Lightbulbs. Simple, cheap and easy to replace, right? Not any more! Philips is dragging the humble bulb into the future with its 'Hue' technology -- wirelessly controlled light orbs that give you complete control over the lighting in your house.
The Hue bulbs look like ordinary lightbulbs, and screw into light sockets as normal. Inside each bulb, however, is a wireless transmitter that communicates with a hub you plug into the back of your router.
Once connected, you can use a website or download an app (the iOS version is out now -- there's no sight of an Android version, though Gizmodo reports it's coming in December), then use the wonderful power of the Internet to fiddle with the lights in your home.
The special bulbs can spit out any hue in the spectrum, so the first thing you'll likely do is light your home in a terrifying riot of colours, then get all your friends around and meet them at the door screaming, "Welcome to the rainbow house!" in your underpants. Probably.
You can use a colour selector to pick colours from photos on your smart phone, the idea being to perfectly recreate the deep blue of your holiday skies alongside the hazy orange of that beachside sunset you remember so fondly.
That's a cool idea. You can save particularly pleasant palettes to use again, and set your lights to gradually fade up as a morning alarm. You can turn your lights on or off remotely and set them on a timer too -- both ideal for foiling burglars when you're not at home.
There are so-called 'light recipes' too, which change the ambience of your domicile. 'Relax', 'Concentrate' and 'Reading' are some example modes.
The bad news is all this tech will set you back a bundle of cash. An introduction pack that gets you three Hue lightbulbs and the hub will set you back £179, while individual bulbs cost £49 each. Ouch.
That's an expensive way to replace a bulb. Hue will also be available exclusively at Apple stores, from 30 October. That gives you, er, one day to save your pennies.
Would you buy these futuristic bulbs? Tell me in the comments or on our Facebook wall.
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Comments 17
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anonymous 29 October, 2012 13:32
Had something like this a few years ago, It was much cheaper, though you couldn't control it.
anonymous 29 October, 2012 14:14
so not similar to this at all then.............
anonymous 29 October, 2012 15:11
Brilliant idea. Let me just get the queue kit.
Tent check. iPad check. Foldaway chair check. iPod check. Flask of soup check. iPhone5 check. Scarf, hat and gloves check. Back up iPhone 5 check. Sleeping Bag check. Signed photo of me and big Steve check. Pillow check. Earpods check. Street atlas check.
Quick Jeffrey. To the apple store
anonymous 29 October, 2012 16:36
i'm sure you do your research and all but i think you may have wanted to search the Google Play store for Philips Hue before stating there's no sign of an Android Version https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.philips.lighting.hue
anonymous 29 October, 2012 17:17
Any info on what brightness levels they produce? Im just wondering if they can replace standard bulbs in a room or are more suited to lamps.
anonymous 29 October, 2012 20:01
@anonymous 29 October, 2012 17:17
You see that word "Hue" in blue? It's blue because it's a link. A link to the Hue. Go for it.
samuelc 30 October, 2012 10:59
I like the idea in principle, but I'd want some kind of a guarantee for the minimum number of hours the light would last. I'd hate to shell out £50 a bulb and it die on me a few weeks later.
anonymous 31 October, 2012 00:52
They're comparable with a 50W lamp .. and much nicer at varied colour temperatures than most traditional RGB lamps (because they don't use primary RGB) - They're also pleasantly easily hackable http://vimeo.com/52504066 :)
anonymous 31 October, 2012 12:25
No Android app?
Are you so brainwashed by Apple that you omit reality?
It's getting worse and worse.. the Moon will soon be made of cheese, and the Earth is flat.
Martyn Butler 2 November, 2012 18:58
From HUE website Developers ....
Later in the year we plan to release a wealth of developer tools – from parts of our bridge interface to some ‘how to’ guides – so you can get hands on with hue. We’re also working on an iOS and Android SDK, to make coding and linking to hue a breeze.
Are there other products that work with hue?
Yes, and there will be even more coming soon. You can use hue with any ZigBee LightLink products. Of course, you’ll get the best experience when using products designed to work with hue.
Which smart devices does the hue app work with?
The app works on any devices running iOS 4.3 or later, or Android 2.3 or later.
Martyn Butler 2 November, 2012 19:13
and of course the PLAY App Store https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.philips.lighting.hue
anonymous 2 November, 2012 20:47
Will GU10 bulbs amf cpsule bulbs be available for Hue? I love the idea but hope the pice drops a bit. Will it be available through other suppliers than apple?
chrisp666 4 November, 2012 17:23
What a strange society we live in when something like this should seem worthwhile.
anonymous 13 November, 2012 19:34
All our table lamps take small fitting bulbs and all the ceiling lights in the house take bayonet bulbs, so that will be another little bundle of cash, replacing the former and getting an electrician to replace the latter.
I say "will" because I cannot imagine not getting this system. The right light can go a long way to fighting depression but full spectrum 'daylight' bulbs cost a fortune.
anonymous 14 November, 2012 09:16
Have you noticed they are all screw in bulbs?
anonymous 24 November, 2012 15:59
Only available at Apple stores.
£50 each or starter kit for £180.
No Andriod app.
Reviews stating the bulbs can't actually render blues.
No bayonet fitting - available only in screw fitting.
Do they actually want these to sell?
Don't waste my time Phillips.
anonymous 21 April, 2013 00:02
They are amazing, my son bought them for us for Christmas, a great gift.