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Philips to Sell iOS-Controlled LED Light Bulbs Exclusively Through Apple Stores

Monday October 29, 2012 10:14 am PDT by Jordan Golson
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Philips has announced a new iOS-controlled LED lighting system that can emulate nearly any color, as well as personalize the lighting experience with a wide array of dimmer and scheduling options. The company believes the new bulbs could reinvent "the way we think about and experience light in our homes."
Building on its innovation capabilities, today Philips unveils hue, the world’s smartest web-enabled LED home lighting system. Philips hue signals a new era in home lighting both in the way we think about and experience light in our homes. It allows you to create and control the light using your smartphone or tablet.

[...]

Philips hue can be setup in minutes. The intuitive app allows you to remotely control your home lighting to help secure your home, personalize your home lighting experience with custom settings and program timers to help manage your daily schedules, all through the convenience of a smart device. An intuitive and seamless system, Philips hue is upgradeable and future-proof, with the potential for more features to be downloaded and enjoyed in the future.
Philips is also working on new features including geo-location to automatically turn lights on or off when users approach or leave heir homes, as well as integrating with other media including sound and video.


The bulbs will be sold exclusively via Apple Stores beginning tomorrow. Hue is $199 for three bulbs plus the wireless link that can support up to 50 bulbs. Additional bulbs are available for $59 each.

Apple has been pushing app-enabled accessories heavily in its online and retail stores, offering products as varied as thermostats, weight scales, blood pressure monitors, a meat thermometer and a pet-tracking GPS collar.

Update: The starter pack ($199.95) and individual bulbs ($59.95) are now available in Apple's online store.

[ 428 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

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RobertD63
85 months ago
You guys all can hate, and talk about how over priced they are, but I want it. I'll pay that for lighting that can be put on a sleep timer, adjusted to a color I select from a picture or color picker. I'll take 1 kit please.
Rating: 83 Votes
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CausticPuppy
85 months ago
Ah, it's about time. I can't count the number of times where I was wishing I had a way of changing the color of my lights using a phone. :eek:
Rating: 46 Votes
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Small White Car
85 months ago
Ugh. I hate the tendency of Macrumors posters to take every cool new things and deride it because it's not instantly cheap and instantly everywhere. As if those factors will never change over time.



Only one passenger? Super slow? Less space than a Nomad. Lame.
Rating: 45 Votes
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turtlez
85 months ago
shouldn't this be posted on April 1st?
Rating: 36 Votes
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Caliber26
85 months ago
It actually sounds like a cool thing but I'm not sure I'm ready to fork out that kinda cash for novelty lighting.
Rating: 35 Votes
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SeniorGato1
85 months ago
Get it down to $5/bulb and I'm in.
Rating: 19 Votes
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WhoDaKat
85 months ago
Thats $199 for 3 bulbs? Um, how long do these bulbs last? They'd better be forever at that cost.
Rating: 19 Votes
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nuckinfutz
85 months ago

Ugh. I hate the tendency of Macrumors posters to take every cool new things and deride it because it's not instantly cheap and instantly everywhere. As if those factors will never change over time.


Since when did the Wal*Mart ethos take over technology forums?

At least an Audiophile will save up and spend a ridiculous amount of money on a DAC or cables. They realize it's a high margin, high aesthetic hobby and they accept it.

Now we have all of these wannabe Geek tech fans that thing everything should be in the $1 bin at Target. Pass.
Rating: 15 Votes
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applemotor
85 months ago
We are hue.....
Rating: 14 Votes
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onepremiere
85 months ago
Phillips just stole LIFX Thunder...

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/limemouse/lifx-the-light-bulb-reinvented?ref=live
Rating: 14 Votes

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