Philips hue app-controlled lightbulbs debut exclusively at Apple stores
Dubbed "the world's smartest LED bulb," the new Philips hue is an iOS application-controlled lightbulb that will be available only in Apple retail stores.
Apple's stores will begin carrying the hue on Tuesday, priced at $199 for a starter pack with three bulbs of 600 lumen and a hue bridge to connect the bulbs to a home network.
Each bulb offers all shades of white and a variety of color, and they use 80 percent less power than a traditional light bulb while providing the equivalent of a 500 watt bulb. A huge introduction pack can expand to up to 50 individual bulbs, and each bulb is priced at $59.
With an iOS application, hue allows users to remotely control their home lighting, and personalize settings such as timers. Philips also says that its bulbs are upgradeable and future-proof, as more features can be downloaded in the future.
The hue app also features what Philips has called "LightRecipes," which are four pre-programmed lighting settings based on the company's research regarding the biological effects that lighting has on the body. The scenarios adjust bulbs to the optimum shade and brightness of white light to help users relax, read, concentrate or energize.
Other features of Philips hue, according to the company, are:
"Philips continues to redefine the possibilities of LED technology, and hue pushes the boundaries even more, not only in offering great light quality, but in how lighting can be digitized and integrated with our world to further simplify and enhance our lives."
The hue marks yet another home automation device being pushed by Apple in its retail stores. The iPhone maker already carries the Next learning thermostat, which also connects to iPhones via a free application, and aims to reduce users' power bills.
Apple's stores will begin carrying the hue on Tuesday, priced at $199 for a starter pack with three bulbs of 600 lumen and a hue bridge to connect the bulbs to a home network.
Each bulb offers all shades of white and a variety of color, and they use 80 percent less power than a traditional light bulb while providing the equivalent of a 500 watt bulb. A huge introduction pack can expand to up to 50 individual bulbs, and each bulb is priced at $59.
With an iOS application, hue allows users to remotely control their home lighting, and personalize settings such as timers. Philips also says that its bulbs are upgradeable and future-proof, as more features can be downloaded in the future.
The hue app also features what Philips has called "LightRecipes," which are four pre-programmed lighting settings based on the company's research regarding the biological effects that lighting has on the body. The scenarios adjust bulbs to the optimum shade and brightness of white light to help users relax, read, concentrate or energize.
Other features of Philips hue, according to the company, are:
- Save your favorite light scenes for each room or time of day and recall them in an instant
- Use any photo on your phone as a color palette to paint your room with light and bring your memories back to life
- Tune white light from warm candlelight to vibrant, cool white light
- Create ambience or complement your decor with the colors of the rainbow
- Control and monitor your lights remotely when not at home for security and peace of mind
- Set timers to help manage your daily routine
- Let light wake you up refreshed or help your loved ones fall asleep
"Philips continues to redefine the possibilities of LED technology, and hue pushes the boundaries even more, not only in offering great light quality, but in how lighting can be digitized and integrated with our world to further simplify and enhance our lives."
The hue marks yet another home automation device being pushed by Apple in its retail stores. The iPhone maker already carries the Next learning thermostat, which also connects to iPhones via a free application, and aims to reduce users' power bills.
Comments
At those prices they better install themselves.
Even if they were the same prices as regular lightbulbs I don't see one reason why I'd want to control bulbs individually from my iDevice.
Oh; /s
MUCH rather just have, you know, a centralized control system instead of each individual BULB having controls and costing stupid money.
Put a 9.7" screen in the wall where each light switch would regularly have been, control lights, music, televisions, oven, washer/dryer, thermostat. Every dang thing. Mac Mini in the basement handling the processing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SDW2001
$200 starter pack and $60 lightbulbs. OK then.
Yep. Seems like a stocking decision made by a California billionaire who is out of touch with real family budgets.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
MUCH rather just have, you know, a centralized control system instead of each individual BULB having controls and costing stupid money.
Put a 9.7" screen in the wall where each light switch would regularly have been, control lights, music, televisions, oven, washer/dryer, thermostat. Every dang thing. Mac Mini in the basement handling the processing.
Yes, but you can't control the color of the lightbulb from the light switch. That can only be done from within.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ascii
Yep. Seems like a stocking decision made by a California billionaire who is out of touch with real family budgets.
What???
Really? Light bulbs in the Apple store? Have they got room for that? Should they have room for that? Whilst the bulbs sound very cool I struggle to see how lighting needs to have its 'game changed'. And at $60 a pop I am not sure the game is worth it. At 50 watts each you are going to need a few, and really, who wants to memorize their favourite ambient lighting settings? Pink with a touch of yellow in the late morning? Just as breakfast is about to end? Mmmmm.... If anything will give Mac users a bad name, this is the one. The New Apple Store - Amazon for the very wealthy and not so bright.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
MUCH rather just have, you know, a centralized control system instead of each individual BULB having controls and costing stupid money.
Put a 9.7" screen in the wall where each light switch would regularly have been, control lights, music, televisions, oven, washer/dryer, thermostat. Every dang thing. Mac Mini in the basement handling the processing.
while thats a start, still waiting for 'SIRI' to have voice control of some of these things. Yes, Star Trek has ruined me.
I'm gonna buy some of these. I was waiting for this kickstarter:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/limemouse/lifx-the-light-bulb-reinvented
but will take whichever product comes first...
At $59/light, it will take 6 years in order to recoup the cost of a regular incandescent (assuming 4 hours of use per day, a $1.25 60W incandescent, and $0.10/kWh), and over 50 years for a $3.95, 14W CFL. Obviously, greater usage reduces the time. However, we should also remember that CFLs are not good in situations where the light will be turned on and off a lot throughout the day (such as in bathrooms), as that will reduce their lifespan considerably. Furthermore, CFLs don't do well on dimmer switches, which most (seemingly all, in California, at least) new houses have installed. Finally, they have mercury in them, which isn't easy to dispose of safely and is bad for the environment. LEDs don't have these problems, so that's an extra point in their favor against the CFLs.
Honestly, though, at that high price, it's nowhere near worth replacing all the lights in your house with these Hue lights. Maybe one or two lights that see lots of regular usage, but even then, I would be leery. In the next couple years, we will see the price for these things go way, way down.
I'll avoid being a first adopter and let people work out the bugs. In 6 months these will be much cheaper and work better I'm sure.