It’s already pretty hard to avoid being bombarded with TV ads, whether you’re watching Prime Video or pausing YouTube – and LG is now making things a little worse by bringing its pesky screensaver ads to older OLED TV models.

Last month, we reported that recent LG TVs, including premium OLEDs, were sneakily starting to show screensaver ads after sets had been left idle for a while. Some testing on our own LG G4 confirmed that to be the case. Now, FlatpanelsHD is reporting that those ads are rolling out to older models dating back to 2020, too.

India will get a Rs 1000 crore venture capital fund to boost the space sector. The fund aims to address the need for risk capital, as traditional lenders are hesitant to fund startups in this high-tech sector. 

There are nearly 250 space startups emerging across the value chain which may need financial support, the cabinet note said. 

This approval was given by the union cabinet on Thursday as part of its 2020 space sector reforms. Under these reforms, the government set up IN-SPACe to promote and oversee private sector participation in space activities. 

The officials said the Rs 1000 crore venture capital fund would support the growth of India’s space economy, currently valued at S8.4 billion, with a target to reach $44 billion by 2033. 

“The proposed government-backed fund will boost investor confidence, attract private capital, and signal the government’s commitment to advancing space reforms,” the cabinet statement said. 

The proposed Rs 1,000 crore VC fund is planned to be up to five years from the actual date of start of the fund operations. 

The average deployment amount could be Rs 150-250 crore per year, depending on the investment opportunities and fund requirements. 

The government said the fund will create a multiplier effect by attracting additional funding for later-stage development, thereby instilling confidence in private investors along with retention of space companies domiciled within India. This will help counter the trend of Indian companies setting base abroad.

Intel’s new Core Ultra 9 285K is finally here, promising a boost in performance with a significant reduction in power requirements, at least according to Intel. As you can read in my Core Ultra 9 285K review, Intel’s performance claims aren’t as rosy as reality, especially when stacked up against what is unequivocally the best processor for gaming you can buy: AMD’s Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

I threw both processors on the test bench to pit them head-to-head, looking at performance across productivity and gaming apps, as well as thermals and efficiency. These CPUs target different users, but there are still a lot of interesting comparisons we can look at between them.

Specs

The Core Ultra 9 285K and Ryzen 7 7800X3D are radically different CPUs, and that becomes clear when you compare their specs directly. Although it’s generally not a good idea to compare specs between two CPUs in the same class, the gap in specs here is so large that we can make some interesting observations. The main thing that’s different between the two CPUs is core count.

Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is a fairly straightforward chip in that regard. It comes with eight Zen 4 cores and a total of 16 threads, and it can boost up to 5GHz. That’s not what’s interesting about the CPU. It’s the 104MB of cache packed on top of the CPU die, split between 8MB of L2 cache and 96MB of L3 cache thanks to AMD’s 3D V-Cache packaging tech.

The Core Ultra 9 285K doesn’t have any fancy 3D V-Cache, but it still has a few tricks of its own. It’s a 24-core CPU, but unlike the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, it doesn’t come with simultaneous multi-threading (SMT). Each core only has a single thread. In addition, Intel uses its hybrid architecture, mixing together the Lion Cove P-core design with the Skymont E-core design. According to Intel, the E-cores are the main performance drivers here, unlike with the Core i9-14900K, where the E-cores were relatively weak.

With more cores and higher clock speeds, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Core Ultra 9 285K has much higher power requirements. I’ll address efficiency directly a bit lower down in this comparison, but I can tell you now that, under a full load, the Core Ultra 9 285K indeed draws twice as much (or more) power than the Ryzen 7 7800X3D — though usually with much better performance.

Pricing

The Core Ultra 9 285K and Ryzen 7 7800X3D force you to think about pricing because, depending on what you’re using your PC for, you can save quite a bit of money. The Core Ultra 9 285K is newer, and it’s the flagship chip from Intel’s latest range, so you’ll spend $589 if you want to pick it up now. The price will drop over time — the Core i9-14900K is about $450 a year after releasing — but until we see the next generation from Intel, you can expect to spend over $500.

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is much cheaper at $450, though I’ve seen some strange price shifts with the CPU over the past several months. Just a few weeks before publishing this comparison, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D was sold out everywhere, and prior to that, you could commonly find it for around $320. Now, at the time of publishing, you’ll find it between $450 and $500, but I expect the price will drop very soon.

AMD has confirmed that its next-gen 3D V-Cache CPU is arriving on November 7, so depending on when you’re reading this, make sure to check in on the price of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. If the new CPU is out by then, I expect we’ll see the price drop to around $350 to $400.

Even with its higher price, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is significantly cheaper than the Core Ultra 9 285K — $139 cheaper, at least, and close to $239 cheaper if the Ryzen 7 7800X3D drops in price.

Productivity performance

Here’s some quick proof that the Core Ultra 9 285K and Ryzen 7 7800X3D are in completely different weight classes. As you can see from Cinebench R24 above, the Core Ultra 9 285K is much faster than the Ryzen 7 7800X3D — it’s not even close. Intel says this CPU is particularly strong in a ray-traced renderer line Cinebench, but even if you dropped 10% or 15% of the performance from the Core Ultra 9 285K, it would still be miles ahead of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

For more of a mixed-use benchmark, take a look at Geekbench 6. The Core Ultra 9 285K still runs away with multi-core performance, but the single-core delta is much smaller. And despite the clear lead in multi-core performance, that gap is smaller, too. Throughout my testing, one thing became clear — the Core Ultra 9 285K is really fast in certain applications, but that performance doesn’t apply everywhere.

A great example of that is Photoshop. You’d assume that the raw multi-core advantage of the Core Ultra 9 285K would mean it obviously wins against the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, but that’s not the case. In fact, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is faster in Photoshop based on my testing. That’s not good considering the price and spec gap between these two CPUs. You’d expect the Core Ultra 9 285K to mop the floor with the Ryzen 7 7800X3D across all productivity applications.

In Premiere Pro, the Core Ultra 9 285K reclaims a dominant spot, but it really shouldn’t be this close. Not only is the Core Ultra 9 285K a much more capable CPU, it also has access to QuickSync in Premiere Pro, which speeds up performance significantly. The fact that these two CPUs are even competitive in Premiere shows how the performance of the Core Ultra 9 285K can be disappointing in certain apps.

Gaming performance

Gaming performance is where we see a more consistent divergence. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D crushes. Across the 10 games I tested, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D didn’t lose a single one. Sometimes it’s only showing a minor performance improvement, but in games like F1 22 and Cyberpunk 2077, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D provides a transformative uplift in gaming performance.

Not all games respond well to the additional cache on the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. As you can see from titles like Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Black Myth: Wukong, there’s some other factor limiting the performance of the processor — in most cases, your graphics card. However, other games can leverage the additional cache in quite a big way, as shown off by Final Fantasy XIV, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, and even Red Dead Redemption 2. 

For the Core Ultra 9 285K, it can only hope to match the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, and in most games, it’s not even close to doing that. If you’re focused mainly on gaming, there’s really no contest here. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D absolutely crushes the Core Ultra 9 285K, and it’s significantly cheaper.

Thermals and efficiency

Another area where the Ryzen 7 7800X3D leads is efficiency. It not only has much lower rated power, it can also deliver higher performance in games while consuming less power. You can see that in action in the chart above. Looking solely at peak power draw during these games, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D stayed much more efficient under a heavy workload.

That’s not be critical of Intel. As you can see from the Core i9-14900K, Intel made massive efficiency improvements this generation, and it’s often able to deliver similar performance under 100 watts. But it’s still more power than the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, which rarely goes above 50 watts in games.

Temperature is a different story. On average, the Core Ultra 9 285K was a bit cooler than the Ryzen 7 7800X3D while playing games. It’s not a massive difference, but I tested with a 360mm all-in-one liquid cooler. In a small form factor PC, those temperature differences can really add up, and the Core Ultra 9 285K is set up to handle a more thermally constrained environment better.

It’s important to remember the design of 3D V-Cache CPUs. The cache is stacked directly on top of the cores, serving as an insolating layer between the cores and the integrated heat spreader (IHS). That’s why the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, and other 3D V-Cache CPUs, tend to run a bit hotter and why they aren’t unlocked for overclocking.

Advertisement

The gaming king reigns supreme

There’s really no contest here if you’re a gamer — the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the way to go. It’s much faster, and it’s cheaper, and although productivity performance lags, the CPU still puts up a surprisingly impressive fight in apps like Premiere Pro and Photoshop.

The natural counter to that is productivity performance. If that’s what you care about, the Core Ultra 9 285K is the way to go. However, the inconsistent performance I saw with Intel’s latest CPU is worth keeping in mind. If you want good productivity performance and gaming in equal stride, I’d push you toward Intel’s Core i9-14900K or AMD’s latest Ryzen 9 9950X instead, the former of which is available for around $450.

Technology analyst Jeff Pu suggests that the iPhone 17 Pro Max may feature a ‘much narrower’ Dynamic Island than its predecessors, such as the iPhone 16 Pro. This reiterates information that Pu first shared in May this year.

iPhone 17 Pro Max could use a new lens technology for Face ID

According to the analyst, the iPhone 17 Pro Max will adopt a ‘metalens’ for Face ID, which would result in a ‘much narrower’ Dynamic Island. For those curious, the ‘metalens’ is a thin, flat lens with microscopic patterns etched onto it, allowing it to focus light more precisely compared to the standard curved lenses of an iPhone. Unfortunately, Pu does not explain how Apple plans to implement this technology.

Apple introduced the Dynamic Island with the iPhone 14 Pro models, replacing the notch. Since then, the pill-shaped cutout has remained the same size across all models in the iPhone 15 and 16 lineups. If true, a narrower Dynamic Island would offer a refreshed look for the successor to the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

According to a previous report, the iPhone 17 Pro models may get notable zoom camera improvements. A recent report from The Elec also suggests that Apple could use the Watch Series 10’s LTPO3 display technology for future iPhones. While LTPO2 technology utilizes oxide for two switching TFTs, LTPO3 goes a step further by incorporating oxide into the driving TFT as well.

A more efficient display for future iPhones

LTPO3 allows displays to dynamically switch between refresh rates without the need for an additional component between the graphics controller and the GPU. As a result, LTPO3 panels consume less power than LTPO2 panels, even though both can reach as low as 1Hz.

This new display tech is also expected to offer improved viewing angles for future iPhones. For those interested in numbers, the Watch Series 10 (which uses LTPO3) is 40% brighter when viewed off-angle compared to its predecessor, which uses an LTPO2 display.

The improved power efficiency of LTPO3 technology could translate to longer battery life compared to iPhones with older display tech. However, the report does not specify when Apple might begin incorporating this new display technology into its iPhone lineup.

In terms of performance, the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature the A19 Pro chip. It utilizes TSMC’s 3nm process node and is likely to deliver better energy efficiency, faster processing, and improved overall performance.

A Derby company’s innovative window blind system has been scientifically proven to dramatically reduce heat loss in a series of tests carried out by researchers at the University of Salford.

Blind Screen™ is set to unveil its next-generation thermal solution, the Blind Screen™ 02 DT, at the prestigious British Blinds & Shutter Association Exhibition. The highly anticipated product launch will take place from October 27-29, 2024, at the Coventry Building Society Arena. This latest innovation builds upon the company’s scientifically proven thermal efficiency technology, promising to further revolutionise the window covering industry.

Blind Screen™ at Pride Park has invented an innovative contemporary multi-function blinds system which is manufactured in the UK and is now fitted by more than 1,000 national and independent blind companies across the UK.

Blind Screen™ products combine ultra-strength net and honeycomb fabrics with several unique features including 100% black out and thermal insulation technology with sideways opening fly, pollen and haze screens.

This not only increases the energy efficiency in any type of residential or commercial building but also protects against environmental pollutants and extreme outdoor temperatures.

The Blind Screen™ system was tested for heat retention at the University of Salford’s Energy House 2.0 test facility as part of Innovate UK Future Homes Study.

The rigorous tests showed that the Blind Screen™ system reduced heat loss by 49% compared with just double glazing alone – reinforcing Blind Screen™’s claim that it is probably the most thermally-efficient blind in the UK if not the world.

Professor Will Swan, Director of Energy House Labs at the University of Salford, explained: “Our work with Blind Screen™ is a perfect example of how the Future Homes Innovation Accelerator programme is supporting companies to innovate and grow.

“The development of new energy saving products is an essential step for the UK in meeting its Climate Change goals and minimising energy costs for householders.

“Our previous research in the area of blinds, curtains, and window coverings has demonstrated that they can make a valuable contribution to energy savings and reducing carbon emissions for householders.

“Blind Screen™ has recognised this opportunity and through working with the University of Salford and making use of our unique testing facilities, they have developed a class leading thermal window blind.

“We are very pleased with this successful outcome that will help cut energy bills and support the future growth of the company.

Blind Screen™ is the brainchild of entrepreneurs Lenny Reynolds, who has operated in the blinds industry for more than 20 years, and marketing and lead generation expert Paul Cheetham MCIM.

Lenny Reynolds explained: “Blind Screen™ offers a totally new category in the highly competitive industry which has been lacking any innovation since the launch and then mass production of shutters more than 20 years ago.

“We have developed the world’s first 100% blackout sideways motion blind with new thermal efficient fabric and we were keen to get this independently tested by the University of Salford.”

“The heat efficiency test results are amazing and reinforces what we and the growing number of blind fitting companies across the UK – and soon the world – already know that this is a game-changer in the blinds market.”

“This research further strengthens our position in the highly-competitive market and will pave the way for further research and development in new products which we plan to take worldwide through a number of top level partnerships.”

Paul Cheetham continued: “The past 12 months have been an amazing journey for Blind Screen™ so far, we have amassed a staggering worldwide audience of 1.4 Million followers and close to 800 million views across our social media platforms.

“After a series of soft launches at international trade shows and consumer exhibitions such as Grand Designs Live, we have already massively grown the company by teaming up with trade partners and educating the homeowners through organic social media with a huge following.

“We are committed to facilitating the growth of fellow small businesses who will sell and install Blind Screen™ in their local areas through unrivalled product design, training, lead generation and customer support and now have our sights set on international partnerships.”

Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, Vice-Chancellor, University of Derby added,

“It has been a pleasure supporting Blind Screen Limited in their innovation journey over the last 12 months through. The University of Derby’s College of Science and Engineering have provided guidance and expertise through our lead academics in Materials and Manufacturing Engineering and Zero Carbon for many aspects of the product development for their new range, including design, 3D printing and prototyping as well as thermal testing. Having just completed an Accelerated Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Blind Screen Limited, we are now excited to expand our collaboration and are looking forward to further supporting their journey and growth.”

Led by Innovate UK on behalf of UK Research and Innovation, the pilot Innovation Accelerator programme is investing £100m in 26 transformative R&D projects to accelerate the growth of three high-potential innovation clusters – Glasgow City Region, Greater Manchester and West Midlands. Supporting the Government’s levelling-up agenda, this is a new model of R&D decision-making that empowers local leaders to harness innovation in support of regional economic growth and help attract private R&D investment and develop future technologies.