Mobile By Russell Holly Dec. 18, 2013 10:55 am
Choosing which smart bulb kit to start off with is a decision that shouldn’t be made lightly. The upfront investment for most of these is significant, and one of the most common pitfalls with connected lighting is the maximum transmission range from the base station to each bulb. The other big problem inherent in today’s smart bulbs is the price per bulb. Luxera has addressed each problem, plus the company has designed a nifty-looking control module they call a SmartSwitch.
What makes the*Bluetooth*Low Energy profile in BT4.0 so compelling is its combination of energy savings and range. Low Energy devices can stay connected over much greater distances than previous generations of Bluetooth, and for smartphones the decrease in power consumption is a big deal. The Luxera SmartSwitch is designed to communicate with phones and tablets over Bluetooth 4.0 instead of through your wireless network. This means that users will have to keep Bluetooth enabled to communicate with the switch, but that actually opens a few interesting new doors.
The SmartSwitch itself is a simple looking knob that installs just like a normal dimmer switch, and can be used as such if you happen to walk by. The apps are expected to offer more functionality, as well as remote access when not in the house, but the main attraction is the futuristic switch instead of an awkward hockey puck to plug into the back of your router.
The kit itself includes four bulbs and the smartswitch for $200 at Costco stores or on the Luxera website, which is one bulb more than you get with a Philips Hue starter kits. Additional LED PAR30 bulbs for this kit are only $20, making it significantly more economical for those uninterested in the added expense for the Hue feature set. Of course, the Luxera bulbs can turn on/off and dim, but can’t change colors like Hue or LIFX.
Now read: A $38 tablet will soon be on sale in the U.S.
More...
What makes the*Bluetooth*Low Energy profile in BT4.0 so compelling is its combination of energy savings and range. Low Energy devices can stay connected over much greater distances than previous generations of Bluetooth, and for smartphones the decrease in power consumption is a big deal. The Luxera SmartSwitch is designed to communicate with phones and tablets over Bluetooth 4.0 instead of through your wireless network. This means that users will have to keep Bluetooth enabled to communicate with the switch, but that actually opens a few interesting new doors.
The SmartSwitch itself is a simple looking knob that installs just like a normal dimmer switch, and can be used as such if you happen to walk by. The apps are expected to offer more functionality, as well as remote access when not in the house, but the main attraction is the futuristic switch instead of an awkward hockey puck to plug into the back of your router.
The kit itself includes four bulbs and the smartswitch for $200 at Costco stores or on the Luxera website, which is one bulb more than you get with a Philips Hue starter kits. Additional LED PAR30 bulbs for this kit are only $20, making it significantly more economical for those uninterested in the added expense for the Hue feature set. Of course, the Luxera bulbs can turn on/off and dim, but can’t change colors like Hue or LIFX.
Now read: A $38 tablet will soon be on sale in the U.S.
More...
