Let there be lights
Lighting was one of the first product categories
to get the smart-home treatment. That’s hardly surprising, as we all have plenty of lights in our homes – and it’s kind of cool to say “Hey Siri, turn the lights on!” when you walk into a room. So here are some of the smart lighting highlights of CES 2018…
Let’s go outside
Philips was one of the first companies ever to support HomeKit with its Hue lights, and it announced a new range of Hue outdoor lights at CES. Due this summer, with prices yet to be announced, the new lights will be weather resistant, and are designed to help set the mood in the garden on those balmy summer evenings.
Light at night
Philips has got plenty of competition, though, including a new range of HomeKit-compatible bulbs and strip lighting from LIFX. Prices start at around £45 for a multi-colour LIFX Mini bulb, but there’s also a new LIFX+ range, starting at £79.99, which includes a special infrared mode that can help to improve the vision of security cameras during night-time.
Remote control
We’re big fans of Nanoleaf’s triangular Aurora lights. At CES, the company demonstrated its new Remote that can control both its lights and other HomeKit devices. The 12-sided device acts as a kind of manual control, perhaps turning on the lights and heating when you flip it onto one side, and starting your HomePod speaker on another. It’s due in the UK in March, for £50.
Noon soon
An unusual variation on the lighting theme is Noon’s Room Director, a digital update on the conventional light switches that we all have in our homes. The Room Director costs a hefty $199 (about £142), but includes a small touchsensitive screen that can be used to control all the existing lights in a room. There’s also a Starter Kit ($399, about £286) that includes the Room Director and two Extension Switches.