Let there be lights

Lighting was one of the first product categories to get the smart-home treatment. That’s hardly surprising, since we all have plenty of lights in our homes — and it’s kinda cool to say “Hey Siri, turn the lights on!” when you walk into a room. 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 mellow summer evenings.

Light at night

Philips has 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-color LIFX Mini bulb, but there’s also a new LIFX+ range, which starts at $79.99. This range includes a special infra-red mode that can help to improve the vision of security cameras at nighttime.

Remote co ntrol

We’re big fans of Nanoleaf’s triangular Aurora lights, which can be pieced together to create a dazzling light display. At CES, the company demonstrated its newRemote, which 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 this spring, for $50.

Non soo n

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, but includes a small touchsensitive screen that can be used to control all the existing lights in a room. There’s also aRoom Bundle ($349.99) that includes the Room Director and two Extension Switches plus three wall plates.