Sylvania’s New Smart Multicolor A19 Bulb Connects To Apple’s HomeKit Without A Hub

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Ledvance Smart home company has announced the Sylvania "Smart Multicolor A19" bulb - a HomeKit enabled smart light that users can easily control via Siri and also Apple's Home app included in iOS 10.  The new Homekit does not require a separate hub.

The A19 bulb does not have hub installation, so all a user needs to do is screw the bulb into a light source and synchronize it with the Home app to control the Sylvania lights.

The hub-free system also works whether a user is inside or outside the home. When a user is not in the house, the Sylvania bulbs synchronize with a connected Apple TV or iOS 10-enabled iPad as a hub for the smart home in order to enable a user to keep check on and control the lights from afar.

According to Apple Insider, users will need an Apple TV or an iPad nearby to enable them control it while they are away from home. Other products, including the Philips Hue bulbs and Lutron light switches, require a HomeKit hub accessory to connect their platforms over to Apple's smart home network.

With the Homekit, Siri can be used to perform several voice commands with the Sylvania's new bulbs such as turning it off and on, dimming it and even changing colors. It can also be integrated into various scenes with other Home app accessories from third-party manufacturers.

Aaron Ganick, head of the Smart Home Americas group at Ledvance noted that for more than a century, consumers have looked to the brand Sylvania for innovation, and this announcement represents another exciting advancement.

"For us, making the Smart Home a reality for consumers is all about quality products and strong partnerships with leaders in the industry," Ganick says.

Ledvance collaboration with Apple to provide smart lighting that works directly with the Home app, is making it easier for Apple enthusiasts to integrate quality lighting into their Smart Home, thus bringing convenience and simplicity to their daily lives, he added.

The company said there is also the ability to set scenes and activities in combination with other HomeKit devices to create custom experiences through the Home application. Users could, for example, set up a simple Siri phrase like, "I am on my way home," to activate lights, unlock a door, and turn on the heat in the winter, according to Macrumor.

Ledvance is currently selling a collection of smart home bulbs, but they all require hubs to function and are not HomeKit compatible. The company hopes to expand its Apple-supported product line in 2017, starting with the launch of the Sylvania A19 bulb on Amazon sometime early next year.