We may take it for granted, but adequate lighting is crucial no matter where a person lives. In a practical sense, it allows people to carry on their tasks into the night. However, with the explosion of smart light bulbs on the market, lights have become much more.
New to the market is LightCube, a box-shaped light bulb that is flexible, portable, and convenient. On its own, it can be a bulb, flashlight, or night light. Combined with a unique lampshade, LightCube becomes an incredibly versatile light source.
The cube itself comes in a variety of models. LightCube Original is an array of mounted LED lights that plugs directly into the wall. A portable version that features a rechargeable battery for up to seven hours of light is also available. Both models can be upgraded to include a longer cord of five or 10 feet. Additionally, owners can choose between cold and warm lights based on their preference.
Controlling LightCube is literally as easy as waving a hand. Passing a hand over the device switches the cube between on and off modes. Holding a hand in place over the cube will cycle through varying levels of brightness. If gesture controls feel like a gimmick, the central button can switch the cube into manual control, which allows the light to function more traditionally.
Taking this versatility a step further is the matching LightShade. With its two-tone tulip design, this shade offers a surprising amount of adaptability. By itself, it acts as a modern desk lamp. Flipping the shade over also changes the lighting angle between 30 and 45 degrees. By adding the stand, the LightShade expands further to resemble a standard floor lamp. When more direct light is needed, rotating the shade will act a little bit like a spotlight. With a minimal footprint, the stand can move from floor to table easily. A suction cup base prevents the lamp from falling over too easily when bumped.
LightCube is available for pre-order right now on Kickstarter. For $16, you get a LightCube Original. People looking for portability will need to pledge $27 or more. Sets that include the Tulip LightShade start at $40.
Few things ruin a quiet evening faster than a robot vacuum roaring through the living room. Most of us end up pausing the cleaning run, which defeats the whole purpose of owning one. Matic thinks it has the answer with its new Serene robot vacuum, and the big selling point is how little noise it makes.
The Matic Serene runs at 52 decibels even when cleaning at full power. To put that in perspective, Matic compares it to the hum of your refrigerator. It is available now for $1,695, which is $200 more than the original Matic’s current price.
Outdoor security cameras are not always practical if you live in an apartment or rental. Drilling into an exterior wall may be off-limits, while pointing a regular indoor camera through a window can create another problem once reflections start showing up after dark.
Baseus is trying to solve both issues with the new PrimeSentinel W1, a $69.99 security camera designed specifically to monitor the outdoors through glass. It mounts directly to a window without drilling and uses a 4K Starlight sensor with an F1.0 aperture for full-color monitoring during the day and at night.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
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