Latest news with #smartlights
CNET
3 days ago
- Business
- CNET
This Philips Hue Accessory Is a Game Changer for Light Control
Philips Hue smart lights consistently rank well on CNET's list of the best smart lights out there. As someone who has collected these over the years, I love how efficient they are, but controlling them typically means I need to reach for my smartphone or bark a voice command into a smart speaker, smart display or my smartwatch. While these options are great, having so many ways to control my lights has made my overall smart lighting experience feel like a bit of a mess. Luckily, I found the perfect accessory to control my lights that I can't live without now. I can find other brands of smart lights at much cheaper prices these days, but Philips Hue is perhaps the most well-known smart light brand, and offers a solid lineup of indoor and outdoor smart lighting. Whether I want my lighting tucked away or I'm looking for unique lights that are designed to be shown off, Hue's got them. It's not just about the bulbs. The Hue line also has a large assortment of accessories. To me, the best is the Philips Hue Tap Dial. Available in black or white and priced at $50, the Tap Dial is a small puck-shaped light controller with buttons you can press and a dial you can twist, giving it a "smart analog" vibe. It lets you easily control multiple smart lights at once without having to use voice control. Right now the white version bundled with a smart dimmer is discounted by 7% on Amazon, bringing the price down to $72. It's a very minor discount, yes, but it's rarely ever on sale. Plus, I'd recommend it to anyone with Hue lights, even when it's at full price. For more, don't miss our roundup of the best smart home deals overall. On the surface, the Tap Dial is a simple way to control your lights Spending $50 on a glorified light switch (or $72 on the bundle) may seem like a bit much, especially when you consider that it's nearly the same price as a single Philips Hue 75-watt White and Color Ambiance bulb. If you're like me and firmly steeped in the Hue ecosystem, you've likely already come to terms with the fact that it's an expensive ecosystem to be in. The customization options for this little guy will have tinkerers excited, and I believe it's definitely worth its price. The Dial looks like a hockey puck with four buttons on the face, with a rotating outer wheel to brighten or dim your lights. The four buttons each have little dots numbered 1 to 4, so you can feel which button you're pressing, even in the dark. It's fairly small and not a chore to bring it room to room if you so desire. You can place it on a wall inside of the included wall mount to use like a typical light switch. It's magnetic, so you can stick it on your fridge or some other metal surface. The customization options for the Tap Dial are extensive. Blake Stimac/CNET Under the hood, the Tap Dial is a dream for tinkerers You'd think that setup for this little device would be simple, with only a few options involved, but you'd be wrong. The settings for the Tap Dial can be a bit complex and can require some tinkering to get just right, especially if you have multiple scenes you want to go through. Either I completely missed the function in the app, or within the nearly two years I've had the dial, Philips resolved my main gripe. I'm not sure which is true, but my biggest annoyance was that I believed you could only use the Tap Dial for one room or "zone" in your home. While this may have always been how the device functioned, this has now been resolved (in my mind) and you can assign each button to a different room or zone. The twist-to-dim function can only be assigned to one room at a time, which makes sense. To set up, you'll head to the Hue app, then go to Settings > Accessories and select your Tap Dial. From there, you can assign functions to each of the buttons. First, you'll need to choose whether the button is going to control your lights or automation. If you choose the former, you'll need to choose the button behavior when you press it: Time-based light : Lighting based on the time of day or based on a customized timetable of your choosing. : Lighting based on the time of day or based on a customized timetable of your choosing. Scene cycle : Choose a primary scene that will always start upon a button press. Continue pressing to cycle through additional light scenes. : Choose a primary scene that will always start upon a button press. Continue pressing to cycle through additional light scenes. Single scene : Always only the same scene on button press. : Always only the same scene on button press. Lights off: Selected lights turn off when the button is pressed. By default, pressing and holding any of the buttons will turn off the lights assigned to it, but you can opt for turning all the lights off in your entire home or for it to do nothing. There's also an advanced "smart on/off" option, which I haven't dabbled with yet. After you've customized the buttons to your liking, your last stop is to choose what the twist dial does, or what else it does, other than brightening or dimming your lights. There are only two options here, and both are easy to tweak. The first is choosing if you want to be able to turn your lights off completely with the dial or have them go down to the minimum brightness only as you twist to dim them. The second gives you the option to set a specific scene that will turn on if you twist the dial when the lights are off. You can make your setup as simple or complex as you'd like, making the Tap Dial approachable for anyone. The Hue Tap Dial makes a great gift There's a good chance that someone isn't going to run out and drop a bunch of money on Hue lights after receiving this as a gift. The Tap Dial is easy to use, but the value it brings comes with the customization you can do with it. Still, you don't have to want to jump into all the settings to make the Dial worth it. As I said above, it's an approachable device for anyone since you can make it as simple or as complex as you'd like. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. If you know someone who already has a Hue setup in their home, this would be a great addition. Plus, if they love to dig into the settings or are self-described tinkerers, then this is definitely something worth considering. If you aren't sure if someone has Hue lights, then the Tap Dial would be an even better gift when paired with a new bulb.
CNET
28-05-2025
- Business
- CNET
Last-Minute Memorial Day Deal: Add Some Ambience With This $70 Smart Lamp
Looking for an easy way to add some ambience to your home? Smart lights can change the feel of a room in an instant, and right now you can grab a HomeKit compatible LED lamp that's perfect for your desk or nightstand at a record-low price. Even though Memorial Day has passed us by, Amazon still has the Eve Flare on sale for just $70, which saves you $30 compared to the usual price. But don't wait to snatch yours up -- this deal could be gone faster than you can say "Siri." The nearly 10-inch sphere looks attractive with most decor. It can emit any color you desire: Choose from preset colors, or mix up your own perfect hue. Plus, you can easily change the brightness, making it perfect for bedrooms, especially a kid's room. The light comes on with a quick tap using any Apple smart device, such as an iPhone, Apple Watch or iPad. Use the "Siri" command to switch the light on and preprogram times for the light to go on and off. You can always switch it on and off right on the lamp as well. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. Best of all, the Eve Flare is wireless. It can last six hours on a single charge, which means you can take it with you anywhere and easily move it from room to room or beach to beach. When you need to recharge it, just use the wireless charging base. There's no cloud syncing, registration or tracking. All you have to do is connect it to your Apple device to enable the command. The Eve Flare is rated to IP65 water resistance, making it a beautiful addition to a bathroom or any outdoor space. Because if you can't illuminate your garden a shade of violet after sunset, is it even worth lighting it at all? Why this deal matters The Eve Flare is one of the more attractive and versatile smart lights out there. With portability, easy command, Apple compatibility and the ability to create your own shades, it works beautifully in nearly any room or outdoor space. This light is now down to $70, which matches the record-low price we saw around Black Friday. Just note that this post-Memorial Day deal could expire at any moment, so you may want to act fast.
CNET
23-05-2025
- Business
- CNET
Memorial Day Deal: Brighten Up Your Home With 15% Off This Meross Smart Light Strip
Adding some smart lights can be a great way to not only brighten up your home, but also make it feel more futuristic to boot. Now is the perfect time to dip your toe into the smart home world, with a Memorial Day deal slashing the price of a Meross LED light strip by 15%. The deal means that you'll pay just $34 rather than the usual $40, but you do need to make sure to enter the discount code PFKARPIU at checkout. Just keep in mind that the code won't work forever, so ordering soon is definitely the way to go. This LED lightstrip comes in at almost 33 feet long, which makes it great for all manner of uses. Alternatively, the shorter 16.4-foot one is also available at a discount at just $23. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. This smart light strip is compatible with all of the major smart home systems, including Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Amazon Alexa and Samsung SmartThings. Voice control is supported, as is using your phone to configure automation, too. Alternatively, you can use the whole thing offline should the need arise. Fans of color will be pleased to know that this light strip supports 16 million color options and the strip can be cut down to the perfect length without causing any issues. Why this deal matters A smart light strip can add some much-needed color to a room, and it's perfect for things like parties. If you're keen to dip your toe into the world of smart devices this is one way to do it without breaking the bank.
CNET
22-05-2025
- Business
- CNET
This Philips Hue Accessory Is a Game Changer for Light Control, and It's on Sale Right Now
I love the Philips Hue smart lights that I've collected over the years, but controlling them typically means I need to reach for my smartphone or bark a voice command into a smart speaker, smart display or my smartwatch. While options are great, so many options made my overall smart lighting experience feel like a bit of a mess. Luckily, I found the perfect accessory to control my lights that I can't live without now. I can find other brands of smart lights now — and at much cheaper prices — but Philips Hue is perhaps the most well-known and offers a solid lineup of indoor and outdoor smart lighting. Whether I want my lighting tucked away or I'm looking for unique lights that are designed to be shown off, Hue's got them. It's not just about the bulbs. The Hue line also has a large assortment of accessories. To me, the best is the Philips Hue Tap Dial. Available in black or white with a $50 price tag, the Tap Dial is a small puck-shaped light controller that you can press and twist on, giving it a "smart analog" vibe. It lets you easily control multiple smart lights at once without having to use voice control. For Amazon's Memorial Day sale, the white version is discounted by 8%, bringing the price down to $46. It's a very minor discount, yes, but it's rarely ever on sale. Plus, I'd recommend it to anyone with Hue lights at full price. For more, don't miss our roundup of the best smart home deals and the best Memorial Day deals at Amazon. On the surface, the Tap Dial is a simple way to control your lights Spending $50 on a glorified light switch may seem like a bit much, especially when you consider that it's nearly the same price as a single Philips Hue 75-watt White and Color Ambiance bulb. If you're like me and firmly steeped in the Hue ecosystem, you've likely already come to terms with the fact that it's an expensive ecosystem to be in. The customization options for this little guy will have tinkerers excited, and I believe it's definitely worth its price. The Dial looks like a hockey puck with four buttons on the face, with a rotating outer wheel to brighten or dim your lights. The four buttons each have little dots numbered 1 to 4, so you can feel which button you're pressing, even in the dark. It's fairly small and not a chore to bring it room to room if you so desire. You can place it on a wall inside of the included wall mount to use like a typical light switch. It's magnetic, so you can stick it on your fridge or some other metal surface. The customization options for the Tap Dial are extensive. Blake Stimac/CNET Under the hood, the Tap Dial is a dream for tinkerers You'd think that setup for this little device would be simple, with only a few options involved, but you'd be wrong. The settings for the Tap Dial can be a bit complex and can require some tinkering to get just right, especially if you have multiple scenes you want to go through. Either I completely missed the function in the app, or within the nearly two years I've had the dial, Philips resolved my main gripe. I'm not sure which is true, but my biggest annoyance was that I believed you could only use the Tap Dial for one room or "zone" in your home. While this may have always been how the device functioned, this has now been resolved (in my mind) and you can assign each button to a different room or zone. The twist-to-dim function can only be assigned to one room at a time, which makes sense. To set up, you'll head to the Hue app, then go to Settings > Accessories and select your Tap Dial. From there, you can assign functions to each of the buttons. First, you'll need to choose whether the button is going to control your lights or automation. If you choose the former, you'll need to choose the button behavior when you press it: Time-based light : Lighting based on the time of day or based on a customized timetable of your choosing. : Lighting based on the time of day or based on a customized timetable of your choosing. Scene cycle : Choose a primary scene that will always start upon a button press. Continue pressing to cycle through additional light scenes. : Choose a primary scene that will always start upon a button press. Continue pressing to cycle through additional light scenes. Single scene : Always only the same scene on button press. : Always only the same scene on button press. Lights off: Selected lights turn off when the button is pressed. By default, pressing and holding any of the buttons will turn off the lights assigned to it, but you can opt for turning all the lights off in your entire home or for it to do nothing. There's also an advanced "smart on/off" option, which I haven't dabbled with yet. After you've customized the buttons to your liking, your last stop is to choose what the twist dial does, or what else it does, other than brightening or dimming your lights. There are only two options here, and both are easy to tweak. The first is choosing if you want to be able to turn your lights off completely with the dial or have them go down to the minimum brightness only as you twist to dim them. The second gives you the option to set a specific scene that will turn on if you twist the dial when the lights are off. You can make your setup as simple or complex as you'd like, making the Tap Dial approachable for anyone. The Hue Tap Dial makes a great gift There's a good chance that someone isn't going to run out and drop a bunch of money on Hue lights after receiving this as a gift. The Tap Dial is easy to use, but the value it brings comes with the customization you can do with it. Still, you don't have to want to jump into all the settings to make the Dial worth it. As I said above, it's an approachable device for anyone since you can make it as simple or as complex as you'd like. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. If you know someone who already has a Hue setup in their home, this would be a great addition. Plus, if they love to dig into the settings or are self-described tinkerers, then this is definitely something worth considering. If you aren't sure if someone has Hue lights, then the Tap Dial would be an even better gift when paired with a new bulb. Need more deals? Check out the best Memorial Day deals under $25.
Digital Trends
20-05-2025
- Business
- Digital Trends
Nanoleaf reveals two gorgeous new smart lights for your home and garden
Nanoleaf is one of the biggest names in smart lights, offering a variety of bulbs, panels, and even a unique skylight with support for over 16 million colors. That lineup is expanding today with the launch of the Nanoleaf Rope Light and Nanoleaf Solar Garden Light — two striking new products that look like an excellent way to bring a pop of color into your home. The Nanoleaf Solar Garden Light is arguably the most exciting of the two, as the company hasn't ventured into the outdoor space too often. Sold as a two-pack for $50, the Garden Light is Nanoleaf's first-ever solar-powered lighting solution. Built with an IP65 weatherproof rating, eight LED branches that splay out from a central stem, a built-in daylight sensor to toggle the lights on and off, and support for a variety of RGB colors plus tunable whites, it should make a fun companion for most outdoor spaces. Recommended Videos If the solar panel isn't enough to keep the lights juiced up, you can give them additional power via a USB-C port. The Nanoleaf Solar Garden Lights join the existing Nanoleaf Outdoor Essentials catalog, which includes the Outdoor String Lights and Permanent Outdoor Lights. Nanoleaf also revealed the Rope Light. Created to be highly flexible for added customization options, the five-meter rope can bend and twist in any direction — allowing you to whirl it up into a variety of designs. It offers addressable RGB lighting, a silicone diffuser for smooth illumination, and highly customizable colors and patterns thanks to the Nanoleaf App. It's available now for $70. Along with revealing two new products, Nanoleaf also announced it'll be rolling out products to over 2,500 Walmart locations. So if you prefer to shop in person, be sure to keep your eyes peeled in the coming weeks as Nanoleaf finalizes its massive brick-and-mortar rollout.
