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Philips to Sell iOS-Controlled LED Light Bulbs Exclusively Through Apple Stores
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Ugh, yet another example of the useless posts I was complaining about in my rant above.
Please post a link to an iOS controlled networked LED system, of equivalent or better light quality and versatility as the new Philips product, that is also significantly cheaper than the latter, and that would be a helpful post.
Hue is $199 for three bulbs plus the wireless link that can support up to 50 bulbs. Additional bulbs are available for $59 each.
its says there.
^^
What he said.
I've been looking for a suitable cheaper alternative since I read about Hue and can't find one..
Just in case, a reminder that you need to buy the introductory pack for the networking bridge. The pack includes three lights, then you can buy more individually.
If you could separate the bulb from the electronics so that replacing the bulb wasn't expensive, then the current first-time price wouldn't be as hard to take.
Big Bummer....
Why do they have to have a wireless link? I was thinking they would have been smart enough to build the logic into each lightbulb, so it can singularly work by screwing it in any light socket, and directly work with an iOS app.
Or at least it should be able to work directly off your home computer router.... Apparently they didn't do this..... Therefore, too expensive for what it is.
Why do they have to have a wireless link? I was thinking they would have been smart enough to build the logic into each lightbulb, so it can singularly work by screwing it in any light socket, and directly work with an iOS app.
Or at least it should be able to work directly off your home computer router.... Apparently they didn't do this..... Therefore, too expensive for what it is.
This is all true, but as an early adopter to LED lighting I can tell you also that LEDs are DC low voltage devices that require a power supply. That power supply is usually a fairly sophisticated device (e.g switching supply) to make it compact and light. In my experience now over several years it's the power supply that fails in these bulbs, sometimes spectacularly in fact. The actual LED themselves are just a solid state diode and last a very long time. So the point is that IF it survives 15 years, you will save, but lose a few a year and its more of a break even. Buying quality LED bulbs from someone like Philips is hopefully getting you a quality power supply.
These are pretty cool bulbs, I would want to know how much the controller needs as far as the iOS interaction. I like the idea of snapping a photo and "color picking" the hue of the lights from the photo, pretty out of the box thinking. It would hopefully let you set a timer etc. and then close the app, wouldn't want my IOS device tied up for any length of time.
What I dont get is why $199 for 3 when they are $59 each? 3 X $59 = $177
The controller comes as well...
Why do they have to have a wireless link? I was thinking they would have been smart enough to build the logic into each lightbulb, so it can singularly work by screwing it in any light socket, and directly work with an iOS app.
Or at least it should be able to work directly off your home computer router.... Apparently they didn't do this..... Therefore, too expensive for what it is.
You'd have to add a 802.11 radio to each bulb. I'm betting it was much cheaper and a lot less regulatory do one 802.11 bridge and go to simpler radios in the bulbs. I wonder what band the latter uses. You don't want your bulbs to dim every time the microwave comes on.
Why do they have to have a wireless link? I was thinking they would have been smart enough to build the logic into each lightbulb, so it can singularly work by screwing it in any light socket, and directly work with an iOS app.
Or at least it should be able to work directly off your home computer router.... Apparently they didn't do this..... Therefore, too expensive for what it is.
Disagree, having a seperate controller allows the bulbs to be simpler and cheaper, they will come down in price over time.
Looks like Phillips poached LIFX's idea. (Their bulbs are supposed to be $69)
Bulb price is too high, but should come down with higher production numbers.
Bulb price is too high, but should come down with higher production numbers.
I want my light bulbs to wake me up in the morning!
not sarcasm,
the lights can start slowly coming on right when I need to wake up? awesome
not sarcasm,
the lights can start slowly coming on right when I need to wake up? awesome
Interesting product but I wonder, is the system is locked? Can someone come along and release an app that controls both the lighting and temperature if you have a smart thermostat? If not, I'm not sure I want four or five separate apps controling climate, lighting, security, future Apple TV DVR, etc.
In the info they discuss future updates to include things like Geo tracking to switch lights on/off when you reach certain locations. Very cool!