Tag Archives: LED lighting

Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite with Dune-themed Packaging Review: Elevating Your Home Theater Experience

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PROS:


  • Bright and vibrant colors thanks to RGBICW LED technology

  • Superb color-matching using a future-proof camera system

  • Incredible value for its price

CONS:


  • Camera design is a bit awkward and might not fit thicker TVs

  • Wi-Fi connectivity is compatible with 2.4GHz networks only

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

With rich colors, fast color-matching, and unbeatable price value, the Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite with Dune-themed packaging helps fully immerse viewers in the content they're watching.

TVs today are more than just large boxes that show moving pictures. They have also become pieces of decoration that add to the ambiance of a space, whether they’re turned on or not. The lush and vibrant colors that a TV can display can definitely light up a dark room, but that glow stops at the TV’s frame. Yes, the TV’s light can bounce off nearby walls, depending on where it’s placed, but you have absolutely no control over what happens. TV backlights were made to help better immerse you in the show or movie you’re watching by making sure that the light behind and around your TV reflects the content that’s on screen. Smart lighting expert Govee recently launched its latest contender in that category and even partnered with Warner Bros to tie in with the studio’s latest new science fiction film, Dune: Part Two. It’s the perfect time, then, to take a close look at the Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite, particularly with this Dune-themed packaging, to see what value it adds to your viewing experience and if it’s tempting price tag sounds too good to be true.

Designer: Govee

Click Here to Buy Now: $74.99 $89.99 (16% off).

Aesthetics

For something you will never see again after you’ve installed it, the Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite has quite an interesting appearance. Of course, it’s just a flat strip of LEDS grouped into four segments that need to go around your large TV, but the transparent material that covers the LEDs and some of the circuitry that controls allows you to see some of the secrets behind the magic. It’s not unlike that trend in consumer electronics where transparent cases showed off the parts that actually made the product work. It’s not as sophisticated as those, but it still adds a bit of flavor to the design.

Of course, the Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite’s beauty really shines, literally, it has been installed and enabled, and boy does it shine! The light the strips produce is quite bright, especially in a dim room, and the colors are rich and vibrant. The way those colors shift almost instantly to match what’s on the screen is also magical, making it look like the TV actually goes beyond its frame. We’ll get to the technical details that make that possible in a bit, but suffice it to say, the backlight definitely delivers an enriching experience when watching any kind of content on TV.

While the backlight itself is something you won’t see, there is one part of the system that is actually always visible and, depending on your setup, always in your face. Given how the Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite works, it’s necessary to have that camera hanging from the top of the TV, extending a bit forward from the frame. Depending on the design of the TV itself, this black cantilever-like part may or may not easily stand out, and it will definitely add a little blemish to more artful TV designs. Unfortunately, there is no other way to implement this kind of dynamic color-matching system, so it’s a cost that owners will have to live with. Fortunately, it might actually be the biggest cost after all.

Ergonomics

Since the Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite is not something you’ll be using in your hand every time, its ergonomics mostly apply to the installation process as well as the hands-free control of the lights. In that regard, Govee’s light strip is not really unlike others in this market, which isn’t completely a good thing either. Installing the lights on the TV is a very involved process, which will be even more difficult if your TV is mounted on a wall.

In a nutshell, you attach the four segments of the strip on the four edges of the TV’s back. The exact placement of the strips will depend on the shape of that rear, with curved ones being the trickiest. The strips are attached using 3M adhesive, which will worry some owners about the permanence of the installation and the marks it will leave behind when removed. Special care must also be taken to hide the loose cables at the corners so that they don’t peek out of the frame or cast shadows when the lights are turned on.

Compared to its previous two TV backlights, Govee changed the design of the camera bracket significantly. It no longer uses an adhesive and instead relies on gravity and the weighted bracket to attach the camera to the top of the TV without sticking it with an adhesive. In theory, it works and won’t wobble too much (unless you’re constantly moving the TV), but some might worry enough to actually use the included adhesive anyway. The bigger problem, however, is that this design also limits the bracket to certain TVs, particularly thinner ones. It’s certainly possible to attach it to other TVs, but not without putting in a lot more effort as well.

Once that hard work is done, however, the rest of the setup is easy as pie. You only need to turn the control box on, connect it to the Govee app on your phone, and go through the initialization process. That will include calibrating the camera by placing removable orange markers on the front edges of the TV, and that’s pretty much it. The mobile app has tons of settings and modes you can play with, but even leaving it at the default color-matching mode is more than enough to enhance your watching experience. You don’t even need that app if you connect it to your Wi-Fi so that you can control it by voice using smart home platforms, though like any Govee product, it requires 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, so 5GHz-only routers will be incompatible.

Performance

Without the Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite

Although TV backlights are not uncommon, dynamic color-matching ones are still hard to come by, especially at the price point that the Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite with Dune-themed packaging comes with. It’s even harder to find one that works so well, which is why this Govee product is actually impressive and a dream come true for TV owners who want to take their cinematic experience to the next level.

With the Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite

Govee upgrades the backlight from its usual RGBIC LEDs to a new RGBICW tech which adds a fourth color to the combination. With a dedicated white LED, the lights can cover even more colors as well as different white temperatures. The lights become more expressive and more vibrant, able to better match the colors being displayed on the screen in front.

Of course, that color-matching doesn’t happen by magic, which is where that odd protruding comes in. With improved Envisual technology and upgraded processors, the Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite is able to identify colors on the screen faster and adjust the lights accordingly. The new fish-eye correction also makes sure that the 180-degree field of view camera sees the edges correctly as well. Admittedly, there’s still about a split-second delay between what happens on the screen and the backlight changing, but it’s almost negligible, to say the least. An HDMI control box would have made things faster but that would only work for content coming through HDMI sources and might not support future versions of the HDMI standard. This camera-based system is, therefore, more flexible and more future-proof, making that milliseconds delay a small price to pay.

Although the color-matching feature is already incredible, the Govee app still has a lot in store for those who want to customize every detail. That includes different modes for what lights to play, even if that means not matching what goes on screen. This is where the collaboration with Warner Bros. comes in, turning the Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite into a portal into the world of Dune: Part Two. There are two new lighting effects, namely Arrakis and Spice, that will make you feel like you’re actually in that fictional world. Even the app itself gets a Dune theme to match. But if you really want to be transported to Arrakis, Govee’s DreamView technology allows you to sync with other Govee lights in the room, bathing you in the warm orange glow of the planet’s environment.

From its fast responsive color-matching to its bright, vibrant colors, the Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite definitely delivers on its promises. It’s not a perfect solution, of course, at least not yet, but the company seems to be heading in the right direction. And with tons of customizable options, including those from the Dune: Part Two collab, the design definitely has a lot to offer, especially if you have other Govee lights in the room.

Sustainability

Sustainability in lighting can be a difficult goal to chase after. Many of the materials needed to make such electronics work are sadly not sustainable by nature. One can only do so much to offset their negative effects, like using recycled materials for packaging or using more power-efficient lights like LEDs, but those can only go so far. Making matters worse is that the Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite, like any other TV backlight, isn’t exactly repairable by design. Once an LED gets busted or a part of the strip stops working, there’s no recourse possible. The whole thing becomes unusable and you either have to replace it or ship the whole thing for repairs. Either way, that means you have to pull it off the TV’s back, which will be tricky with that much adhesive used, and then go through the installation process again with the new strip.

Value

Compared to other TV backlights, the Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite with Dune-themed packaging is quite a steal at $74.99 for 55-65 inches with this sweet deal for Yanko Design readers, especially when considering all you’re getting for that price. You have bright and vibrant RGBICW LEDs that can display almost any hue and color-matching capabilities that can quickly follow the action on the screen. You also have plenty of customization options for modes and effects, including immersing yourself in the desert world of Arrakis if you want to.

The camera will probably be the most contentious part of its design, but it’s a flexible solution that is guaranteed to work regardless of TV and display technologies of the future. Hopefully, Govee will be able to create a better design for the camera in future iterations, but TV owners will just have to live with something hanging at the top of their TV in exchange for a more cinematic viewing experience.

Verdict

It’s actually astounding how a little change of light can affect the atmosphere in a room, even more so when you have a dazzling burst of color to match a mood. TV backlights are one of those things you never knew you needed until you actually try it out and realize how “dead” even the most colorful TV can be without colorful lights shining behind and around it. Some TVs these days come with their own ambient backlighting system, but those come at added cost and no upgrade path for the future.

The Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite with Dune-themed packaging brings that flood of light and color in a package that almost anyone can afford. Its upgraded Envisual color-matching technology is simply mind-blowing in its ability to keep up with the fast-paced action on the screen, and the gamut of colors provided by new RGBICW LEDs helps make the content pop out even more. The variety of customization options, including Arrakis and Spice lighting effects inspired by the Dune: Part Two makes sure that no viewing experience will be plain and boring ever again.

Click Here to Buy Now: $74.99 $89.99 (16% off).

The post Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite with Dune-themed Packaging Review: Elevating Your Home Theater Experience first appeared on Yanko Design.

Govee RGBIC Permanent Outdoor Lights Review: It’s a Holiday Everyday of the Year

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PROS:


  • Relatively easy to install

  • Durable and weatherproof with IP67 rating

  • Bright and vibrant LEDs with 16 million colors

  • Powerful customization and control via app or smart assistants

CONS:


  • A bit expensive

  • Triangular light pattern might not appeal to some

  • Overwhelming mobile app

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

Bright, colorful, durable, and versatile, the high-quality Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights make sure you never have to buy and put up Christmas lights over and over again.

Christmas in Summer? Sure, why not? Especially if you can beat the summer heat and hold a raving ‘outdoor party at night. You’ll need to set the right atmosphere, though, to help your guests forget about the sweltering temperatures. And what better way is there to set a festive mood than with brilliant lights that dance to the music? Of course, those same outdoor lights could provide not only decoration but also safety at night, any time of the year. That’s the proposition that the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights is making, replacing your Christmas lights and staying beyond the winter holidays to be used all year round. These aren’t the first outdoor fairy lights in the market, though, so we took these unique-looking LED lights outdoors, hooked them up, and lit up the house to see if it can rise to the challenge and stand proud apart from the crowd.

Designer: Govee

Click Here to Buy Now: $299.99.

Aesthetics

You’ve probably seen your fair share of outdoor lights, fairy or otherwise, but if you haven’t, suffice it to say that the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights are nowhere near what you’d expect. Instead of bulbs sticking out of a strand of cable, you get LEDs enclosed in 3cm squares with a small clear dome covering the LED itself. Each square is set about a foot apart from each other on the flat cable, forming 6 segments that total a 100ft (50m) long string of light of lights that offers some flexibility in how you install them (more on that later). What all these mean is that the lights are designed to be minimalist and almost invisible, getting out of the way to let the lights take center stage.

Those lights definitely deserve all the attention because of their impressive output. Thanks to Govee’s RGBIC technology, each light is capable of showing any color within a range of 16 million. Of course, you won’t be looking at each LED on its own, and its real appeal comes through the combination of those lights, whether as a single stream of color or in a kaleidoscopic display. At 26 lumens per LED, the Outdoor Lights will definitely be an attention grabber, no matter what color you choose. That might also be a consideration you have to take in mind if there are related regulations about night lights in your area.

All-in-all, the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights delivers a stunning visual, regardless of the holiday or occasion. They’re pretty much like super-powered Christmas lights you don’t have to take down and can use all throughout the year. You can even dim the lights a bit and use a solid swath of color to illuminate your house without making it look like you’re having a party every night. Thanks to its simple and minimalist design, there are no bulbs that stick out from roofs and eaves to steal the show. These outdoor lights are an effective and cost-effective way to make your house pop, any time of the year.

Ergonomics (Installation)

You won’t be handling these outdoor lights all the time, fortunately, but you will have to wrestle with them at least once when you install them on your house. Because they are meant to stay in their place, hence the “permanent” part of their name, you do have to take some time to properly plan out where you’ll be placing them. Fortunately, Govee is making it easy to install these strands of light, giving you plenty of flexibility to run the lights even along areas where you might not want to have any light at all.

That’s because the 100ft (30m) string of LEDs is actually divided into 6 strands, each with clearly-marked waterproof connectors so you can easily tell which end connects to which. There are also extension cables included in the box, in case you need to run the lights down from roof to wall but want to leave gaps in the lighting in those transitional areas. This also means you don’t have to force yourself to use all six segments if you don’t need to. Conversely, you can also extend the length with another 100ft set or the 3-segment 50ft (30m) set that Govee also sells.

Once all the planning is done, installing the lights is relatively painless, though still needs a bit of work to pull off. Each light square has a 3M adhesive that lets you easily stick them to any flat surface outside your house. There are also clips you can use to keep wayward clips in line. Once all the lights have been installed, the last bit is connecting the control box and the power box to finally light up your house. Connecting the lights to the Govee mobile app is just as painless and you’ll be off playing with the settings and features in no time.

Performance

The Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights are definitely one of those things that you have to see to truly appreciate their value. The bright lights can effectively illuminate your house, adding not only flavor but also safety at night. The lights might actually be too bright, so you might want to put on covers or blinds on windows if the lights are anywhere near them.

These Outdoor Lights are also smart lights, which means they’re meant to be controlled through a connected smartphone or via some smart assistants, particularly Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. This is where the lights really shine, pardon the pun, thanks to the countless ways you can change the way they look or behave. In fact, the sheer number of options available on the app might be overwhelming and confusing for new users. Fortunately, there are also plenty of presets available, including over 70 scenes that let you set the right mood for given occasions.

While there are plenty of ways to configure the Govee Outdoor Lights, one of the most interesting and most dramatic is the Music Mode, where the lights react to the music and sound it hears either through the phone or its control box, making them dance to the beat. Even better, you can harmonize multiple Govee products through DreamView mode to create a captivating synchronized Light Show. And when the party’s done, you can just ask Alexa or Google Assistant to turn the lights into a more peaceful hue to call it a night.

Due to its rather unique enclosure design, the light that the LEDs project has a rather distinctive triangular shape that’s even more visible if the lights are placed close to a wall. Unlike most fairy or string lights that wash the surroundings with a more or less even diffusion, the lights coming from the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights look more like mini spotlights with a wide-angle spread. It creates a rather unique visual effect, like sharp ridges or stairs, it’s an aesthetic that won’t appeal to everybody. That could be a deal-breaking design that potential buyers will have to consider before making this rather substantial purchase.

Sustainability

Like many outdoor lights, the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights make use of plenty of plastic and some rubber, not exactly the most environment-friendly materials. Given design and production requirements, however, this is hardly surprising, but it’s definitely a big opportunity for Govee to further take the lead in the smart lighting market. Imagine a brand that not only delivers powerful smart lighting but sustainable products as well. That could be Govee a few years down the line!

The company does make up for it by making sure that its products don’t meet their untimely demise quickly. In other words, Govee lights are built to last, and these Outdoor Lights are no different. In fact, they’re even better, boasting an IP67 dust and water resistance rating that makes them ideal for use even in inclement weather. Even the control box and adapter are IP65 rated, truly marking them safe for outdoor use. As for the LEDs themselves, they’re advertised with a lifetime of up to 50,000 hours, around 5 years if you use them 24/7 (which you won’t anyway). Govee makes these affirmations regarding the durability of the RGBIC Permanent Outdoor Lights:

  • Successful operation test at 140 ℉
  • Successful operation test at -40 ℉
  • Passed operation test at a water depth of 49ft
  • Withstood a tensile force of 11.02lb
  • Endured manual pulling of over 10 pounds

Value

It’s easy to do a double-take when you see the $299.99 price tag attached to these lights, but it’s a first impression that won’t last long. Yes, it is a bit steep and pricier than other outdoor fairy lights, but few or none of those can even offer half of what Govee delivers. Some, for example, won’t even last more than two seasons of limited use during holidays only, let alone regular use both on or off-season. Few can also offer a quick and easy method of installing lights that you’ll leave in place until they die many years later. You don’t have to dread removing the lights after the festivities and can just leave them there for the next occasion or as regular night lights for the house.

The Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights also offer a level of control and customization you might only find in more expensive brands. There is, in fact, an overwhelming number of settings you can tweak to your heart’s content, making these outdoor lights not only beautiful but also versatile. Given all that, the $299.99 figure doesn’t look bad at all, especially when you consider that it’s a longer-term investment that will last you for years compared to cheaper lights where you truly get what you pay for.

Verdict

Summer isn’t just about beaches and camping (or glamping). Night pool parties and quiet times out on the porch are also common activities during this season, both of which require the right lights to set the right mood. You could get different lights for different occasions, or you could get the Govee RGBIC Permanent Outdoor Lights and have a versatile outdoor lighting solution for any occasion.

With a modular design and easy installation process, these Govee outdoor lights offer more flexibility in where and how you want to put them up. The bright and vibrant colors of the LEDs help create the atmosphere that you want, while the powerful mobile app put an almost endless array of options at your fingertips. Whether it’s a holiday, a seasonal party, or just a dark night, the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights will make your house stand out and make you the talk of the town.

Click Here to Buy Now: $299.99.

The post Govee RGBIC Permanent Outdoor Lights Review: It’s a Holiday Everyday of the Year first appeared on Yanko Design.

Govee Curtain Lights Review: Let Your Creativity Shine, Literally

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PROS:


  • Bright, colorful, and fun

  • Easy to install and set up

  • Mobile app presents plenty of automation and customization options

CONS:


  • The number of features can be a bit overwhelming

  • A little pricey for curtain lights

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

With convenient smart features and nearly limitless customization options, the Govee Curtain Lights are must-haves for those who go all out on decorating their walls for any occasion.

Dynamic RGB lighting might be a common presence in gaming gear, but that doesn’t mean only gamers have been drawn to the mesmerizing and enjoyable display of these playful lights. There are indeed a few lighting products for “regular” consumers that allow them to display all the colors of the rainbow, but most of these are either static or too complicated to use, designed only for the hardest of hardcore DIYers. Something that hits a sweet spot between these two extremes is uncharted territory, which is what makes Govee’s new Curtain Lights quite a tempting prospect. Its feature list definitely checks a lot of boxes, but so do many “fairy lights” that promise a kaleidoscopic experience for every party or holiday. That’s why we rolled up our sleeves to put the Govee Curtain Lights to the test to see if they can deliver and make our days and nights brighter and more interesting.

Click Here to Buy Now: $129.99

Aesthetics

To be honest, the Govee Curtain Lights are not much to look at when you pull them out of their simple yet functional packaging. You might even pass it off as regular rice or fairy lights, at least until you take a closer look and feel the product in your hands. From that moment onward, you know that you’re holding something special, hinting at the secrets it might be hiding inside.

Right off the bat, you will notice that the LED lights are different from typical curtain lights, particularly those that use bullet-like lights that extend from their thin cords. The teardrop-shaped LED beads are actually embedded in the flat cords that run down the length of the curtain, encased in a plastic material that’s more durable and less fragile than the typical glass of small LED bulbs. The light strands themselves also feel more solid and resilient, so you gain a bit of confidence in handling the curtain lights.

The Govee Curtain Lights’ unique design is fully revealed once you plug it in and turn it on. The 520 LEDs don’t immediately light up simultaneously, starting off with a pattern dance that showcases its dynamic properties, but even that is just the tip of the iceberg. What it does is give a memorable first impression, especially for those new to this rather new market. You’ll also immediately notice how bright the lights are, so bright that you might even want to put some thin curtain in front to dampen the light at times. That does mean that lights will be visible under bright ambient light, but you might have a harder time making out the details.

A single Govee curtain runs 4.9 x 6.5 feet, which should be an average size to cover a good portion of a wall or large windows. As we’ll see later, you can actually “connect” three of these together to work in harmony, but that means you’ll have to make provisions for three power adapters since you can’t daisy-chain those, unfortunately. Fortunately, Govee designed these lights to be easy to set up so placement won’t be much of a problem at least.

Ergonomics (Installation)

You won’t be handling the Govee Curtain Lights all the time, so the usual metrics of ergonomics and usability don’t really apply to it. Instead, the physical convenience and comfort come from the first-time installation and setup of the lights. You might only need to do these steps once unless you decide to move the lights to a different location, but that initial experience can make or break your enjoyment of the product just as much.

The good news is that Govee has made it trivial to install its Curtain Lights and even provides three options along with the necessary parts and tools, depending on how permanent you want the installation to be. If you plan on simply hanging the lights of an existing curtain track or rod, then simply screwing the buckles with G4 hooks is more than enough. There’s an option to also stick these buckles to walls using the provided adhesive strips, while more permanent setups might want to hammer in the seamless nails instead.

Interestingly, the light strings don’t get tangled up as much as you would expect during this process. That’s thanks to those beads that don’t snag on their neighbors, creating the tangled mess that many curtain lights are notorious for. The one detail you’ll have to consider is how some of the LED beads won’t be facing in the same direction, creating an uneven column of lights that may result in small “holes” in some areas. If uniformity is critical, you can also tape the strings down so that all the LEDs face forward.

Pairing the Govee Curtain Lights with the mobile app is also easy as pie, proving how experienced the brand is in this area. It can automatically detect the lights once plugged in, though you can also manually select the product if it’s having a harder time. Once Bluetooth pairing is done, you can also connect the curtain lights to your home Wi-Fi so that they can be controlled by smart assistants such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

Performance

The Govee Curtain Lights’ bright and colorful lights are already impressive on their own, but you didn’t spend money on just a wall of dotted lights. The real magic begins once you bridge the lights and the Govee app, opening up a whole new world of fun and convenience, whether you’re preparing for a holiday party, spicing up your livestream, or simply sprucing up your house.

The Govee app has plenty of features to control the curtain lights. In fact, there might be too many features that you can easily get lost in all the options and menus. Fortunately, there are a few presets already available that let you simply pick out a single color, a moving pattern, or even animated images. If you’re feeling more creative, however, you can upload your own GIF or draw your own masterpiece. Your creativity and imagination are the limits.

The Govee Curtain Lights boast 520 LEDs, each of which can be controlled individually, and its RGBIC technology bumps up the colors to 16 million hues. What this means, in practice, is that you get a “high-resolution display” that makes those patterns and images jump to life. That catch is that you really have to view them from just the right distance to really appreciate the quality. Too close and you won’t be able to make out the images. Too far and the colors tend to blend into each other.

These Curtain Lights have a neat trick when you put three of them in a row. You can connect all three to the same app and indicate their positions, creating a much wider canvas for even bigger images. They may seem like they’re moving as a whole, but it’s really just a trick of the app. These are still three distinct curtains, just controlled to sync the animations as if they were one.

There are plenty of ways to make the lights and colors move, but the one that will be the life of the party is Music Mode. Using the built-in mic on the control box, the Govee Curtain Lights will sync its patterns to the beat of the music. Technically, it just syncs to any sound it hears, so even voices will affect its display. It’s not a true visualizer, but its dynamism will surely be the talk of your friends.

Like any of Govee’s lighting products, the Curtain Lights can also be hooked up to Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa for hands-free voice commands. The number of functions you can use here is more limited, mostly revolving around turning the lights on or off, changing the color, or adjusting the brightness. With this integration, however, you can tie the lights with automated scenes so that you won’t even have to lift a finger when it comes time to turn all the house lights off.

Sustainability

For all its innovation and convenience, the Govee Curtain Lights are unfortunately not exactly designed with sustainability in mind. The packaging is at least minimalist, but the composition of the lights themselves as well as the hooks contain less environment-friendly materials, particularly plastic. Then again, that’s not exactly surprising given the requirements of such a product, particularly when it comes to durability and survivability.

Govee, fortunately, makes for this by making sure that the Curtain Lights last as long as possible, even when used outdoors. The lights themselves are rated IP65, which means they won’t die after a heavy downpour. Even the adapter has IP44 dust and water resistance, so it isn’t as fragile as regular electronics, though you will have to take more precautions given you’re dealing with electricity. Along with the durable plastic material surrounding the LED beads, the string, and the power cord, Govee is guaranteeing that its curtain lights are going to see many holidays and parties, even if you leave them outside.

Value

There is very little doubt that the Govee Curtain Lights are one-of-a-kind, finally delivering the kind of customization power that more tech-savvy people have been enjoying for some time now, and packaging it in an easy-to-use product. It will easily liven up gatherings, catch the attention of livestream viewers, and put your house on the map. The question is, however, whether it’s worth the $129.99 price tag it comes with.

That’s admittedly higher than most curtain lights in the market today, but those can barely match Govee’s features anyway. There is also the upcoming Amazon Prime Day, where you’ll be able to grab these lights at a tempting price. The more important consideration is whether you can think of a use for the lights when the parties and holidays are over. They are not exactly general-purpose lights, unlike other Govee products, so it will boil down to whether these curtain lights have a place in your house all year round to make that $129.99 a worthwhile investment.

Verdict

We can always use a little pizzazz in our homes, whether it’s through furniture that injects some vibrancy into a space, or lighting that sets up the right mood. Wall and pendant lamps are often the go-to solutions for the latter, but Govee has delivered another option, one that inspires creativity and dynamism. The Govee Curtain Lights are easy to set up, ensuring that almost anyone can decorate their wall or window without breaking much of a sweat. The highly customizable app offers plenty of ways to control the lights, even through Alexa and Google Assistant. Everything about the lights screams ease-of-use, while also delivering power and control on a silver platter.

The Govee Curtain Lights practically give you a 4.9 x 6.5 ft canvas to showcase your creativity, interests, and passion. The bright and colorful LEDs and powerful app act as your paint and brush, giving you nearly complete freedom to create the design or animation that you really desire. Whether you’re gearing up for a summer night party, attracting new viewers to your channel, or simply making sure the house is well-lit, the Govee Curtain Lights will give your family, your friends, and even your neighbors a light show they will never forget.

Click Here to Buy Now: $129.99

The post Govee Curtain Lights Review: Let Your Creativity Shine, Literally first appeared on Yanko Design.

Why are LED lights the go-to lighting solution of the world?

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Image Credits: Sunriu

With technological advancement in the lighting industry, LED lights or light-emitting diodes are driving a lighting revolution and promising a bright future. LED lights are available in smaller sizes, have improved brightness, illuminate a larger area, and have enhanced qualities. In an LED light, when an electric current passes through a semiconductor material, energy is released in photons and transformed into visible light.

Image Credits: Sunriu

Advantages of LED lights

LED lights are becoming a popular substitute for conventional systems like incandescent and compact fluorescent lamps or CFLs.
Discover why LED lights are a smarter lighting option.

1. Long Lasting

As per studies, the average lifespan of LED lights ranges between 50,000 hours to 100,000 hours. These lights can offer 12 years of continuous lighting and even more if they are occasionally lit. Hence, one LED can nearly replace 25 incandescent lights, which is a great way to reduce the carbon footprint. This results in low maintenance and reduces the hassle of frequently replacing bulbs and tubes.

2. Consumes Less Electricity

LED lights use nearly fifty percent less energy than conventional lighting systems. These lights efficiently operate on low voltage and are, therefore, a perfect solution for solar-enabled outdoor lighting systems. LED lights consume less power and offer substantial savings in recurring electricity bills.

Image Credits: Michal Kantor

3. Available in Numerous Colors

LED lights are primarily available in warm light for warm lighting and cool white for ambient or general lighting ranging between 6000K to 3000K. They are also available in a vast range of colors like red, yellow, green, and amber. Make a note that when LED lights age, they may change their color over a period of time.

4. Energy-efficient

The energy efficiency of LED lights is measured in luminous efficacy or useful lumens or the amount of light that the fixture emits for each unit of power or watt. LED lights are energy-efficient as they convert 80% of electrical energy into light and produce less waste light. On the other hand, incandescent light bulbs are only 20% efficient as 80% of energy gets lost as heat, resulting in higher electricity costs.

5. Cost-effective

From soft lighting to bright lighting, LED lights can be dimmed and provide flexibility in the lighting design. The micro-controllers can dim or brighten the LEDs for light, color and intensity of light. In addition, the lights can be dimmed with hardware made specifically for LED light technology.

Image Credits: Sparkle Lights

6. Ensures Safety

LED lights are safe as they radiate very little heat and are not hot to the touch compared to CFL and incandescent lights. It does not contain hazardous materials like mercury. These lights offer an excellent surface temperature that reduces the risk of burns and does not emit harmful UV or infrared rays.

7. Directional Lighting

As LED lights release a single beam of light, it offers concentrated lighting and does not emit light in all directions. Conventional lights emit light at 360 degrees around the light source, while LEDs emit light at an angle of 180 degrees. Hence, LED lights emit light in a specific direction, do not require reflectors or diffusers to trap rays, and are perfect for recessed downlights and track lights. Also, fewer LED lights are required compared to incandescent lights to achieve the same brightness level. In addition, directional optics reduces light pollution and wasted energy that is usually used to illuminate areas that are not required.

Image Credits: Eureka Lights

8. Instantaneous light

Regular CFL and incandescent lights tend to flicker before they get turned, but LED lights do not require warm-up time. LED lights do not require starters or chokes, as these lights can brighten up immediately when switched on. Frequent switching does not affect its lifespan.

Image Credits: Koncept

Image Credits: Koncept

9. High Color Rendering Index (CRI)

Color Rendering Index (CRI) measures the ability of the light fixture to reveal the natural color of whatever it illuminates under a white light source when compared to sunlight. LED lights have a high color rendering index. When purchasing white LED lights, it is highly recommended to go for a CRI value that is more than 90 as all colors are easily distinguishable.

Image Credits: Aberno

10. Dimmable

From soft lighting to bright lighting, LED lights can be dimmed and provide flexibility in the lighting design. The micro-controllers can dim or brighten the LED’s for light, color and the intensity of light. The lights can be dimmed with hardware made specifically for LED light technology.

Image Credits: White Teak

11. Resists Extreme Temperatures

LEDs are sturdy and can withstand extreme summer heat and cold freezing temperatures. This makes LED lights suitable for cold temperatures, like refrigerators, cold storage and the outdoors.

12. Recyclable

LED lights are made of recyclable glass and aluminum. Unlike conventional incandescent and CFL lights, it does not contain toxic materials like mercury. Each LED light has a heat sink or a heat exchanger that absorbs the thermal energy generated by the LED light and dissipates the energy into the air. Aluminum is the most commonly used material for the heat sink of LED lights.

Image Credit: Huan-Rou Chang

Image Credit: Huan-Rou Chang

Application of LED lights

LED lights fit a wider range of functional and aesthetic applications than what they emit. They are available in various shapes, sizes and types too. These LED lights can be used as light fixtures or spaced out in a linear method. Alongside, LED bulbs are easy to install and can go into existing fittings of light fixtures of incandescent lights.

Industrial and Commercial lights

LED lights make a perfect fit for industrial uses and commercial applications like street lights, garage lights, walkways, outdoor lights and signage.

Ambient lighting

Ambient lighting is the primary source of light for any space. LED lights in the form of recessed downlights, ceiling-mounted LED lights, pendant lights can be used for the ambient lighting or the overall lighting of the space. Small solar LED lights can be used outdoors and in gardens to provide ambient lighting for pathways.

Image Credit: Curio

Task Lighting

Task lighting is a form of direct lighting that increases the light for specific tasks like reading, cooking, writing, etc. For example, consider table lamps and floor lamps with LED lights for reading, while small and directional strip lights are ideal for undercabinet lighting on kitchen countertops.

Accent Light

Accent lights draw attention to interesting design features like artwork and architectural details. One can incorporate accent lights in the stairs, recessed niches, and accent walls. As LED lights offer focused light dispersal or directional lighting, they function as accent lights that channel brightness to a restricted zone. One can also consider colorful LED lights to accentuate some spaces.
Decorate the outdoors for holidays and festivals with string LED lights, as they consume less electricity and are cooler than incandescent bulbs. Led rope lighting is perfect for outdoor fountains.

Decorative LED Lights

Decorative lighting forms the fourth layer of interior illumination as it doubly functions as a design element. Ceiling fixtures like chandeliers, wall sconces and table lamps offer functional aesthetics.

Smart LED Lights

A Smart bulb is an internet-enabled LED light that can be customized and controlled remotely. In addition, smart LED bulbs eliminate the need for traditional wall switches, as it contains software that connects to an app, home assistant, or another similar accessory.

Image Credit: Postigo Design

Image Credit: Postigo Design

The post Why are LED lights the go-to lighting solution of the world? first appeared on Yanko Design.

Umbrella Lantern has LED lights to help illuminate your way

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If you’ve ever walked home in the rain at night, then you know it’s not as romantic or dramatic (well, if you live in London, it might be) as the movies make it out to be. In reality, it’s wet, and slippery, and if the streets aren’t well-lighted, it can be dark and dangerous. You could always use a flashlight or your phone’s flashlight function but it’s not that convenient. It would be great if your umbrella could be your source of light as well and this new product does exactly that.

Designer: Mabu

The Umbrella Lantern is a new kind of rainy day companion that has built-in LED lights that you can activate by just pushing a button. It will be useful if you’re walking down roads that don’t have good lighting and where cars rarely pass by so you don’t have any lighting source. There are those umbrellas with reflective surfaces but they still need light from your surroundings in order to light up. This one is directly illuminated so you can use it anywhere you need it, maybe even when it’s not actually raining.

During the daytime when you don’t need light, you can use it just like you would any regular umbrella. When sunlight starts disappearing, you can just press a button located in the umbrella’s handle so the LED lights are activated. The light is located just right underneath it and the light is able to transmit through the umbrella’s fabric so even your surroundings are lighted up as well. How much light is transmitted depends on the color of the umbrella that you have.

The Umbrella Lantern has four different color options: Carmine, Water, Light gray, and Midnight Blue. The lighter the color, the easier it is to see through with the light while the darker it is, the less transparent it is. The umbrella itself is 102 cm in diameter, 82cm in length, and weighs around 460 grams. You only need three AAA batteries to power up the LED lights. It is pretty lightweight so you can easily carry it around. If you live in an area where it rains often and you walk in the dark, this is a pretty handy accessory to have.

The post Umbrella Lantern has LED lights to help illuminate your way first appeared on Yanko Design.

LUA Pet Plant Lighting is perfect for your indoor plants

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LUA Pet Plant Lighting Concept Image

The LUA is one ideal solution for those with pet plants. But, of course, not many people will understand why you have such but don’t worry about what they think.

Well, you don’t really have to call a plant your pet, but we won’t judge if you do. Pretty plants and flowers are quite special, and they deserve all the tender, loving care. Every plant needs a nice pot or vase and proper lighting and ventilation, and you must find the best one.

Designer: Eunsu Lee

LUA Pet Plant Lighting Concept Design

For desk plants, you may consider getting this LUA. It’s a plant lighting solution that can further make your favorite plant stand out. We understand how it can be challenging to care for indoor plants because of insufficient lighting. But there are solutions like the LUA.

Indoor plants help the surrounding by keeping the atmosphere fresh and clean. In addition, for some people, plants help in providing emotional stability. Just one look at your plants and you can already calm down and destress.

LUA Pet Plant Lighting Design

The LUA features a minimalist design: a planter hangs like a swing, carrying whatever plant or flower variety you have. The LUA also comes with a grow light that helps you nurture and cultivate indoor plants. It looks fun as the plant can swing as it hangs in the air.

The unique planter features a minimalist design and delivers harmony to your surrounding. It boasts a clean, white tone for a simple and refreshing look. Wood and leather match the overall white look.

LUA Pet Plant Lighting Concept

LUA Pet Plant Lighting must be balanced so it won’t fall off. Make sure the weight of the plant is just right. The design is very minimalist as no unnecessary wires are exposed. The LED light is what helps the plants grow even in not-so-good environments.

The LUA comes with visual stability, even if it’s just a concept. It’s something we want to see on our desk as it gives life to a rather boring environment. The LED enables the plants to grow as made possible by photosynthesis. So it’s a solution for those areas where there’s not much sunlight, but you still want to grow or display a plant.

LUA Pet Plant Lighting

We have already featured a number of planters here, like that smart flower system with climate control. Indoor gardening seems more fun with this smart self-watering indoor planter like the Klaustrafloria. The Pico Max is a self-watering-herb-planter that we want to see more. The ultimate solution we know is a multi-level indoor planter ideal for the millennial plant lovers.

LUA Pet Plant Lighting Design Process

LUA Pet Plant Lighting Concept Image

The post LUA Pet Plant Lighting is perfect for your indoor plants first appeared on Yanko Design.

These luminous ropes are lighting fixtures made from flexible LEDs, woven nylon, and silicone!

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Luke Kelly found his calling in an abandoned railcar. As he recounts, stumbling upon some antique, industrial lighting fixtures while exploring an old railroad in New Hampshire, Kelly decided to take them home and create something new from them. Fast forward to today and his creative career in designing lighting fixtures has taken off. Since the start of his career, Kelly’s LED Rope Lighting designs have been strung from the ceilings of popular hotel lobbies and busy city restaurants and are recognized for their customizability and versatility.

Luke Kelly’s LED Rope Lighting fixtures are adaptable by nature due to the materials sourced for their construction. Built by starting with flexible LEDs, each fixture’s brightness is subdued and covered with woven nylon rope and silicone to provide durability and pliability, allowing the light fixture to maintain a fixed formation when woven in even free-form designs. Luke Kelly’s collection of light fixtures come with a wide array of available options, ranging from unconventional chandeliers that merge with the ceiling to wall-mountable light fixtures that pop with brass, nickel, or copper accents.

Kelly’s Tracer Loop appears almost like a luminous jump rope or rope swing and attaches both of its ends to the ceiling with standard junction boxes. Then, longer and shorter ropes intersect with one another, creating a sort of cat’s cradle of glowing LED ropes. The Tracer Swag, another standout of Kelly’s LED Rope Lighting collection, utilizes a U-Bolt, affixed to a standard junction box, from which various light ropes hang and cluster to give the effect of ivy growing any which way on the side of a building.

Each of Luke Kelly’s LED Rope Lighting fixtures is presented differently to accommodate the space where they’re hung. Whether it’s a simple, minimalist bedroom or grandiose, gilded ballroom, Luke Kelly notes, “Every space presents a challenge– from the intimacy of a restaurant to the openness of a hotel lobby to the visibility of storefront, to the privacy of one’s home– our lighting is made for these challenges because customization and adaptability is not an afterthought, it is our focus.”

Designer: Luke Kelly Co

Luke Kelly’s Tracer Loop Collection

Luke Kelly’s Surrey Suspension Collection

The Artemis Suspension pictured above connects to a brass rod and uses a pendant to canopy hang structure.

Luke Kelly’s Leto Suspension forms a straight-line design for a touch elegant minimalism.

The Tracer Bar collection takes a free form design.

The Tracer Swag hangs from U-Bolts.

Here the Tracer Bar is hung from brass rods.

This wall-mounted succulent planter with a built-in lamp quite literally fills your space with warmth!

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The Succulamp is more than just a clever portmanteau of Succulent and Lamp. It’s also a product that fills your room with light and life in a way that uplifts your space entirely with its charm. The wall-mounted planter comes with an LED lamp within its translucent base (does that make it a ‘plamper’?) that gives your room a diffused wash of warm light when switched on. The LEDs don’t generate too much heat, making the product a perfect casing for a succulent too (which sadly won’t be able to experience any of the warm light, given its location). However, it has a very Super Mario-ish charm to it, as it permanently sits on your wall using adhesive strips. My only gripe is the presence of that USB cable, which sort of takes away some of the product’s magic!

Designer: Casey Johnson

Dell’s cheap Philips Hue starter pack deal is even better with $50 credit

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Philips Hue has become the go-to for smart home lighting. The LED light bulbs can transition between 16 million colors to compliment your home, set the mood or enhance your sleep. Those who haven't turned their home into a technicolor dreamland may w...

GreenWave Reality ships WiFi-aware light bulbs that flick on through motion and smartphones

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GreenWave Reality ships WiFi light bulbs that flick on through motion and smartphones, join the 21st centuryWe've seen connected light bulbs before, some more sophisticated than others, but they're rarely as straightforward as GreenWave Reality's just-shipping Connected Lighting Solution. Eco-friendly LED bulbs in the lineup include support for WiFi and are immediately controllable from a smartphone or tablet as soon as they're receiving power. Basics controls like group presets and timed lighting are just the start; if you're not worried about leaving anyone in the dark, the bulbs can respond to motion sensors and only illuminate the rooms that need attention. And while the intelligence isn't new in itself, GreenWave would argue that sheer accessibility gives it an edge, with electric utilities in Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden skipping the retail middleman by selling directly. Don't despair if you live in the US: the linked-up lighting is cleared for eventual use by Americans who'd like to save both energy and a trip to the light switch.

Continue reading GreenWave Reality ships WiFi-aware light bulbs that flick on through motion and smartphones

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GreenWave Reality ships WiFi-aware light bulbs that flick on through motion and smartphones originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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