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GE to Create Intelligent LED Lightbulbs Compatible with Apple HomeKit
GE today announced plans to take advantage of Apple's HomeKit platform, creating intelligent, color-changing LED lightbulbs that will interface with iOS devices. GE's HomeKit-compatible LED lightbulbs will include GE's Align technology, which aims to improve sleep through controlling blue light output at critical times.
During the day, the Align technology is able to mimic daylight to suppress the production of melatonin for a more awake feeling, adding bright blue tones to white light, and at night, blue light is reduced to promote melatonin production and avoid disrupting circadian sleep rhythms.
Through HomeKit, the GE bulbs will integrate with other HomeKit-connected devices and will be able to be controlled by voice using Siri. Lightbulbs will be available for individual control and can also be organized into groups for room-wide lighting scenes.
GE's upcoming lighting project will be a direct competitor to the Philips hue line of lights, which also allow consumers to choose lighting colors based on mood and control lights with their iOS devices. Philips is also one of Apple's HomeKit partners and plans to have its hue lighting system integrate with HomeKit.
Apple's HomeKit hardware specifications were finalized in October of 2014, further paving the way for the first HomeKit devices to come to market. In January, Apple said it was "excited" about the growing number of partners bringing HomeKit products to market. Some of those upcoming products include the iDevices smart plug, Elgato's range of connected home devices, and the Schlage Sense smart lock.
We still don't know when HomeKit-enabled devices will be widely available for purchase, but GE says that its lightbulbs will be available later in 2015.
During the day, the Align technology is able to mimic daylight to suppress the production of melatonin for a more awake feeling, adding bright blue tones to white light, and at night, blue light is reduced to promote melatonin production and avoid disrupting circadian sleep rhythms.
"As we continue to grow our infrastructure business by connecting our brilliant industrial machines to the Internet, it is important that consumers experience connected things in easy-to-use, everyday ways. Lighting is how many first experiment with the idea of a smart home, and our insights show that consumers want the ability to control lighting from anywhere, automate lighting and pair lighting with other devices--like sensors, thermostats and door locks," says Comstock. "We're excited to announce our support for HomeKit as it will bring a seamless, intuitive user experience using Siri and superior quality of light from America's most trusted lighting brand for more than a century."HomeKit is Apple's home control platform that will allow Apple devices to control various connected smart home products like lightbulbs, garage doors, locks, fans, thermostats, power outlets, and more. Users will be able to give Siri commands to perform actions that will control physical objects, such as "shut off the lights" or "close the garage," with the Apple TV serving as a home automation hub.
Through HomeKit, the GE bulbs will integrate with other HomeKit-connected devices and will be able to be controlled by voice using Siri. Lightbulbs will be available for individual control and can also be organized into groups for room-wide lighting scenes.
GE's upcoming lighting project will be a direct competitor to the Philips hue line of lights, which also allow consumers to choose lighting colors based on mood and control lights with their iOS devices. Philips is also one of Apple's HomeKit partners and plans to have its hue lighting system integrate with HomeKit.
Apple's HomeKit hardware specifications were finalized in October of 2014, further paving the way for the first HomeKit devices to come to market. In January, Apple said it was "excited" about the growing number of partners bringing HomeKit products to market. Some of those upcoming products include the iDevices smart plug, Elgato's range of connected home devices, and the Schlage Sense smart lock.
We still don't know when HomeKit-enabled devices will be widely available for purchase, but GE says that its lightbulbs will be available later in 2015.
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50 months ago
When!??
I'm all set up with Hue bulbs through my whole house. All I've ever wanted is to be able to say "Hey Siri turn out all of the lights" as I go to bed and have it be so.
Why is it taking 2 years for Apple to release Homekit properly?!
I'm all set up with Hue bulbs through my whole house. All I've ever wanted is to be able to say "Hey Siri turn out all of the lights" as I go to bed and have it be so.
Why is it taking 2 years for Apple to release Homekit properly?!
50 months ago
I'm all set up with Hue bulbs through my whole house. All I've ever wanted is to be able to say "Hey Siri turn out all of the lights" as I go to bed and have it be so.
Why is it taking 2 years for Apple to release Homekit properly?!
Well, I was an early Hue adopter, and I maintain that you may be placing the blame in the wrong place. My question, based on my largely disappointing experience with Hue would be, "Why is it taking Philips so long to get their stuff HomeKit enabled?"
Hue has been a kludge from day one, and while I didn't expect it to be the end all, be all as soon as I bought it I really thought and hoped Philips would have made better strides with it than they have.
50 months ago
Why is it taking 2 years for Apple to release Homekit properly?!
Huh? Apple announced Homekit at WWDC last year!
50 months ago
Price baby, price!
All of this sounds great, but at what cost? I was early replacing incandescent with cfl, and have been experimenting with LED since the bulbs cost well over $100. Now that prices are reasonable, for the last year, or so, I've been moving to them.
But these multihue lights are still way too expensive considering the low output they have. Generally, with an average color, they seem equivalent to a 40 watt tungsten. That's not nearly good enough. While bulbs from Cree cost between $9 for 40 watt equiv. to $20 for 100 watt equiv.
Until prices for multihue bulbs come closer to those light levels and prices, they will be bought more for uniqueness than general utility.
All of this sounds great, but at what cost? I was early replacing incandescent with cfl, and have been experimenting with LED since the bulbs cost well over $100. Now that prices are reasonable, for the last year, or so, I've been moving to them.
But these multihue lights are still way too expensive considering the low output they have. Generally, with an average color, they seem equivalent to a 40 watt tungsten. That's not nearly good enough. While bulbs from Cree cost between $9 for 40 watt equiv. to $20 for 100 watt equiv.
Until prices for multihue bulbs come closer to those light levels and prices, they will be bought more for uniqueness than general utility.
50 months ago
All of this HomeKit stuff sounds promising. Hopefully products start trickling out soon.
50 months ago
Innovation or solution looking for problem? I think more of the latter...technology overshoot. My lights work fine. They are cheap, stupid, and when I flip the switch they go on/off. All requirements met.
50 months ago
Looking forward to the new Apple TV that will be at the center of it all.
50 months ago
I'm all set up with Hue bulbs through my whole house. All I've ever wanted is to be able to say "Hey Siri turn out all of the lights" as I go to bed and have it be so.
Why is it taking 2 years for Apple to release Homekit properly?!
My neighbor and good friend is writing the new bridge firmware for homekit. Bad news for all of us with hue, we will need a new bridge in order to integrate with homekit when compete. I am just as frustrated since I bought my hue after the announcement that it would integrate so now I will have to buy another bridge.. Grrrr.
I have the hue bridge and 4 lightbulbs. As soon as Homekit was announced I stopped buying until the integration was real. I am not investing any more money into something that may or may not integrate. When someone puts out a strong product that integrates into HomeKit, I will invest in that. At this point Philips is losing business because I bet there are a lot of folks like me sitting on the sideline waiting for someone to get it right. And they are at huge risk if they don't put something out soon. There are several vendors that are doing lights that are competative with Hue and which ever gets out there first with the integration is going to get the pent up demand.
I am ready to dump Hue if someone puts out a strong product that integrates into Homekit. Limitless LED, Lifx, MisFit Bolt, and WeMo are all option that could grap the lead if they build something that works first.
Who ever ends up getting my business will have a solution that integrates with HomeKit and dumps the bridge.
50 months ago
Innovation or solution looking for problem? I think more of the latter...technology overshoot. My lights work fine. They are cheap, stupid, and when I flip the switch they go on/off. All requirements met.
you're requiring things wrong.
sorry.. couldn't help it. never find this comment very amusing :/
50 months ago
Why is it taking 2 years for Apple to release Homekit properly?!
Homekit has been released properly...manufacturers are just slow to get it out...until June that is ;)
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