Spy kit essentials: LIFX's infrared-emitting smart bulb lets security cameras see better

By Rick Stella October 1, 2016

LIFX - Live a more illuminated life.

Smart bulb connoisseur LIFX announced today two new additions to its impressive lineup of lighting solutions, with one of the new bulbs touting a feature users won’t have the capacity to recognize with their bare eyes. Dubbed the LIFX+, this innovative new bulb functions just like any other light bulb on the planet in that it’s capable of providing a dark room with light — but its ability to emit infrared light puts it in a class of its own. While infrared is not visible to the human eye, it does help security cameras accurately “see” at night, providing an otherwise lit field of view in absolute darkness.

It’s worth pointing out that the list of security cameras which utilize infrared to capture footage at night isn’t necessarily comprehensive but there still remains an overwhelming number of devices which do. Because of this, LIFX’s latest release should likely be a particularly popular product among security camera users following its release. As any security camera owner could attest, these devices do emit some infrared light on their own but having a bulb capable of completely filling a room with such light is priceless.

lifx2 — LIFX

What makes the LIFX bulbs even more appealing deals with its integration into an array of smart home systems. Be it offerings from Nest or Canary, LIFX’s compatibility with smart homes puts it on a par with some of its competition (hello, Philips) while the infrared technology allows it to stand alone. As of now, LIFX currently offers pre-orders of the bulb at a price of just $80, though the brand does allow potential buyers the opportunity to pre-order multiples at a discount — two bulbs for $140, four for $260, etc.

In addition to the new infrared-emitting bulb, LIFX also announced the impending release of the LIFX Z. A glorified light strip, the LIFX Z measures just over 6.5 feet long and gives owners the option to program each of its eight different zones to shine different colors. Retailing for $90 — when it releases in November, though pre-orders are available now — the LIFX Z figures to be popularly used as bias lighting, to illuminate cupboards, or to provide a classy backlight for televisions.

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Rick became enamored with technology the moment his parents got him an original NES for Christmas in 1991. And as they say…

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Worried about germs? LIFX Clean antibacterial smart bulb is finally available

lifx clean bulb available preorder entry kitchen lamp keys wallet 1

If 2020 taught us anything, it was the importance for cleanliness around the home. People took to disinfecting their surfaces more than ever before and cleaning areas that might have been previously overlooked. LIFX sought to meet this need with its new LIFX Clean lights -- smart bulbs with HEV LEDs that help eliminate bacteria. Now, they're finally available for pre-order here in the U.S. after originally launching overseas in a few markets.

This type of light is capable of destroying bacteria in the home without putting you or your family at risk . Users can activate this setting by selecting the Clean Cycle timer. The HEV, or "high energy visible," light helps eliminate bacteria while remaining safe for plants, pets, and your skin.

Smart Home

The Lifx Clean smart light bulb can sanitize surfaces with just its light

lifx clean worlds first antibacterial smart light

In a world obsessed with hygiene and cleanliness, imagine if you didn't have to wipe anything down. Imagine if your lights did it for you. Lifx intends to make this a reality with the announcement of the Lifx Clean, a fully functional white and color smart light that also uses germicidal and antibacterial lighting to disinfect surfaces as well as the surrounding air. If it sounds like something out of science fiction, ask yourself: Is smart home technology really that far off?

The Lifx Clean will have all of the same capabilities as the Lifx A19 and A60 bulbs, including mobile app control and integration through Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant. You can customize the colors to suit your mood. It comes with the added benefit of emitting light at a wavelength of 405 nanometers, a specific range of high-energy light that has a disinfecting effect on bacterial microbes.

Smart Home

The future of smart home lighting is big on sensors, slim on apps

LIFX Smart Bulb

Ah, the light bulb. Thomas Edison’s invention changed everything, and our modern world wouldn’t be where it’s at now without it. Through the years, the technology evolved to deliver more energy efficient bulbs like CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) and LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes). Despite the iterative advancements, more efficient bulbs are just like their predecessors -- they turn on when you flick the switch one way and off when you flick it the other.

That all changed with the introduction of the smart light bulb. Philips Hue, along with many other companies in the last several years, has shown us what’s possible: From scheduling routines to emitting all the colors of the rainbow, today’s smart light bulbs continue to shape the smart home in a fundamental way. While they’re great, they could be smarter, as most still require some level of management on our part. Fortunately for all of us, the future is bright.
Inactive sensors already in place
To investigate the possibilities of the smarter light bulb, I spoke with David Kavanagh, senior director of consumer products at LIFX, an Australian company known for its line of smart bulbs. What’s interesting about the company is its forward-thinking approach to embedding sensors into its bulbs that do more than just produce or turn on light.