Gadgetory

if you've ever taken the time to wander all the way through an entire IKEA you might have noticed that one of the last sections you walk through is all about lighting and now you'll find smart lighting options - IKEA calls it the trod free line of smart lighting products and you've got a couple of different ways in big one is this smart lighting kit that cost eighty dollars it's got a hub two bulbs that change between white light color temperatures and a little remote gizmo that we actually couldn't get to work despite trying multiple batteries with it so that was kind of a letdown the system worked fine and was easy enough to use but it's very very basic it feels cheap the app seems cheap it doesn't work with anything you can't use a LexA or home kit or anything with these bulbs they're just an isolated IKEA smart home eco system that said I'm actually much more enthusiastic about the less expensive ways into the Trodd free system this one that comes with a bulb and a motion sensor you just pair the motion sensor by holding a button and holding it next to the bulb and then you can set using little dials on the back how long it takes to turn the light off after detecting motion and turning it on really easy very simple way to automate a lamp in your bedroom or in your home and it only cost $25 for the kit that's a good deal it's about as cheap as you'll find for a motion sensor and smart bulb and if you wanted to add in that tried free gateway later to add in the app you could do that too the other option that's kind of interesting is even less expensive it's this $20 kit that comes with a smart bulb and a little magnetic remote accessory it's just a wireless gizmo that you twist in order to dim the light up and down it's a little finicky it's not as precise as I would like if nothing else maybe the next time you're out at IKEA buying a new bookshelf or entertainment center you'll toss one of these 20 or $25 kits into your car to sort of an add-on I think there's nothing wrong with that it's a good way to sort of try out smart lighting in your home a little IKEA stick