainder of the novel, The narrator rarely allows the reader to become involved in a narrative. In this first volume, the narrator, Tristram, tells stories about the Parson, the midwife, his own conception, Toby's injury and his parent's arguments, but often he interrupts these narratives to impart irrelevant opinions before returning to a completely different narrative. In this first volume, Tristram starts a story about his father and Toby waiting in the parlor but does not return to it until the second volume. He backs his right to do so through a long discourse about how his digressions are actually progressions.
However, this conversational and rambling style is part of Tristram's wit and tells us more about Tristram as a person than the actual story of his life. For example, in the beginning chapters, he shows disrespect not only for his mother, but women in general, humorously blaming her question about the cuckoo clock on his later problems. Further on in the volume, Tristram says the only woman with character in his family was his Aunt Dinah, and then only because she caused a family scandal. It actually turns out Tristram could not have met Aunt Dinah because she dies at the end of the second volume. In comparison, Tristram has a high regard for the men in the story. He chronicles the relationship between his father and Toby with high romanticism and claims his father would not of let anyone else stay in the Shandy house but his brother. This is not the only male relationship Tristram romanticizes; later on he works a similarly fond relationship between Trim and Toby. In this volume, such male bonding serves to highlight the distance Tristram feels from his mother and perhaps hoped his father did as well. While Toby and the father provide good-hearted banter, shown particularly when Toby pleads with his brother not to mention the relationship between Aunt Dinah and the coach man, the legal argument between his father and mother has a more satirical edge. The legal document that Sterne inserts into this volume, detailing how his mother wanted to have birth in London, not only foreshadows the formality within the Shandy's marriage, but also the formality between men and women in society in general at that time Sterne penned Tristram Shandy. It is interesting to note Laurence Sterne's marriage was no exception.
This section contains 913 words
(approx. 3 pages at 400 words per page)


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I started photography about a year ago, and I've since developed a passion for it. Art, in general, has always been a large part of my life.
I hope to start working professionally soon, and have decided to kick-start my career via the internet.
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text: In about one week, Maine voters will go to the polls to decide whether to authorize nearly $150 million in bonds for infrastructure projects, including road work. The package of bond questions on the Nov. 5 ballot will include Question 3 – a $100 million transportation bond – to benefit highways, bridges and ports. Specifically, $76 million would be used for highway improvements and $27 million would be used for bridges. Ports and rail would get $24 million. Local governments would get another $5 million. In addition, approval of the transportation bond would trigger another $154 million in federal and other funds. Supporters include Gov. Paul LePage. The Republican governor said the bonds are needed to improve the state's transportation network. "Infrastructure projects create good-paying jobs in the construction industry, and our roads, bridges and ports are important economic drivers that help attract and retain jobs," LePage said in a recent news release. Several Republican lawmakers oppose tapping bonds to get work done. They say that infrastructure maintenance should be paid for out of the state's existing revenue. "The bottom line is this work has to be done. Our roads cannot be neglected," stated Rep. Ken Fredette, R-Newport. "However, in the long term, we must break the cycle of borrowing to pay for the most fundamental obligations of state government." Officials with the Maine Department of Transportation say that "the state needs bonding to keep our transportation system together." However, MaineDOT says even with the bond, the agency's core highway and bridge programs still face a funding shortfall of about $110 million a year.


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Joseph Gordon-Levitt On Why He Identifies As A Feminist
"That was something that my mom would always point out to my brother and me, that our culture does often portray women especially… like objects. For example, we would always watch Lakers games as a family, but my mom would always point out every time the cheerleaders come on, 'Okay, so look, here's the story that gets told: The men get to be the heroic skilled athletes and the women just get to be pretty.' She didn't mean any offense to any individual woman who was working as a cheerleader, but she wanted me and my brother to be aware of it because we see these images on TV, in the movies, and on magazines all the time. And if you don't stop and think about it, it just sort of seeps into your brain and that becomes the way you perceive reality. … I do call myself a feminist. Absolutely! It's worth paying attention to the roles that are sort of dictated to us and that we don't have to fit into those roles. We can be anybody we wanna be."
Joseph Gordon-Levitt has long been high up on our list of Dream Celebrity Boyfriends, thanks to his intelligence, talent, and good looks. But what really makes him one of our favorite men in Hollywood is his obvious respect for women. In an interview on "Ellen" yesterday, JGL explained how his mother's influence had him thinking about feminist issues from an early age, which eventually led to him exploring the topic of porn and objectification of women in his fantastic and funny directorial debut, "Don Jon." (If you haven't seen it, you must!) I hate to sound like the stereotype of a weak and emotional woman here, but I'm swooning. [Ellen TV]


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It seams a natural choice that the royal couple chose Mario Testino to shoot there engagement photographs. The trusted photographer has been taking the Royal family portraits for years. Whenever I think of Diana I think of Testino's pics he took of her which appeared on the cover of the Vanity Fair. These pics captured the essence of Diana like no other!
He has their best interests at heart, as seen in the way he takes their portraits. It is rumoured that he will have the honour of being the royal wedding photographer!
The engagement pics are lovely – very natural, unassuming and in love! I wrote about Kate a couple of weeks back when the announcement of their engagement was made public – here.
These two are going to be a romance that we will watch for years to come!
Mario standing in front of the famous portraits of Diana
Prince Harry, Charles and William shot by Mario Testino


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True cases basis of Richland attorney's novel
Pittsburgh lawyer Lou Vitti of Richland was eating dinner to a jazz tune from "Good Night, and Good Luck," the 2005 film directed by George Clooney.
The song "Who's Minding the Store?" by Dianne Reeves struck Vitti as the perfect tune to open his own movie.
His wife, Edith, suggested that Vitti write a screenplay.
Instead, Vitti, 72, penned his first novel, "Ghosts of Bars and Christmas Past" (Word Association Publishers, $24.95 and $14.95).
"I didn't know who the killer would be until 30 pages from the end," Vitti said.
Copies will be available for purchase at a book signing and publication party set for 7 p.m. Feb. 8 at Mystery Lovers Bookshop, 514 Allegheny River Blvd., Oakmont. Hard- and soft-cover editions also are available online through Amazon and Word Association Publishers.
"It's selling well. We're getting a lot of orders," said Tom Costello, owner of Word Association Publishers. "It's an extremely easy read, and a fast read, and a fascinating read. Almost everything takes places in well-known bars and places in the area."
"Ghosts of Bars and Christmas Past" is about a lawyer with old acquaintances who get in trouble, and "he tries to legally help them escape their problems," Vitti said.
"This thing was intended to be a screenplay."
The book's back cover sums up the tale: "Lou DiAngelo is a Pittsburgh attorney with many friends. He drinks expensive Scotch, dates a gorgeous woman, and knows the right waiters and bartenders all around the three rivers. When he gets a call from a new client who is also a friend from the old neighborhood, his worlds begin to collide — in surprising and dangerous ways. A violent murder, missing $400,000 and 30 kilos of cocaine — punctuated with good food and drink, and a passionate romance keep the pages turning through this legal thriller."
Vitti, an usher and Eucharistic minister at St. Richard Catholic Church, wrote the 199-page book in about five months.
"It took more time to edit it," he said. "I got tired of reading the book."
Vitti, chief partner and president of Vitti & Vitti & Associates in downtown Pittsburgh, mined his lifetime of legal wrangling for the book's characters and crimes.
"I represented a lot of mob guys. I represented bars ... These are real characters based on people I know. In many cases I used their real names," Vitti said.
"These are actual cases I dealt with in real life. I wove them together into a story."
Vitti now is working on his second novel: "Drink While You Can."
Reservations are requested for Vitti's publication party and book signing. Call Mystery Lovers Bookshop at 412-828-4877.
Deborah Deasy is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-772-6369 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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text:
San Clemente's elected leaders will not try to use the city's 23-year-old beach parking fund to build a downtown parking structure at the Community Center. But they may try to use the fund to add 140 parking spaces at North Beach.
The decisions came on a pair of votes at Tuesday night's City Council meeting as local resident Brad Malamud demanded that the $9.7 million beach parking fund be refunded to homeowners who have paid into it since 1989.
Malamud, who is suing the city, asserted that city-commissioned parking studies show there is no need to provide additional beach parking that the city thought it would need in 1989 when It began charging new homes built east of I-5 a fee to offset the effect of new residents on beach parking.
City officials said the Pier Bowl needs more parking but that past efforts to put a garage there have met with resistance. City staff recently recommended a structure at the Community Center with a shuttle to and from the beach. City staff added that North Beach needs more parking because city code provides parking waivers for two historic resources – the Casino ballroom and the defunct Miramar Theater. When the landmark facilities are fully restored and active, the city will need to add parking for beachgoers, city staff said.
On a 5-0 vote Tuesday, council members directed staff to develop estimates of what it would cost to provide more public parking for North Beach on both sides of El Camino Real. The city's legal staff will be asked to evaluate whether the city can use the beach parking fund for those projects.
On a 3-2 vote, the council chose not to pursue using the beach parking fund for a Community Center parking structure. Mayor Jim Evert and Councilman Jim Dahl wanted more information on that option. Council members Lori Donchak, Bob Baker and Tim Brown voted it down.
Council members unanimously directed staff to work up a plan to refund any surpluses from the beach parking fund to homeowners who have paid into it over the years.
Malamud objected to all the parking proposals, saying the city has sat on the money for 23 years and is putting together projects only because he sued for return of the money to homeowners.
On a 5-0 vote, the council transferred $629,650 into the beach parking fund that the city has spent on parking-related projects in the past 20 years. City staff determined the money should have come from the city's general fund, not the beach parking fund.
Local resident Ricardo Nicol urged the council to provide more North Beach parking on the coastal side of El Camino Real. He said it's needed to help revitalize North Beach's historic resources and to help offset an overall beach parking shortage. "What we have in this town is a misalignment between beach locations and available public parking," Nicol said. Some beaches face a serious shortage that can't be alleviated, he said, and beach parking needs to be put where feasible.
Contact the writer: email@example.com or 949-492-5127


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COLUMBIANA -- Garrett Beech will get a chance to play one more high school football game before moving on to the collegiate level.
Beech, a four-year starter for the United Local Golden Eagles, was chosen to play for Ohio in the 35th annual Ohio Pennsylvania Stateline Football Classic scheduled for Friday night at 7:30 in Community Stadium at Springfield Local High School.
"It's an honor to play in this game," said Beech. "Football's very big in Ohio and I get a chance to play with some of the best players in our area."
Beech, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 180 pounds headed to Malone University, became a starter immediately at United by earning a spot at wide receiver as a freshman on the 2010 team, which made the Division V playoffs.
"It was a great experience," recounted Beech. "We had a lot of good seniors and I was happy to get the chance to contribute."
Beech was a frequent target of quarterback Josh McLaughlin, who directed a wide-open, high-powered offense at United and will be concluding his collegiate career at Malone.
"He (McLaughlin) told me what a nice place it was when I visited it," admitted Beech. "Hopefully, I'll get a chance to play with him again."
Beech also followed McLaughlin as United's starting quarterback and became a threat both passing and running the football for three seasons and surpassed 1,000 rushing and 1,000 passing yards and in his junior and senior campaigns under head coach Mike Ward.
"I liked the offense and the responsibility," smiled Beech. "Coach put me in a leadership role and I tried my best to lead us."
United didn't qualify for the playoffs the past three years, although it came close in 2012. The Golden Eagles were in the hunt after nine weeks, but they were eliminated after falling 54-53 to the Mineral Ridge Rams in overtime.
Beech not only guided the offense, but he also started in the secondary on defense, roaming the field from his safety position, the spot he's expected to play for Ohio.
He has no complaints about focusing on defense.
"I like playing defense more than offense," Beech laughed. "I like hitting people more than getting hit."
Considered a cerebral player, Beech admitted he's had to adjust quickly to a different defensive scheme than the one he was familiar with when playing at United.
"We're playing more man and I'll be covering wide receivers, tight ends and running backs," confided Beech ."At United, we played more zone."
While United didn't make the postseason football tournament during his final three years, Beech still enjoyed competing against powerful Inter Tri-County League Upper Tier rivals Columbiana Crestview and South Range, and non-league foes like Malvern and neighboring Salem.
"I had a lot of good memories playing football at United," said Beech . "I learned a lot."
Beech, who also was a standout baseball player, intends on majoring in education, intending to be a teacher and coach.
That, however, is in the future. His present this week is preparing to play on the same all-star football game with talented gridders from other high schools, including many of whom were league rivals.
"This is a big game," he explained. "I want to see how well I can compete against some of the best players from Pennsylvania."


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Summer courses are finally coming to an end and those of us who have been studying hard all season are approaching a two week break (sighs). But before we can kick our feet up and indulge in some well-deserved beach trips and days of Netflix-ing, we must get through our final exams and presentations to finish off strong. I spotted a Fashionista on campus on her way to a class presentation who had on the perfect outfit to score her an awesome grade.
This Fashionista's unique style immediately caught my eye as she walked across the Phila quad. She rocked a pair of cat eye framed glasses that fit the shape of her face perfectly. I personally love eye glasses with big frames, and seeing this design on her made me want to try it myself!
Next, this Fashionista wore a pair of printed jogger pants that are comfortable but can be dressed up to look professional. This type of pant is seriously ideal for days when you want to wear sweatpants; but don't want to look like you're wearing sweatpants. Even better; this Fashionista said she scored them at a thrift store for an unbelievable price!
With her pants, she wore a black flowy top with a denim jacket layered overtop. This specific jacket was my favorite piece of her outfit because of its military style buttons and puffy shoulder detail that created a very vintage look.
This Fashionista carried a taupe colored leather bag. This bag was big enough to carry all of her personal belongings as well as a few notebooks. Take note that an oversized purse is a great alternative to a backpack while at school.
For shoes, she wore a pair of black clogs that were the perfect accessory to finish off her outfit. These shoes are currently on-trend as we still experience the '90s revival in fashion.
All of these pieces tied together are great for a presentation because they are fashionable, comfortable and school appropriate! The black and blue color combination was a good choice because it isn't too loud and distracting. Wearing this type of outfit would allow you to focus more on what you are presenting and less on how you look.
One Simple Change: Switch the solid black top with a black and white stripe T-shirt. This would create an outfit that would be great to wear out with friends. Mixing prints is always a challenge, but it's super fun!


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Olivier Winner Michael Ball to Host 2014 WEST END HEROES Gala at the Dominion, Sept 28
Michael Ball, Britain's leading musical theatre star, a double Olivier Award winner, multi-platinum recording artist and a hugely popular radio and TV presenter, is announced today as the host of the 2014 West End Heroes gala concert.
Following the phenomenal success of West End Heroes last year, which saw the casts of many of the biggest West End musicals unite with the finest UK military bands and musicians in a stunning performance that raised over £88,000 for the Help For Heroes charity, the newly refurbished Dominion Theatre is to once again host the event, this year on Sunday 28 September at 8.00pm
Michael Ball will oversee proceeedings and also perform in The 2014 West End Heroes gala concert, which will again unite the country's top military musicians with even more West End performers and productions in a dazzling showcase of showstopping numbers, unlikely song mash-ups and stunning choreography and precision drilling.
He said: "I'm absolutely thrilled to be able to take part in West End Heroes and to show my respect, admiration and support for the amazing men and women who've literally put their lives on the line for us all. It'll be a joy and a challenge to host the entire evening (as well as hopefully performing a couple of songs) and I can promise it's going to be a concert not to be missed. And, if all goes to plan there will be some wonderful surprises in store!"
Returning to form the centerpiece of the gala and under the directorship of Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs will be The Central Band of the Royal Air Force, which is widely regarded as one of the finest military bands in the UK and incorporates the celebrated RAF Squadronaires Big Band. West End Heroes will once again be generously supported by many TV and theatre stars and will feature line-ups from current and past West End Shows.
This year's event has set a target to raise more than £100,000.
General Manager of the Dominion Theatre, David Pearson, said: "It is an honour and a privilege to once again host West End Heroes and we are delighted to announce Michael Ball as our MC. He is the biggest musical theatre star in the UK and we know he will do a magnificent job as MC as well as delivering some stunning numbers himself. The Dominion is looking forward to welcoming the concert as one of the first major events following the extensive restoration and refurbishment programme, which will be completed over the summer."
Michael Ball made his West End debut as Marius in the original London cast of LES MISERABLES; he starred in the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love in the West End and on Broadway, in the London production of Stephen Sondheim's Passion and as Caractacus Potts in the West End musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. In 2005 he returned to Broadway as Count Fosco in The Woman in White, which transferred from London's West End and, in the same year, made his New York City Opera debut as Reginald Bunthorne in Gilbert and Sullivan's Patience. In 2007 he made his debut with the ENO as Haj/The Poet in Kismet. In 2008 Michael made box office history at the Shaftesbury Theatre with his Olivier Award winning performance as Edna Turnblad in the smash hit musical Hairspray, which he then took on tour across the UK. That year he also made his debut as chat show host on ITV 1's The Michael Ball Show and he made his debut as a West End co-producer with the musical theatre production of Love Story at the Duchess Theatre. In 2013 Michael won Best Actor in a Musical from Whatsonstage.com and his second Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his critically acclaimed lead role in Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Chichester and Adelphi/West End). Michael regularly tours the UK as a concert artist and has sold millions of albums and dvds nationally and internationally. He's performed in Australia, China, USA, Singapore and in 2007 made his BBC Proms debut: An Evening with Michael Ball at the Royal Albert Hall marked the first time a musical theatre star had been given a solo concert at the Proms. Michael has a hugely successful radio broadcasting career which includes his own show, Sunday Night with Michael Ball. He recently completed shooting the Victoria Wood BBC TV film, That Day We Sang with Imelda Staunton and in November 2014 will release his 19th solo album through Union Square Music.
Help for Heroes is a charity that offers comprehensive support to those who have suffered life-changing injuries and illnesses while serving their country. This is provided through grants to individuals, other Service charities, capital build projects and four Personnel Recovery Centres across the UK.
The Creative Team for For West End Heroes 2014 features Director Tim Marshall (Festival of Remembrance, Royal Albert Hall), Musical Director Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs, Musical Supervisor Stuart Morley (We Will Rock You; Night of a 1000 Stars), Choreographer Matt Flint (So You Think You Can Dance; Strictly Come Dancing), Assistant Director Carole Todd (Carnaby Street, Dreamboats and Petticoats), Design Tim Soden (The Lion King; Calendar Girls), and General Manager Tony Green. Produced by Dominion Events.
WEST END HEROES hosted by Michael Ball will take place at the DOMINION THEATRE, Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7AQ on Sunday 28 September 2014 at 8.00pm. Tickets from £30.00. VIP Packages including champagne, pre-show reception, premium seat and access to the concert after-party. Tickets for West End Heroes are now on sale from www.westendheroes.com.


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Motorola Announces the New Moto X: Initial Impressions and Hands Onby Joshua Ho on 9/5/2014 2:00 AM EST
- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Motorola
- Mobile
- Moto X
108 Comments
Back to Article
erikiksaz - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkNow this is why I love anandtech. Sum up all the specs in a chart (instead of of a 5 min video parroting back all the specs), and educate me on all the aspects of the phone that other websites simply do not cover.
Thanks for the great preview.
Any more details on the color reproduction, sound quality/loudness of the speakers? Reply
JoshHo - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkThe speakers are definitely quite good in quality, but I need to try some subjective comparisons and collect some data to really get a better idea of how sound quality is on the speaker. Reply
imaheadcase - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkThe one thing i don't like on my moto x is the speakers, you can't sit it on a flat surface because they are on back and muffles sound. kind of annoying when you want to watch videos on lunch break. Reply
imaheadcase - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkOic it HAS a front speaker? excellent news! Reply
craighamilton - Saturday, December 06, 2014 - linkThe Moto X is not very popular if you look at consumer based reviews (such as
http://www.topreport.org/phones/ which is my favorite). Reply
JoJ - Monday, September 08, 2014 - linkHi Josh, I'm new to your phone reviews, though not to this site, thank you for many years of providing great reference everyone, especially also the commenters here..
Is it possible to test phones' speaker abilities by just putting them in a not so huge anechoic chamber? DIY, but I know you'd do a decent job, and providing some straight uncompressed recordings?
Several sites offer quite detailed measurements, but I'm not expert at understanding these, and differences all seem to fall within possible error margins. I'm simply thinking that a really good relative comparison would be to just soundproof a closet and run some tracks, preferably also from high resolution lossless files, at a range of volumes and microphone distances. Some real dynamic range classical, "noise war" pop, some operatic recitative is great for pinpointing hard to hear enunciation, maybe patch a phone in on speaker, to a conference call. Just enough so review readers could take, say, a half hour listen. Since so many have great headphones now, and many of those are studio monitor quality in flatness of response, I think this would work well.
As a kid, I very nearly took my studies to pursue a interest in sound engineering, but that's a very long time ago, however I remember many psychoacoustics reviews linking attention and perception of quality to both sound and video quality, basically perceived visual acuity would improve with greater audio fidelity, and similar correlations.
We spend a lot of time, now, with our phones. So much I have deliberately forgone use of anything but a very basic candy bar Nokia, just coming to six months now, exclusive use of a simple not even series 40 model, literally the flash ram is wearing out, it's so cheap. This is my last week or so!
My point is, that even with phablet phones, viewing a video, is something you often share, and so hearing comparison at a meter between phones would persuade me over anything other than a real deficiency in the screen. Poor audio has been the thing that I find causes my companions or colleagues to have difficulty understanding, not video, provided the video is smooth.
So having a idea of what these phones can sound like, for conferencing or music, at a meter or so, just as a comparison, forget graphs and numbers, would be really cool.
Please forgive me, if I have missed out on the parts of your test regime, which might give me a idea, but I'd be persuaded by any well managed real life sample, over test reports. To a certain extent, it feels like the eighties again, or before then, really, when getting any decent sound was a result, and the word "audiophile" was invented to excuse the measurebating.
I hope I'm not suggesting the all too obvious, instead just calling out a wish, but I was thinking the other day, about television reviews. About only one surprised me, to see something distinctly better, through YouTube's 1080 setting, and that as of a limited production Panasonic plasma, their last ever plasma. That seemed to shine through the obviously degrading signal chain. I am sure that great audio performance would shine through as well.
Are speakers generally deprecated? I mean, do most users .. no, most review readers, pay less attention to speaker ability, because they presume they'll be using their (very good) own headphones? If I was writing reviews, and selling adverts or anything to do with it, I'd be on the case to find out some numbers and opinions.
Thanks again & best from me,
~ joj Reply
fokka - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linki wanted to say the same thing, but you beat me to it.
i hate having to read paragraphs of text, just to be able to tell what specs some device has. it's even worse when comparing different devices.
here we always get a nice chart, often comparing the reviewed piece of tech with its predecessor or competing products. this way i have a good overview in a matter of seconds.
thank you. Reply
JoJ - Monday, September 08, 2014 - linkI agree with that, for sure!
But I'm hijacking this early bit of the thread to as something dumb, that's kinda similar in terms of frustration with websites, or rather browsers: what happened to having text wrapped when you scale it on a phone or any other device for that matter? Opera Mini and Mobile used to do that, just fine. Okay, it did mess with layout a bit, but never so badly. Now I see no word wrap at all, and even in this Surface Pro 2, I don't have width enough when zoomed to appease older eyes, still keeping the page from overflowing... I simply do not want to horizontal scroll! Has anyone any ideas? I have tried lots of browsers, for sure, but no luck. Story of touch compatibility on a Surface is another thing altogether: I delayed the last Patch Tuesday because of the BSOD issue, and there's a few IE11 updates there. But, if a lot of things do not dramatically improve with IE11, I am going to write a very lengthy demand for a refund. That bad. On a metered connection and it won't recognize I darn well closed those thirty windows, two freaking shutdowns ago... and that's just one issue of many, and I really do wan to love this device...
Anyone know what happened to text wrapping for mobile browsers?
Why is - to my mind at least- such a vital usability feature not highlighted in reviews?
I am windows centric, but could care less about which platform I use, when it comes to usability. Reply
hahmed330 - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkYeah awesome and highly professional preview... Moto X looks really promising considering how much attention to detail they have put in each and every solution. Motorola shames Samsung when it comes to attention to detail. Reply
Peroxyde - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkBecause other specialized "mobile" sites do quicker review. They shoot the phone with a bullet and check after if the phone is still working. Reply
ehfeng - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkAgreed. Great article, one that few, if any, other publications would be capable of producing. Reply
kpkp - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkLittle bug:
"and the power button has a ridged pattern to it to distinguish it from the power button" Reply
JoshHo - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkBug fixed, always seems like there's one typo that gets through... Reply
VulgarDisplay - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkI have LOVED my original Moto X so far. I would buy this Gen 2 phone, but the original is still absolutely fast enough for everything I use it for, and the battery lasts me for 10 hours of heavy usage.
Maybe Gen 3 will be time for a new phone. Reply
ankushrajput - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkI'm a new fan of Anandtech. I had read Anand's words of praise for Joshua in his signing off article and after reading this article, I realize he was so right. I love the amount of detail in your articles. Just wish you do more reviews of mobile devices, including mid-range devices. And yes, I'm waiting for an in-depth review of the new Moto devices launched today. Reply
CrystalBay - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkYeah good preview JoshHo ! Reply
Frenetic Pony - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkThis phone looks sexy as hell, and considering every phone now has these specs at least that's a differentiatior. Reply
sr1030nx - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkI would love to see this running Windows phone. Reply
lostboykev - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkThis was a great first impression. You're the only one I've come across that noted the camera sensor. Not only that but went in depth with everything new an similar about the phone. Back to the camera. This is a no buy for me. I have the original moto x. Which has a bigger sensor and less megapixels allowing greater individual pixel size. Not to mention how old this Sony sensor is. I cant justify the phone being a camera enthusiast. Even if it can perform better, not sure since I've used the LG G3, I still can't live with that 1.1µ (micro) pixel size. I'm sticking with bigger is better; in fact newer is better too! Reply
modulusshift - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkYou have the original Moto X, and think it's somehow better than the G2's camera? I don't think you've ever seen pictures from the other smartphones from last year, the Moto X had the worst camera performance besides the Nexus 5. Reply
piroroadkill - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkHuge, pathetic battery, no microSD, bleh. Reply
JBVertexx - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkI am cringing reading this article. There are pronouns missing antecedents, run-on sentences, and incohesive paragraphs throughout. Really, I couldn't even finish it the writing is so bad. Reply
melgross - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkSeems as though you have a serious cognitive problem you need to get looked at. Even with some errors the article is well written and easy to understand. Reply
JBVertexx - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkSerously? Who has the cognitive problem? Reply
smorebuds - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkSo where do you go for your grammatically perfect tech reviews?
And like pitchers in the NL, it's nice when they are decent hitters but the pitching is far more important. In this case I'd put far more emphasis in Josh's ability to analyze smartphones than his grammar/writing skills (which are more than sufficient anyway... I mean, have you ever tried reading a DailyTech article?). Reply
JBVertexx - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkUsually, Anandtech has the best writing of any of the tech review sites, which is why I read it every day. I'm just calling this one like it is. Reply
RunAroundInCircles - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkYou could always try the constructive criticism approach. You know, instead of bashing his writing with your first words. Try by giving credit where credit is due first, then suggesting improvements, and explaining how improvements can be made. I think you'll find that you will generally receive more agreeable responses. Reply
JBVertexx - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkThere was no credit due with this - it clearly was not edited - should not have been published like it is on this site. Reply
Chaser - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkIf you have any friends at all that sincerely liked you, thank them. Reply
JBVertexx - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkLots of friends buddy. This was legit criticism, so if you can't handle the heat,.... Reply
saliti - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkMeh..........
Smart phones aren't exciting anymore. The only flagship that I like is the Note 4 because of vast improvements in S-Pen. For normal usage I would rather buy a cheap phone with Mtk 6592 in it. Reply
Phrozenspite - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkDoes the camera have optical image stabilization? Reply
JoshHo - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkNo, it's EIS only. Reply
CrystalBay - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkMoto Nexus X (6) is rumured to have OIS Reply
RunAroundInCircles - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkAfter getting my current G2, OIS is a must for me personally. It improves low light shots to compensate a little for the (physically) small pixels in this sensor and makes the difference between a blurry mess and a decent shot in normal conditions.
I also will not be purchasing another phone without either micro SD expansion or ideally larger faster storage. This NEEDS to become a priority in mobile. Hate to say it be the one to say it but 16GB or even 32GB just does not cut it anymore. How can apple be the only ones consistently offering a larger storage model (albeit at severely inflated price points, with wallet searing profit margins). And before any replies with 'the cloud has solved all my storage needs', come live in regional Australia, there are plenty of areas where there is no mobile service at all, let alone the data caps to use it. Reply
modulusshift - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkThe Moto X is legendary in storage performance, because of the use of F2FS as covered last year in the AnandTech review. I admit the size is still an issue, but Moto is squared as far as speed, I promise. I can't wait to see what other hidden tricks the engineers slipped in. Reply
gg555 - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkYeah, I really would like to have OIS too and think of it as a must have feature. I'm a bit torn, because I also want good noise cancellation. Phones have been going backwards for a long time with noise cacnellation. The Nexus One used the Audience noise cancellation chip, which was great, but it never appeared in another Nexus phone. The iPhone 4 also had the Audience chip, but it was dropped in subsequent iPhones. Most people use Qualcomm's inferior Fluence noise cancellation these days (except Samsung, which has consistently used Audience in it's flagship phones). So Motorola's four microphone noise cancellations sounds very tempting. It will be hard to find a feature like this in another phone.
By the way, your G2 has the Audience chip, but like other manufacturers it was dropped in the G3. It's horrible to see flagship phones go backwards. Reply
alinsiddiqui - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkMotorola's website says the Moto X has only one speaker and the top is actually an earpiece, yet your article says that the Moto X has stereo speakers. You sure you're not wrong on that? Reply
JoshHo - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkApologies, it seems that I spoke too soon on this issue. I have corrected the article. Reply
gg555 - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkWow, that's a disappointment. It's one of the features that tempts me about this phone. Seems like the way Motorola designed the earpiece and speaker to look identical is almost a deliberate attempt to mislead people. Reply
gg555 - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkI'm confused though, because Motorola's website says, "front-facing and at bottom." Why "and"? If there's only one speaker, should it just say, "front-facing at bottom"? Reply
spikebike - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkPlease motorola, er, lenovo. Please stop making disposable phones that turn into a useless brick when the battery dies. Such nice design and specifications could easily lead to a phone that would be useful, at least for secondary use for 3-4 years. If it's going to cost $500 it shouldn't ($20 a month for 2 years) I shouldn't have to throw it away to replace a $15 battery. Reply
semo - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkThis must be planned obsolescence and I feel that it won't stop until smartphones are treated like fashion items. The S5 is almost the same phone, yet it has a microSD slot, removable battery and even has the option for Qi. If Samsung can do it, why can't Motorola? Reply
agent2099 - Sunday, September 07, 2014 - linkThe s5 is $300 more Reply
jhh - Monday, September 08, 2014 - linkI used to think that replaceable batteries were a good idea, until I actually needed a new battery. This was the days of flip phones, but I doubt much has changed. The OEM battery was no longer available when a new one was needed. This left third-party batteries as the only exception, and their lifetime was much worse than the original. Since every cell phone seems to use its own form-factor, by the time a new battery is needed, the manufacturer has also discontinued the battery. I suspect that the third-party batteries ar also old at that point. Reply
steven75 - Monday, September 08, 2014 - linkYou and your subtle yet true facts! ;)
Also the external USB battery packs and cases solved this issue long ago. Reply
Klug4Pres - Tuesday, September 09, 2014 - link"This was the days of flip phones, but I doubt much has changed."
While your concern is valid, I think the situation with phones that have sold in high volume may be better than would be the case with a random flip phone. Some third-party battery suppliers seem to have a decent reputation. Reply
jjj - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkIf they payed me i wouldn't use a phone without microSD. It just kills media creation(pics and vids) and consumption.They might as well get rid of the cam too.
That being said good job on the slightly lower price compared to other phone makers from the old guard.
It's funny how Moto X still feels like a midranger even if on paper if has high end specs. Just can't shake the feeling that it is a lightweight phone. Maybe the branding needs to be changed, might be hard to sell high end under it.
The design of the front , not a fan, very dirty and looks like it's been through a war or something.It also makes it look bulky even if the dimensions are not bad for the screen size. Reply
nevertell - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkWhy are they lagging behind HTC and Samsung in the SoC department ?
I'd love to have this phone if it had a 64 bit SoC. Then again, I'm sort of a developer so I need a feature complete device with a feature complete SoC. Reply
jeffkibuule - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkUmm.. because none of the 64-bit Qualcomm SoCs currently available perform better than a Snapdragon 801? You want the Snapdragon 808 and 810, and those aren't due until next year as they were designed around 20nm, not 28nm. Reply
louisejhocker - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkjust as Larry answered I didnt even know that people able to get paid $6104 in a few weeks on the internet .
go to this site>>>>> paygazette.ℭOM Reply
randomlinh - Friday, September 05, 2014 - link"although dual front facing speakers are now used instead of a single rear facing speaker"
Hrm... other sites are saying it's not dual front speakers, only the bottom is. Top is still just an earpiece? Reply
JoshHo - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkI distinctly recall being told that the Moto X had stereo speakers but it seems they were mistaken. I'm correcting this now. Reply
gg555 - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkWhy would they put stereo speakers in the new Moto G and not the X? Are you sure about this? Reply
Stochastic - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkHmm, $500 off-contract is a bit steeper than I would have liked, especially since you probably have to spring an extra $100 to get the 32 GB version. Honestly, I wish Motorola offered a no-frills version with the same specs but without the voice and sensor features at a reduced price point. Nevertheless, the attention to detail is impressive, and overall this seems like a well-rounded phone.
Also, nice write-up Joshua! One thing I think you really excel at is explaining technical things to a layman such as myself. Anandtech has always been technical, but some of the writers just assume that their audience has the background knowledge to understand everything without explanation. You tend not to do that. Reply
Stochastic - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkTo be fair, I think most of the staff do a good job of this, too. Reply
jeffkibuule - Friday, September 05, 2014 - link32GB version is $50 more. Reply
emailrob - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkTo an extent, that's the new moto g IS their no frills version without the additional sensors. I have the current moto X, but am disappointed and don't think I'll be upgrading. Maybe even a downgrade to the moto G (I did have the original one).
I'm overall disappointed with the price point and the battery life. Reply
rocketbuddha - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkIn 2013 MotoX with a 720p and dual core Krait 300 based SOC (plus its custom processor) had a launch price of $579. At that time other flagships at price point were 5" + FHD screens with better SOC S600/S800 with bigger batteries, expansion etc. Atleast this time Moto geniuses came to planet earth :D
I would not be surprised it ended up like its predecessor with 299$/$349 (16/32) special flash sales that cropped up multiple times this year. Wait for 3 mths and you will see that happen :D
Touche abut Josh's writing. This is the kind of extra detail that Anandtech alone provides among most sites and keeps it distinctly original amongst the techno babble. Reply
trevorftard - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkThe current moto x uses a nanoSIM FYI. Reply
Klug4Pres - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkTiny, non-replaceable battery, no sd card, poor camera, year old SoC. Specs are not the only thing, but you still have to be competitive. Does Motorola actually want to sell phones? It seems as though they are content just to demonstrate a few peripheral technologies.
Oh well, they are a patriotic buy for US citizens. Reply
smorebuds - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkHyperbole much? 801's been shipping in devices for like 6 months. Reply
coburn_c - Friday, September 05, 2014 - link5.2 inches is a great size for a screen, 2300mAh is not a great size for a battery. 2300mAh in a 5.2 is a disturbing size for a battery. Reply
Mugur - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkNice preview.
All in all the phone seems ok, with a few caveats: small battery and the front looks too similar with Samsung's S3, S4, S5... And this is not a compliment. :-) Reply
Zoomer - Saturday, September 06, 2014 - linkMoto Maker will likely let you customize it to black. Wish the speaker grills are black or laser cut holes, however. Reply
passive - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkThe original Moto X used Nano SIM as well (having had to cut my old SIM down manually, I know this quite well). The comparison table is wrong. Reply
irev210 - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkIf you aren't familiar with Horween Leather it's basically the best leather money can buy. A handful of japanese tanneries are the only competition to Horween.
They started business in Chicago in 1905 and have been in the same place ever since. They use VERY old school vegetable tanning methods and very high quality hide. I recommend looking at some tour photos or blogs about horween and where they make their leather.
As for durable - I walk on horween leather (100% leather, no rubber) just about every day (old school, I know). So when you said "although a few years of intensive use may make the latter a terrible idea" I was extremely surprised. The horween leather would likely hold up better than standard plastic or many other materials. It took me a long time to figure out that most leather used sucks and high quality leather is extremely durable.
Horween leather is extremely expensive. It's extremely surprising that Moto is using Horween - it's very unusual.
Hope this is helpful information. Reply
Zoomer - Saturday, September 06, 2014 - linkJosh might be commenting about the smell, since leather is porous. Leather cleaner/conditioner and Cedar phone mats anyone? Reply
apertotes - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkMotorola presented a great smartphone, but it is not the Moto X. Reply
melgross - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkHeld back by bad timing poor distribution and, most importantly, bad execution. The phone really wasn't all that good.
I'll be really interested to see whether this one is as good as Moto says it is. Reply
brianc400 - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkCorrection: Motorola Mobility is still owned by Google. The sale to Lenovo has not closed yet. "Expected by year end." Reply
StormyParis - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkDarn. If only they made a phablet version of that. Reply
techmaniac - Friday, September 05, 2014 - link<Sigh> still no microSD card slot. Looks like I'll have to pass on this one as well. Reply
thejesse - Friday, September 05, 2014 - link"While Motorola has been acquired by Lenovo, it's clear that the Motorola I saw today is still very much the same Motorola from the Google era."
While Lenovo has agreed to acquire Motorola that acquisition has NOT taken place. This is still "the Google era." Reply
lscarval - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkCorrection: the original Moto X also uses a Nano SIM. Reply
Arbie - Friday, September 05, 2014 - link@techmaniac - ditto that on the lack of micro-SD. No interest here either.
Also, I'm amazed that people think a metal phone is "better" when it so obviously makes the basic function (send & receive radio signals) less robust. Why would anyone favor a device that has to jump through *major* technological hoops just to get even with a simpler design? And, why doesn't AT point this out?
But then, I also wonder why the first half of every AT phone article is about look & feel. To me these are almost insignificant compared to reliability, storage, battery life (and replacement) etc.
Perhaps I should just be glad that among our leading concerns now is feeling the lip when you swipe your phone screen. Nirvana is imminent.
Sorry to be snarky... you guys try hard, but I think you lose focus sometimes and can't see the forest for the gimmicks & gloss. Reply
jeffkibuule - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkBecause when spending hundreds of dollars on a device, people don't like the feeling of *cheap* plastic. Reply
Psybuster - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkCurious about this too...the plastic on the edges of the original X weren't bad at all IMO. Wouldn't signal quality be better off without the aluminum band, despite the additional tuner? Reply
JoshHo - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkThat's the surprising part. The external antenna ends up more sensitive than an internal antenna would be. Reply
Zoomer - Saturday, September 06, 2014 - linkThe leather band is a large antenna. The internal antenna would likely be closer to other electronics, as well as being physically smaller. Both no good. Reply
rocketbuddha - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkIt the Apple and HTC effect.
Worse! With most US Carriers, pushing users to tiered data plans and with the latest leak from the iCloud of private/nude fotos of Hollywood celebrities, I cannot imagine the dimwits who swear by the "Cloud" over uSD, are serious, especially the ones who pooh!pooh! uSD over the cloud.
And removable battery makes it easier for end users to replace when they go bad. A basic 101 that any company that wants to reduce calls to its replacement center can hop on. It is a crime that they saddle non-removable battery of <2500 mA for a phone of this size.
Add to it the repairability of phones with removable batteries is generally far above with the non-removable ones. Reply
steven75 - Monday, September 08, 2014 - linkMicroSD memory is the slowest and least reliable flash storage type. Anandtech has already covered this fact.
The thing that kills it is the public does NOT want to manage files among two volumes. Sure some ultra geek types do, but 99.9% of everyone else does not. People want ease of use over everything else, and I mean everything. Look how many people spend $150 on a single cup coffee maker that is beaten in quality by a $25 Aeropress. The public ain't care, son! Reply
erikiksaz - Saturday, September 06, 2014 - linkUnless you've got Xray vision, the first thing you notice about a smartphone is how it feels in your hand. Why wouldn't they start with aesthetics? Reply
fswc - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkThank you for posting about radio recepiton. This is becoming a big thing for me when picking a new phone out. Reply
julianocas - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkWhat a great "mini-review", far more relevant information than almost every other "full-review" among internet.
BTW, at the chart, Moto X also have nano sim.
Thanks Reply
zir - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkI believe in Motorola. Going bye bye with my OG Moto X, gonna get me one of these bad boys. Reply
MrVeedo - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkmy moto x has been awesome, have had it since release. but I wish they would have stayed with the same size screen, 5.2 is just a pain in the arse and too big in my opinion. Reply
JoricK - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkI'm wondering, if you have a choice between keeping your old gen Moto X and buying the new one. What would you do?
I've been waiting for this phone but the size of the display seems to big for my use, so for me it's either buying the generation 1 or the new one. Reply
Blairh - Friday, September 05, 2014 - link1st gen Moto X is 130 grams. Not 139 grams. Reply
dragonsqrrl - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkOh no, that battery... what were they thinking? I guess they're not expecting people to use that display very much, you know, to interact with the device.
Love to see those front facing stereo speakers, and they accomplished it while maintaining a very thin bezel. That's really been my only gripe with front facing speakers thus far, they tend to increase bezel and device size. Reply
joannecdinkins - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkjust as Larry answered I didnt even know that people able to get paid $6104 in a few weeks on the internet .
go to this site>>>>> paygazette.ℭOM Reply
joannecdinkins - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkjust as Larry answered I didnt even know that people able to get paid $6104 in a few weeks on the internet .
go to this site>>>>> paygazette.ℭOM Reply
JoricK - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkYeah, great preview Joshua. Thanks a lot ! Reply
peckiro - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkGreat article. Motorola err Lenovo may have a winner here, and for much less than the other flagships. Reply
KJCtech - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkThe Moto X looks like its going to be my next smartphone. I feel I might be spoiled by it. Reply
tuxRoller - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkAre you sure about the ir needing visible light? Why? It has three EMITTERS.
I would think the ir sensors would detect an objects presence then switch on camera for details (like focus point of eyes). Perhaps a bit more detail in that section?
Otherwise, tremendous preview! Reply
Zoomer - Saturday, September 06, 2014 - linkFF cam likely has a IR filter, which means visible light is needed.
Hmm...might be a good idea to remove the IR filter. Selfies are overrated. Reply
tuxRoller - Saturday, September 06, 2014 - linkThe ir filter is a good point, however the article suggests that the ir system ON ITS OWN can detect eye focus (or at least make a good guess). That wouldn't need visible light in order to work.
As I said, is really like a bit more clarity in that section, but I don't expect it. For some reason the writers have never responded to me... Reply
JoricK - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkDon't you think it's a mistake going from 4,7 to 5,2'' ? Reply
gg555 - Friday, September 05, 2014 - linkGreat article.
One question, you talk about the four microphone noise cancellation being designed to improve the performace of the voice command functionality. But will it also function for noise cancellation during calls?
That aside, for those worried about the battery size, I think we really have to wait for reviews to see how it performs. It seems like Motorola is doing a lot of its own optimizing to help with things like this. There are two sides to this equation, battery size and power consumption. Keep in mind that the iPhone has always had a relatively small battery and yet it has hands down the best battery life amongst smartphones. That's because of how Apple optimizes the rest of the hardware and software. And AMOLED screens are very power efficient. Anyway, I'm not saying 2300 mAh is good, but you really have to wait to see.
That aside, I do feel torn about this phone. It has a great design. The four microphone noise cancellation could be a singularly great feature in a world where smartphones having actually been going backwards and embracing worse technology (Qualcomm's mediocre Fluence, over the Audience Earsmart chip). It still seems unclear if the phone has stereo front facing speakers or not, but if it does that would be great. The AMOLED screen ought to be very good and I'm glad Motorola skipped the gratuitous QHD screen resolution. And the focus on improving phone reception, explained in the article, sounds like another good step to improve the functional details that many manufacturers shrug their shoulders about and go "good enough."
On the other hand, 2 GB of RAM, USB 2.0 and the 801 processor really are lasts year's flasghip specs (the 805 processor has been in several phones available already a few months ago). And though the new camera module may be an overall improvement, it's hard not to feel like the move from a 1/2.6 to the smaller 1/3.06 sensor size is not a step backwards (as well as the lack of OIS being disappointing)--it's really a run of the mill camera by today's standards. The IR hand gestures functionality also feels pretty gimmicky to me, it's hard for me to see really carying about this much.
Also, what is up with that ugly enormous logo on the back? A real blotch on an otherwise beautiful design, especially poking like a silvery scab through the customizable wood (or other material) back. It seems like an attempt on Motorola's part to make some big glossy thing like the Apple logo (similar size and placement). But the Motorola "M" is never going to have the cache of the Apple logo, get over it. Anyway, do we all need to be flashy Apple snobs? Go back to the more discreet logo of the original Moto X please--that was in good taste. Reply
Lord of the Bored - Saturday, September 06, 2014 - link" Now named Moto Voice, the new Moto X now allows for any five syllable phrase to be used. "
So I can activate my phone by saying "go go gadget" now? THAT is a feature that will move units! Reply
tremblingwater - Saturday, September 06, 2014 - linkHey Josh,
I'm so glad you guys exist. So far, its been site after site all showing the same thing.
The crucial aspects that matter are never discussed or explored.
Recently you did a piece on smartphone audio. I am anxiously waiting a follow up on that and would love a comparison with the new Moto X and Sony Experia Z3.
Audio quality is something that is hardly explored and considering its one of the main things we all do on a phone, those articles influence my next purchase heavily.
I hope you can explore the amps and audio solutions for the headphone output, soon! Reply
Bhairava - Monday, September 08, 2014 - linkWow, a great piece of article! Thank you. Reply
zachrohlfs - Monday, September 08, 2014 - linkStopped reading when I saw the increased screen size. Sorry but I want to work a phone with one hand not have to always be using two like with my Razr MAXX. When will device manufacturers realize that this behemoth needs to fit in my pocket and I have a wallet and keys to contend with. You want to be able to use this for business and not for nothing but I will have a laptop out if I really need horsepower. Reply
Tiger33 - Monday, September 08, 2014 - linkWow excellent write up! - this phone is looking very promising.. Waiting to see how motomaker works in the UK... so far we only have the brown version available from Phone 4 U (launch date of 6th October) any ideas as to when motomaker is due? Reply
pjcamp - Monday, September 08, 2014 - linkMissing info: 16 GB memory and no SD. So if you carry around a lot of media, or you use something like Sygic to navigate out of cell service range, forget it. You can get 32 GB but only direct from Motorola, and still no SD.
I understand this is the last device from the Googlerola period so maybe they will change in the future. However, I need a phone now, and SD is not optional to me, so this is not the one. Sad. I was looking forward to it, and rumors had it that SD would be included as on the G series. Goes to show you can't trust rumors. I understand that not everyone cares about SD, but it is so cheap I don't understand why every vendor doesn't include it for those of us who do.
Right now, Sony (surprisingly) Z3 is looking like the device for me. Just waiting for a review of it. Reply
theoilman - Sunday, September 14, 2014 - linkcheck out Oppo Find 7 and Find 7a. they're two of the top phones in the market and they have SD and replaceable batteries. if I needed a phone right now I'd get one of them. Reply
vishwacs111 - Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - linkFrom what I know Moto X (1st Gen) does not support MHL or any type of HDMI out. I was wondering if Moto X (2nd gen) does. You have claimed they both do. Are you sure? Reply


text:
Dwight Buycks has a multi-year contract with the Toronto Raptors, but he is committed to playing with the same urgency that finally won him an NBA deal.
"I still have a small room for error," said Buycks. "I still have to come in here and try to do better than what I did in Orlando, and what I did the past season, to try to come in and fit in with these guys quick. There's definitely a couple of guys who are on the roster for the Raptors, and it's important for them guys to get my trust here. That's real important coming into training camp, and get ready to be with the real guys that's been in the league for years now."


text: 000 FXUS63 KGRB 171039 AFDGRB Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Green Bay WI 539 AM CDT Thu Aug 17 2017 Updated aviation portion for 12Z TAF issuance .SHORT TERM...Today...Tonight...and Friday Issued at 313 AM CDT Thu Aug 17 2017 Convection trends today into this evening the focus of this forecast period. At 230 am, the leading band of showers with the 850 warm front was lifting over northern Wisconsin early this morning. Scattered convection was noted over west central Wisconsin as the upper low continues drifts into the state from Minnesota. This second area of convection was also associated with the dry slot working into northwest Wisconsin and the LFQ region of a weak upper jet. Lightning data shows isolated storms near this dry slot as per water vapor loop, but no other lightning data. The surface low pressure center was over MSP with a warm front extending into southwest wisconsin and a cold front just to the west. With pwats in the 1.50 to 2.00 range early this morning, there was some potential for heavy rainfall, but the 35 kts LLJ was allowing a quick storm movement, before the higher pwats shift to the east toward daybreak. Expect isolated convection to become more scattered today as the surface low and closed upper low track across the state, especially along and ahead of the occluding surface front. MU CAPES expected to increase to around 1000 j/kg today before tapering off later afternoon after the frontal passage. The threat of widespread severe weather is low but an isolated severe storm is possible with the marginal capes along with rotational shear with the upper system tracking over. Light showers will continue to taper off from southwest to northeast tonight as the upper system departs northeast of the area. Progs do divert on the rate of departing light showers, but do agree with a bit more clouds around Friday due to either the slower system, more clouds with the next s/w passing southwest of the area, or a combination of both. .LONG TERM...Friday Night Through Wednesday Issued at 313 AM CDT Thu Aug 17 2017 A brief round of showers will be possible Saturday with a passing shortwave. Additional thunderstorms will be possible as a low pressure system passes Sunday evening to Tuesday morning before dry conditions arrive ahead of the next 500 mb ridge. A weak shortwave will move across central and southern Wisconsin Saturday morning. Models have consistently trended dry for northeastern Wisconsin, but wouldn`t be surprised if a small chance of showers moves towards the Fox Valley in the next couple days. Following this, dry conditions will be in place until the warm front moves in Sunday night. The warm front will be the initial focal point for convection and active weather Sunday night. Better chances for some stronger thunderstorms are currently expected further west towards Minnesota. Upper level support appears weak at this time and minimal low level jet is currently expected, so thunderstorm strength is expected to be tied to diurnal heating, diminishing to showers overnight into Monday. Rain chances will then continue through most of Monday as a slow moving cold front moves through the region, setting off another chance of showers and thunderstorms for the area. With these round of active weather through the area, drier conditions move in Tuesday evening through the rest of next week as northwesterly flow establishes itself and surface high pressure builds in ahead of the next upper level ridge. Temperatures will be above normal through the weekend before settling closer to normal in the middle of next week. && .AVIATION...for 12Z TAF Issuance Issued at 538 AM CDT Thu Aug 17 2017 A frontal system tracking over the area today will produce scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms along with widespread MVFR/IFR ceilings. The IFR ceilings with patchy MVFR vsbys due to fog will mainly be located across northern Wisconsin. The cyclonic flow will continue to produce a chance of showers tonight, with mainly IFR ceilings across northern Wisconsin and mainly a lower end MVFR ceiling elsewhere. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Beach Hazards Statement through this evening for WIZ022-040-050. && $$ SHORT TERM.....TDH LONG TERM......Uhlmann AVIATION.......TDH


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The Doctor
People who get me like me - people who don't I probably just confuse.
For those who buy into the whole Myers - Briggs personality type thing, I'm an INFJ type so I function more on emotion and intuition than pure logic. Mostly it works for me but on very rare occasions the whole emotion thing kicks in and rationality goes right out the window. Guess I'm a bit of an idealist. Other than that I'm pretty damn tough and I'm not particularly quiet and I'm certainly not a pessimist , but I'll never be one of those endlessly optimistic, hyper competitive "success at any cost" loud mouth extrovert types.
Why I'm on here: I'm looking to meet someone to date, hang out with and make a real connection with...especially the connection part. I've found that two people don't always have to have exactly the same common interests to connect on a deeper level. Sometimes two people ARE extensions of each other...Yin and Yang, right and left, light and dark. Like images in a mirror. Sometimes those are the best relationships whether they're romantic or not.
I'm looking for someone to laugh with...someone to have actual conversations about ridiculous and not so ridiculous things. I talk to lots of people daily, but talk is all it is.
Dust Of Snow
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I rued.
Robert Frost
I'm always amazed at how the little events interconnect with each other to form the big picture. The choreographed dance of Life.
I'll read anything- fiction, non-fiction, how-to manuals, the dictionary, Dr Seuss. I just like to read.
I'm kind of an classic movie nerd. The Searchers, Night of the Hunter, To Kill a Mockingbird, Casablanca and anything by Hitchcock. 2001- the book and the movie.
Glengarry Glenross, In America, The Station Agent, Ghostworld, American Beauty, the Evil Dead series. Clerks still makes me laugh.
Pink Floyd ,Porcupine Tree,Richard Shindell,Cry Cry Cry Jimmy Lafave etc. Music is such a personal thing.Tool,Buffalo Springfield, Neil Young, Jethro Tull, The Decemberists,Alison Krauss, M83, Max Richter. Classical music helped me through a bad spell several years ago and I'm eternally grateful to it,if that's possible. Baroque and English composers.
Like all foods except cooked cauliflower. Ugh.
Transportation, a steady income, some sort of communication device, Vans (comfortable shoes are priceless), air conditioning and clean socks.
These aren't really "things" in the general sense, but they're many, many times more important to me :
My kids, hope, music, books, abstract thought, the end of the work week, a fire on a cool evening and the civilized, more important things of life.
"Dr. Chandra, will I dream?"
You believe that life isn't always "this or that" and "black or white"- mostly it's a little of both with lots of other surprises thrown in.


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Victim of Geography
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Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Australia
Device: Kindle 3
Please don't harbour your impression that Russian literature is dull for too long! I don't know of your tastes at all, but I really enjoyed Sergei Lukyanenko's
Night Watch
(GoodReads). It's an urban fantasy / science fiction.
Living among us are the "Others," an ancient race of humans with supernatural powers who swear allegiance to either the Dark or the Light. A thousand-year treaty has maintained the balance of power, and the two sides coexist in an uneasy truce. But an ancient prophecy decrees that one supreme "Other" will rise up and tip the balance, plunging the world into a catastrophic war between the Dark and the Light. When a young boy with extraordinary powers emerges, fulfilling the first half of the prophecy, will the forces of the Light be able to keep the Dark from corrupting the boy and destroying the world?
It deals pretty heavily with the grey areas surrounding morality, and was turned into a movie in 2005. It's set in Moscow, and despite a child being a central character, it's most certainly an adult novel, dealing with adult themes and philosophical quandaries -- in an exciting fashion!
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Alliance Church of the Nazarene is sponsoring an Easter Egg hunt for children kindergarten through 6
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(Vatican Radio) It was exactly three years ago, on March 11 2011, when one of the
largest earthquakes ever recorded hit Japan's Eastern Coast spawning a ferocious tsunami.
Over 17.000 people were killed in the disaster and hundreds of thousands were left with nothing.
The area around the Fukushima nuclear power plant in the northeast was evacuated after the reactor's cooling system failed, and the extent of the damage caused by nuclear leaks is still unknown.
Three years on, Bishop Isao Kikuchi, SVD, President of Caritas Japan, renews his appeal for support and prayers because - he says - there is still a multitude of people "in the disaster hit area who are not able to regain their hope for the future and who are living in the darkness of despair and loss".
Please find below the full text of Bishop Kikuchi's message for the third anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan's Eastern coast in 2011:
Dear friends,
Three years have passed since the massive earthquake and tsunami hit Tohoku area of Japan which destroyed and changed lives of so many people in Japan. More than seventeen thousand lives were taken away.
After the disaster, in the chaotic aftermath of such a massive destruction of daily lives, we became optimistic of recovery. We thought, considering the economic strength and technological advancement of Japan, three years would be quite enough for the disaster hit area to return to normal life.
It is not so. More than 270,000 people are not able to return to their homes. Almost as many are still living in temporary shelters. As for the nuclear power plants in Fukushima, no one actually knows what are really going on inside the damaged plants though the prime minister already made a statement during international gatherings that everything is under control.
The disaster hit area is under the Catholic Diocese of Sendai and Caritas Japan has been supporting the relief efforts of the diocese. Entire Catholic Church communities in Japan have worked together to support Sendai diocese. Recently in February, we Catholic Bishops of Japan renewed our resolution to continue the effort to mobilize entire Catholic communities in Japan for another 3 years. The Catholic Church in our country is committed to accompanying people in the disaster hit area as long as they need us. So we still need your support and prayers.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you, our friends in the Caritas family, for your generous support and prayers for Japan. We are so grateful for your gestures of solidarity. As I mentioned above, while thanking all of you from bottom of my heart, I am obliged to renew our appeal for help to be with all these people in the disaster hit area who are not able to regain their hope for the future and who are living in the darkness of despair and loss.
Thank you so much for your generosity and may God bless you all.
Bishop Isao Kikuchi, SVD
President, Caritas Japan


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STG Announces Upcoming Events: The Shins and More
Seattle Theatre Group (STG) announces the following concerts going on sale this week.
Date: August 30, 2012 @ 8:00pm
Venue: The Neptune (All Ages)
Price: $30.00 not including applicable fees
Seating: General Admission
On Sale: Friday, June 1, 2012 @ 10am
Since the release of their critically acclaimed 2007 debut All Hour Cymbals, Yeasayer has been around the world and back again. While their first record was conceived in total artistic isolation, constant touring forced Yeasayer to finally engage with their contemporaries. Inspired by musicians hell-bent on sonic experimentation as well as those more comfortable in a pop context, Yeasayer find their domain spanning across the musical spectrum. Studied, road worn, and eager to begin phase two, Yeasayer retreated to upstate New York to begin work on their new album titled Odd Blood. Odd Blood plays out at a blistering pace, yet it never sacrifices depth or content. It is immediately evident the band has advanced in songwriting as well as sonic craft. Lyrically, it is a more mature and honest album than the first, as the band demonstrates a confidence to explore more personal themes alongside vividly depicted tales. One thing is certain: Yeasayer are accomplished audiologists who are willing to pilfer decades of pop sensibilities and cultural history to create something that is uniquely their own. If All Hour Cymbals was Yeasayer's attempt at global and ambient cultural mash-up then Odd Blood takes place in an off-world colony sometime after the Singularity. Glimmering reverb haze is eschewed and replaced by a cavalcade of disorienting pitch effects and flickering ectoplasmic wisps. Instead of layered vocal harmonies the processed vocals congeal into blots and blobs of otherworldly chatter. Many organic elements are left behind and replaced by sounds and rhythms that inspire the body as much as the mind. At times Yeasayer sound as if they would be at home playing live in scene from Blade Runner or inside one of Oscar Neimeyer's concrete modernist temples from the 1960s.
The Shins
Date: Saturday, September 22, 2012 @ 8:00pm
Venue: The Paramount Theatre (All Ages)
Price: $31.25 not including applicable fees
Seating: General Admission Flat Floor, Reserved Balcony
On Sale: Friday, June 1, 2012 @ 10am
The Shins are an American indie rock band founded and fronted by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, James Mercer. The Shins were formed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but are now based in Portland, Oregon. At a San Francisco performance with Modest Mouse in 2000, Sub Pop's Jonathan Poneman asked The Shins to contribute a single to the label's Single of the Month Club, which eventually became an offer to release The Shins' 2001 single, "New Slang", and their debut album, "Oh, Inverted World". The group spent the rest of the year touring. The release of singles such as "Know Your Onion!" and "The Past and Pending" kept The Shins' success going into 2002, cementing "Oh, Inverted World" as one of the definitive indie-rock albums of the early '00s and The Shins as one of the genre's leading younger bands. It received critical acclaim for its lyrically deft and jangly pop sound. The song "One By One All Day" was featured in the 2003 film A Guy Thing, starring Jason Lee. Two other songs from this album, ("Caring Is Creepy" and "New Slang") were featured prominently on the soundtrack for the 2004 film Garden State, starring and directed by Zach Braff, exposing the music of The Shins to a much wider audience. Oh, Inverted World appeared at #71 on Pitchfork Media's Top 100 Albums of 2000-2004. On August 1, 2011, Pitchfork reported that The Shins would be releasing an album in 2012 on Mercer's Aural Apothecary Label, via Columbia Records. The Shins also announced additional tour dates for their North American tour. The new band backing Mercer on this tour include singer/songwriter Richard Swift, Modest Mouse drummer Joe Plummer, Yuuki Matthews of Crystal Skulls and Jessica Dobson. Their latest album titled Port of Morrow and was released in March 2012. Port Of Morrow was released March 20 and has been lauded by THE NEW YORKER as an album that brings Shins mainman James Mercer "closer to the lineage he's been gradually writing himself into: the lush psychedelia of XTC, on an album like 'Skylarking,' or even seventies pop acts like Joe Walsh..."
Date: September 23, 2012 @ 7:30 pm
Venue: The Moore Theatre (All Ages)
Price: $27.50-$37.50, not including applicable fees
Seating: General Admission
On Sale: Friday, June 1, 2012 @ 10am
Date: Friday, August 24, 2012 @ 8:00pm
Venue: The Paramount Theatre (All Ages)
Seating: Reserved Seating
On Sale: Saturday, June 2, 2012 @ 10am
Ticketing Information: Available online at Tickets.com, in person at the Paramount Theatre box office (M-F 10am-6pm), 24-hour kiosks located outside the Paramount & Moore Theatres, charge by phone at (877) 784-4849, or online at STGPresents.org.
Radiolab is a show about curiosity. Where sound illuminates ideas, and the boundaries blur between science, philosophy, and human experience.Radiolab is heard around the country on over 300 stations. Check your local station for airtimes.
In The Dark:
We're really excited about our new live show In the Dark--it's got science, suspense, rock and roll from Thao Nguyen, and modern dance troupe Pilobolus--no joke, we've got dancers for the radio! You don't want to miss it. Jad and Robert will explore the dawn of sight and the evolution of the eye, hear from two blind men who couldn't disagree more fiercely about what it's like to live without vision, and relive a harrowing spacewalk with an astronaut.


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Brand: Safavieh
Collection: Natural Fiber
Style Number: Barbuda
Material: Wool, Sisal
Construction: Hand Woven
Pile Height: 0.25" (approx.)
Origin: India
Vacuum regularly. Avoid direct and continuous exposure to sunlight. Do not pull loose ends; clip them with scissors to remove. Turn carpet occasionally to equalize wear. Remove spills immediately; if liquid, blot with clean, undyed cloth by pressing
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Simply email us for a RA# and the shipping address for your returns, and send your item back within 30 days. You are only responsible for the shipping cost back to us.
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text: a rich tapestry of fun, shopping, history and culture...welcome to the Hampton Inn Philadelphia/Great Valley.A smorgasbord of delicious restaurants and fun activities sit within just a short drive of the Hampton Inn hotel in Philadelphia/Great Valley. Feel like shopping? You'll find everything from handmade Amish crafts to one of the nation's largest shopping malls in our area. The headquarters for QVC is just a few minutes from our lobby and offers an insider-glimpse at the world's largest televised retailer. Hungry? Philadelphia is home to both fine dining and humbler (but no less indulgent) treats like Philly cheese steaks. It's all just minutes from our hotel in Philadelphia.Philadelphia itself offers an abundance of history. Few other towns can boast sites such as Independence Hall and Valley Forge. You'll also find gardens and museums dotting our region. Don't miss spots such as Winterthur, a garden and estate 30 miles from our hotel that was built by the du Pont family. It's a multigenerational masterpiece. Lastly, a drive through the glorious beauty of Lancaster Valley will reward anyone who makes the journey. So come check into the Hampton Inn hotel in Philadelphia/Great Valley, a rich tapestry of fun, shopping, history and culture.services & amenitiesHere at the Hampton Inn Philadelphia/Great Valley, we're passionate about taking good care of you. That's why we offer a broad range of services and amenities to make your stay exceptional.Whether you're planning a corporate meeting or need accommodations for a family reunion or your child's sporting group, we're delighted to offer you easy planning and booking tools to make the process quick and organized.* Meetings & events* Local restaurant guide


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And The Winner for Transparency Is… MCC
This week has seen a flurry of news on the aid transparency front. On Tuesday, the State Department's Foreign Assistance Dashboard released data on the work of the United States African Development Foundation (USADF), making it the the sixth agency to have their data published on the Dashboard with the Department of Defense and the Department of the Treasury publishing their data in May. But the big news of the week was the release of Publish What You Fund's 2013 Aid Transparency Index (ATI), which highlights the most transparent foreign aid agencies in the world. And for the first time a U.S. agency was on top with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) scoring highest in transparency, in the ATI.
The report released early Thursday serves as the standard guide to how the global community is following through with its efforts to be more transparent in providing information on its global development programs. The findings argued transparency has become an important "pillar" of development, which can enable effectiveness, accountability, and social change.
According to Publish What You Fund's report, the MCC led the way with the highest score due to its efforts to bring a strong institutional commitment to transparency and adhering to the standards of the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI). This includes the publishing of the agency's funding data on the Dashboard, as well as publishing on its own web site other forms of data on the MCC's programs. It was a significant jump from being the ninth ranked world agency in 2012, particularly as the MCC beat out the 2012 top ranked agency the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID).
And there are encouraging signs as more U.S. agencies are continuing to publish their foreign assistance data. Currently, the Foreign Assistance Dashboard includes data from the MCC, State Department, Department of Defense, and USAID. This week's publication of the USADF's data on the Dashboard made the organization the sixth U.S. foreign aid agency to publish its data on the foreign assistance transparency hub. According to the State Department, "The addition of USADF budget, obligation, disbursement, and transaction data marks another significant step forward for the U.S. Government's foreign assistance transparency efforts."
As American taxpayers demand and deserve to see how their dollars are being spent, agencies funded through the International Affairs Budget are leading the way in demonstrating effectiveness, efficiency, and transparency.


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Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Pixim Sees $5.2M More For Camera Sensors
Mountain View-based Pixim, a developer of digital video capture chipsets which use light-sensing technology to capture more of the information in photos, has raised $5.2M more in funding, according to a regulatory filing from the firm Tuesday. According to the filing, investors in the round continue to include Tallwood Venture Capital, Mayfield, and Ridgewood Capital. Pixim's sensors help capture information which would normally be too dim or washed out, and is being applied to security cameras and similar applications. More information »