Chinese smartphone manufacturer Meizu will be launching its latest model Meizu Pro 6 on April 13, 2016, with recent market rumors from China pointing the new phone might be equipped with LED ring flash, reported Android Headlines.

Highlights this week: Apple has dropped Osram Licht from its list of top 200 suppliers and added Royal Philips to its supply chain, ahead of the release of the iPhone 7.

The procurement price of LED bulbs may have hit a record low at INR 54.90 (US $0.82), and it could continue to drop as Indian government promotes energy-efficient technology across the country.

LG Display announced that the company has inked a deal to construct a display module assembly factory in Hai Phong, Vietnam, reported Reuters.

Apple has dropped Osram Licht from its list of top 200 suppliers and added Royal Philips to its supply chain, ahead of the release of the iPhone 7, reported Bloomberg recently.

German lighting giant Osram’s spin-off of its lamps business into LEDVANCE has completed organizational separation as of April 1, 2016, while the legal separation is scheduled in July 1, 2016. Many lighting vendors have been competing for a chunk of Osram’s lamp business, which LEDinside projects details of the acquisition transaction will become clearer from late April to late May 2016, including the offered price from various bidders, developments of vendors granted priority rights, and other conditions involved in the talks of the separation of LEDvance. Besides weighing in on the potential acquisitor of the lamp business and conditions under the procurement, the deal is under the lime light of the entire lighting and LED business.

Cree, a market leader in LED lighting, announced preliminary estimates of financial results for its third fiscal quarter ended March 27, 2016. Revenue for the quarter is estimated to be approximately US $367 million, with earnings estimated to be ($0.01) loss to $0.01 per diluted share on a GAAP basis, and $0.13 to $0.15 per diluted share on a non-GAAP basis. These preliminary financial results are subject to completion of the Company’s customary quarterly closing and review procedures.

Using state-of-the-art theoretical methods, UCSB researchers have identified a specific type of defect in the atomic structure of a LED that results in less efficient performance. The characterization of these point defects could result in the fabrication of even more efficient, longer lasting LED lighting.

Kyulux, an advanced materials startup that is commercializing the next generation of OLED display and lighting technology known as TADF (Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence), announced today that Samsung Venture Investment Corporation took the lead in a $13.5 million (¥1.5 Billion Japanese Yen) Series A round of venture funding.  Participating in the round were global OLED panel manufacturers including Samsung Display, LG Display, Japan Display and JOLED, top tier Japanese venture capital funds, and a Japanese Government affiliated venture fund. Kyushu University also announced the transfer of a large portfolio of TADF related patents and equity participation by the university in the financing. 

NEMA’s Lighting Systems Shipments Index, a measure of demand for lighting equipment, decreased 2.6% quarter-to-quarter while posting a 0.1% increase year-over-year during 4Q15. Fixtures, emergency lighting, and miniature lamp, components of the index, gained ground on a year-over-year basis, while ballast and large lamp, components recorded year-over-year declines.

Acuity Brands announced record second quarter results for net sales, net income, and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”). Fiscal 2016 second quarter net sales of US $777.8 million increased $161.7 million, or 26%, compared with the year-ago period. Operating profit for the second quarter of fiscal 2016 was $106.7 million, an increase of $28.1 million, or 36%, over the year-ago period. Net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2016 was $65.5 million, an increase of 41% compared with the prior-year period. Fiscal 2016 second quarter diluted EPS of $1.49 increased 39% compared with $1.07 for the year-ago period.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and OLEDWorks LLC announced today that OLEDWorks is developing a new lighting prototype with support from NYSERDA that would save energy and not disrupt sleep patterns for patients in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. OLEDWorks will collaborate with Highland Hospital at the University of Rochester Medical Center, which has formed a team of doctors and nurses to provide feedback on the innovative white and amber OLED lighting system.

Several tragedies struck the industry this week. Renowned architect Dame Zaha Hadid, known for her bold modern building designs unfortunately passed away at the age of 65 from a sudden heart attack on April 1, 2016. Sadly, this is no April Fools prank. Hadid’s design firm confirmed that the architect died in Florida, U.S.

Dame Zaha Hadid, the renowned Iraqi-born architect, who designed the London Olympic Aquatic Centre, has died after a heart attack, reported the Telegraph.

Foxconn’s acquisition of Sharp could help Apple reduce its dependency on Samsung for OLED display panels, analyzed 9to5Mac.

Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc., together with its parent company, Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation (TNSC), has announced that the Solid State Lighting & Energy Electronics Center (SSLEEC), the world renowned research center at the University of California, Santa Barbara, installed an SR-4000HT grade gallium nitride (GaN) metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) reactor for its continued compound semiconductor device developmental work for UVCLED. SSLEEC is co-directed by Nobel Prize-winning Professor Shuji Nakamura and Professor Steven DenBaars.

Affected by the uncertain economic outlook, Taiwanese LED manufacturer Everlight’s business operations in 2016 lacked strong growth momentum, reported Taiwanese media UDN. Waning consumer consumption led to sliding revenues in the backlight market, which has neutralized lighting market growth. 

The city of Phoenix in Arizona, U.S. is asking for public input on the appearance and use of energy-efficient LED technology for street and park lighting.

LED headlights found in 31 different midsize car models evaluated delivered a relatively mediocre performance out in the first headlight ratings conducted by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the U.S.

NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Conditions Index (EBCI) for current conditions in North America surged in March, climbing to 64.7 from 44.4 the previous month as more panelists reported conditions improved than eroded. Compared to February, a larger share of the survey panel reported that business conditions improved (41% in March compared to 22% in February) and a smaller share reported that they deteriorated (12% in March compared to 33% in February). Forty-seven percent claimed conditions were unchanged in March, similar to the share holding this view a month ago.

Two towns Tiverton and Crediton located in UK will be among the first locations in Devon County to receive LED streetlight upgrades, reported The Gazette.

Philips Lighting, a Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) company and global leader in lighting, announced that Smartworld, an Etisalat and Dubai South joint venture company, has deployed the Cisco Digital Ceiling framework to create a smart, highly secure and connected indoor space at its new headquarters in Dubai South. The implementation brings together an advanced LED connected lighting system from Philips Lighting with Cisco’s secure IT network to enable Smartworld to deliver a more connected, comfortable and intelligent working environment for both employees and guests. Smartworld’s headquarters will be the showcase model of the company’s digital transformation and intelligent building capabilities for future developments in Dubai South, the UAE, and the broader region.

As LED lights are generally considered to be an ideal replacement for conventional HPS lamps for its high efficiency and low maintenance, complaints about these overtly bright energy-saving lights from residential areas across U.S. has been quite common.

A GBP 9.8 million (US $14.09 million) project to replace all the streetlamps in Reading with energy efficient LEDs is due to start on Monday 4th April.

Stirling Council is set to save GBP 31 million (US$44.57 million) over the next 30 years by installing energy saving streetlights.

It might not be something the general public will necessarily notice, but they will see it.

Smoke and flame shot from Taiwanese LED chip manufacturer Epistar’s plant in Northern Taiwan last night. The source of the fire was located at the waste water tank next to the parking lot at B2 (second level in the basement) in the company’s N3 plant. The fire started at around 6 PM and was soon under control. There were zero casualties, no one was wounded. The fire has no impact on the company finances and sales.

Pirated Philips LED bulbs were found in Yinshang County, Anhui Province, China, according to a statement released by the local Market and Quality Supervision Commission.

Airbus has launched its new Cabin brand “Airspace by Airbus”. At the heart of this new philosophy Airbus connects the wellbeing for passengers with the operational performance for its airline customers. Representing the best of Airbus’ cabin innovation and design, Airspace will offer a sophisticated, flexible canvas as a back-drop to enhance the airlines’ own brands. 

A recent report from renowned Apple specialist and analyst Ming Chi Kuo from KGI Securities projects the current iPhone 6 design might be overhauled in the next generation phone, and be replaced with a 5.8” curved glass casing AMOLED display phone, reported MacRumors.