Researchers at Queen’s University’s Human Media Lab have developed the world’s first full-colour, high-resolution and wireless flexible smartphone to combine multitouch with bend input. The phone, which they have named ReFlex, allows users to experience physical tactile feedback when interacting with their apps through bend gestures.

At this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), OSRAM Licht AG Chief Executive Olaf Berlien gave details of the innovation and growth initiative to the lighting company’s shareholders. “Everyone’s talking about digitalization – but we’re investing in it,” Berlien said in Munich on Tuesday. “Only those who navigate through the dramatically changing lighting industry decisively and with courage and speed can be successful.” Through this initiative, Osram is putting the focus on sustainable growth and wants to take even greater advantage of the potential offered by semiconductor-based lighting technologies. Prior to that, another important strategic step, the carve-out process of the general lighting lamps business, got under way. “The operational carve-out is planned as of April 1, while the legal carve-out is planned as of July 1,” said Berlien, confirming the timeline announced earlier.

Veeco Instruments Inc., the world’s leading supplier of metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) systems, announced today that it has signed a joint development project (JDP) agreement with imec, the Belgium-based nano-electronics research center.  The collaboration is expected to accelerate the development of highly-efficient, Gallium Nitride (GaN) based, power electronic devices using GaN Epi wafers created using Veeco’s Propel® Power GaN MOCVD system.

DOE's CALiPER program has published a new Snapshot Report on LED MR16 lamps, which updates a similar Snapshot Report published in January 2014. In the past two years, LED technology has progressed rapidly, but the progress has been much slower for LED MR16s. The increase in mean efficacy is about half of that seen for other categories, and lumen output and center beam intensity (CBCP) haven't notably increased in recent years either. There are still no listed lamps at a given beam angle that meet the expected CBCP values for a 50W halogen MR16 using the ENERGY STAR® calculator – although several now meet the minimum threshold required by ENERGY STAR for claiming equivalency to a 50W halogen MR16.

The Energy Efficiency Service Limited (EESL) has installed more than 600,000 LED streetlights across several cities in India under the energy service company (Esco) model, said Saurabh Kumar, managing director of Energy Efficiency Service Limited, reported by Times of India.

AquiSense Technologies (Europe) Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of AquiSense Technologies LLC, has been selected to participate in the Biocontamination Integrated Control for Wet Systems for Space Exploration (BIOWYSE) project.

This recall involves (about 60,000 (an additional 1,000 sold in Canada)) Lunera 13 watt Helen GX23 LED industrial lamps. The dimmable lamps are white and measure 6 inches long by 1.25 inches wide by 0.75 inches thick. The Lunera logo is printed on the front on the lamp at one end. Model numbers HN-H-UNV-GX23-13W-2700-G3, HN-H-UNV-GX23-13W-3000-G3, HN-H-UNV-GX23-13W-3500-G3 and HN-H-UNV-GX23-13W-4000-G3 appear on the back of the connector. The date code, ranging from 1501 to 1552, is stamped on the bottom of the connector.

IKEA urges customers who have HYBY and or LOCK ceiling lamps to immediately remove the ceiling lamps, and return them to any IKEA store for a full refund. Proof of purchase (receipt) is not required to receive a full refund. IKEA Canada and IKEA US each have received two reports of the HYBY and one LOCK ceiling lamp falling or shattering, with no reported injuries.

GE announced it will no longer be manufacturing CFL lights in the U.S. market, and will be embracing LED lights in the future. ENERGY STAR’s raised energy efficiency standards, which has left CFLs in the dust, was cited as the main cause behind the shift. Other points mentioned in the company’s press release also hinted to its increased focus and strategy in smart lights.

Pixelligent, the leader in high-index advanced materials, announced today its 2016 predictions for high refractive index applications in the electronics markets that it serves.

Following on from the BMW i8, the BMW 7 Series is another range of models from the Munich car manufacturer that Osram is now equipping with a laser module for the headlights. “We have succeeded in developing this new technology to such an extent that we have now taken it from a niche vehicle to a mass produced car – an important step in terms of market penetration”, said Hans-Joachim Schwabe, CEO Specialty Lighting at Osram. “With laser light as the next stage in automotive lighting we are once again demonstrating our competence in lighting systems and underlining our leading position in LED and laser technologies.”

TOGGLED®, developer and producer of next-generation solid-state lighting technology and named in the Top 25 Most Innovative Companies in South East Michigan by Crain's Detroit, reported today the addition of Mega Lighting to its rapidly expanding Licensing Program.

Two startups ComfyLight and BeOn, which are developers of smart LED lights targeting the home security market announced success in acquiring additional financing backing this week.

Taiwanese LED manufacturer PlayNitride held a press conference recently at Grand Hyatt Taipei to respond to Genesis Photonics Inc. (GPI) allegations of selling trade secrets. The following content are an excerpt of the media conference.

Philips and its Chinese distributor Dalitek have ended their partnership.In a recent statement, Philips highlighted three major reasons behind the termination:

Surrey, a city of British Columbia, Canada is to join other Canadian cities in switching streetlights to LEDs. The conversion is estimated to cost CA $11million (US $8 million), reported CBC.

- Revenue up 6 percent; stable on a comparable basis - Adjusted EBITA margin rises to almost 12 percent - Osram confirms updated outlook for fiscal 2016

Wolfspeed, A Cree Company, announced today that Gruppo PBM, a leader in industrial battery chargers, is using Wolfspeed™ SiC MOSFETs in its new HF9 battery charger family to enable higher efficiency and power density at a lower overall system cost.

Southeast Asian country Bhutan is starting to implement nationwide LED lighting upgrades with financial assistance from Norway government, reported Asia News Network.

Located North of New Delhi, Indian state Haryana has recently made LED lamps a necessary requirement for amending the zoning plans of licensed colonies and change of land use (CLU) granted sites, according to a Business Standard report.

Lighting Science®, a global leader in next-generation LED lighting solutions, today announced that it received 35 new patents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in 2015. These new patents – covering the fields of biologically adjusted and corrected lighting, light spectrum control, micro-electric optics, and advances in roadway infrastructure and other lighting fixtures – demonstrate that Lighting Science continues to set the global standard for light emitting diode (LED) and related innovation. “This new set of patents expands Lighting Science’s vast portfolio of issued patents to 366, with many focused on spectrum control and its effect on human health. Our research and development team, led by founder and Chief Technology Officer, Fred Maxik, set a high standard for innovation in 2015 of which we are extremely proud,” said Lighting Science CEO Ed Bednarcik.

Taiwan’s largest LED manufacturer Epistar has sold its Duxing factory in Hsinchu Science Park to IC design manufacturer Mediatek for NT$ 736 million (US $21.98 million), reported CNA.

The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change announced in late January awardees of its second Electricity Demand Reduction (EDR) Pilot auction.

India’s second largest online retailer Snapdeal has formed a partnership with the country’s state-owned Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) to sell LED bulbs nationwide for INR 99 (US $1.46), according to an Economic Times report.

Two weeks ahead of Valentines, GE published a heartbreaking online letter ending its long term relationship with CFL, while announcing its new passion for LEDs.The creatively written marketing stunt was highlighting an important announcement that GE will discontinue the manufacturing of CFL bulbs in the U.S. market, and shift its focus in the consumer lighting towards LED bulbs by the end of 2016.

With global crude oil prices crashing, the Middle East energy subsidies have also been swept away, reported The National Business.

Several Canadian municipalities are planning to invest CA $13 million (US $9.29 million) to replace 42,000 streetlights this year, reportedMetroland News.

Metro Detroit freeways to be upgraded with approximately 15,000 LED streetlights. Several major interstates freeways will be converted to LED lighting as early as April 2016 with a US $123 million public-private partnership.

Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh in India plans to replace traditional streetlights comprising of sodium, fluorescent and CFLs with LEDs, reported Dhaka Tribune.

In collaboration with the Coreplast Laitila company, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has created a reflector that can be wirelessly controlled via a mobile phone application. This involves equipping a traditional reflector with sensors, LED lights, and wireless charging and communication.