The Philips HUE LED lightbulb is one cutting edge piece of lighting technology. Not only is the bulb an energy efficient (80% better than an incandescent), long lasting bulb, but Philips has engineered the HUE to be customized via iPhone or iPad app, with color, shade, brightness, and timer options all controllable via app. Sounds awesome...except for the 1st adopter price.
But one argument in defense of the price is the expanded utility of HUE compared to a typical bulb. The timer feature can be used to program the bulb much in the same way light alarms work (bedside alarm clocks which use increasing amounts of light to wake up sleepers instead of sound). Also the ability to turn on or off lights remotely add an element of home security from a distance. And of course, being able to adjust the temperature of light can be either a mood booster or a relaxing element in rooms illuminated by the HUE. Basically, Philips has integrated several typically separate device features into one single form factor, making the price tag more reasonable (though I'll be waiting for these to drop down to the "impulse purchase" realm).
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absolutely not... any light bulb that is more than just a few dollars.. is destined for failure.. besides.. why do we need it when we can already get attachments for lamps or whatever that are much cheaper that can be controlled by smart phone?
Doubt it, I got a Philips Ambilight with a remote.. barely use it.
Can't see how having that remote on my phone would make me use it more.
First off you folks need to report your story correctly, if you can't get the story right then don't bother reporting it.
It's not $199 for a single light bulb... As another source, http://www.macrumors.com/2012/10/29/phillips-to-sell-ios-controlled-led-light-bulbs-exclusively-through-apple-stores/, reported it's $199.95 for three bulbs and the system to make it all work from your iPhone or iPad. Additional bulbs are $59.95 each. So that means your paying $179.95 for the three bulbs and $20.01 for the wireless link which is capable of controlling up to 50 bulbs.
Does anyone remember the first portable calculators? $150 for a calculator. They have come down considerably since the so called "first adopters".
How does the Philips Ambilight system even compare to this? Thats a TV with a ring of colors around the screen?
My bad, I ment Philips Living Colors.
Doens't change my opinion though, haha.
It also has an estimated life of 15 years...
no
This is going to be a much better deal (less than half of the cost of the Philips) and will have even more features.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/limemouse/lifx-the-light-bulb-reinvented
while this is all good for parties ad getting in the mood, its sort of a novelty. people usually dont pay alot for novelty items.
it two years when these are commonplace and a kit like this goes for $75 , then adoption will be higher.
i have a modern space that i would love to use these in but i doubt i would do much with it beyond showing off to friends