Swiss industrial design website Designerei GmbH has recently released a new concept design for the upcoming Apple iWatch. Although this is not the official Apple design, it can still be used to analyze possible developmental directions for the new technology used in the smart watch.

Apple has filed for a new flexible OLED display patent, and is rumored to be developing a bezel-free iPhone display, according to numerous media reports.

Two U.S. cities Detroit and Philadelphia have recently announced plans of upgrading to LED streetlights, according to recent U.S. media reports.

Under the influence of Apple, manufacturers have maintained a positive outlook for sapphire substrate applications in consumer electronics, according to a Chinese-language CNA report. Aside from Apple, Taiwanese manufacturers are also quickening sapphire substrate patent applications.

LightLab has signed an agreement with Osram Fluorescent Materials to co-develop a luminescent powder for general lighting. The two parties will jointly invest resources to develop a new powder optimized for LightLab’s EEE Light™ Technology.

Plastic Logic, the leader in the development and industrialisation of flexible organic electronics, and Novaled, a leading company in organic electronic materials and technology for OLED applications, announce a partnership which will transform and accelerate the market for flexible and wearable displays. The companies demonstrate today at the Flextech Conference in Phoenix, AZ a truly flexible, plastic, fully organic AMOLED display.

San Diego announced today that it will illuminate its downtown district with GE Lighting’s intelligent lighting system, including LED street lighting, making it the first city in the United States to adopt GE’s LightGrid™ technology. The new system, set to be in place by spring of this year, will offer improved and energy-efficient lighting that will save the city more than a quarter-million dollars in energy costs each year.

Apple OEM partner Foxconn’s Lunhua factory in Shenzhen has begun test assembly of sapphire substrate display cover iPhones, according to Chinese-language Apple Daily report. Foxconn has packaged 100 sapphire substrate display cover phones. Despite the small number assembled it is a huge development for Foxconn. Foxconn has declined to comment on individual client conditions.

Walking along the aisles close to the prototype lighting section at Lighting Japan 2014 at Tokyo Big Sight on Jan. 17, one could not miss the heavily perfumed smells of roses and stock that drifted out from Taiwanese LED manufacturer Macroblock’s booth.

Philips India and Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) have teamed up to give the Gateway of India a spectacular lighting makeover on January 24th.

A large number of LED manufacturers have set a high goal for quantity of LED bulb and LED tube light shipments. However, the number of manufacturers who are able to employ a completely automated production system is small. Only a limited number of LED manufactures are currently producing LED bulbs through automated production. LED tube design is yet to be integrated and differences between assembly processes has lead to the market not being fully equipped for automated production of tube lighting.

Taiwanese LED manufacturer Everlight intent of further developing LED luminaires becomes more evident at Lighting Japan 2014, which took place from Jan. 15-17 at Tokyo Big Sight. In the far corner of prototype lighting at the lighting trade show, Everlight Group subsidiary Liang displayed a series of new LED luminaire prototypes. The new player on the LED market speaks about its origins and brand philosophy.

At Lighting Japan 2014 in Tokyo Big Sight, OLED industry insiders of have noted that there is still a long way to go before the technology can become mature enough to compete with LEDs.

Following months of research and development, Wearable Experiments has invented a new way of enjoying a city, completely hands free. No need to be hunched over a map or mobile device, at one press of a button your jacket can take you there.

Apple has added a new patent to its flexible patent arsenal in Korea, according to a Patently Apple report. The report uncovered a discreetly filed patent under engineer member names, and noted as Apples patent lawsuits with Korean manufacturers Samsung and LG escalate, it makes all the sense that the company is filing more patents in the country.

Australian designer Andy Zhou, a fresh 2013 graduate of Bachelors of Industrial Design at Monash University has introduced a flexible OLED luminaire that can be programmed to flex and display various lighting patterns. Below is a detailed introduction of the OLED luminaire from Zhou’s website:

As the lighting industry evolves to solid state lighting, so do the requirements for LED assembly adhesives, sealants and functional coatings used in the manufacture of light-emitting diode bulbs, lamps, light fixtures and luminaries.

Orion Energy Systems is ringing in the New Year with the launch of the complete suite of LED Door Retrofit (LDR) products. The LDR is an energy efficient LED retrofit that is completely assembled within the door frame.

More people are not making the switch to riding bicycles because of safety risks. Riding at night can be dangerous because those behind have no way of telling which direction you are turning in when changing lanes. Zackees has released turn signal LED glove in hopes of changing that.

VIZIO announced its all-new P-Series Ultra HD Full-Array LED Smart TV collection. Offering the essentials for the most complete Ultra HD solution, P-Series is the culmination of advanced picture quality, powerful performance and a beautifully simple Ultra HD experience, delivering on the features consumers seek most.

Belkin is taking advantage of the wave of growing interest for smart lighting by introducing their LED lighting Starter Set. WeMo was first introduced at last year’s CES and is now available for purchase at US $129, much lower their their smart lighting competitors such as Philips Hue.

The FT833 is a High Precision Primary Side Feedback and Regulation Driver for LED Lighting Applications. The Integrated 650V Power MOSFET eliminates the need for a secondary sense and Feedback Circuit.

Tech Armor introduces a groundbreaking line of RetinaShield Blue Light Filter screen protectors. The newly developed RetinaShield Blue Light screen protector safeguards consumers’ eyes against damaging blue light released from LED screens.

For most of us, light isn’t a luxury. It’s a basic need that, with the exception of planned power outages or a blown fuse, is very rarely unavailable.  At the flick of a switch, light illuminates our offices, classrooms, hospitals and homes, enabling us to carry out essential everyday tasks without worry. We dictate its start, intensity and end; we’re in control.

Strawberry lovers will rejoice as strawberry fields can now yield fruit all season round. Starting this year, strawberry fields will be bursting with fruit all four seasons in Briton with the use of LED lighting technology.

Radlicht has designed a unique way to keep bikers visible at night with an eye-catching LED light design. Based in Boston and Germany, the company had already exceeded their intended goal with 17 days left to go in their Kickstarter campaign.

When the glittering Times Square New Year's Eve Ball descends to mark the beginning of 2014, the "1" and "4" will be illuminated for the first time in ever- changing colors using 207 of the revolutionary and programmable hue bulbs from Philips. A global TV audience of over one billion viewers will see the LED bulbs, with more than 16 million color options each, colorfully ring in the new year as people tune in for the iconic celebration.

Belvedere Vodka announces the launch of its first ever laser cut bottle with LED technology, the Belvedere Silver Saber. Just in time for New Year’s Eve festivities, the Silver Saber will feature a special lighting element that will completely illuminate the Belvedere bottle. It will be showcased during a New Years Eve party with musician Robin Thicke at the SLS Hotel South Beach and at selected top nightlife venues in NYC and LA with a nationwide rollout planned for key nightlife venues in 2014.

As well as thrusting the “100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project” to donate a total of 100 thousand solar lanterns to the regions without electricity by 2018, the company’s centennial, Panasonic Corporation has launched “Cut Out the Darkness,” a project to deliver solar lanterns and shades based on designs contributed by participants to homes and schools in the non-electrified regions. The company seeks to involve people around the world in the project and to make those participants aware of issues in the regions without electricity.

New Year’s Eve in Times Square has become a worldwide phenomenon with hundreds of thousands of people gathering in Times Square and happily waiting in the cold for hours for the famed street party and legendary Ball-lowering ceremony.