Hue smartens bedside table; Wiz button prevents light switch-off mishaps
The 280-euro Twilight light is designed to wake you up with the perfect sunrise, while the smart Wiz Dial Switch replaces "dumb" light switches.
For 280 euros, you can simulate a sunset next to your bed with the Hue Twilight at the touch of a button on the light or by configuring it in the app.
(Image: Berti Kolbow-Lehradt)
Manufacturer Signify is expanding the range of its two smart lighting brands with a slew of new products. At Philips Hue, a high-priced Bluetooth and ZigBee bedside lamp called Hue Twilight stands out, which is designed to make it easier to fall asleep and wake up with several light sources and a few software tricks. Wiz offers an alternative operating aid to the app and voice assistance with the Wiz Dial Switch Wi-Fi dimmer switch. It is designed in such a way that, with a little skill, it can take the place of conventional switches and thus prevent the smart lamps from being accidentally disconnected from the circuit. The initial impression was impressive during a product demo.
Hue Twilight: Smart sunset at the touch of a button
The Philips Hue Twilight is a table lamp around 40 centimetres high and around 20 centimetres wide and deep, designed for use by the bed. It contains two separately controllable LED light sources that are permanently integrated. The lampshade, which shines downwards at an angle, contains LEDs for warm and cool white. The back of the lamp contains a light source that displays RGB colors as well as white. It consists of three LED groups arranged vertically.
When activated automatically, the rear light simulates a rising or setting sun. Due to the overlapping control of the trio, the effect appeared more natural during the product demo than when only one LED group changes color and brightness. Placed in a corner, you can choose which adjacent wall the effect is projected onto. Because the lampshade can be swiveled, it continues to shine in the direction of the bed in both cases.
(Image: Berti Kolbow-Lehradt)
Two multifunction buttons on the top of the device can be used to activate a sunset as an automatic sleep timer directly on the device. Switching on and off and changing through different scenes is also possible there. A slowly brightening wake-up light can be programmed via the Hue app. Bluetooth pairing is sufficient for this. For the full range of functions of the Hue system – such as automatic sensors – you can switch to ZigBee operation. This requires a gateway from the manufacturer (60 euros).
In addition to the color gradient effects, the light can also reproduce the rhythm of daylight. When switched on, the light then shines cool in the morning and warm in the evening without having to manually change the color temperature. The Twilight bedside lamp is available now for 280 euros with a choice of black or white plastic housing.
Wiz Dial Switch: WLAN switch fits on old flickers
Smart light bulbs at the ceiling outlet are dependent on power from the wall light switch. A careless press on the light switch – and they no longer respond to app or voice commands due to a lack of power. To prevent this, Wiz has developed a smart switch replacement for its own range of WLAN lights. The mounting plate of the Wiz Dial Switch has the right drill holes and edge dimensions of 86 millimetres to screw it onto the wall socket of the conventional light switch. In this scenario, in addition to the old cover, the switch insert is also removed, and the lamp wires are bridged using a clamp so that they permanently conduct electricity to the ceiling outlet.
(Image: Berti Kolbow-Lehradt)
This should only be done by experienced electricians, so it's not for amateurs. If you don't want to deal with the electrical work, you can stick the mounting plate to any part of the wall. The Wiz switch adheres magnetically to it and can be carried around like a remote control. Although you are not immune to accidental switch-off mishaps, you do have an alternative to the app and voice control.
In keeping with its name, the Dial Switch has a rotary switch that dims the light and sets it to 100 or 0 percent. Two further buttons activate four light scenes with a short and long press. The switch controls as many Wi-Fi lamps as the Wi-Fi router can handle and are within a wireless range of 15 meters. According to Wiz, the integrated battery does not need recharging for three months if it is accessed ten times a day. It recharges via a USB-C socket.
The Dial Switch can either be linked to lamps via Wi-Fi Direct or configured with a Wi-Fi router as a switching point using the Wiz v2 app. The switch is compatible with all Wiz products and those of partner brands. Wiz does not pass it through to software from meta services. It is available immediately for 28 euros.
(olb)
