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Remember the LIFX, the wi-fi-enabled smart LED bulb? While its Kickstarter funding period ended two weeks ago (well past its $100,000 target with $1.3 mil in pledges), there's no word on when production will begin; on November 12th the LIFX team wrote that "It's not possible to make final [production decisions] until we perform detailed thermal modeling and standardized measurements of light output, color rendering index, white balance agility, etc."
In the meantime Philips has been stumping for their own wi-fi-enabled, color changing offering, the Hue bulb. Interestingly, one of their marketing points is that you can select the output color (using an iDevice) via a method that will be familiar to Photoshop eyedrop tool users. Check it out:
Being the corporate giant that they are, Philips has adopted an interesting marketing technique: They've chosen to make the device available only through Apple Stores (both online and brick-and-mortar), taking preorders now and shipping in several months. At 200 bucks for a three-bulb starter pack the things ain't cheap, though they're about the same cost as the LIFX's initial $69 Kickstarter buy-in.
Rogue retailers, by the way, are re-selling Hues through Amazon at an usurious $100 per bulb; it remains to be seen if Philips will crack down.
On LIFX's Kickstarter comments page, some expressed skepticism about this project; but internet trollage aside, if Philips has thrown their weight behind a similar concept, you can bet they've concluded there's a market. Now we'll have to see whether it's David or Goliath that wins this early battle in the smartbulb war.
I’m a lapsed industrial designer. I was born in NYC and figured I’d die there, but a few years ago I abandoned New York to live on a farm in the countryside with my wife. We have six dogs.
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Philips Partners with Apple on Their Own Wi-Fi-Enabled, User-Controlled Colored Bulb
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20553143
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-11-29/bill-watkinss-at-no-and-bright-idea#r=tec-s
The price is bound to come down as demand for volume increases.
Works nicely in my house.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sparkdevices/spark-upgrade-your-lights-with-wi-fi-and-apps this one is also intriguing though, its more just a point for any lightbulb to be placed into, but its pretty intriguing.
http://www.laptopscreenonline.com/remote-controlled-rgb-led-6-watts-light-bulb-50000-hours-20955-p.asp
they do a better mood lighting system here i think:
http://www.philips.co.uk/c/choose-your-luminaire/livingcolors-clear-6914360pu/prd/