Candles are great for setting the mood in a room. Like everything else we’ve been using for a long time, though, it’s terribly inefficient. With the advent of modern smart lighting, it’s high time we get a suitable replacement for the old ball of wax with a wick in the middle. That’s exactly what Playbulb represents.
Made by Mipow, it’s a small LED-based lamp in the shape reminiscent of a tealight holder. That way, it still looks like a candle, all while bringing the benefits of a modern, connected device.
The Playbulb is an “electronic candle” with color-changing LEDs that you can control from a smartphone app. You can adjust the color, the brightness (make it as bright as an actual lamp or as dim as a candle), and even generate lighting effects, allowing you to use the lamp to set the mood whether you’re having a romantic dinner, a relaxing soak in the tub, or a quick nap in bed. You can control multiple Playbulbs from a single smartphone, so you can create an effect no different from having multiple candles around a room. Oh yeah, just like candles, you can switch it off by blowing on it, so you don’t have to bother picking up the phone when you’re done.
Prefer your candles scented? Not a problem. Playbulb comes with a lavender scent chip that it will diffuse during use, helping recreate the olfactory sensations you experience with regular scented candles. It powers using three AA batteries, with a fresh batch designed to last for up to 240 hours (if you use it for 8 hours per day, the batteries will last an entire month).
A Kickstarter campaign is currently running for Playbulb. Pledges to reserve a set (three units) starts at $43.