A much cheaper solution than the original one proposed by Philips Hue and also much easier to assemble than those that you can build by using RGB LED strips and a Raspberry Pi. That is what Govee proposes with its backlighting system for televisions.
Govee Immersion, an inexpensive and simple “Ambilight”
The Ambilight lighting system that most Philips televisions have been incorporating for years has been and will be one of its main attractions. That is why the company, although it took a while to take the step, launched a solution that allowed having that set of lights that adapt according to the image that is being shown on any screen.
The problem with the official Ambilight that can be obtained with the Philips Hue Play and its corresponding LED strips is that it has a quite high price. So for most users it is very difficult to justify the investment, no matter how much the idea of having it for when they want to enjoy their favorite movies, series or video games appeals to them.
Luckily the ingenuity and possibilities provided by other devices such as the Raspberry Pi allow the most daring users to create their own Ambilight system for a much lower cost. The only requirement is to have patience and some knowledge to carry out the entire process of connecting, installing and configuring the different pieces of hardware and software. Therefore, if bias is cheaper, it is not a valid solution for everyone.
So that’s where Govee wants to attack with his Govee Immersion TV . This RGB LED lighting system allows the user to create a lighting system for the rear of the TV that also changes color depending on the image being displayed. Of course, it does not analyze the video signal that enters through an HDMI connector but uses a camera that captures and analyzes what is literally being shown on the screen.
In other words, thanks to a very wide view, the Colórense camera intelligently recognizes and captures the colors on the screen. This way you can then apply the appropriate tones and changes to the rear backlight created by an RGB LED strip.
In addition, they are LED strips that allow covering the four edges of any television with a screen size between 55 and 65 inches. Two of the currently most popular sizes work in most homes.
Scenes and support for voice assistants
If so far everything has seemed interesting to you, pay attention to the extras offered by this particular Govee Ambilight. The first is that you will have the possibility to choose 12 scenes or dynamic scene modes . This is done through the mobile application and is as simple as opening the app, going to the corresponding section and choosing it.
Although if you want you can also use voice commands to be compatible with both Alexa and Google Assistant. Therefore, you can turn the system on and on or off, choose to change it dynamically according to the content or display a fixed color. You could even set various sections of the strip to show different colors. It is up to you to take advantage of it in one way or another.
Simple installation for an attractively priced product
Finally, along with a very attractive price, the best thing is that it is also very easy to install. You simply have to place the strips on the edges of the screen and behind. Then to the control box and from there take another cable to which the Color Sense camera will be connected, which is placed in the center of the screen so that you can see the entire panel. As if it were a webcam, let’s go.
So now you know, if you were looking for an Ambilight alternative that did not involve using a Raspberry Pi, installing and configuring software and other moves, this may be a good option and although its official price will be $ 79, now you can make the presentation order for only 60 euros through the manufacturer’s own website. Although you could also wait for when it is available in the Govee store on Amazon.
By the way, they also have an alternative to the Philips Hue Play called Govee Flow Pro that as a complement or independent system is also interesting to create much more striking light environments.