I just read about the Philips Hue-Connected LED system in Consumer Reports, apparently this tech's been on the market for six months or so but this is the first I've heard about it.
It basically allows you to use your iThing or Android device to control the lighting in your house. You hit a button and the three bulbs come on, with programmable intensity and color (the different K-temps of white light along with reds, blues, etc). I could see using this even in my living room "home theater", one setting for watching movies during the day, during the night, one setting for using my computer while the TV is on, a brighter setting for reading while the music's on, etc.
It's a bit pricey; the $200 starter kit has the base station that you hook up to your router, and three bulbs with Edison screw mounts. The bulbs last as long as current LEDs and use 20% of the power that incandescents use; additional bulbs are $59 each :shock: but the base station can control up to 50 (!) bulbs at once, each programmable to specific brightness and color! Sounds like you can set lights up to come on at a certain time (toss that damn alarm clock!) and to dim slowly to off (great for the bedroom, etc).
Its available at the iStore and Amazon, here's the iStore link: http://store.apple.com/us/product/HA779VC/A/philips-hue-connected-bulb-starter-pack
...and here's another independent review of the system that does a better job of explaining how it works: http://thenextweb.com/gadgets/2012/11/22/review-philips-hue-smart-led-light-bulbs/
For not having a family, this past Xmas was kind've pricey (new Oppo, $700 to fly home, then $996 for snow tires) but this system is definitely now on my "future acquisition" list, and installation would be easy enough for me to do it myself. Cool Times we live in!
It basically allows you to use your iThing or Android device to control the lighting in your house. You hit a button and the three bulbs come on, with programmable intensity and color (the different K-temps of white light along with reds, blues, etc). I could see using this even in my living room "home theater", one setting for watching movies during the day, during the night, one setting for using my computer while the TV is on, a brighter setting for reading while the music's on, etc.
It's a bit pricey; the $200 starter kit has the base station that you hook up to your router, and three bulbs with Edison screw mounts. The bulbs last as long as current LEDs and use 20% of the power that incandescents use; additional bulbs are $59 each :shock: but the base station can control up to 50 (!) bulbs at once, each programmable to specific brightness and color! Sounds like you can set lights up to come on at a certain time (toss that damn alarm clock!) and to dim slowly to off (great for the bedroom, etc).
Its available at the iStore and Amazon, here's the iStore link: http://store.apple.com/us/product/HA779VC/A/philips-hue-connected-bulb-starter-pack
...and here's another independent review of the system that does a better job of explaining how it works: http://thenextweb.com/gadgets/2012/11/22/review-philips-hue-smart-led-light-bulbs/
For not having a family, this past Xmas was kind've pricey (new Oppo, $700 to fly home, then $996 for snow tires) but this system is definitely now on my "future acquisition" list, and installation would be easy enough for me to do it myself. Cool Times we live in!
