[MUSIC] [MUSIC]
CNET's Ry Crist with another color-changing smart LED look to at today, the Lifx bulb. CNET's Ry Crist with another color-changing smart LED look to at today, the Lifx bulb.
This is an LED that we saw on Kickstarter back in 2012. This is an LED that we saw on Kickstarter back in 2012.
It asks for $100,000 from its backers, and it raised over $1.3 million by the campaign's end. It asks for $100,000 from its backers, and it raised over $1.3 million by the campaign's end.
So, a lot of interest in this bulb. So, a lot of interest in this bulb.
About a year later, in 2013, it started shipping to backers. About a year later, in 2013, it started shipping to backers.
And now in 2014 it is open for sale. And now in 2014 it is open for sale.
So, you can get this bulb right now for $99. So, you can get this bulb right now for $99.
But is it worth it compared to other options like the Lumen LED or the Philips Hue LEDs. But is it worth it compared to other options like the Lumen LED or the Philips Hue LEDs.
Well this is a very bright bulb. Well this is a very bright bulb.
It's a 75 watt replacement that puts out over 1,000 lumens of light at full brightness, using 17 watts of power. It's a 75 watt replacement that puts out over 1,000 lumens of light at full brightness, using 17 watts of power.
So, efficient, it's a good LED, and it's very bright. So, efficient, it's a good LED, and it's very bright.
One thing I really like about this bulb, is it put's that extra brightness to really good use in terms of color. One thing I really like about this bulb, is it put's that extra brightness to really good use in terms of color.
What it does is it will add those white LEDs that are typically used for the natural tone, the incandescent yellow or white light. What it does is it will add those white LEDs that are typically used for the natural tone, the incandescent yellow or white light.
It adds that on top of the cover light at the top of the spectrum so you can get pure saturated green light but then you keep on dimming up and then you get those white LEDs added on top of it and you'll get a whitish light tinted with green. It adds that on top of the cover light at the top of the spectrum so you can get pure saturated green light but then you keep on dimming up and then you get those white LEDs added on top of it and you'll get a whitish light tinted with green.
And that's a little more practical, a little more natural colored light. And that's a little more practical, a little more natural colored light.
The Lifx bulb; also features a dedicated spectrum of natural incandescent style tones and you get yellow light, white light, hot blue light like the lamp behind me. The Lifx bulb; also features a dedicated spectrum of natural incandescent style tones and you get yellow light, white light, hot blue light like the lamp behind me.
Whenever you want, you can replicate with Lifx. Whenever you want, you can replicate with Lifx.
So, I talk a bit about this bulb in terms of how well it produces light, but what about the smart? So, I talk a bit about this bulb in terms of how well it produces light, but what about the smart?
What about the extra oomph that you expect from a smart LED? What about the extra oomph that you expect from a smart LED?
Well, if you look at the Lifx app the color selector is this kind of graduated wheel. Well, if you look at the Lifx app the color selector is this kind of graduated wheel.
I like this a lot more than the spectrum you get from Philips hue or Taboo. I like this a lot more than the spectrum you get from Philips hue or Taboo.
With Lifx app you just spin that wheel. With Lifx app you just spin that wheel.
You can tap, you can drag it exactly where you want it. You can tap, you can drag it exactly where you want it.
You can see what you're doing. You can see what you're doing.
It's a lot more precise. It's a lot more precise.
It's a lot easier. It's a lot easier.
I'm a big fan of it. I'm a big fan of it.
I've gotta say though, when it comes to smarts, I find this bulb a little disappointing in its current state. I've gotta say though, when it comes to smarts, I find this bulb a little disappointing in its current state.
It doesn't yet have basic scheduling in the app. It doesn't yet have basic scheduling in the app.
You can't have it come on and off at certain times, you can't have it come on at sunset. You can't have it come on and off at certain times, you can't have it come on at sunset.
Very basic things that smart lights should offer you right at the onset. Very basic things that smart lights should offer you right at the onset.
That said, this is a young bulb. That said, this is a young bulb.
It hasn't been out nearly as long as. It hasn't been out nearly as long as.
And that bulb's got a head start, right? And that bulb's got a head start, right?
It's been out for awhile, it's got [UNKNOWN] integration now, it works with smart things. It's been out for awhile, it's got [UNKNOWN] integration now, it works with smart things.
That's the type of stuff that I could see in this bulb's future. That's the type of stuff that I could see in this bulb's future.
So it's got potential, and it's got an open API, so you've got developers doing cool things like developing a double-tap gesture for the phone that you install to turn it on or off. So it's got potential, and it's got an open API, so you've got developers doing cool things like developing a double-tap gesture for the phone that you install to turn it on or off.
Or even developing games that will work with the Lifx and change dynamically in as you blow things up and go from night to day. Or even developing games that will work with the Lifx and change dynamically in as you blow things up and go from night to day.
So inspite of the fact that this bulb has been in developmet for a pretty long time its still feels a little bit early for me. So inspite of the fact that this bulb has been in developmet for a pretty long time its still feels a little bit early for me.
The feature that you want in a smart bulb just aren't quite there yet, but I expect that they'll get there you really like the color changing abilities and you want a brighter bulb in that sealed. The feature that you want in a smart bulb just aren't quite there yet, but I expect that they'll get there you really like the color changing abilities and you want a brighter bulb in that sealed.
This is about as good as it gets. This is about as good as it gets.
For CNET. For CNET.
I'm Ryan Chris. I'm Ryan Chris.
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]
CNET's Ry Crist with another color-changing smart LED look to at today, the Lifx bulb. CNET's Ry Crist with another color-changing smart LED look to at today, the Lifx bulb.
This is an LED that we saw on Kickstarter back in 2012. This is an LED that we saw on Kickstarter back in 2012.
It asks for $100,000 from its backers, and it raised over $1.3 million by the campaign's end. It asks for $100,000 from its backers, and it raised over $1.3 million by the campaign's end.
So, a lot of interest in this bulb. So, a lot of interest in this bulb.
About a year later, in 2013, it started shipping to backers. About a year later, in 2013, it started shipping to backers.
And now in 2014 it is open for sale. And now in 2014 it is open for sale.
So, you can get this bulb right now for $99. So, you can get this bulb right now for $99.
But is it worth it compared to other options like the Lumen LED or the Philips Hue LEDs. But is it worth it compared to other options like the Lumen LED or the Philips Hue LEDs.
Well this is a very bright bulb. Well this is a very bright bulb.
It's a 75 watt replacement that puts out over 1,000 lumens of light at full brightness, using 17 watts of power. It's a 75 watt replacement that puts out over 1,000 lumens of light at full brightness, using 17 watts of power.
So, efficient, it's a good LED, and it's very bright. So, efficient, it's a good LED, and it's very bright.
One thing I really like about this bulb, is it put's that extra brightness to really good use in terms of color. One thing I really like about this bulb, is it put's that extra brightness to really good use in terms of color.
What it does is it will add those white LEDs that are typically used for the natural tone, the incandescent yellow or white light. What it does is it will add those white LEDs that are typically used for the natural tone, the incandescent yellow or white light.
It adds that on top of the cover light at the top of the spectrum so you can get pure saturated green light but then you keep on dimming up and then you get those white LEDs added on top of it and you'll get a whitish light tinted with green. It adds that on top of the cover light at the top of the spectrum so you can get pure saturated green light but then you keep on dimming up and then you get those white LEDs added on top of it and you'll get a whitish light tinted with green.
And that's a little more practical, a little more natural colored light. And that's a little more practical, a little more natural colored light.
The Lifx bulb; also features a dedicated spectrum of natural incandescent style tones and you get yellow light, white light, hot blue light like the lamp behind me. The Lifx bulb; also features a dedicated spectrum of natural incandescent style tones and you get yellow light, white light, hot blue light like the lamp behind me.
Whenever you want, you can replicate with Lifx. Whenever you want, you can replicate with Lifx.
So, I talk a bit about this bulb in terms of how well it produces light, but what about the smart? So, I talk a bit about this bulb in terms of how well it produces light, but what about the smart?
What about the extra oomph that you expect from a smart LED? What about the extra oomph that you expect from a smart LED?
Well, if you look at the Lifx app the color selector is this kind of graduated wheel. Well, if you look at the Lifx app the color selector is this kind of graduated wheel.
I like this a lot more than the spectrum you get from Philips hue or Taboo. I like this a lot more than the spectrum you get from Philips hue or Taboo.
With Lifx app you just spin that wheel. With Lifx app you just spin that wheel.
You can tap, you can drag it exactly where you want it. You can tap, you can drag it exactly where you want it.
You can see what you're doing. You can see what you're doing.
It's a lot more precise. It's a lot more precise.
It's a lot easier. It's a lot easier.
I'm a big fan of it. I'm a big fan of it.
I've gotta say though, when it comes to smarts, I find this bulb a little disappointing in its current state. I've gotta say though, when it comes to smarts, I find this bulb a little disappointing in its current state.
It doesn't yet have basic scheduling in the app. It doesn't yet have basic scheduling in the app.
You can't have it come on and off at certain times, you can't have it come on at sunset. You can't have it come on and off at certain times, you can't have it come on at sunset.
Very basic things that smart lights should offer you right at the onset. Very basic things that smart lights should offer you right at the onset.
That said, this is a young bulb. That said, this is a young bulb.
It hasn't been out nearly as long as. It hasn't been out nearly as long as.
And that bulb's got a head start, right? And that bulb's got a head start, right?
It's been out for awhile, it's got [UNKNOWN] integration now, it works with smart things. It's been out for awhile, it's got [UNKNOWN] integration now, it works with smart things.
That's the type of stuff that I could see in this bulb's future. That's the type of stuff that I could see in this bulb's future.
So it's got potential, and it's got an open API, so you've got developers doing cool things like developing a double-tap gesture for the phone that you install to turn it on or off. So it's got potential, and it's got an open API, so you've got developers doing cool things like developing a double-tap gesture for the phone that you install to turn it on or off.
Or even developing games that will work with the Lifx and change dynamically in as you blow things up and go from night to day. Or even developing games that will work with the Lifx and change dynamically in as you blow things up and go from night to day.
So inspite of the fact that this bulb has been in developmet for a pretty long time its still feels a little bit early for me. So inspite of the fact that this bulb has been in developmet for a pretty long time its still feels a little bit early for me.
The feature that you want in a smart bulb just aren't quite there yet, but I expect that they'll get there you really like the color changing abilities and you want a brighter bulb in that sealed. The feature that you want in a smart bulb just aren't quite there yet, but I expect that they'll get there you really like the color changing abilities and you want a brighter bulb in that sealed.
This is about as good as it gets. This is about as good as it gets.
For CNET. For CNET.
I'm Ryan Chris. I'm Ryan Chris.
