Philips is quickly expanding its Hue connected light system, introducing two new complimentary products for its Friends of Hue collection. The Philips LightStrips takes the basic concept of Wi-Fi connected light bulbs and applies it to a flexible strip of multicolored LEDs. Like all Hue products, it's exorbitantly priced (in this case, at $89.95 list), but it also shares the same customizability and integration with services like IFTTT than make the original Hue system so awesome. This is strictly an accent light, like the Philips Bloom Lamp, but it lets you get a bit more creative with your interior illumination than a standard bulb.
While the Bloom features a design that's meant to be seen, the LightStrips doesn't make any attempt to mask its geeky guts. It's a barebones, flexible plastic strip with the embedded LEDs in plain view. It measures 6.56 feet long and about 0.4 inches wide. The strip is actually adjustable, meaning you can cut it to length at designated points. But you'd have to be crazy or just very rich to want to do that, since you can't reuse the end you cut. There's an adhesive strip on the back—it's not reusable, but any double sided tape will likely do the trick should you decide to move it.
In order to use the LightStrips, you'll have to already own a Hue starter kit and have the wireless bridge set up. Setup is the same between the LightStrips and the Bloom: Plug the light in, open up the iOS or Android app, and click "Find new bulbs" in the settings menu. It takes just a few minutes; once you're set, you'll be able to rename the LightStrips and control the color and brightness within the app.
The LightStrips shares the same color spectrum as the Bloom, both of which lack the ability to replicate the same color as traditional light bulbs—for that you'll need the standard Hue bulbs. And though the LightStrips is rated at the same 120 lumen output as the Bloom, its character is unique. The Bloom emits a soft light that diffuses through its plastic lens, casting a wide swath of light. The LightStrips is more vibrant, but the light also seems less profuse, which works given its intended applications. The adhesive sticks to most solid surfaces and it's easy to mount out of sight to create the illusion of light emanating from unexpected sources.
Philips shows the LightStrips mounted under tables, around clocks, and various other places where it can highlight an object or define a space. The variety of applications is confined only by your imagination. You can control brightness using the Hue app and even set up lighting schedules just like with the original Hue. For the more industrious, the LightStrips, like all other Hue products, supports IFTTT scripts for things like changing colors based on weather conditions or new incoming emails. You can find over 400 IFTTT recipes online or just create your own to match your needs.
While I think the Bloom might be a bit more versatile, there's no denying the creative avenues the LightStrips opens up when it comes to interior lighting. But there's also no denying the prohibitively expensive cost of equipping a house with Hue products. The LightStrips is even more expensive than the Bloom, which is more expensive than your standard Hue bulb. As a result, this product definitely isn't for everyone. But if you already own the Hue starter kit and have a creative application in mind, the LightStrips opens up more options for hooking your home up with connected lights—just be ready to pay handsomely for the privilege.
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