Topic: Hue

[Simon]

Smart homes are starting to become a reality - but not necessarily a cheap one.

Philips has today unveiled "hue", an LED lighting system that can be controlled using a smartphone over your home Wi-Fi.

The system isn't only designed for security and turning off lights to save power. Instead, the light colour can be changed to create "light scenes" to improve the ambience - or, in the future, to react to a game you're playing on your device.

As many as 50 bulbs can be used on one system - but that would be an expensive way to light your home. The starter kit with three bulbs and a router "bridge" to connect them is £179, while individual bulbs cost £49. On the upside, they work with existing lamps and fittings.

PC Pro spoke to Philip's spokesman Ronald Teerlings to find out more about the smart lighting system.

Read more: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/interviews/377818/q-a-49-light-bulbs-you-control-with-an-iphone

[Clive]

To save money we have bought a number of light-sensitive one watt plug-in LED lights from Amazon and placed them strategically around the house.  They provide sufficient light for us to see where we are going without turning on the main lights which we often forget to switch off.

[Simon]

One watt?!  They must give out as much light as a fluorescent wristwatch!   

[Rik]

If that.

[Clive]

But they are LED so it's much brighter than you might imagine.   

[Rik]

They are getting there...