14 DAY TRIAL // With all the hubbub around the Internet of Things living model, where every electronic thing in a home is somehow connected to a network and/or (cloud) server, Cree decided the time was ripe for it to make connected LED bulbs for the first time.
Enter the Connected Cree LED bulb, which delivers 815 lumens in a soft color temperature (2,700K) and is the equivalent of a 60W incandescent bulb.
That doesn't mean it consumes 60W but that it produces just as much light. The actual power consumption is much lower, of 11.5 Watts.
More importantly, its dimness or brightness can be adjusted through a smartphone app.
All in all, the Connected Cree LED Bulb is something gimmick that the rich will probably be all over in an instant. Unless they frown at the lack of color changing options, in which case Cree might have to emulate the Philips Hue Bulbs somehow.
Then again, Cree said that they deliberately skipped the color changing option, because they don't believe in niche cases that only get a positive media response due to commercials. Which is to say, color-changing bulbs are an unnecessary gimmick that only gets you to spend more money unnecessarily.
Sales of the Connected Cree LED Bulb should begin in the next few days, for $15 / €13. You'll have to buy a Home Depot Wink hub or a ZigBee-certified hub separately.
