Victor Marks
One of the more unique products at this year's Consumer Electronics Show is the MiPow PlayBulb, a device that integrates both an LED lightbulb and a Bluetooth speaker into one iPhone-connected accessory. AppleInsider offers a first look.
Brian Holmes, vice president and general manager of MiPow, explained that the PlayBulb is a Bluetooth 4.0 lightbulb with music. It actually includes two separate Bluetooth chips in it, so that it can use machine-to-machine profiles, allowing the light and music to use the correct Bluetooth profiles simultaneously.
The device has 80 LED lights at the top, which creates enough light to be equivalent with a standard 60-watt bulb.
Holmes told AppleInsider that the goal of the PlayBulb was to "blend into the background," whether the device is being used in a patio or a dorm room. The combination device allows for both convenience and space savings, allowing people to listen to music from a speaker that's doesn't exactly stand out.
The PlayBulb is the first of a series of products being planned by MiPow. The company says it plans to offer new options with various colors and form factors in the future.
The PlayBulb's design has radiating audio out of the side of the device — Â the company said this gives the bulb the best audio quality, while also allowing the device to work with a larger range of light fixtures, such as lampshades and ceiling fans.
PlayBulb is not meant to be a user's primary stereo system, but we believe the accessory does make sense for use where background music may be desirable, but setting up speakers could be a hassle.
A dedicated application allows the PlayBulb to be used as an alarm clock, playing music and gradually increasing the light. The device supports iOS and handsets running Android 4.3.X and newer.
At this time we noticed that PlayBulb does not permit controlling multiple lights for multiple room schemes. Currently, each Bulb is turned on or off individually, but MiPow promises that multi-room controls are coming in the future.
The PlayBulb will retail for $79, and is expected to launch this quarter alongside the official application on the iOS App Store.
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
16 Comments
Okay, now this isn’t as terrible an idea as “smart lightbulbs” (with color and control the like), but it’s still doing the wrong thing.
Why would I want to spend $40 (wait, no, these are $80. HAHAHAHAHAHAH) on a LIGHT BULB when instead we could have, oh, I don’t know…
Hardware that screws into the socket between the bulb and controls this stuff? That way we could buy stupid light bulbs for CHEAP and not throw away expensive technology when it comes time to change them.
It’s probably expensive to get speakers built into your walls or whatever. What’s not expensive would be speakers that you could screw into any available light socket. In that respect, it’s a great idea, but I’m not spending EIGHTY DOLLARS on a light bulb.
And who says I want to have the lights on when I listen to music?
[quote name="AppleInsider" url="/t/161531/first-look-mipow-playbulb-an-iphone-connected-bluetooth-light-bulb-speaker#post_2456400"]One of the more unique products ...[/quote] unique is a binary: something is either unique or it is not. there are no intermediary degrees. jhc.
Interesting idea... now Phillips should put speakers into their Hue bulbs so you can set the mood with light and sound all throughout the home and control them all together or independently.
Okay, now this isn’t as terrible an idea as “smart lightbulbs” (with color and control the like), but it’s still doing the wrong thing.
Why would I want to spend $40 (wait, no, these are $80. HAHAHAHAHAHAH) on a LIGHT BULB when instead we could have, oh, I don’t know…
Hardware that screws into the socket between the bulb and controls this stuff? That way we could buy stupid light bulbs for CHEAP and not throw away expensive technology when it comes time to change them.
It’s probably expensive to get speakers built into your walls or whatever. What’s not expensive would be speakers that you could screw into any available light socket. In that respect, it’s a great idea, but I’m not spending EIGHTY DOLLARS on a light bulb.
And who says I want to have the lights on when I listen to music?
Agreed, though LED bulbs can last for ~25 years so the hardware will be outdated well before the light bulb 'burns out'
I kind of like this idea. But ... I'm not sure why. I guess I'm still waiting for the lightbulb to come on.