STACK #197 Mar 2021

LIFE TECH FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

LIGHT RELIEF ! Nanoleaf give us the Essentials continu ed

Light germ warfare!

Light is great for allowing us to see stuff, but as most of us know all too well – especially in this day and age – there’s a lot that light doesn’t let us see, by way of microscopic germs and bacteria. Very soon, there’ll be a bulb for that! The LIFX Clean bulb is an exciting new development in HEV (High- Energy Visible) light – more commonly known as blue light – that harnesses its good properties to help keep you safe from invisible gremmies. The Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology at the Swinburne University of Technology has declared the LIFX Clean completely safe for humans, plants and pets. You could pop one in a lamp next to where you plop your keys and mobile upon returning home for the day, and it’ll take care of up to 90 per cent

Nanoleaf have been a big name in the smart lighting space for a while now, most notably with their shaped modular lighting panels that allow the creation of art made of light. Their most recent release is two sizes of triangles, which can be combined with their hexagonal tiles for amazing displays. With an aim to get back to the basics,

this month sees the release of Nanoleaf’s Essentials range of bulbs and light strips. They all provide a rich array of 16 million-plus colours, as well as being able to supply pure, classic white lighting. They’re also the first consumer lighting products to work with the exciting new Thread technology (see page 44), so they’re perfectly suited to Apple HomeKit, but they’ll also get along fine with Google Assistant – plus they don’t require any form of additional hub. Keeping it simple, you can grab single, stylish rhombicosidodecahedron-shaped bulbs in either A60/ E27 (screw) or B22 (bayonet) fittings, or a two-metre long Lightstrip switch controller and strip starter kit, with extra one metre extensions available at an affordable price. Just add a bit of creativity and you may be amazed at what you can come up with.

of the bacteria that’s built-up throughout your busy day in one overnight cycle. The kitchen is another hotbed for bacteria, so you could pop a Clean in a pendant light or lamp, and naturally the bathroom would be a choice location. Best of all, this microbe- crushing tech comes on top of the features of a classic LIFX bulb, so you also have the option of millions of colours, and the same ease of use via app or assistant.

Lenovo offer a very good place to start

If you’re looking for an easy kicking off point for your smart home experience, Lenovo have released a handy Smart Home Starter Kit. Open the box and you’ll find a Lenovo Smart Colour Bulb, a two-metre Smart

Lightstrip, two Lenovo Smart Plugs (which turn any device plugged into them into a smart device), plus a security setup comprising a Smart Indoor Camera, Smart Motion Sensor and Smart Window/ Door Sensor.

All are able to be controlled from Lenovo’s Link app, and all of the devices are also compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa for the added convenience – and fun – of voice control. Hey Google, let there be light!

Take it outside!

Why be confined to indoors with your smart lighting? Philips make a range of products crafted to endure the rigours of Australia’s seasonal extremes. You could combine a Philips Hue Outdoor Motion Sensor with a Discover Flood Light to light the way when you get home or take the bins out – or to deter any unwelcome visitors. You could also go the full RGB lighting nine yards with expandable 2m strip lighting, or kick things off with starter base kits featuring the Philips Hue Outdoor White & Colour Spot Light or Outdoor White & Colour Pedestal Light. Why wait until Christmas to get a light show happening when you could have such joys all year round?

40 MARCH 2021

jbhifi.com.au