Philips expands its Hue smart bulb line with LivingColors Bloom and LightStrips

By Natt Garun August 7, 2013

philips livingcolors bloom lightstrips livingcolor — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Philips continues to grow its multi-colored smart LED bulbs lineup by adding two new products available for sale tomorrow. The first, the LivingColors Bloom, is the most similar to the original Philips Hue. Instead of a standard bulb shape, the Bloom is an obvious node to flowers with its expanded, circular design. Unlike the Hue, the Bloom does not need to be attached to a lamp or light socket. The device is a portable, standalone light that can be placed anywhere that needs an extra bit of shine, and features the rainbow array of light colors found on the Hue. Since it’s not fixed to any one lamp, this device should be fun for the kids, or for entertaining in general.

LivingColors & LightStrips Room_Lifestyle — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The second product, the LightStrips, is, well, exactly what it sounds like. The LED strips is more suited for permanent fixtures, such as outlining a window, inside drawers, or even under the couch. One LightStrip measures 6.6 feet long, and the flexible band allows users to adjust the strip to shape around corners and turns. The item comes with an adhesive back so you can still take it down if you want, making it ideal for the holiday season. However, since the light can change to any one of the 16 million colors available via the Philips Hue app, you can also just leave the lights out all year long and adjust the colors the match the season.

Philips LightStrips — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Like the Hue, both Bloom and LightStrips come complete with a Wi-Fi chip so they are controllable via an iOS or Android app. They’ll also work with any IFTTT recipes you may have previously created for the Hue, making the entire ecosystem seamlessly integrated.

Both the LivingColors Bloom and LightStrips will be available starting tomorrow at the Apple Store for $80 and $90 respectively. It’s a helpful addition for those who might want some extra ambience in the room without needing to find another light socket to fit an additional Hue bulb.

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An avid gadgets and Internet culture enthusiast, Natt Garun spends her days bringing you the funniest, coolest, and strangest…

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