STACK #193 Nov 2020

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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HEY, HUE BLUE! If you don’t wish to commit to a full-on Hue Bridge setup, Philips also have a broad range of Bluetooth-enabled Hue devices from bulbs to light strips. Best of all, if you expand to a Hue Bridge down the track, they’re fully compatible, and some offer extra features – such as the ability to turn them off and on remotely. NEW OLD SCHOOL If you miss that classic filament look to your light globes – or want a naked bulb to deliver a bit of vintage style to a room – then Philips Hue

decorative with your smart lighting, then Nanoleaf’s range could be a very good place for you to start. They create a range of variously shaped lighting tiles that are fully smart home compatible, with newcomers to the family just arriving. Beyond acting as fabulous feature lighting,

BEAM US UP! The LIFX Beam is a versatile strip lighting system that allows you to create various

has you covered with their Filament Bulb. Old school looks with new school LED tech, it’s available in B22 and E27 fittings, and operates via Hue Bridge or Bluetooth.

highlights within your home. The starter kit comes with six 30cm Beam bars and one corner control block,

via their app control you can program your Nanoleaf Shapes for touch recognition, or even to react to sound that it “hears” – great for parties! The Nanoleaf app has some cool interactive examples to play around with, from simple Simon like affairs to an intriguing variation on Pac-Man . BIZARRE LIGHT TRIANGLE Having launched their range of Hexagons earlier in the year, Nanoleaf are adding some variety to their snap-together Shapes empire with the release of Triangles. Set to be available in standard size and mini, they interface completely with any Hexagons that you may have set up via their proprietary Connect+ system, allowing a whole new world of creative shape-making to open up. From feature wall to more subtle lighting solutions, these new Shapes allow your imagination to get a top workout.

plus power supply, allowing you to get creative with various setups that harness the ten programmable colour zones in each bar. Use Beam to frame a piece of wall art, illuminate your gaming rig or, as we did, install it along your bedhead – set to white it makes an excellent reading light, and it can be dimmed or changed to more subtle colours, too. has it. If you want colour, they’ve got that too. There are even clever “Day & Dusk” bulbs that tailor the brightness, colour and temperature of your lights to match your day. Various sizes are available, from Mini for smaller applications such as lamps, to full-size replacements for those electricity- guzzling old school globes. You can even replace downlights with smart options for added home lighting control. THE FUTURE’S SO BRIGHT… Keep an eye out for the new BULB US! If you want a plain white light, LIFX

LIFX IS FOR LIVING Whether you’re after simple, practical lighting solutions or want to have a bit of fun brightening up your living spaces, LIFX are sure to have something to suit, from LED bulbs to strips and beyond. All LIFX solutions are Wi-Fi enabled, so they connect directly to an app on your phone, which in turn can be connected to your chosen home ecosystem – all without any form of required hub. When it comes to colours, LIFX claim that their RGB solutions are capable of pumping out over one billion of them. One billion! DIM BULB? Many standard LED lights can’t be used with dimmer switches but all Hue lights are easily dimmable, be it through an installed standard wall dimmer switch, using the Hue app, by speaking to your virtual home helper or via a dedicated, battery-powered Philips Hue Dimmer Switch that mounts to a wall, but can be easily removed and used like a remote.

range of LIFX Clean bulbs, with all the features you’d expect from a colour smart bulb, but with added health protection. Safe for humans, pets and plants – but not for bacteria – they can be used for anything from close range gremmie protection for your pocket contents to ceiling fitting for added microorganism zapping in kitchens or bathrooms. TURNING OVER A NEW NANOLEAF If you feel like getting

18 NOVEMBER 2020

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