a review by Tom Piper
HomeKit technology now provides wonderful lighting controlled by a variety of related devices and iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. At CES 2016, I reconnected with Elgato who has a nice range of such excellent devices.
The Avea Flare from Elgato just brought dynamic light moods into many locations in my life. It is a battery-powered, wirelessly-charged LED lamp which illuminates any place I put it for more than 8 hours on a single charge (the charging base is innovative, just set the unit on it in any direction). With IP65 water resistance, my home atmosphere can now extend to the outside and many portable locations (like restaurants and events).
With this light, I control my ambience from my iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. It is truly amazing to easily select any of the carefully crafted settings with subtly changing light which include Magic Hour, Northern Glow, Cherry Blossom, Mountain Breeze, Cozy Flames, Sunny Field, Fairy Woods, Caribbean Sea, Candy Land, or Calm Provence.
Avea connects directly to my iDevices (or someone else’s Android phone) using Bluetooth Smart technology, without requiring additional gateways or bridges. But it doesn't stop there because, once I have chosen a light scene, the smart LED lightbulb will take care of the rest, not requiring a constant connection to your phone or iPad. Only two controls on the bottom: Power and Mode.
Now, I can also connect to more than one Avea (like my Avea Bulb), and they will automatically coordinate their lighting to create an even more immersive atmosphere. What’s more is that my Apple Watch makes it easier than ever to pick the perfect lighting for my changing mood. I can raise my wrist to view the current status of Avea at a glance, and effortlessly transform my home with a simple tap.
After a relaxing evening, I can even set my alarm using the built-in wake-up light scene. With Avea, I can wake up to a natural sunrise, right in my bedroom. Adjustable brightness and vividness are also just a slider away on (on either Flare or Bulb, or both combined). My favorite is Candy Land that slowly shifts from among all the colors (very relaxing). I can’t say enough great things about this unique enhancement to my life. You can learn more about it at elgato.com/avea.
This unit is a great buy at only $99.95, available from Elgato at elgato/flare, or from Amazon for $79.95 at amazon/flare. Avea Flare is part of a growing family of products including Avea Bulb (mood bulb, $39.95), and Avea Sphere (only available in Europe). I’ve used Elgato products for decades, and find them delightful, economical, reliable and very useful.
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