Skip to main content

Cree brings a novel idea to LED light bulbs by making them look like … light bulbs

Cree-LED-lightbulbWhat’s exciting about Cree’s new LED light bulb? At first glance, not a thing. Which, ironically, is what makes it exciting. Best known for producing the blindingly awesome LED emitters used in high-end flashlights, Durham-based Cree has recently started selling a line of low-cost LED light bulbs that look like, well, light bulbs. Due to the stringent cooling required to keep advanced white-light LEDs shining brightly, most incandescent replacement LED bulbs look like something out of a science fiction movie, with odd arrays of metal fins, lenses, and painfully bright emitters that scream, “Hey, look at me, I’m environmentally friendly!” If you’re after something a little more subtle, Cree’s new bulbs are nearly indistinguishable from a regular incandescent bulb when in the fixture; they even designed a fake filament tower to make it look more like a regular bulb. The bulbs are available in Warm White and Daylight colors at 40W or 60W equivalent light output (yet only use 6 to 9.5W of power), and are compatible with most dimming lamps and switches. With prices starting at around ten bucks, they’re a great way to save money on your power bill without making your home look like a James Cameron movie set.

Matt Davis
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Matt Davis is a tech wonk, musician, home hacker and family man. He is driven by a love for trivia and an obsessive need to…
Need a portable power station? This one is $130 at Walmart
A camping couple using the iFanze 300W Portable Power Station.

No one wants to get stranded without electricity during a winter storm or summer blackout. That’s why there’s a thriving marketplace of portable power station deals. You can find these mini-generators just about anywhere, but if you’re looking for the best price on a great model, let us direct you to this fantastic Walmart promo: 

For a limited time when you purchase the iFanze 300W Portable Power Station at Walmart you’ll pay $130. At full price, this unit sells for $400. 

Read more
Early Black Friday vacuum deals 2024: Dirt Devil, Shark, Roomba
The Shark Cordless Pro Stick Vacuum being used on both carpet and hard wood flooring.

Update 11/11/24: We're just starting to look at the available deals for this year's Black Friday holiday shopping season and we're already seeing some great stuff, with decent deals on both handvacs and smart robot vacs being displayed in the overall deals jumble. Pick up something now if you like, there's no reason to hold back.

In the spring, you may notice a horrendous influx of mud into your home as rain starts to pour and excited children (and adults) run into the house. If you're lucky enough for it to hit hardwood floors, that means mopping. But what about now, as fall is in full swing and the holidays are right around the corner? Leaf litter, confetti, paper scraps, pencil shaving bits, and more are about to scatter all over your floor. It is time to get a new vacuum or even one of the best robot vacuums. We've started our coverage of Black Friday, officially coming on November 29, early this year, and the good news is that we're already finding excellent early Black Friday deals. And vacuums are being underrepresented in those great scores. From the best early Black Friday Best Buy deals to intense Walmart early Black Friday savings, you're likely to find a good vacuum deal around any corner. Here's what we're looking at now.
Dirt Devil Power Express — $50 $59 15% off

Read more
Apple gearing up for ‘first foray into smart home camera market’
Apple Fifth Avenue Store Apple Logo

Apple is planning to release a smart home security camera in 2026, according to Ming-Chi Kuo, a prominent figure with contacts in Apple’s supply chain in Asia.

“Apple is making its first foray into the smart home IP camera market, with mass production scheduled for 2026, targeting annual shipments in the tens of millions,” Kuo wrote in an online post shared on Monday, adding that Chinese tech firm GoerTek will be the exclusive assembly supplier.

Read more