In the episode "Mr Monk and the Curse of Witchcraft," the renowned detective Adrian Monk is faced with a perplexing case involving the mysterious death of a young woman. The woman, Sarah Longson, was found dead in what appeared to be a bizarre and ritualistic manner. The circumstances surrounding her death led many to believe that it was the result of a curse or witchcraft. As Monk delves deeper into the investigation, he encounters a cast of eccentric characters, each with their own motives and secrets. He discovers that Sarah was a member of a coven, a group of witches who practiced various rituals and spells. This revelation only fuels the belief that witchcraft may be involved in her death.
The telephoto sensor was more to my taste, with a 3.5x optical zoom that is then taken further with digital zoom capabilities. I tried this out for these two very unfriendly but colourful geese, which I didn’t want to approach much more closely for fear of a very embarrassing obituary. The 3.5x zoom gave a clear and crisp shot, and I made use of the 10x digital zoom to get even closer, with results being once again very strong and detailed.
The ultrawide takes good quality pictures, but with a 122-degree field of view, I didn t appreciate how distorted the pictures were around the edges, with almost a fish-eye effect at play in the two above photos. 5x zoom gave a clear and crisp shot, and I made use of the 10x digital zoom to get even closer, with results being once again very strong and detailed.
This revelation only fuels the belief that witchcraft may be involved in her death. Throughout the episode, Monk's rational and logical thinking clashes with the supernatural beliefs associated with witchcraft. He finds himself torn between his usual methodical approach to solving crimes and the possibility that something beyond his understanding may be at play.
Honor Magic4 Ultimate Smartphone Cameras
Increasingly, image quality is the key differentiator in the Ultra-premium (>$800 USD) class of smartphones and for much of 2022 the best camera system was inside the Honor Magic4 Ultimate device. The Magic4 held the top rating as evaluated by DXOMark until Fall 2022, only recently surpassed by the Huawei Mate 50 Pro (the camera comparisons combine five sub-scores based on Photo/Bokeh/Preview/Zoom/Video, with the Magic4 still having top score in the Zoom category and the Mate 50 Pro having a higher Video score.
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Honor Magic4 Ultimate Smartphone Cameras
TechInsights analyzed the Main Camera and the Periscope camera, assuming these two devices perform the core hardware functions for Zoom imaging.
Figure 1: Camera cluster on the backside of the Magic4 Ultimate. Unopened phone.
Figure 2: Camera cluster on the backside of the Magic4 Ultimate. Opened phone with cameras indicated.
Figures 1 and 2 show the camera cluster of the smartphone, both unopened and opened. Note the branding on the smartphone emphasises camera specifications as the optics hardware is valued by the consumer. The periscope camera is at the center of the circular cluster surrounded by the main, ultrawide, and spectrum-enhanced cameras.
The large 1/1.12” sensor in the main camera is a major update and the entire cluster uses a custom designed Image Signal Processor (ISP) featuring 20-bits per channel processing and enough speed to record 4K video at 60 fps. The ISP supports “Magic-Log2” video format claiming a 15% increase in dynamic range. More details are summarized by GSMArena.
Figure 3: Periscope telephoto camera cross-section, key optical components indicated.
A cross-section of the periscope telephoto camera (see Figure 3) reveals a relatively conventional five lens barrel and prism to fold the light path. An Optical Image Stabilization coil actuator under the prism adjusts the tilt of the prism. The CMOS Image Sensor is the well know OmniVision OV64B, a 64 MP device in a 1/2” optical format and 0.7 micron pixel pitch. The OmniVision 64B has been seen in numerous devices analyzed at TechInsights including the Huawei P50 Pro Periscope Camera (see Package report PKG-2108-805) and the Redmi K40 Gaming Edition (Package report PKG-2106-804, this device uses an unusual Wafer Level Glass lens in the camera). There are many more technical details on the Honor Magic4 Ultimate periscope camera in TechInsights’ Package report PKG-2206-802.
Figure 4: Main camera optical cross-section, lenses and optical sensor components indicated.
TechInsights performed an Exploratory cross-section on the main camera as well. Exploratory cross-sections are performed on a case-by-case basis on devices of interest to the Package channel. Figure 4 shows the optical cross-section of the 1/1.12” optical format main camera. Eight lenses are required to distribute the light across the sensor in the reduced optical track length required by a smartphone. The pixel pitch is a forgiving 1.4 microns. This is one of the largest optical formats analyzed at TechInsights. To date, only the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, Sharp Aquos R6 and upcoming Xiaomi 12S Ultra are larger, using 1” optical format sensors. Honor claims the image quality is competitive with these larger sensors and third party comparisons (DXOMark) appear to confirm this. The Honor Magic4 Ultimate camera is a direct response to the considerable improvement in the Huawei Mate products. No doubt, 2023 will see continued improvement in all major manufacturer’s camera ecosystems and TechInsights will continue to monitor this space closely.
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The screen also boasts over 1 billion colours and HDR10+ support, so when you’re watching compatible video such as nature documentaries, it really does seem to be teeming with life and vibrancy. Make no mistake, this is an excellent display that’s right up there with the best of them.
As Monk gathers evidence and interrogates suspects, he unravels a complex web of deceit, jealousy, and greed. He uncovers hidden alliances within the coven and exposes ulterior motives. While many of the suspects are involved in the practice of witchcraft, Monk steadily uncovers the truth behind Sarah Longson's death. In the end, Monk discovers that Sarah's death was not the result of witchcraft or a curse, but rather a carefully staged murder. The killer had used Sarah's affiliation with the coven as a disguise, knowing that it would lead investigators down a misleading path. Monk's rational thinking and keen observations ultimately prevail, as he exposes the true culprit and brings justice to Sarah's death. This episode of Mr. Monk showcases the clash between logic and superstitious beliefs. It challenges the audience to question the existence of witchcraft and the supernatural, while also highlighting the importance of critical thinking and evidence-based investigations..
Reviews for "Supernatural Showdown: Mr Monk's Confrontation with Witchcraft"
- Sandra - 1 star
I was really disappointed with "Mr Monk and the Curse of Witchcraft." I have been a fan of the TV series for years, but this book just didn't live up to my expectations. The plot was weak and predictable, and the characters felt flat and one-dimensional. I also found the writing style to be choppy and awkward. Overall, I felt like this book was a cash grab and a disservice to the beloved character of Adrian Monk.
- Mark - 2 stars
As a longtime fan of the "Monk" TV series, I was excited to read "Mr Monk and the Curse of Witchcraft." However, I was left feeling underwhelmed by this novel. The story felt disjointed and lacked the clever, intricate mysteries that made the show so enjoyable. The humor also fell flat, and the characters seemed watered down compared to their TV counterparts. I was hoping for a fun and engaging read, but unfortunately, this book did not deliver.
- Emily - 1.5 stars
I was quite disappointed with "Mr Monk and the Curse of Witchcraft." The story felt forced and contrived, and I found it hard to stay engaged. The humor was overdone and relied too heavily on the quirky habits of Adrian Monk. Additionally, the resolution to the mystery was unsatisfying and felt rushed. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to fans of the TV series or anyone looking for a captivating mystery.