http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012...reviews-the-hacker-approved-philips-hue-leds/
On one hand, it's hard to recommend spending $200 on what are essentially three colored lightbulbs. Cheaper alternatives exist, though they lack most of the features that make Hue so damn fun. On the other hand, after living with the lights for a couple of weeks, it's at this point impossible to imagine life without them. I've already augmented the starter kit with three more lights, and I plan on raiding the Apple Store's stock and picking up another half-dozen shortly. The slick integration and remote control features are just downright captivating, and I am absolutely in love with being able to light up rooms in my house on a schedule, coupled with the ability to instantly invoke some funky mood lighting.
The lack of a formally released API and SDK might give truly hard-core enthusiasts and app developers pause, though enough has leaked out to give those folks a good start on their hacking efforts. It's hard to imagine Philips will do a better job of community support than the open-minded LIFX crew, but on the other hand Philips has actually shipped their product. Supply constraint issues aside, their bulbs definitely work as advertised and are available today.
My recommendation is that if you have the spare cash, they are worth buying. They're just too fun and too addictive to not own. With the holiday season upon us, they even provide a neat way to spread ChristmaHanuKwanzakkah cheer in your home. Plus, they project an awesome "I AM LIVING IN THE FUTURE" vibe—who doesn't want to live in the future?
The Good
High build quality
Dead-easy to set up
Excellent range of colors, from "normal" illumination hues to crazy funhouse lighting
Extensible, customizable, hackable control scheme is hella fun and addictive
Schedules and timers make for easy home automation
Might ruin normal lights for you forever
The Bad
Official app is a bit clunky and not that geek-friendly
It's not immediately obvious how to control different groups of lights
No way to set separate weekday and weekend timers without taking matters into your own hands
No official API or SDK yet
Might ruin normal lights for you forever
The Ugly
Sadly, there's no getting around that price tag