Internet-Connected Light Bulbs Get Real

The humble light bulb: Screw it in, flip the switch, and light: boring, right? But the light bulb is changing. You should really start thinking of the light bulb as the newest connected device in your smart home. First the basics: Incandescent light bulbs are out; LED bulbs are in. They use one-tenth the energy (cost one-tenth to run) and last 50 times as long. If you tried a CFL and hated the blue light or the fact that they didn’t dim, it’s time to try the new LEDs. They’re dimmable (check your dimmer for compatibility), cost way less to run, and they’ve come down in price. The Cree LED bulbs are retailing for about $10 a bulb.