Apple has acquired LuxVue Technology, a startup company that focuses on making low power micro-LED based displays in the consumer market, according to a TechCrunch report.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has published the 2014 edition of the Solid-State Lighting (SSL) R&D Multi-Year Program Plan (MYPP). This year's edition provides a description of the activities DOE plans to undertake over the next several years to implement its SSL mission, and informs the development of annual SSL R&D funding opportunities.

The National Lighting Bureau’s has announced its 35th annual High-Benefit Lighting Awards Program. The unique program is open to owners, architects, engineers, interior designers, facility and property managers, contractors, manufacturer’s representatives, utility employees, users, and virtually anyone else associated with a new or upgraded illumination system that provides at least some of the many benefits of what the Bureau calls High-Benefit Lighting(r).

Rubicon Technology, Inc., a provider of sapphire substrates and products to the LED, semiconductor, and optical industries, today reported financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2014.

Since being first introduced in the 1950’s, hula hoops have remained popular among both children and adults. Berlin even has a festival dedicated to the hula hoop. Started in 2005, this June will mark Hoopla! Berlin’s third annual festival.

Nuclear energy has been a hot topic in Taiwan this week, as construction plans to the country’s fourth nuclear power plant have come to a temporary halt. LED industry heavy weights including Epistar and Delta Electronics have been weighing in, urging the government that LEDs are a better alternative energy solution. 

The Korean won is anticipated to rise against the U.S. dollar in the coming months, the strongest in six years. The Taiwan new dollar, on the other hand, is expected to depreciate against the Korean currency. 

AIXTRON SE announced revenues of EUR 43.9m for the first quarter of 2014, representing a year-on-year improvement of 9%. Capacity utilization rates at leading LED manufacturers remain at relatively high levels and demand for LEDs continues to be on the rise. Despite this, there was still no noticeable increase in investments in LED manufacturing capacity expansions in Q1/2014. 

Artificial lighting is threatening the sea turtle population. After emerging from their shells in the wee hours of the morning, sea turtle hatchlings instinctively find their way to the sea by the light reflected on the ocean. Modern society is now posing a threat to their survival as the brightest light is no longer coming from the ocean, but from hotels and shops along the ocean front.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Municipal Solid-State Street Lighting Consortium (MSSLC) has released an update to its Model Specification for Adaptive Control and Remote Monitoring of LED Roadway Luminaires, V1.0. The new resource has been renamed to better reflect its evolving scope. 

Philips Lighting’s latest market data shows uptake of LED lighting continues to increase as more New Zealanders make the switch for better energy efficiency. That growth is expected to continue as the price point for this next generation lighting option continues to reduce.

Osram recorded a significant year-on-year earnings increase in the second quarter of its fiscal year 2014. The business with LED-based products (Solid State Lighting, or SSL) continued to rise strongly in the second quarter and achieved a revenue share of 34 percent.

Panasonic released their fiscal 2013 financial report on April 28, 2014, which recorded the company’s financial performance up to March 31, 2014. The company had a turn around after three consecutive years of losses. Net profit reached JPY 120.4 billion (US $1.18 billion). 

The debate over the construction of Taiwan’s fourth nuclear power plant has been heating up. Alternative energy manufacturers have been eager to voice their opinions, urging the government to reconsider nuclear power as an energy source for the country. 

The LED lighting industry is transforming. As LED lighting develops, new technology, applications, and models will drive a revolution in the production process of the industry. Industry insiders have weighed in on the future of the industry at the New LED Technology Conference held by the Shenzhen Light Emitting Diode Industry Association. With more new chip scale packaging (CSP) technology springing up, industry insiders believe that the industry chain consolidation process will accelerate. 

Cheil Industries has become the first Korean manufacturer to develop and produce OLED material. The Samsung affiliate announced on April 28 2014 that it will begin mass producing raw material for green phosphorescent OLED. 

More and more countries are turning towards promoting green economies as energy shortages emerge and a growing need for diversified energy saving products arise. With the European economy stabilizing, LED luminaires have seen a boom in growth. This was evident at the Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition) hosted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council held on April 6 to 9, 2014. 

Tomorrow night in Washington DC, EPA and DOE will honor businesses and organizations for their outstanding contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emission through energy efficiency at the 2014 Energy Star Award ceremony.

Elec-Tech released their fiscal 2013 financial report on April 27 2014. The company saw an increase in revenue for their LED business, owing to expansion in chip production capacity and further investment in NVC Lighting. 

The LED lighting market has seen a boom in growth starting in the last half of 2013. Rapid growth is attributed to price drops, government policies, and rising cost in power usage, according to investment group CLSA. These three catalysts are anticipated to drive up LED lighting penetration rate from 20 percent in 2013 to 44 percent by 2016.

This week Philips gets even more aggressive with LED bulb pricing strategies, as its new Slimstyle LED bulb prices are slashed by more than half under Energy Star rebates to less than US$ 5 in the U.S. market. Major Japanese LED players also shift towards B2B models in search of better profits. Also in the Asia market San’an Opto’s patent and production expansion strategies will hurt Taiwanese manufacturers international business strategies. Finally, in the face of Taiwan’s nuclear energy crisis, a simple transition to LED could help cut considerable energy consumption, according to TrendForce report.

Unity Opto is optimistic about long term market development for LED lighting. The Taiwanese LED package manufacturer announced its plans to acquire a factory in the Wugu Industrial Park in Taiwan on April 24, 2014. The company will invest NT $1.23 billion (US $196.7 million) in acquiring the factory to expand its lighting production line. After expanding production capacity, it is estimated that monthly production will increase from 1 million units to 3 million units. 

Storm clouds are clearing for Taiwanese sapphire manufactures as sapphire substrate industry supply and demand returns to norm after years of financial loss. The rebounding industry has brought back investor confidence, which has spurred a wave of Taiwanese manufacturers to finance market strategies to acquire technological, capital, production capacity, and market share advantages.

Leyard announced first quarter 2014 financial results on April 23, 2014. Operating revenue grew 28.43 percent YoY to NT$ 142 million (US$4.7 million). Net income attributed to shareholders was NT$10 million, up 29 percent YoY. EPS increased 16.67 percent YoY to NT$ 0.07. 

HC SemiTek’s production capacity for patterned sapphire substrate (PSS) has reached 10,000 pieces per month with a self-supply rate of more than 50 percent, said Secretary of the Board Yeh Aimin on April 24 2014. 

Philips SlimStyle flat light bulb is the second Philips 60-W EQ LED to break the US$ 5 price point, accelerating adoption of quality LEDs for the home. Energy Star rebates have brought bulb prices down to US$ 1.97 in certain areas in U.S.

U.S. city Portland has installed blue LED lights next to red traffic lights at a six-way intersection to notify cyclists their bicycles have been detected, and traffic light will be changing soon to allow them pass through, according to a Oregon Live report. 

Awarding efforts focused on everything from composting and energy conservation to lighting retrofits and weed management, UC Santa Barbara’s The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) Grant Making Committee has selected its grant recipients for the 2013–2014 funding cycle.

Sunny weather all year round is now achievable with the installation of nanoparticle LED panels developed by designer Paolo di Trapani and Italy’s University of Insubri, according to a Gizmodo report.

LED plant factories have seen substantial development in Taiwan recently, according to Apple Daily. Taking advantage of the flourishing industry, Tatung on April 23, 2014, announced their intention on entering the LED growth light market with their hydroponic vegetable business “In Fresh.” Tatung anticipates “In Fresh” to act as a new growth driver for the company.