FN Related News...

Recent flashlight-related items posted to FlashlightNews, including news tidbits from light makers and dealers, web site updates, special promotions, and special deals

• A new model in the Icon Flashlight line is now available and so is a review of it. the-gadgeteer.com has a review of the Icon Modus 2 Dual-Output LED Flashlight up on its site, and according to reviewer Raul Sanchez it's not a bad light at all. We aren't that crazy about the design esthetic of the Icon line of lights, but you might feel differently....so check it out.
(Posted April 7, 2010)

• A recent job posting by flashlight and LED lighting maker TerraLUX reveals that the company is planning on re-locating the company. The job listing for a HR Manager & Recruiter / Office Manager mentions the news, but gives no clue as to where the company will be re-locating to. And be sure to check out the other job openings the company has posted.
(Posted April 7, 2010)

• Much as it disappoints those who consider themselves 'flashaholics', not everyone keeps a flashlight on the bedstand for late-night use. But the new Philips GuideLight might just change that. This combination night-light/flashlight features inductive charging, a motion detector, and a fashionable design that effectively obscures its utility. Perfect for someone who needs a flashlight nearby at night, but can't stand the idea of a industrial-looking, conventional flashlight ruining the look of their bedroom.
(Posted April 7, 2010)

• As LEDs have become more popular in applications like general lighting, automotive lighting, and in portable devices like flashlights, short supply has become an issue. Recent press reports have suggested that LED supplies could get much tighter over the next several years as demand explodes. But according to Purchasing.com, LED manufacturers are ramping up their capacity by ordering the 'reactors' necessary to make them. The only problem is that it can take up to 10 months to receive the reactors and get them producing LEDs. So supplies may continue to be tight in the short run, but improve over the next years or so.
(Posted April 7, 2010)

• The company that brings you the Nitecore brand of flashlights recently participated in the 6th ISPO China trade show and has posted some photographs of their display booth and the show. Their booth was co-branded with that of JetBeam Flashlights and featured an informational video monitor, a display case of Nitcore lights and headlamps, and what appears to be a fishtank...presumably for demonstrating the water-resistant features of their products.
(Posted April 6, 2010)

• Rechargeable batteries can be cost-effective and good for the environment, but they can also be confusing for the new user because of wide variety of choices available. tomsguide.com has published an online breakdown of the major rechargeable battery brands, including an explanation of the basics of rechargeables, as well as an estimate of the charge and run times, power usage, and acquisition costs of each of the four major brands.
(Posted April 6, 2010)

• If you own an iPhone or iPad Touch, you might want to spend $0.99 for 'Aftermath', a first-person shooter game that features a flashlight. The game puts you in an urban setting, defending yourself from zombies with only a flashlight to illuminate your path. Of course, it wouldn't be a first-person shooter without guns and bombs, so shine that flashlight and let the carnage begin!
(Posted March 18, 2010)

• A man in Fort Worth, Texas thought he'd done pretty well when he found a flashlight while jogging along a local road. But his discovery almost turned explosive when he got home and started to dissassemble the thing. As he took it apart he discovered what appeared to be a fuse and promptly called the police. The Fort Worth Bomb Squad was dispatched and confirmed it to be a pipe bomb, which was subsequently disarmed and sent to a lab for analysis. Apparently, several pipe bombs have been found in the Fort Worth area over an unspecified period of time, and authorites are continuing their investigations.
(Posted March 18, 2010)

• No matter how many times you read about people being arrested for shining lasers at aircraft, it boggles the mind that folks can be so stupid. This time, it's a man in Fairfax County, Virginia who used a laser and a flashlight to harass a police helicopter that was searching for a suspect in an unrelated matter. We won't publish his name (since he's been accused at this point and not convicted), but he's facing a Class 6 felony charge and could receive 12 months in jail and a $2500 fine. Expensive 'fun', that's for sure.
(Posted March 18, 2010)

• We've said it before and we'll say it again...flashlights can really be the target of some amazing innovations and applications. This time, it's in the form of Suede Flip-Flops with Built-In Headlamps. Yup, you read that correctly...sandals with built-in flashlights. At first glance, it seems like a silly idea, but the more we consider the hazards of walking on a littered beach at night, the more sense these things make to us. As an added bonus, the lights can be removed from the shoes to be used as mini-headlamps.
(Posted March 17, 2010)

• If you're looking for a headlamp, but are confused by all the choices available, you should read the newest review of the ZebraLight H501 Headlamp on the-gadgeteer.com. This innovative and bright little light isn't the cheapest option around (at about $59), but it may be one of the most versatile. And the review by 25-year military veteran James Melby concisely gives you the details about the light.
(Posted March 17, 2010)

• We're amazed by some of the creative ways flashlights can be used, and never more amazed than by the art of light painting. Ben Matthews, a dentist from Surrey, England, has done some impressive work in this medium and is featured in a BBC.com slide show. You really need to take a look at this stuff...it's just beautiful artwork.
(Posted March 17, 2010)

• Flashlight enthusiasts are excited about the newest super-bright PhlatLight LEDs from Luminus Devices, and will be equally excited to hear that Phoebus Tactical is starting to use them in some of their lights. The company announced that their MicroFire Explorer line of lights now use the SST-50 LED, which is capable of producing 500 lumens of light. The Explorer I and II lights are rechargeable models, while the Explorer III runs from 3 CR123A cells. All the lights are extremely compact and suitable for demanding environments.
(Posted March 2, 2010)

• Noted flashlight enthusiast and custom light maker ARC mania is still accepting prepay orders for the newest version of his X6 Rechargeable LED Flashlight. The three-level light features an OSTAR 15 watt LED combined with an aspheric lens that adjusts from spot to flood, and boasts a rated output of 1350 lumens on high. There will only be 15 of the lights available and the prepay period ends March 6. The price? Just $435.00 if you are a member of the FlashlightNews Forum!
(Posted March 2, 2010)

• The race to develop new and smarter flashlights continues, this time in the form of a concept design for a navigational flashlight. designaffairs.com is reporting on a new light, called the 'Tamtam Flash', that would project directional arrows onto the ground to guide people to their destinations. The flashlight would use mapping services like Google Maps to project maps and other navigational tools onto almost any surface. We're a little skeptical about the practicality of such a product, but hey...we've seen weirder flashlight ideas!
(Posted March 2, 2010)

• One of the largest ever eBay internet scams has been exposed due to the sale of a SureFire brand flashlight. A state liquor store regulator from Washington State attempted to buy a $90 SureFire light from Brazilian businessman Nilton Rossoni through the eBay site, but the light never arrived. The suspicious regulator contacted his congressman, who then notified the US Postal Inspection Service. A three-year long investigation finally resulted in the arrest of Rossoni, who was convicted and sentenced to 5½ years in federal prison.
(Posted March 2, 2010)

• Spanish LED flashlight maker Barbolight will be attending the International Security Safety & Fire Exhibition being held this week in Madrid. The company will be presenting its newest design, dubbed the T700, at a shared display booth at the show. No details are available yet on this new light, which is being touted as combining "robustness and power in a small size." The new light will be aimed at the security, rescue and defense professionals markets.
(Posted March 2, 2010)

• Looks like 2010 will be the year of the Light Emitting Diode (LED) shortage. CompundSemiconductor.net is reporting that the global supply of LEDs will be tight in 2010 unless production capacities are increased. Last year the industry cranked out 75 billion of the devices, which represented 100% of available production capacity. With demand expected to double over the next three years, supplies are expected to be tight for some time to come.
(Posted March 2, 2010)

• You may already know that titanium is one of the trendiest materials around, but you may not have known that Lumens Factory is offering a limited number of titanium-bodied Seraph flashlights. The Seraph SP-6 Ti is manufactured from a Ti-6Al-4V, TC4 Aerospace Grade Titanium Alloy and features the same great features as their regular Seraph SP-6 model. Cost? Just $248 each...a relative pittance in the world of titanium flashlights (hard to believe, but true!)
(Posted Jan 19, 2010)

• For some reason, flashlights seem to be one of those consumer products that are constantly being reinvented...and now someone has incorporated them into a set of jumpropes. TreeHugger.com has stumbled across a prototype design for a kinetic-energy flashlight/jumprope combination that they really aren't too keen on. We have reservations about the entire 'shake flashlight' concept, and agree with TreeHugger that this idea is a bit of a stretch. Doesn't mean they won't sell a million of 'em though!
(Posted Jan 19, 2010)

• If you're into 24 hour bicycle racing, Light & Motion wants you to know that they'll be out in force at the Kona Bikes - '24 hours in the Old Pueblo' bike race to be held near Tucson, Arizona in the Sonoran Desert. The company will have a full line of rental lights, a charging station, and is even offering a special deal on some of its bike lighting products. The race will be held over the February 13-14 weekend and organizers expect 3000 riders to participate.
(Posted Jan 18, 2010)

• Cutting-edge LED manufacturer Luminus Devices is battling to "keep the lights on" in the aftermath of a business dispute with some of its lenders. The lenders are accused of reneging on a $15.1 million loan and have apparently frozen the firm's access to certain bank accounts. The dispute is the result of lowered revenue expectations from the firm, which produces the PhlatLight LEDs that are now making their way into the newest and brightest LED flashlights.
(Posted Jan 18, 2010)

• In the aftermath of Christmas giving, many consumers find themselves loading up on batteries to power all the shiny new electronic devices they received. And Consumer Reports has researched which AA batteries supply the most power for these devices and which ones fall short. Their top performer? Sanyo Eneloop rechargeables outperformed even the best alkaline cells that were tested. The worst? CVS Alkaline cells that powered a digital camera to about 25% of the pics that the Sanyos did.
(Posted Jan 18, 2010)

• Looking for work as an OEM Sales Manager? If you are, you might want to check out the recent job posting over at TerraLUX. The position requires an "aggressive sales professional" with "experience in lighting sales and a technology background", so if you feel like you have what the job needs, why not get that resume out to them?
(Posted Jan 12, 2010)

• Looking for work as an OEM Sales Manager? If you are, you might want to check out the recent job posting over at TerraLUX. The position requires an "aggressive sales professional" with "experience in lighting sales and a technology background", so if you feel like you have what the job needs, why not get that resume out to them?
(Posted Jan 5, 2010)

• National Flashlight Day came and went almost two weeks ago, but we can still celebrate the longest night of the year with a collection of 'Flashlight Animations' put together by listicles.thelmagazine.com. Flashlight animation is a camera/lighting technique in which handheld lights are used to 'paint' images in the air. The collection of animations, entitled 10 Brilliant Flashlight Animations, shows what kind of effects can be achieved with nothing but flashlights and some simple camera techniques. Bright.
(Posted Jan 5, 2010)

• Tis the season for wacky gifts, and technabob.com shows us that novelty flashlights can get pretty wacky too. The online blog recently highlighted the Stanley Flashlight Watch, a slightly disturbing combination of digital wrist watch and LED flashlight. We've seen flashlights incorporated into watches before, and with much more elegance of design, but we really can't argue with the straight-forward, cram-it-all-together-at-any-cost approach either. As long as you don't try to wear it out in public much.
(Posted Jan 4, 2010)

• The newest light from Dereelight has begun to get reviews on some of the flashlight message boards, and they seem to be mostly positive. The Dereelight 2xAA light-Javelin features a modular design with the ability to run from either 2 or 3 AA cells (with extension tube.) It uses a Cree XLamp XP-G emitter to generate as many as 200 lumens of brightness, and can be obtained with either a 3-stage or one-stage LED Light Engine. Said by the manufacturer to be the longest throwing AA light on the market.
(Posted Jan 4, 2010)

• LED flashlights keep getting more and more attention from the press, and this time it's the Icon Rogue series of lights that are getting the coverage. The New York Times online Gadgetwise column profiles the distinctive flashlights, and characterizes them as a "Flashlight to Throw in the Pool". We're pretty sure they mean because of their waterproof design, and not out of frustration.
(Posted Dec 22, 2009)

• Seen the ads for the new Gorillatorch from Joby, but not sure the light will do the job you have in mind? There's a nice review of the new lights on mobilemag.com. The review includes several pics of the torch, and breaks down its pros and cons very nicely...ending up with a rating of 7.5 on 10 scale. Another great gift idea if you're looking for a practical and distinctive holiday gift to give.
(Posted Dec 22, 2009)

• LED flashlights keep getting more and more attention from the press, and this tme it's the Icon Rogue series of lights that are getting the coverage. The New York Times online Gadgetwise column profiles the distinctive flashlights, and characterizes them as a "Flashlight to Throw in the Pool". We're pretty sure they mean because of their waterproof design, and not out of frustration.
(Posted Dec 15, 2009)

• Seen the ads for the new Gorillatorch from Joby, but not sure the light will do the job you have in mind? There's a nice review of the new lights on mobilemag.com. The review includes several pics of the torch, and breaks down its pros and cons very nicely...ending up with a rating of 7.5 on 10 scale. Another great gift idea if you're looking for a practical and distinctive holiday gift to give.
(Posted Dec 15, 2009)

• Looking for a green stocking stuffer? You might want to consider giving a set of rechargeable batteries and charger. According to Crunchgear.com, since many holiday gifts depend upon batteries to operate, the PowerGenix Rechargeable Battery System is a logical and environmentally smart choice to give as a complement to other gifts. You can get one for around $25, and give a gift that keeps on giving.
(Posted Dec 15, 2009)

• Looking for a headlamp to help guide you through these dark winter nights? Fenix has just introduced another addition to their extensive line of flashlights and headlamps, the Fenix HL20. The new headlamp features a lightweight, mini design, a maximum output of 105 lumens, and runs of a single AA battery. The light is waterproof and offers three output levels and an S.O.S. setting.
(Posted Dec 14, 2009)