Rumors of Apple’s intention to trade existing LCD display technology for the lighter and thinner OLED screens has been circulating awhile on the market, a recent report from Japanese newspaper Nikkan has named Japan Display as the latest contender for Apple’s iPhone 8 OLED panel orders.

Stand next to a traditional incandescent bulb and a light-emitting diode (LED) bulb, and you will feel the difference as much as see it. Both produce the same amount of light, yet the incandescent bulb is too hot to touch. All that excess heat is wasted energy.

At COP21 in Paris today, Philips Lighting released a paper highlighting the unprecedented energy savings potential of a global transition to light-emitting diode (LED) lighting. 

MIT engineers have designed what may be the Band-Aid of the future: a sticky, stretchy, gel-like material that can incorporate temperature sensors, LED lights, and other electronics, as well as tiny, drug-delivering reservoirs and channels. The “smart wound dressing” releases medicine in response to changes in skin temperature and can be designed to light up if, say, medicine is running low.

Royal Philips, the global leader in lighting and the City of San Jose officially announced a project to pilot 50 Philips SmartPoles, which bring together energy efficient LED lighting and fully integrated 4G LTE wireless technology by Ericsson. This pilot was initiated through the City’s Demonstration Partnership Policy, which was established to support the City’s Economic Development Strategy and City operations. The pilot partnership will also help test backbone technology needed to power San Jose’s smart city transformation so that it can save energy, have brighter streets at night, and respond to the changing needs of its residents.

Ameresco, a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, and the Newport News Public Schools (NNPS) announced today they are partnering on a comprehensive $14.8 million Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) to improve buildings and increase operational efficiency. The infrastructure upgrades are expected to deliver greater energy efficiency and operational cost savings, enhance comfort for building occupants, reduce greenhouse gasses and emissions, and demonstrate the Schools’ ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship.

Obscura Digital is the creative and technical collaborator with OPS, having a specific role in developing new strategic techniques for large-scale environmental campaigning in the film RACING EXTINCTION.

Soraa, the world leader in GaN on GaN™ LED technology, announced that its LED lamps have been installed at the new Andrei Duman Gallery in the high end mall—Westfield Topanga outside Los Angeles. Soraa LED lights redefines gallery design by illuminating differentiated space with no clear boundaries and also perfectly illuminates the award-winning images from the accomplished aerial, travel and nature photographer.

Lighting leader OSRAM SYLVANIA is expanding the capabilities of the ENCELIUM® Energy Management System (EMS) with the new wireless Area Lighting Controller (WALC) which allows a group of lighting devices to communicate via a wireless mesh network based on ZigBee® standards. The WALC connects groups of 0-10V dimmable luminaires for group dimming or switching applications. The sensor terminal block allows direct connection of dual tech sensors or other low voltage sensors to the wireless network for battery elimination or additional functionality.

The LED backlight industry might still experience an exceptionally cool season in 2016, but breakthroughs are expected in the tube light replacement market, said Epistar Chairman B.J.Lee at the 2015 Pan Wen Yuan Prize Award Ceremony at the Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel in Taipei, Taiwan earlier today.

World leaders gathered in Paris last week for the 21st UN climate conference, known as COP21. At the meeting, U.S. Energy Secretary Dr. Ernest Moniz highlighted several solutions to reduce carbon emissions, including launching a Climate Energy Ministerial initiative to encourage the adoption of LED bulbs worldwide.

At COP21 heads of some of the planet's biggest brands - Unilever, Google, IKEA, Philips and Marks & Spencer - along with policymakers from around the world, shared their core commitments to decarbonizing. Collectively they send a clear message that  business is expecting a long-term goal from the global climate talks in Paris next week, in order to make longer-term low carbon investment decisions.

Customer challenge The Plaza del Melinio is a shining example of urban redevelopment. The city of Valladolid recently renovated the space from an open-air car park to a lively and dynamic space. The square features a 1,500 capacity multifunction dome. But to really bring the area to life, modern lighting was needed.

What was described as one of the significant colonial-era buildings in Hong Kong, the 103-year-old Court of Final Appeal now features a modern and brilliant historical block in Central.

A small startup company Off Grid Electric is aiming to transform the solar market in Africa, where three out of four households are living without electricity, and make energy affordable in the power hungry continent.

Taiwanese high power LED manufacturer Aeon Lighting Technology (ALT) enters LED driver market with its patented advantage. ALT is launching Zeus series 150 watts to 500 watts dimmable drivers, equipped with surge protective devise and DALI dimming control.

Luminis, an established innovator and manufacturer of specification grade, interior and exterior lighting solutions for commercial, institutional, retail, recreational and urban environments, today announced the expansion of its Eclipse outdoor lighting range. The new Eclipse Mini collection features a range of bollards, pendants, post-top, and wall mount luminaires designed for exterior architectural and area lighting applications.

LEDinside projections of the LED market outlook in 2016 are published below for UVC LED market, and other niche market applications.India LED bulb prices might be marked down INR 20 further. A couple of business deals to follow recently, Tridonic sells its signage business to AgiLight, while Philips adds Ledra to its lineup of LED bulb patent licensees.

Through production expansion projects, and headhunting Taiwanese competitors best talents, Chinese panel makers are putting leading Taiwanese display makers Innolux and AUO under immense pressure, reported Chinese-media TechNews.

Nathalie Jardin, the 31-year- old lighting designer who has been working at Bataclan for almost four years, was one of the 89 people killed in the terrorist attacks at Bataclan in Paris on Friday night, Nov. 13, 2015, reported Live Design.

HC Semitek subsidiary in Suzhou’s, high power epiwafer LED chip and commercialization project received RMB 6 million (US $940,000) subsidy out of a total grant of RMB 10 million.

Indonesian capital Jakarta is spending Rp 1.2 trillion (US $86,736) on LED streetlight upgrades, reported Coconuts Jakarta.

Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o, who stars in the upcoming film The Force Awakens, has literally lit up the Star Wars film inspired fashion show Force 4 Fashion with her LED dress, reported Teen Vogue.

LED streetlights will become mandatory in New Delhi in the near future, as the city plans to replace existing traditional light sources with LEDs to reduce energy consumption, The India Times cited Power Minister Satyender Jain saying.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has published an Apple patent application for integrating displays into woven fabrics, reported 9to5Mac.

2016 LED Market Demand and Supply Analysis

Philips, the global leader in lighting and India’s leading lighting company, has won  two major separate LED solar street lighting contracts for UPNEDA (Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency) and MANIREDA (Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency). The tender process involved meeting the exacting requirements of both UPNEDA and MANIREDA with a strong focus on energy conversion based on new and renewable energy sources.

Remtec, the leading manufacturer of ceramic substrates, packages and submounts using PCTF (Plated Copper on Thick Film) metallization, has been acquired by LTI (www.legacytechnologies.com), a major player in the field of precision glass-to-metal seals and glass-to-metal hermetic packages.

Noesis, the tech-enabled lending marketplace for financing energy-saving commercial building improvements, worked together with Enviro-Lite Solutions, a leading Texas-based LED lighting company, to get approval on a significant municipality project. The two companies partnered to help Donna, TX migrate its outdated lighting infrastructure to more energy-efficient LEDs, which is expected to generate US $140,000 in savings in the first year.  

A 3-megawatt solar installation is now complete on the top deck of two Terminal 1-Lindbergh parking structures at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) – Minnesota’s largest solar generation site.