Skip to main content

LG’s Smart Bulb brings the connected home one step closer

LG has announced the arrival of its first ever Smart Bulb, a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled device that you can control with a smartphone. Not only do these bulbs enable you to manage your home lighting from anywhere you can get a data signal, they also last for more than a decade and can save you up to 80 percent on your energy bills too, according to the manufacturer.

It’s a busy market that LG is dipping its toe into, with the likes of Philips, Belkin and Lumen already having a significant head start. Nevertheless, the more choice the better as far as consumers are concerned, and LG seems confident that its bulb can dazzle the competition.

Recommended Videos

Among the features you can expect from the Smart Bulb are a party mode (where brightness and blinking adjusts to the beat of your music) and a security mode (which switches your lights on and off while you’re away from the house). According to the press release, you can also get your bulbs to blink when you have an incoming call, and turn on slowly to wake you up.

There’s no word on international availability and pricing but GSM Arena seems to think we’ll see the bulbs go on sale in the coming days. If you’re tempted, the price is around $32 at today’s exchange rate, while compatible apps will be available for Android 4.3+ and iOS 6.0+. 2014 looks set to be the biggest year yet for connected home devices, with Samsung and Google two of the major players already making moves.

David Nield
Former Contributor
Dave is a freelance journalist from Manchester in the north-west of England. He's been writing about technology since the…
Xiaomi’s latest smart home device could be the smart curtain you’ve waited for
Xiaomi Mijia Smart Curtain

Xiaomi recently launched the Mijia Hidden Smart Curtain in China. This is a smaller, more space-effective way of controlling curtains than many of the options currently on the market, and it interacts with a variety of different devices. It's unclear whether this newest smart home device will make its way to Western markets, but it could solve many of the problems posed by existing smart curtain solutions.

The Mijia Hidden Smart Curtain can be controlled via remote control, the Mijia app, and with voice commands. It can also be scheduled to open and close at specific times, but perhaps the most innovative option is to give the curtain a gentle tug. This sends a signal to the motor to complete the movement, providing an easy and intuitive way of controlling the curtains for the less tech-savvy.

Read more
Philips Hue and SmartThings teamed up to make your smart home better
Philips Hue and Spotify

SmartThings, Samsung's connected smart home platform, has announced a stronger partnership with Philips Hue and support for an expanded number of products. Hue worked with SmartThings to certify an additional 155 products as Works With SmartThings, or WWST.

So what does this mean in everyday terms? Basically, it's become easier for companies like Philips Hue to link products with SmartThings. The Certification by Similarity program, as it's called, allows companies to "certify" entire product portfolios with ease.

Read more
Neon Genesis Evangelion fans: Get these Govee smart lights at $60 off
The Govee Gaming Wall Light Evangelion Edition on a white background.

Is your gaming corner looking a bit boring? Installing smart lights is an easy way to spice things up, and if you're a fan of the Neon Genesis Evangelion series, you're going to want to buy the Govee Gaming Wall Light Evangelion Edition. The bundle, which is originally sold for $200, is down to just $140, for savings of $60 from Govee. We're not sure how much time is remaining on this discounted price though, so if you're interested, we highly recommend moving forward with your transaction for these smart lights as soon as possible.

Buy Now

Read more