Monitor LED backlight kit is easy on the eyes

You know that end-of-the-day feeling when you’ve been staring at the computer for eight hours and your eyeballs feel like you’ve been face down in a dune in the Sahara desert? It’s just the price you pay for having a desk job in the exciting era of modern technology.

I never thought much about how I could give my aching eyes a break until Antec’s “soundscience bias lighting halo 6 LED kit” showed up in my mailbox. That’s a long lowercase name for a long strip of USB-powered LED lighting. The $12.95 kit just launched today.

It’s a pretty simple concept. You remove the adhesive backing and slap the strip onto the back of your monitor. It’s good for up to a 24-inch display. Plug it into a USB port and it emanates with a gentle glow from behind your monitor. The LEDs can be pretty subtle, especially with daylight streaming through a nearby window. As it gets darker, the effect is more pronounced.

Monitors with built-in LED backlights have been around for a bit. The Apple LED Cinema Display is a prominent example. What’s new with the halo 6 kit is the idea of adding your own LEDs after the fact to any old monitor you have hanging around.

I’ll admit, my eyes did seem to feel a little better than usual after a few days of using the halo 6. I can’t offer up any hard scientific proof, but there’s something comforting about having a display that glows from behind. I’m thinking of attaching some little feathery cherub wings to complete the look.

I can see the halo 6 kit becoming part of gamers’ arsenals. Gaming computers have long been at the forefront when it comes to components that glow. A little light can be helpful if you like to spend hours in a darkened room blasting aliens off of their home planets.

I can’t help but think of other ways this LED gadget could be put to work. Landing strip lights for an RC helicopter would be cool. Spruce up your office with a little mood lighting. I successfully hooked it up to my iPad 2 using the USB adapter from the Apple Camera Connection Kit. Tinkerers could have a blast coming up with creative side projects.

LED Bulbs That Try to Please the Eye

For years, experts have predicted that LEDs, the technology used in digital clocks, would eclipse compact fluorescents as an energy-saving alternative to traditional incandescent bulbs. Now Switch Lighting, a venture capitalist-financed company in San Jose, Calif., says it has come up with an LED bulb that emits light eye-pleasing enough to make that happen.

Others have introduced a number of LED bulbs in the last few years, but most have the same drawbacks: because LEDs are powered by semiconductors, they project light in only one direction and lack the warmth of their incandescent counterparts. Switch Lighting claims to have solved these problems by mounting outward-facing LEDs on metal fingers and cooling them with an inert liquid, creating a warmer, brighter output. The bulbs are also recyclable and, like most LEDs, mercury free.

They will be available in 40-, 60- and 75-watt equivalents, for about $20 each, later this year.

Samsung launches Smart TV in the UAE

Samsung Smart TVs line-up combines design with a wide range of smart features. Combining smart content and smart experience, Samsung Smart TVs offer a viewing experience with its minimal aesthetics and 3D impact, as well as a new world of web-connected TV entertainment and allows users to easily search for movies, TV shows, browse the web, explore Samsung Apps, chat with friends and much more.

Samsung’s “Smart Hub” is the interface to all Samsung’s Smart features, offering a simple menu system that is easy to connect, discover and enjoy a wide range of content. Users can also easily search for movies, shows and videos via online services and across connected devices, browse the Web from their TV and access a wide variety of applications from Samsung Apps, the world’s first HDTV-based apps store.

The smart features that constitute the Smart Hub include

Samsung Apps—the world’s first HDTV-based application store offering hundreds of apps globally that help people connect to their various passions—whether in sports, entertainment, information, games or social networking. Currently Samsung Apps boasts around 400 applications for Smart TV globally, of which approximately 300 are free, and is looking into increasing that number to 1000 by end of 2011.

AllShare— Samsung’s enhanced DLNA feature called “All Share” offers a wireless network, which is convenient and easy to use, allowing users to share HD quality content such as pictures, videos and music among all Samsung and other DLNA compatible digital devices, including mobile phones, notebooks and digital cameras.

Search All— a smart feature unique to Samsung Smart TVs, makes it easy to access and search for desired content on the web and other DLNA connected devices, networked PC and mobile devices, and Internet and video-on-demand services.

Social TV—makes it easy to chat with friends and family in real-time while watching the same TV content, thanks to integration with social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Google Talk.

Web Browser—offers Samsung’s proprietary built in Web Browser that includes full flash video support, allowing you to surf the net right from your TV. For easy navigation, you can turn your Android or Apple OS device into a Cursor Control remote control or QWERTY keyboard by downloading the relevant mobile application.
Second TV— a Samsung proprietary feature that allows users to stream visual content between devices where viewers will be able to push Blu-ray, DVD and live TV from their screen to other Samsung devices such as tablets and Galaxy smart phones.

From a design perspective, Samsung’s new “One Design” 5 mm ultra-slim bezel on premium LED TV models impacts the viewing experience by liberating 3D pictures from the TV set.

In addition, Samsung has launched a Total 3D Solution, which takes consumers even deeper into the immersive 3D experience. Total 3D Solution includes a ground-breaking 3D Audio technology which simulates the height and depth of the audio track by distinguishing between foreground and background sounds to create an immersive experience. Complementing the stylish elements in any home, Samsung Total 3D also includes the world’s slimmest 3D Blu-ray player; the BD-D7500, that comprises smart features and epitomize Samsung’s 3S concept design philosophy—symmetric, slim and slot-in.

Adding to the experience, Total 3D Solution brings the company’s Silhouette -designed 3D active glasses which are now the world’s lightest 3D active glasses at merely 28 gm and greater comfort thanks to the new placement of printed circuits and batteries behind each ear. Samsung’s Total 3D Solution is further complemented by a stylish new wireless charger which charges up to four pairs of active 3D glasses through an elegant, glossy black cylinder.

Samsung’s new 3D glasses use Bluetooth instead of infrared signals to sync with the 3D TV, meaning the glasses do not need to have line-of-sight with the TV set.

“Samsung continues to blend technology and art to take TV design one step further and the Smart TVs range offer the most exciting home entertainment experiences we have ever created. We have developed smart new features and applications based on our “Smarter Life” concept and combined those with innovative design. Samsung’s Smart TVs offer the ultimate viewing experience and will redefine the way users experience home entertainment,” said Justin Shaw, General Manager of AV division, Samsung Gulf Electronics.

The Samsung Smart TV line-up includes a range of LED, LCD and PDP TVs in order to provide a minimalistic, more immersive viewing experience. The flagship D8000 LED Smart TV with 3D capabilities has a barely visible 5 mm brushed metal bezel, a fine line that slightly frames the rich content on the screen and enhances the TV’s light form factor. The D8000 Series continues the minimalist style of the award-winning C8000 Series and uses an improved Quad Stand to ensure ultimate harmony between the TV and its environment. The new series also has all the features of Samsung’s Social Hub that allow users to access all types of online content from one location thereby making it easier for viewers to engage their passions by accessing Web-delivered content on their TV screens.

Samsung’s Smart PDP TV range delivers the best viewing experience in 2D and 3D coupled with breath-taking picture quality, advanced connectivity options and superior audio-visual technologies. The range also offers Samsung’s breakthrough Plasma+1 design, which features a new narrow bezel that adds one inch of viewable screen size for a greater viewing area without increasing the outside dimensions of the set which is now available in 43″, 51″, 59″ and 64″.

Samsung UN60D6400 LED TV

The good: The Samsung UND6400 series offers beautiful, compact styling with an ultrathin bezel and panel for a nearly all-picture look. It produces relatively deep black levels for an edge-lit LED-based LCD TV, with accurate color in bright areas, excellent video processing, and improved 3D picture quality. The Smart Hub Internet portal boasts more apps and streaming services than the competition.

The bad: This Samsung LED TV is relatively expensive. Its picture suffers from imperfect screen uniformity and blue-tinged darker areas, while its glossy screen reflects a lot of ambient light. The UND6400’s Smart Hub lacks Amazon Instant, its search is next to useless, and its interface can be cluttered and confusing.

The bottom line: Solid overall 2D and 3D picture quality, as well as a wealth of features and beautiful looks, mark the Samsung UND6400 as one of the better edge-lit LED-based LCD TVs we’ve tested.

Samsung 2011 LED TV prices and availability reeled out

It doesn’t matter whether the market is thronging with people hunting down an 18” LED TV or one that stretches to 55”. Samsung has them covered with a huge array of LED TVs including 3D-capable models. Most of these feature Smart TV capabilities, Samsung Smart Hub and the company’s One Design concept.

The 31.5” UN32D6000 and 40” UN40D6000 are available in the market for $899.99 and $1,099.99, respectively. The UN55D8000 and UN55D6000 sport 54.6” displays. They are attached with price tags reading $3,599.99 and $2,099.99, correspondingly. Also falling within this bracket in terms of screen size are the UN55D7000, UN55D6400 and UN55D6300 costing $3,099.99, $2,399.99 and $2,299.99, concurrently.

“The living room is the activity center for many people and the TV is an ideal media hub for the home. Our products make it easy for anyone to instantly access and share the content they want, when they want it,” remarked John Revie, senior vice president of Home Entertainment, Samsung Electronics America. “Together with new breakthrough designs, Samsung is encouraging people to take entertainment to the edge with our TVs.”

Flaunting 45.9” panels, the UN46D7000, UN46D6400 and UN46D6300 may be picked up for $2,299.99, $1,599.99 and $1,499.99, respectively. The list does not stop there. The 40” UN40D6400 is pegged at $1,299.99, while the 40” UN40D6300 has been stuck with a $1,199.99 label. The UN22D5010 and UN22D5000 share the same 21.5” screen size as well as the $299.99 cost.

The four other LED TVs Samsung has on offer include the 40” UN40D5500, 18.5” UN19D4000, 31.5” UN32D5500 and 31.5” UN32D4000. The last two are chalked at $529.99 and $699.99, correspondingly. The UN40D5500 can be purchased for $899.99 and the UN19D4000, that happens to be the most modest-sized in the group, costs $249.99.

Apart from the TVs, Samsung also tossed in four new pairs of 3D active glasses, one of which is the SSG-3700CR with ergonomically designed flexible ‘legs’ and nose pad.

First Haier 3D LED TV Launched

Haier has announced its venture into the 3D TV space with the LE55A310 LED backlit TV. The TV sports a metallic finish and is supposed to be super slim. The 55-incher will also sport USB 2.0 with video (no word on DivX HD playback), a ‘mega’ contrast ratio and 120Hz refresh rate. On the sound front, we have SRS TruSurround XT technology for a simulated surround effect .

“India is fast emerging as the key driver in the global television market and 3D LED TV is one of them.” said Eric Braganza, President, Haier India. “Haier’s new range of 3D LED TV’s provide an experience similar to one in a movie theatre. The new range of televisions from Haier represents company’s efforts to continuously innovate and introduce new cutting edge technologies offering convenience to the consumers in the Indian market. Innovation, functionality, durability, eco-compatibility and clear user-friendly functions were the criteria kept in mind while designing these ranges of 3D LED TVs,” he added.

However, the company did not disclose the pricing details of the TVs as yet. Expect to see them in store in the following months.

GE Lighting launches new version of Infusion LED module

The Infusion module is designed to be easy to replace, and offers a wide range of color temperatures and light outputs up to 3300 lm at 4000K.GE Lighting Europe has unveiled a new range of Infusion LED modules with a wide range of light-output and color-temperature options. Three color temperatures – 2700K, 3000K and 4000K – are available, each with 4 different light outputs: at 3000K, these are 1100 lm (15W, using 7 LEDs), 1500 lm, 2000 lm and 3000 lm (46W, using 22 LEDs).

GE believes that the modules address a problem in some professional lighting applications, which is that designers remain reticent about specifying LED everywhere in their schemes, with one critical reason being the difficulty in servicing and upgrading the luminaires.

The Infusion module is designed to be upgraded as required, since it can be connected to the luminaire body with a simple twist-lock mechanism, which provides the necessary thermal, electrical and mechanical connectivity.

The easy interchangeability has other benefits too. “One luminaire will accept a complete range of LED modules,” explains Phil Marshall, President & CEO for EMEA at GE Lighting. “This overcomes the inflexibility of integrated luminaires, giving retailers the ability to vary color temperatures, beam angles and light packages by simply swapping modules.”

At the launch event, attendees viewed a range of high-quality ProSpex downlights from Lucent Lighting which are built using the GE modules.

Attendees also learned a new term, “hot-swap protection,” which refers to protection against the surge current experienced when the LED module is connected to a live driver. The modules also have an onboard thermal protection feature that turns off the LEDs if the module gets too hot.

Thermal management is a key issue for the modules, especially when the output can reach 3000 lm. GE is working with various partners for both active and passive cooling solutions, namely AVC for heat sinks, Sunon for fans and Nuventix for synthetic jets. The performance figures quoted for the modules are recorded at a temperature of 65°C measured at a dedicated measurement point on the rear of the module.

GE is also offering an “Infusion Ultra” version, with a color rendering index (CRI) of 90, combined with 2-step color consistency, compared with a CRI of 80 and a 4-step color range. GE is using packaged LEDs from Cree, and uses a precise mix of different LEDs from different bins in each module to give the desired light output. This is the same approach used by Cree in its own EasyWhite LEDs.

The GE modules are designed to run from external electronic control gear. GE is in the process of qualifying a number of LED drivers as being compatible with its modules, from driver partners including AEG, Harvard Engineering, IST Ltd, Lightech, Roal Electronics and TCI. The 1100-lm and 1500-lm modules contain single LED strings and operate from 700 mA, while the 2000-lm and 3000-lm modules have two strings and require 1400 mA.

Unlike earlier versions, the modules are supplied without integrated optics. From May 2011 the modules will have an optical interface that will allow the attachment of reflectors via a twist-lock mechanism. GE plans to introduce a series of optical accessories with a range of beam angles in categories including spot, flood, wide flood and extra-wide flood.

FZLED Unveils A New Line of T8 LED Tube Lights with Newly Innovated Dimming Functionality

FZLED, maker of high-performance LED lighting products, today releases their new line of T8 LED Tube Lights. Available in two sizes, two feet (58cm and 60cm) and four feet (120cm), these high-performance LED tube lights are direct replacements for traditional T8 tubes and fit standard G13 sockets with an AC voltage range of 90-264V. FZLED’s commitment to R&D has enabled them to incorporate a creative dimming function into their T8 LED Tube Lights. This built-in feature allows the Tube Lights to function at 12%, 25%, 50%, and 100% of light intensity. The desired level of brightness is selected by pressing the on/off power switch multiple times. Uniquely designed dimming functionality, easy installation, and energy savings over fifty-percent make this new line of LED products ideal for residential, commercial, and industrial use.

“We are very proud of these new T8 LED Tube Lights. As the first company in the LED industry to incorporate switching dimmable IC technology into an indoor lighting product, FZLED is further demonstrating our commitment to innovation and exceptional quality.” – Alan Lin, CEO, FZLED

Both sizes of the T8 LED Tube Lights are available with or without FZLED’s newly innovated dimming function. Requiring no starters and with no need to remove traditional ballasts the FZLED T8 Tube Lights can be used by consumers immediately, without complicated installations. With lifetimes of at least 35,000 hours these high-quality LED lighting products are excellent for indoor, architectural, flood, and mood lighting.

Using Liteon 5050 SMD LEDs, the two foot long T8 LED Tube Light uses 12 watts of power and produces up to 850 luminous flux (lm) while the four foot long T8 LED Tube Light uses 22 watts and produces up to 1700 lm. Both sizes are available with bright 6000K CCT, softer 4000K CCT, or softest 3000K CCT. With high power-conversion ratios, replacing traditional T8 tubes with FZLED’s T8 LED Tube Lights can provide over fifty-percent in energy savings. Emitting no harmful UV or IR rays, using no mercury, and with significantly reduced CO2 emissions, compared to traditional T8 tubes, FZLED’s T8 LED Tube Lights are eco-friendly and a lighting solution that users can feel good about.

These high-quality T8 LED Tube Lights are currently available in Taiwan and Singapore. FZLED is excited to build relationships with more distribution partners in order to provide consumers around the world with their innovative, energy-saving, and high-performance lighting solutions.

Features
Energy Saving
No heat, No UV, or IR light radiation
Light source: SMD LED
Ra > 70 for cool white
Long lifetime > 35000 hours
G13 socket compatible
High power driver efficiency > 80%
Starter Free
No need to remove traditional ballasts
CE, FCC and ETL Approved

About FZLED
FZLED, founded in 2009, is a Taiwan-based developer and manufacturer of high-performance LED lighting products. As a sub-division of FZTech Inc., FZLED’s products have superior thermal designs using the existing know-how and expertise of FZTech. Committed to excellence, FZLED follows a strict TQC for the entire manufacturing process, and conducts R&D projects continuously in an effort to create LED lighting solutions that offer light-weight, high-quality, environmentally-friendly, innovative, and thermally-optimized products to consumers.

Pocket LED Penlight provides output of work light

Delivering 120 lumens, Pocket Floodlight(TM) features wide-angle light beam for up close use. Design provides clear, uniform light pattern, without hot spots and dark spots that are common to most flashlights. Measuring 6 in. long with 9/16 in. head diameter, Pocket Floodlight(TM) has glass lens and T6 aluminum body with black Type II anodizing. Threaded joints have rubber O-ring seals and tailcap switch is sealed with rubber cap.

Eco-friendly LED light bulbs contain hazardous substances, research shows

Small LED bulbs that are promoted as eco-friendly alternatives to traditional light bulbs contain high levels of lead, arsenic and a dozen other potentially hazardous substances that have been linked to various cancers, a new American study shows.

Researchers at the University of California in Irvine and Davis crushed LED bulbs from strands of Christmas lights and found that the red ones had up to eight times the amount of lead allowed under California law, while the other colours bulbs had even more contaminants. White bulbs contained the least lead, but they had high levels of nickel, said researcher Oladele Ogunseitan, chair of the university’s department of population health and disease prevention.

“LEDs are touted as the next generation of lighting. But as we try to find better products that do not deplete energy resources or contribute to global warming, we have to be vigilant about the toxicity hazards of those marketed as replacements,” he said in a statement.

The report is the first to look for toxic chemicals in LEDs, he added.

His team also studied larger LED bulbs in everything from traffic lights to headlights in cars. But the results, which are similar to the Christmas lights, have not been published yet.

LED lights have been widely hailed as a safer, more green choice compared to fluorescent bulbs, which contain mercury. Ogunseitan said he sent his findings to U.S. health regulators to warn them of potential dangers consumers could be facing.

LEDs are not classified as toxic products and there aren’t any disposal regulations, although the scientists now urge consumers to use gloves, a mask and a broom when they handle broken LED lights. Manufacturers and emergency crews who clean broken traffic lights should treat the LEDs as hazardous waste, they said.

The lead and other metals in the bulbs have been linked to hundreds of previous studies that look at cancer, neurological damage, kidney disease, skin rashes and other sicknesses, his team writes in their report, published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.

Inhaling the fumes of a single broken light would not lead to cancer, but it could be a “tipping point” on top of chronic exposure to other carcinogens, the report warns.

It said that the copper used in some LEDs is also an ecological threat to fish, rivers and lakes.

“Risks are present in all parts of the lights and at every stage during production, use and disposal . . . consumers, manufacturers and first responders to accident scenes ought to be aware of this,” Ogunseitan said in the statement.

The LEDs could be redesigned so they’re made of safer materials, he said, calling the concern a “preventable risk.”