Just when you thought it was safe to ignore the app economy, we have the LIFX, a Kickstarter-funded lightbulb you control from your iOS or Android device. Why, you ask? Because it’s a lightbulb controlled via smartphone, that’s why.
The product is just one day old on Kickstarter, and it already hit the $283,394 mark which means it’s definitely getting funded. The bulb itself costs $69. → Read More
First, Japan got the world’s first connected home garden device, and now it’s time for Nippon to get the world’s first cloud-based LED lighting system. Developed by Tokyo-based lighting tech startup Net LED Technology Corp., the so-called NetLED system will go on sale in Japan on February 20 (here‘s the company’s English website).
The 40W lights, which have a 40,000-hour lifespan, come with… → Read More
Today, Philips announced that their Philips Ambient LED 12.5 watt light bulb — which gives off as much light as incandescent 60 watt bulbs, using less energy — attained Energy Star qualifications. It’s the first LED light bulb of this type to gain approval in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sponsored program. Energy Star sanctioned products are usually eligible for utility rebate… → Read More
Wenger showed me this pretty interesting gadget style watch that has an analog display, and a “stealth” LED display in the dial. It is their Nomad LED Compass watch, and has some interesting appeal. The basic watch without using the function is easy to read thanks to the large Arabic numerals and hands – both lume covered. The text around the dial might look a bit excessive, but makes it easy to… → Read More
Despite conservatives’ misgivings about Whitehouse moves to retire old, incandescent light bulb technology (and its energy inefficiency) the market for light emitting diodes and efficient lighting systems continues to gather steam.
In the latest spate of milestones: LED-chip-makers Bridgelux scored another $21 million investment; and Digital Lumens attained certifications that will help it export… → Read More
Another day, another 3D-related news item. I guess you never heard about Hibino, but the Tokyo-based electronics company has shown two interesting new products [JP, PDF] today. First, there’s the ChromaLED 3D6, a LED-based display system that’s sized at a whopping 280 inches (pictured) and that can produce 3D images. → Read More
Let no one say that the people who attend Burning Man are not creative. This particular individual decided to “pimp his coat” with various electronics and LEDs. The end result is striking to say the least. Check out the video after the jump. → Read More
Lumenergi a Newark, Calif. business closed a $12.7 series B funding round led by Braemar Energy Ventures the company announced today.
It plans to use the capital to take its flourescent and LED lighting control systems — which are like dimmers on steroids and smart pills — from small to mid-sized commercial sites such as schools, courthouses and stores, to large scale commercial and industrial… → Read More
Generally you see a light bulb and you think “yep, a light bulb.” But when you see an LED bulb, you might pause and say “wait, isn’t there more to an LED than there is to incandescents?” And you’d be right to pause. But because they’re very expensive, you would be wrong to bust one open and examine the contents. Fortunately, these guys made that mistake… → Read More
Recently, UK design studio Troika came up with a concept Ping Pong paddle (they call them bats – silly englishmen) that that uses LEDs to show the word “PING” or “PONG” as the paddle moves through the air. Pretty cool idea, but what if you could do the same thing for regular objects in your home? Maybe a door that shows “SLAM” as you close it? → Read More
Forget about roadside flares. You don’t need them anymore now that there’s a gadget that can do the same thing. The Duroflash LEDs are simple little lights that do the same job but better. They’re waterproof, super bright, available in several colors, and can support up to 20,000 lbs. But they’re a bit pricey, and so chances are you’re not going to see your local police officers using these if… → Read More
CFL bulbs are great, but the mercury they use can be harmful. LEDs don’t use mercury, but the technology is still pretty rough, and it’s tough to get something that resembles a normal lightbulb from them. There’s been a couple of examples of how LED light can be used as a replacement for normal lighting, but nothing that’s really practical. → Read More
So you think you’ve got a bright flashlight. You got nothing! This guy built his own, with 500 LEDs (which consume a shockingly low 50 watts when it’s powered up. This guy is so good, he wasn’t just content to build the most ridiculously bright LED flashlight in the world, oh no. He also built a custom interface for it that allows him to make it flash, control the power levels… → Read More
Japan’s Sanken Electric has developed a new type of cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) backlight for LCD TVs that’s as power-efficient as LED backlights but is supposedly up to 60% cheaper to mass-produce.
Approximately 90% of all LCD TVs currently on the market have CCFL backlights. A 32-inch LCD TV usually requires six CCFL tubes, but Sanken says their new lamps are so efficient that only two… → Read More
It looks like Tokyo-based acessory maker Thanko is trying to carve out a new niche for themselves, spy gadgets (apart from insane USB gadgets). The newest addition to their spy equipment lineup is the LED Spy Light HD [JP], an LED flashlight that records video in HD. Needless to say, the device lets you shoot photos, too. → Read More
I like the idea of LED lights, as I’m sure you do, too. Like you, I dislike the inefficiencies of incandescent bulbs, although I like the bright, warm light they produce. Like you, I like the power efficiency of CFL bulbs, although I dislike all that nasty mercury inside them. LED lights look like a big win, except, of course, for the fact that the light is either too diffuse to be useful, or too… → Read More
I’m not really sure if this is good or bad news for end consumers, but a couple of Japanese companies have developed a technology that makes it possible to transmit information from blinking LEDs fixed on advertisements to cell phones – using only light. The companies involved in the development include some big names such as Toshiba or NEC.
With this new system, Japanese cell phone users don’t… → Read More
Created by the design firm STORM of London, the Circuit MK2 is a LED watch integrated into a stainless steel bracelet. While it looks like it might have a bit of a learning curve, it definitely has a unique look that should stand out from your standard analog dial or digital display. → Read More
LEDs have really changed the flashlight market. It used to be that a Maglight was the pinnacle of illumination technology. Not any more. → Read More
As a reader of CrunchGear, I can only assume that you’re familiar with a recent invention called “television.” It’s truly a remarkable thing: it transports lights and sounds from the four corners of the planet, and brings them right to your living room. It’s like you’re actually at the big game! A recent upgrade, called high-definition television, improves the quality of the picture. Samsung… → Read More
License plate covers with scrolling LED messages used to be the playthings of kings, CEOs, and hotel owners! Now you, too, can get in on the fun for far less than you think. GraveyardMall.com is selling the “E-Plate Scrolling License Plate Frame” for just $14 plus shipping. → Read More
Today in Korea, Samsung announced an eco-friendly full HD LED monitor, the XL2370. It’s said to have a “finger-slim” design, but the press release makes no mention of how thick it actually is. But we do know that the XL2370 has a “mega dynamic” contrast ratio of 5M:1, 2ms response time and 1920×1080 resolution. Oh, and it has “Starlight Touch Controls.” → Read More
Let’s start with Toshiba’s ad that looks like it came straight out of the early 90s. Pretty boring if you ask me. Aside from that the SV670 is quite stunning. For one thing, the 55-inch model would take up my entire living room and I’d be happy to watch from the next room. I can’t say too much about the local dimming and simulated 240Hz because all the Toshiba sets were looping the same video of… → Read More
Toshiba is releasing three new lines of LCD TVs. The only one you care about is the SV670 LED line up though. The other two series, XV648 and ZV650, are just your standard top-tier LCDs TVs. But the SV670 might be something special. → Read More
Time is a funny thing. Sometime you need to know exactly what time it is, and sometimes you really don’t care. For the times that you don’t care, a clock that tells you roughly what time it is more desirable then a perfectly accurate digital clock. → Read More
Samsung, your viral videos are getting pretty good. And this definitely beats the gerbils. I mean, LED rigged sheep? That’s amazing. Oh, and your new LED TVs aren’t too shabby either. If you’re into 29mm thick TVs that are free of lead and mercury with reduced power consumption that is. → Read More
Apple’s 24-inch LED Cinema Display now doubles as a touchscreen, thanks to Troll Touch. You put a little slip over the screen, and then plug the slip into a USB port. Voilà, you’ve got a touchscreen LED Cinema Display! → Read More
Don’t get too excited, Trust Fund kiddies. This massive display probably will not be available for your purchase but my goodness, wouldn’t GOW2 be sweet on it. The 180-inch 3D LED video wall is destined for commercial use considering four of these can be connected together to make a gigantic 360-inch screen. LEDs make up each pixel and are arranged at a pitch of 6mm. Even though… → Read More
The fancy LED Apple display is shipping now. Right now it only works when connected to a MacBook or MacBook Pro or MacBook Air as a result of it using the new mini DisplayPort interface. Ars has one of those “unboxing” deals that the kids love so much these days, alongside its first impressions of the device. Apple wants $899 for the display, which is just shy of Absolutely Insane for a… → Read More
Sexy, just plain sexy. Too bad it’s just a concept. → Read More
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