Providing a distinct aesthetic advantage, LEDs are allowing designers to reinvent lamps and light itself in ways that once seemed impossible. The innumerable benefits of LED lights in terms of energy-efficiency, environment-friendliness, cost-saving, zero UV emissions and design flexibility opens new opportunities for architects & interior designers, urban, town and smart city planners, project management consultants, building contractors and Lighting engineers. The technological potential of LEDs is only beginning to be realized and with the right blend can provide designers and town planners the flexibility to adjust and adapt the ambiance of indoor, outdoor, commercial and residential spaces with minimal energy consumption.

Osram Opto Semiconductors is extending its Duris product portfolio with a compact version without a classic package. The Duris S2 is in the low to middle output range and offers a high typical luminous efficacy of 160 lm/W, excellent color homogeneity and color stability. It is therefore capable of achieving homogeneous illumination in LED products designed as replacements for fluorescent tubes.

Samsung Electronics, a world leader in advanced component solutions, today introduced advanced chip scale packaging (CSP) technology for use in a diversity of LED lighting applications at LIGHTFAIR International 2015, being held in New York, May 5-7.

Orion Energy Systems, a leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance, energy-efficient retrofit lighting platforms, today announced that the Company will be displaying its full line of LED lighting products at LIGHTFAIR® International 2015 (“LIGHTFAIR”) (www.lightfair.com), an annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY from May 5 – 7, 2015.

Power management company Eaton, a 2015 ENERGY STAR®Partner of the Year, will provide a sneak peek of its new ReSource Center at LIGHTFAIR® International, the world’s largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference, held May 4-7 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. Visitors to Eaton’s booth (#1157) can get an exclusive inside look at the lighting innovator’s complimentary 24/7 online hub launching later this year that will provide designers, architects, builders, students and more with lighting ideas and tools to move projects from inspiration to execution.

Entering your lobby, your office building, your theater… the first impression is crucial for the overall experience for a guest, customers and even your own employees. An aesthetically pleasing, inspirational and comfortable environment are the basic ingredients for this. To enhance and even personalize this experience we believe the relevant information, at the right place and time can make the difference.

Retailers eager to more effectively communicate with in-store shoppers can now use LED lighting to do so, as Acuity Brands announced the commercial availability of its lighting-based ByteLight™ Services for indoor positioning.

The second day of IR+UV Expo 2015 special forum that took place in late April in Yokohama, Japan started off with a semiconductor components for laser diodes (LD) and UV LED developments presentation by a senior researcher from Japan’s prestigious research institute, Riken.

Nitride Semiconductors, the second global leading UV LED manufacturer, displayed its LED package, chip and module designs at IR+UV EXPO 2015 this year, which took place recently at Pacifico Yokohama, Japan.

Beth Comstock, President & CEO, GE Business Innovations, today shared GE’s plans to engineer intelligent, color-changing LED lighting compatible with Apple’s HomeKit during GE’s Connected Future event, unveiling LED-enabled Intelligent Environments capabilities for cities, buildings and homes.

The U.S. Department of Energy has announced the competitive selection of nine solid-state lighting (SSL) projects to receive funding, in response to the funding opportunity announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0001171 (“Solid-State Lighting Advanced Technology R&D – 2015”). These one- to two-year projects will focus on all three existing DOE SSL R&D program areas:

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., announced today that it will demonstrate for the first time, the company's new open, secure, and connected platform for smart lighting at LIGHTFAIR International 2015, being held in New York, May 5-7.

WeMo® today announced an updated version of its award-winning WeMo App, which brings IFTTT support to the WeMo LED bulbs and WeMo-enabled LED lighting solutions from OSRAM SYLVANIA. WeMo also announced new, lower pricing for its WeMo LED Starter Set and WeMo Smart LED Bulbs, making it easier and more affordable for consumers to try connected lighting via the WeMo experience.

LeDiamond Opto, a leading double side emitting LED manufacturer from Taiwan, has announced its new Tesla 1010 module today.

LUX Technology Group (www.luxtg.com), introduces the first line of dimmable filament LED Edison light bulbs—the perfect energy efficient replacements for 25W, 40W and 60W incandescent bulbs. With its beautiful all-glass design, it looks stunning and emits the same warm light as an incandescent bulb with the long life and high efficiency benefits of LED lighting. The filament LEDs offer 90% energy savings and excellent efficacy of over 135 lumens per watt, eliminating the need to sacrifice design for efficiency in restaurant, hospitality and residential spaces.

Samsung Electronics, a world leader in advanced components, today introduced the LM301A, a flip-chip-based mid-power LED package that can operate at anywhere from 0.2 watts to 1 watt — providing a wide range of current options, resulting in much improved light efficacy. The package was announced at a press conference, in conjunction with LIGHTFAIR International 2015, being held in New York, May 5-7.

Royal Philips, the global leader in lighting, today announced it will showcase the latest innovations in connected lighting systems, including Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) luminaires, app-based controls and cloud-based technologies at LIGHTFAIR International 2015. On display at the Philips booth #1207 will be luminous carpets and ceilings, as well as unique lighting systems, such as HealWell for hospital environments, new applications that allow remote management of lighting technologies, to demonstrate how Philips continues to deliver value beyond illumination to meet the unique goals of businesses, organizations and individuals.

To become a leading country in the LED industry, Taiwan should not step down in patent lawsuits, a Chinese-language Liberty Times report quoted Everlight Chairman Robert Yeh saying.

In part one of the Dazhaoming article last week, a couple of Chinese LED experts offered their perspectives on how low pricing strategies would affect Philips. In this second half more experts offer their valuable insights.

Europe and Asia have been driving advanced automotive LED lighting developments, while the technology has been slow to pick up in the U.S., due to more stringent legal requirements, reported New York Times.

Apple admitted tattoos can interfere with Apple Watch heart rate readings, according to numerous media reports including Tech Crunch.

Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP (“Robbins Geller”) (//www.rgrdlaw.com/cases/rubicon/) announced that a class action has been commenced in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on behalf of purchasers of Rubicon Technology, Inc. (“Rubicon”) (NASDAQ:RBCN) common stock in the Company’s public offering on or about March 19, 2014 (the “Offering”).

Lunera® Lighting announced that the company has filed suit in the Southern District of New York (SDNY) against EiKO Global, Keystone Technologies, Maxlite, Premium Quality Lighting, Revolution Lighting Technologies, SATCO Products and Topaz Lighting Corporation who are currently selling "knock off" versions of Lunera's Helen Lamp; the first plug-and-play LED replacement lamp for a 4-pin Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL), an innovative product designed and invented by Lunera.

Towards the end of 2014, Home Depot started to offer several Acuity Brands OLED luminaries, with prices starting at US $199. This was exciting - as these are the cheapest OLED lamps ever, and it is the first time OLEDs are offered at a major retail channel.

Imagine a future where our homes, businesses, and cities are powered completely by the most abundant and unlimited energy resource on earth: the sun. Harry Verhaar, the Philips Lighting Head of Global Public and Government Affairs, is doing just that by creating a blueprint for a future lit by solar-powered, energy-efficient lights. In 2003, Verhaar started the global initiative to phase out inefficient lighting technology in favor of LED lights and has since led Philips to become a world leader in the solar-LED market. With the recent release of PHILIPS NEW LINE OF CONSUMER SOLAR-LED LUMINAIRES, we spoke with Verhaar about the future of solar light and how Philips is playing a role in such an important endeavor.

The LIFX LED smart bulb range now includes A19, A21 and GU10 Downlight form factors, all with LIFX's signature hassle-free Wi-Fi connectivity - no hub required.

Orion Energy Systems, a leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance, energy-efficient lighting platforms, announced that it recently received a contract award of approximately US $700,000 from a Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital in Virginia. Orion is upgrading the location’s fluorescent fixtures with its patented LED Troffer Retrofit (LDR) product, in addition to installing the Company’s flagship exterior product, the ISON LED area light.

As Dow Corning Corporation launches two new lighting products at LightFair International 2015, it is stressing something larger: A new way of thinking of silicones throughout the luminaire design process.

MaxLite will showcase its latest LED lighting innovations at LIGHTFAIR 2015, May 5-7, at the Javits Center in New York City. Below are just a few of the products we’ll be highlighting at the show. For more information, or to see our full line up of LED lighting solutions, stop by Booth #115 for a demonstration or contact your local MaxLite representative.

Nichia plans to appeal Michigan jury decision to invalidate LED patents. Everlight's victory in the U.S. court could take down Nichia patent barrier in the North America market, and open up the export market gates for Asian LED manufacturers, said LEDinside analysts. The company also announced it had won two patent infringement lawsuits respectively the joint lawsuit filed by Everlight and Emcore, and a second lawsuit by Bluestone Innovation.