Lightpack 2 is a Philips Ambilight for any TV

Is that a Philips Ambilight TV? They’ve been around for ages!

Don’t be fooled – this isn’t a TV we’re talking about, it’s a separate lighting system. Lightpack 2 might be “inspired” by Ambilight, but it’ll work on any brand of telly.

How?

Strips of LED lights can be cut to an appropriate size and stuck like Sellotape to the back edges of your screen. These then plug into a base unit with an HDMI passthrough, into which you, in turn, connect up to four video sources like your set-top box, Blu-ray player or games consoles.

And then?

The base station takes the incoming video signal, using the information to determine the colour of the LEDs. The idea (just like with Ambilight) is to take the colours in the game/movie/show being watched and “extend” them beyond the borders of the screen. Check out the video below to see for yourself.

Play

What are they advantages of that?

First, it looks really, really pretty. But you probably want to hear about some meatier advantages. So for one thing, it helps to combat eye strain by levelling out the intensity of light in the room, by reducing or eliminating the difference between light and dark.

When a game or film quickly switches from a dark to a bright scene (or vice versa), the rapid change in light requires a rapid response by your pupils, which can lead to strain; Lightpack 2 smoothes the transition without affecting image quality.

Is there anything else I should know about?

Yes, Pixels. These Lightpack 2 accessories are wireless smart LED lights that can be fixed to the wall or placed on surfaces around your TV. They beam out the same colours as Lightpack 2 when you’re watching something, and can also act as notification lights – just use IFTTT and they can light up a particular colour when you get a Facebook message, for instance.

OK, you’ve sold me. How do I light up my life?

Lightpack 2 is currently seeking funding via Kickstarter. In fact it’s already passed its target with (at the time of writing) 25 days left, so it seems well on its way to becoming an actual retail product. Back it to the tune of at least US$179, however, and you can get a Lightpack 2 of your own as a reward. The estimated shipping date is February 2017 though, so you’ll have a bit of a wait on your hands.