Recently, Luminus Devices announced that its award-winning PhlatLight® LEDs are powering two of the newest portable LED based projectors, the Samsung P400 Pocket Imager and LG Electronics’ HS-102 Ultra-Mobile Projector. Both projectors are lamp-free, weigh less than two pounds and fit in the palm of a hand.

Recently, Kim Lighting, a leading manufacturer of outdoor architectural lighting, announced its Site Wallforms Series now includes new super bright white LED technology.

It’s reported that AU Optronics Corp., the largest TFT-LCD panel manufacturer in Taiwan, has decided to restart an active matrix-organic light-emit diode (AM-OLED) research project in the fourth quarter after two years of suspension. B.D. Liu, vice president of AUO Technology Center, pointed out that his company plans to restart AM-OLED display development in the fourth quarter to meet the market demand.

Recently, Aviza Technology, Inc., a supplier of advanced semiconductor capital equipment and process technologies for the global semiconductor industry and related markets, announced that it has received multiple orders from one of the world's leading optoelectronics manufacturers.

It’s reported that WieDaMark, LLC, launched WDM Lighting this quarter. WDM Lighting, a company of WieDaMark, LLC, will showcase the WDM product line and national distributor program. It specializes in LED and energy-efficient lighting solutions for residential, commercial, and entertainment industries.

It’s reported that Intematix Corp., a leading innovator in phosphors, LED components and solid state lighting modules, has added more top talent with the announcement that Jeff Lagaly has joined the company as Vice President of Sales, LED Lighting. Mr. Lagaly was formerly Global Sales Director for Cree Lighting, overseeing the sales effort that introduced and drove Cree’s XLamp LED line to sales estimated in excess of $100M.

Recently, Greenlight Initiative, a New York City based LED-lighting sales organization and solutions provider, announced its plans to implement full third party photometric testing and qualification for all of its product lines beginning January 2009. This program, intended to independently verify and extend upon any available manufacturers’ test data, is in addition to Greenlight’s previously announced qualitative evaluation program.

Most LED companies, regardless which segment that they are coming from, records a flat 2Q08 performance amid seasonal weakness. A rapid expansion among global LED makers in 1H08 plus a weak demand that is suppressed by a relatively high price premium upon low performance, oversupply was seen, especially when the industry is in lack of a killer application to spur demand. This explains why LED makers mostly have their sales performance fail expectations in 1H08.

It's reported that Dellux Technologies Inc., Canada, an international leader in LED tunnel lighting, has selected Golden DRAGON LEDs from OSRAM Opto Semiconductors for the luminaires to be installed in the 「Thüringer Schmücketunnel」 on the A71 in the German state Thüringen. Upon installation of the new LED luminaires, in the fall of 2008, it will be the first tunnel in Germany and the longest in Europe to be illuminated by LED light.

It’s reported that Evident Technologies, Inc, a Try, NY-based company that develops and commercializes technology based on semiconductor nanocrystals, has signed a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Philips Electronics. This will pave the way for Evident to commercialize nanocrystal-based LEDs. Evident Technologies is intending to immediately launch a new line of low-power LEDs and LED-based products that use semiconductor nanocrystals as a phosphor.

It’s reported that the Vitec Group plc has acquired the business and assets of Litepanels, Inc and Litepanels, LLC, a leading manufacturer of LED-based lights for the television, broadcast, video and film industries. The initial consideration of US$14.5m, will be paid in cash, with additional deferred consideration dependent on future profitability.

Freescale Semiconductor has entered the LED market, and announced that it is sampling the first LED backlight product in its power management IC portfolio. The 10-channel MC34844 (pictured) white LED driver IC is targeted at LED backlights in notebook computers, as well as in flat-panel monitors with screen sizes ranging from 10 inches to 27 inches.

It’s reported that Russian and German scientists revisited the idea of light produced this way Nearly 20 years later. The light was still of such poor luminance that the idea nearly died again. The science of electroluminescence languished in obscurity for a while. It didn’t begin to gain favor again in the 1950s until some British scientists started experimenting with it again. This led to the first infrared LED. From this technology came the first visible spectrum LED, in red, from GaP.

It’s reported that Evident Technologies, a privately held company based in Troy, N.Y., is preparing to release in a few weeks a new type of LED that promises to display any color, making the technology more useful in marketing signage, computer displays, and other applications. Evident announced that it had licensed from Philips Electronics technology that will pave the way for Evident to commercialize its LEDs, which use nanocrystals of semiconductor material that can display any color.

It’s reported that Microsharp Corporation, a privately owned UK company focused on the development of specialist optical films, has joined the EU funded, OLED-100.eu R&D project as the only UK participant.

Recently, Freescale Semiconductor is expanding in the LED market, designing semiconductors for LED backlights used in notebook computers and other products equipped with flat-panel monitors. Technology for the new backlight system was developed at Freescale's Tempe facility and in California, and components will be manufactured at the company's Chandler plant.

Recently, Philips and Sony both unveiled new LCD televisions that use LED backlights at IFA, a major consumer electronic show held in Berlin, Germany on August 29 - September 3. Both companies had new TVs that used the LED backlights to achieve local dimming, while Sony also had a 40-inch LCD TV with LED edge-lighting – almost certainly a first.

Recently, Cree, Inc., a market leader in LED lighting, and the City of Welland, Ontario, Canada, announced that Welland has joined the LED City initiative, an international program that promotes the deployment of energy-efficient LED lighting. The city has converted many of its lighting applications to LEDs, including streetlights and traffic signals, and has additional projects underway. Welland has also amended its municipal standards to facilitate LED lighting for all future streetlight installations.

It’s reported that the sales of Taiwan's LED makers rose 16.1 percent in the first half of this year from the same period a year earlier. This is helped by the Beijing Olympics and higher energy prices that are encouraging the use of lower-cost lighting.

Recently, PureSpectrum, Inc. has begun testing the viability of its innovative ballast design for use with LED applications with its ongoing efforts to continue development of the company's breakthrough ballast technology,

Recently, AIXTRON AG announced a multiple order from Century Epitech Corp, located in Shenzhen, China, one of China's leading players in the high brightness LED sector.

Cologne has been graced with a new landmark: the high-water pumping station in the Bayenthal suburb of the city. The pumping station is already a sight to see during the day thanks to its architectural aesthetic, which includes an organically landscaped area that inconspicuously tucks the structure into the banks of the Rhine.

Applications of LED during the Beijing Olympics have raised audience's eyebrows. According to non-official statistics from China, the Beijing Olympics has consumed a total of 500mn RMB worth of LEDs at 36 stadiums, excluding other public lighting applications that are installed at the Olympics villages and parks. But as Olympics grand completed, concerns about whether there exists a fundamental demand for LED surfaces.

Recently, GlacialTech Inc announces the availability of BR30 LED lights - the LED BR30 Globes come in two models which range in brightness. The LED BR30 bulbs are designed to replace the equivalent BR30 globes and lamps available in markets today. Using lower wattage compared with the original product, with the high brightness 720 Lumen illumination. The innovative product incorporates the same structure and style of traditional BR30 bulbs but delivers a brighter performance per watt, with less heat radiation.

It’s reported that Springfield Park District officials hope they will soon be able to turn on the lights for the first time at Dreamland Park, 2300 Taylor Ave. However, Elliott McKinley, director of parks for the park district, said work is under way to run electricity to Dreamland Park and also install energy-efficient outdoor lights.

Recently, Sony Corp announced a new product line of Bravia LCD TVs including the XR1 series, which has an RGB LED backlight unit. The company said that the XR1 series offers "the highest picture quality in the history of Bravia," and also has an extremely wide color gamut of 122% NTSC. It is scheduled for release on Oct 10, 2008, many of the details have yet to be released.

It’s reported that Japanese consumer electronics maker Sharp Corp announced it aims to generate sales of $1.8 billion from LED market by the business year to March 2013. Moreover, Sharp would enter the lighting gear market with energy-saving LED technology to establish a new earnings pillar in addition to its flat panel and solar cell businesses this month.

It’s reported that Samsung Electronics has not only released the world’s largest OLED television at the IFA exhibition in Berlin, but it has committed itself to commercial production of mid to large screens by 2010.

Recently, Delta Electronics, Inc., a long-time industry leader in DLP® optics, light engine and projector development for a wide variety of applications, announced it has completed the development of a groundbreaking full HD LED projector for the consumer market.

It’s reported that Lite-On Technology Corp., a world leading supplier of mobile keypads, is venturing into the LEDchip market by investing US$10 million in SemiLEDs Corp., a U.S. producer of high-power LED chips.