This is bulb meant to be seen, however, in part due to the shape, but also for the fact it uses LiFX’ own ‘Polychrome’ technology. This allows the bulb to display not just the now standard 16 million colours (it can offer billions apparently), but multiple colours at once. The specs state the T10 bulb has 104 individual LEDs with a massive 52 controllable zones. That’s insane for a light bulb! However, it’s just as well this bulb is meant for mood lighting, as it tops out at a mere 5.2W at full brightness, so this isn’t going to perform as well for decently lit areas.

As with all LiFX releases since it was obtained by US lighting company Feat Electric, this new bulb adopts the Matter standard, using Matter over WiFi for its method of connection/communication to you smart home. This means aside from a Matter Controller, no hub is required. Aside from supporting the four major Matter compatible platforms – Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings, it will also work with Home Assistant and even Razer Chroma for all the avid gamers out there.

Currently the bulb is available to purchase in the United States for US$39.98 at Home Depot. Whether it’ll come to other territories is not clear, although it does work with both 110~120V and 220~240V systems.

The post New Matter Enabled Tube Light from LiFX Now Available appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

On the surface, these may look much like previous product the company has sold, namely the Nanoleaf Canvas. However, the ‘Blocks’ differ in some significant ways.

The first, and obvious difference is the fact that there are five ‘Blocks’ to choose from, with a basic ‘Square’, and ‘Textured’ square, a ‘Light Pegboard’, a ‘Shelf’, and a ‘Small Square’ that is essentially 25% the size of the standard Square. like the Canvas, and all of their other lighting products, these offer up to 16 million colours, and can connect to one another to form a sort of patchwork of lights.

In the case of the blocks, which we also saw with Nanoleaf’s ‘Shapes’, you can mix and match these different options to create something less uniform, and more organically shaped. With the Shelf option, you can place your favourite models, phone, mini speakers etc on them, with the limit for support set at 1.5kg in weight. The Pegboard option, which offers the hooks as a separate purchase, you have the option yo support up to 3kg in weight. The Textured Blocks appear to have a more three dimensional aspect to them, that should add an extra layer of interest to your lighting setup.

The one thing that may surprise many, is that the Blocks do not currently support Matter, and may never actually do so. In one sense, it won’t matter (no pun intended) to Apple Home users, but for Google, SmartThings, and Alexa users, who are trying to go all in on Matter, you’re going to have to return to a cloud-based option for getting these into your smart platforms. This is an odd choice, given that the company started off as one of the early adopters of both Matter and Thread, but are seemingly backing away from both to varying degrees of late; Their 4D TV light strip combo only offered a standard WiFi connection, as does their Nanoleaf Skylight. Add to this the company now releasing Matter over WiFi Essential Bulbs and Multicolour light strip, when Thread was fine, although it’s always good to have the choice I suppose. That all said, there is a possible silver lining…

Nanoleaf’s announcement of a wireless controller/button/switch took us by surprise, but only for the fact that previous announcements from the company regarding controllers seems to have come to nothing. Back in 2020 the company unveiled a very odd looking device as part of a yet to materialise ‘Learning Series’, which included technology dubbed U-IQ. Whatever the reason, Nanoleaf now have a new wireless remote – the Sense+ Smart Switch – that offers 5 buttons. In terms of size, it does appear to be similar to the Wemo Stage Scene Controller, but is designed in the first instance to work best with Nanoleaf’s own lighting products. The top and bottom buttons act as on and off switches, whilst the middle button acts as a dimmer. It also has two programmable buttons on either side of the aforementioned dimmer, which can be programmed in Apple Home to control non-Nanoleaf products. Two major plusses with Nanoleaf’s offering is that it also comes with both light and motion sensors, which both help to turn on the relevant Nanoleaf lighting in a room, as well as adjust according to how much light is in said room.

The other surprise is that whilst this switch will use Matter over Thread (currently via something called ‘Matter Early Access, which sounds distinctly beta…) it also offers connectivity via a new Nanoleaf protocol called ‘Litewave’ that allows the switch to connect directly to Nanoleaf products, which would be useful in a Nanoleaf home without Thread, but it does seem a little pointless otherwise. Still, if they’re offering this with Matter over Thread, it’s all good, especially at a reasonably inexpensive US$26.99 (plus shipping).

The post New Nanoleaf Products and Some Surprises… appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

The Cync Reveal® HD+ Full Colour Undercabinet Fixtures and Pucks are full-colour and edge-lit intelligent undercabinet lights available for the North American market, at least initially. Cync Reveal products are aimed at providing a wide range of colour options, and intelligent control in an easy-to-install undercabinet fixture. The slim profile and edge-lit design of the fixtures illuminate countertops with dispersed pools of colours. Up to 10 fixtures can be connected for a full cover lighting solution, offering millions of colour options, including a full range of whites.

The fixtures are easily installed with captive screws, available as a plug-in or for hardwiring, in a space saving design. The fixtures will be purchasable later this year at Lowes.com, Target.com, and Amazon.com, with prices starting at $59.99 MSRP.

Cync now provides users with an extended range of control options. Whether using the Cync app (powered by Savant), Siri, Alexa or Google voice (via Matter), or the Savant professional app, users can select the control method that suits their smart home setup. Additionally, Cync has recently implemented over-the-air updates to widen the dimming range to an industry-leading less than 1 percent brightness. The Cync app has been updated with more music and light shows to assist in creating the desired ambiance. Further Cync enhancements are expected in 2024.

A total of 20 Cync Matter-compatible products will be available in 2024. Alongside the Cync Direct Connect Full Color Smart Bulb and Cync Smart Indoor Plug, 18 additional products will be introduced this year. The expanded lineup includes the entire Direct Connect Full Color and Reveal line of bulbs and wafers, Outdoor Smart Plug, and Smart Thermostat.

The post Savant to Release Matter Enabled Cync Lighting Range in 2024 appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

Continuing to expand on it’s Matter lineup, Nanoleaf is introducing three new colour-changing addressable smart lights to work with Matter. These include a Smart Multicolour Lightstrip (Indoor), Smart Multicolour Outdoor String Lights, and Smart Multicolour Permanent Outdoor Lights. These outdoor additions to the Essentials Matter line mark Nanoleaf’s first foray into outdoor lighting products. They bring dynamic gradients and warm ambiance to your home’s exterior spaces, illuminating patio areas, backyards, and gardens throughout the year.

Built with Nanoleaf’s exclusive technology, these new smart addressable lighting additions will integrate with all your other Nanoleaf products. The lights come with a new collection of preset lighting scenes and access to thousands of additional scenes via the Nanoleaf App.

The Nanoleaf Essentials Matter line allows for control via Matter, or directly with the Nanoleaf App through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Users also have the option to control their lights with voice commands or the easy-access manual controller, for times when they prefer to go without their device.

The new Nanoleaf Essential Matter devices are scheduled for release in Spring 2024.

First previewed at CES 2023 and winning eight ‘Best of CES’ awards for product design and innovation, Nanoleaf is finally ready to announce the official launch of Skylight. This introduces the world to the first-ever smart modular ceiling light panels with full design customisations. Skylight features a flush-mounted modular square design with diffused multi-point lighting, creating soft and natural lighting. You can adjust colours and scenes like ‘Gentle Rain’ or ‘Sun Shower’ to set the right ambience for morning-to-evening routines in the bedroom, or focus time in office spaces. With schedules, you can wake up to a gentle sunrise scene filled with soft oranges and pinks to help energise your mornings, and ease yourself to sleep under a glimmering star effect when winding down for the evening. Users can even control Skylight remotely for added security when away from home or set a schedule for automatic on/off at desired times.

Hard-wire one square and then add up to 100 additional squares across your ceiling, with the freedom to create your own designs using the modular setup. For the first time ever, users can extend their ceiling fixture into hard-to-reach spaces that were previously impossible to light up. Each square emits 1400 lumens of light with a lifespan of 25,000 hours. Built with Nanoleaf’s full suite of smart features, Skylight includes the Rhythm Music Visualiser, schedules, magic scenes, RGBW colour options, and more. Control Skylight with the Nanoleaf App via WiFi, your preferred smart home ecosystem, or your traditional light switch.

Nanoleaf Skylight is now available for pre-order at go.nanoleaf.me and retails for US$249.99 for the Smarter Kit (3PK) and US$69.99 for Expansion Packs (1PK). Products will ship late January 2024.

The post Nanoleaf Introduce Outdoor Lighting, Multicolour Strips, and More appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

One word of caution for our US readers, however; This is only designed for 220~240V AC @50Hz, so it won’t work with US voltage standards unfortunately. If you’re in the EU though, you’ll be able to use this bulb without any issues. The bulb itself comes in the very retro ST54 pear-shaped design that we first saw with Philips Hue’s own releases a few years back, although the original models were set to warm white. ZemiSmart’s offering, on the other hand, covers 2700~6500K, to produce both warm and standard ‘day’ light.

at only 7 watts, this is not going to be suitable for the brightest of environments, but it should be fine for counter tops in the kitchen, or even for stylish retro accent lighting, given that it’s dimmable of course. As this is a Matter product, if you’re also a fan of the Tuya platform, you can also add it, as long as you’ve got the ZemiSmart M1 Gateway, which is a Matter Controller (only for Tuya), as well as a Zigbee hub, and a Thread Border Router. You can check out our video of the hub below, and if you’re interested in buying one, you can purchase them directly from ZemiSmart’s own store for US$16.50 or the equivalent currency you use.

The post ZemiSmart Unveil Their First Matter Enabled Filament Bulbs appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

After debuting the AI Gaming Sync Box Kit at CES the year previous, Govee is launching the Govee AI Sync Box Kit 2. This updated model supports resolutions up to 8K, providing a 4K @ 120Hz gaming experience coupled with dynamic lighting synchronisation. Powering this is Govee’s CogniGlow AI recognition technology, enabling automatic activation of tailored lighting effects based on in-game content, delivering a personalised gaming experience. The system integrates with Govee Home, Alexa, and Google Assistant for broad compatibility and easy control, with an upcoming OTA update later this year to make it Matter-compatible, which would then also allow it to work with Apple Home.

In addition to this, Govee is introducing a refreshed version of of their Neon Rope light, aptly named the Neon Rope Light 2. Boasting improved and smoother RGBIC lighting effects, the Neon Rope Light 2 comes equipped with upgraded bend clips and a more flexible material, allowing users to shape the light to their desired design. Govee has also introduced a novel way to customise lighting effects through the Govee Home app, utilizing shape recognition by the camera to apply various DIY lighting effects across different segments. Available in either black and white finishes, the Neon Rope Light 2 will offer Matter compatibility for a more complete smart control experience.

Established as an autonomous brand, GoveeLife is directing its focus towards smart home appliances. GoveeLife is unveiling its own Matter-Certified Smart Plug Pro, providing users with the ability to exercise cross-platform control over any smart home device. This device will almost certainly be Matter over WiFi, but we’ll be pleasantly surprised if they spring Thread on us! The company also have an updated version of their motion sensor debuting at CES 2024, although details on whether it’ll also be a Matter enabled device, is still unclear.

The post More Matter Products on the Horizon From Govee in 2024 appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

The first of these is a new circular ceiling light that boasts an ultra-thin footprint, at only 2cm in depth, whilst also being flush with the ceiling. The light itself is available in HomeKit and non-HomeKit versions, but it’s also offered in a few sizes;

• 40cm ⌀ | 32w | 2100lm | 8-12m² coverage
• 50cm ⌀ | 42w | 2600lm | 10-15m² coverage
• 60cm ⌀ | 65w | 4500lm | 15-25m² coverage

As you can see, the 60cm option offers more than double the lumens and coverage of the 40cm light.

All of the models above offer a Ra97, a colour rendering index (CRI) which is a quantitative measure of the ability of a light source to reproduce the colour of different objects faithfully in comparison to a natural light source.

Additionally, unlike some products from China, these will work with voltages between 111~240V, so they’ll also work in places like North America, Japan, and Taiwan for example.

As with the circular ceiling light, this model also offers a CRI of Ra97 and is capable of working with voltages between 110~240v. The rectangular ceiling light is also available in HomeKit and non-HomeKit versions, but in only one size, but also offers both the highest lumens and coverage;

• 60 x 90cm | 75w | 5200lm | 20-30m² coverage

Currently, these lights are only available in Mainland China via Taobao, although it’s possible they’re for sale at places like AliExpress etc.

Thanks to Eric @ Wavetech for the heads-up

The post Lipro Releases First HomeKit Enabled Ceiling Lights appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

A new lighting range the company has now announced was actually something we previously reported on, although those products – amongst which was the Beevon Smart Ceiling Light – use Zigbee 3.0 or Bluetooth, so you would need their hub for Zigbee functionality, or control them via Bluetooth if you don’t want to use their hub. Either way, this lights would work with HomeKit.

The trio of new ceiling lights come as a standard circular shape, along with a square panel and oblong shaped options, all of which utilise Thread for connectivity, along with Bluetooth for pairing and failsafe/fallback purposes.

With the Thread versions the company has introduced, you will of course not need a hub, only a Thread Border Router. As of writing, for Apple HomeKit, this would include the HomePod Mini, or a 2021 Apple TV, both of which act as Thread Border Routers. Later this year (he says tentatively…) Matter should be available, in which case we should have access to more devices that can act as Border Routers, namely the Shapes panels from Nanoleaf, to name just one brand.

This new ceiling lights will feature all the other same options as the Zigbee model, with cool to warm white light reproduction and compatibility with Apple’s Adaptive Lighting functionality. The previous version is designed to only work with 220-240V systems, and so far we’ve been unable to confirm if the new Thread model will be able to support 110-120V, as used in North America, and some parts of Asia (Taiwan and Japan).

You see our overview video of some Xiaoyan products above, or you can find out more about the other products Xiaoyan/Terncy make, via their website.

The post Terncy/Xiaoyan Announce Thread-enabled Ceiling Lights appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.