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 built-in Wi-Fi: users can control each tube over the web after installing the NetLed app on a smartphone, tablet, or computer (the iPhone app is already out, while iPad and Android apps will be released this summer). It’s possible to dim the lights (each tube has 10 different dimming levels) and to turn them on or off. → 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 programs that can lower the cost of a product for consumers, while allowing a company to keep their margins strong.
According to Philips, its bulb lasts 25 times longer and uses 80 percent less energy than the 60 watt incandescent bulb it was designed to replace. A company press statement reported that in order to obtain the Energy Star label, its LED bulb had to demonstrate a minimum light output of 800 lumens, a color temperature of 2700K (for soft white light), color rendering index (CRI) of 80 and a minimum three-year warranty; it actually offers 806 lumens, 2700K, a CRI of 80 and a six-year warranty. The bulbs are currently selling at Home Depot for $39.97.
A Philips company representative told TechCrunch the bulbs are also recyclable. The lighting corporation wasn’t issuing predictions about how much the Energy Star qualification would drive sales of its Ambient 12.5 watt bulbs. More macroscopically, however, Philips predicts LEDs will take 50 percent of the residential lighting market by 2015. → 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 understand what the watch does. In addition to the time, it has a basic calendar display and a compass. → 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 its energy-efficient lighting systems to Mexico and Canada. → 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 sites.
It will especially seek projects in “energy intensive” regions where the power supply may be limited, or strained by harsh weather for example. → 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 for you. Check it out. [via Make] → 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 there are budget issues.
Each one is $180. Yeah, pricey. But at least their storage case doubles as a recharging station. Simply take one out and it turns on. Plug it back in, it turns off and resumes recharging. That’s nifty, but the high starting price might make some companies resistant at first. Click through for a quick video demo. → 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, and even signal for help. So here’s to you, extreme flashlight guy. Sure, you did this a while ago, but it’s so cool it deserves a mention on a slow Sunday afternoon. [via Hack N' Mod] → 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 of them are enough (one at the top and another one at the bottom of the device). → 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 focused to make a general purpose bulb. Acriche, a division of Seoul Semiconductor, may be changing the game with their announcement of a 100 lm/W LED bulb. Full press release inside! → 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 have to scan the ubiquitous QR codes anymore to access more information on a certain product or to get coupons but can obtain the data without being physically close to the ads. If you have an ad measuring 1sqm and place LEDs on it, for example, the target user can stand as far as five meters away (the distance can be longer in the case of larger ads). If the users are interested in what’s being offered, it’s enough to point the cell phone to the ad to instantly view the information on the screen. → 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, which is a company based in far-away South Korea, has a new line of high-definition televisions called the 8500 Series. It uses something called light-emitting diodes (“LEDs”) to light up the image—no more replacing tubes! → 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
