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Official KickStarted Lightpack - $117.58 Delivered with Coupon Code (Save $21.42) @Lightpack.tv

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Official KickStarted Lightpack - $117.58 Delivered with Coupon Code (Save $21.42) @Lightpack.tv
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LNueLogic on 18/02/2014 - 11:28 store.lightpack.tv (1530 clicks)
Last edited 18/02/2014 - 11:55 by 1 other user
lightpack2013

Lightpack is an open-source device, which lightens your computer or TV screen to strengthen the presence effect. The device needs to be mounted on your TV or computer screen and to be connected to your PC, Mac or HTPC via USB. The software analyses what you currently have on the screen, be it a movie, a game, or anything else, and sends this information to the Lightpack device which in turn lightens the surface behind the screen with matching colours using the RGB-LEDs available within the Lightpack device.

Long time lurker first time poster. Feel free to PM if you have any questions about the deal or check out this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQWhYzBu5V8

Note: LightPack requires you to run a capture software called Prismatik installed in Windows, Linux, OS X or Android.

Electrical & Electronics Lightpack

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closed Comments

  • Gehirn on 18/02/2014 - 11:49

    I don't really get it ?

    • rustynail on 18/02/2014 - 11:51

      The ambient light behind the screen will reduce fatigue (for your eyes, at least) when viewing in dark environments. I have static led lights behind my screen and it works wonders at night when viewing an action flick in a darkened room

    • jong on 18/02/2014 - 11:59
      +2

      This is a ring of lights that go around your TV. They project the colours that are at the edges of the TV on to the wall behind it. So, if a white object moves toward the right-hand side of the screen, the right-hand set of lights will project white light onto the wall.

      Since your peripheral vision is bad at seeing detail, but great at seeing motion, this extra animation kind of gives the impression of a bigger screen.

    • centrelink on 18/02/2014 - 14:03
      -2

      and thats why australia is considered an innovative country

  • rustynail on 18/02/2014 - 11:49
    +2

    how fast does the light change depending on what's being rendered? Just curious…this seems to be like the ambi-light feature avaiable in the Philips TV range a while ago.

    • TonightAt11 on 18/02/2014 - 11:56

      You can set the delay anywhere from 1ms and up. From experience the lower the value the higher CPU usage.

    • scrimshaw on 18/02/2014 - 11:57

      how fast does the light change depending on what's being rendered?

      Depends on CPU usage and processing speed.

      The computer has to screenshot the frames that come up on the display and then average all the colors in a particular segment of the picture and send that information to the Arduino controller. This means there will be a lag of possibly half a second though that's only an estimate based on what I've seen of this project in 2011. http://siliconrepublic.blogspot.com.au/2011/02/arduino-based…

    • Nom on 18/02/2014 - 11:59

      It changes almost instantly - check out the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQWhYzBu5V8

      In operation, it is almost exactly the same as Philips Ambilight :)

    • 9674784 on 18/02/2014 - 11:59

      I had an ambi-light tv. Was a decent little feature but the Philips screen itself was amazing. Their digital natural motion is still the best I've seen as well.

    • pbjabba on 18/02/2014 - 14:53

      On my desktop the capture rate is 10fps, so pretty quickly. Check out some youtube videos to see it in operation.

  • AlmightyGaz on 18/02/2014 - 11:55
    +1

    Will this come with an Australian power plug or would I need to use an adapter?

    • TonightAt11 on 18/02/2014 - 11:58
      +1

      They forgot the adapter during the KickStarter campaign but have since apologized and provided adapters for those that requested one.

      • leyton01 on 18/02/2014 - 12:02
        +1

        This is in their FAQ -

        Don't worry, it's already taken into account. We will provide suitable plugs for each country (except Australia — sorry for this) in accordance to delivery state or customer special request.

        "except Australia" - is this out of date"

        • davidl2 on 19/02/2014 - 00:35

          "except Australia" - as always…the forgotten one!

      • Joz2988 on 18/02/2014 - 12:22
        +1

        I requested one and never got it. Went to dick smiths and bought a converter.

    • jong on 18/02/2014 - 12:02

      According to the FAQ, no:

      We will provide suitable plugs for each country (except Australia — sorry for this) in accordance to delivery state or customer special request.

  • scyth3r on 18/02/2014 - 12:00

    I own one of these from the kickstarter project and its great. My next plan is to set it up with my xbox like this guy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuAtw4jCtms

    Just a note to everyone, this is NOT a hdmi passthrough device. You need a computer/android device with USB for the lightpack. The lightpack then reads whats on the edges of the screen of the computer/android device and outputs the appropriate colours to the LED bars which you stick onto the back of the TV

    • 2SeeKU on 18/02/2014 - 12:08

      Thanks. Do you know how it works via the Xbox then? How would the PC/Android device know what the xbox is outputting?

      • scyth3r on 18/02/2014 - 12:52
        +1

        This is how he gets it to work - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEgOqKYg0h4

        HDMI split the output of the xbox, 1 goes to tv while the other goes to HDMI to AV converter. Then using an AV capture to USB it can be mirrored on the computer screen. Then lightpack just reads the xbox being mirrored on the computer screen.

        It's a weird method and requires the extra equipment which he's linked in the youtube vid description but hey it works!

  • cyrax83 on 18/02/2014 - 12:04

    I actually have 2 of these hooked up, let me know if you guys have any questions. I also have some video

    • chid on 18/02/2014 - 14:11

      worth it?

      • cyrax83 on 18/02/2014 - 14:32

        If you don't mind tinkering. Software is still in its infancy. Once the software gets up to scratch it will be amazing. Not working in WMCE.

      • rapid101 on 18/02/2014 - 21:10

        I'm going to get one soon but from what I've heard it's good if you do lots of night gaming as it can help your eyes like f.lux can.

        It's also very similar to the illumiroom concept Microsoft had http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/illumiroom/ except a lightpack is cheaper than a projector is (cheapest ones are like $60 I think?

  • leyton01 on 18/02/2014 - 12:08

    I can't find this direct answer - will this work for Live TV on Win 7 Media Centre?

    • cyrax83 on 18/02/2014 - 12:09

      Not working with WMCE unless you use a program like "The Maximiser" to run it in a faux fullscreen mode. But I wouldn't bother, it results in visual tearing and you have to do it everytime. So, it's a no.

      • leyton01 on 18/02/2014 - 12:11

        Bummer - was looking forward to spending money on new tech.

  • samfisher5986 on 18/02/2014 - 12:09
    +4

    I have one of these, be aware that the software it runs on is very much alpha, this means

    1. Very high CPU usage, expect games to halve in FPS if thats what you want it to, and if you have a HTPC etc, don't expect to do much else besides lightpack and your movie as there won't be any CPU left.

    2. The effect is cool, but I never managed to adjust it to a point where it wasn't distracting during movies/tv shows, at the moment I only use it for music with visualisations.

    3. It doesn't work on full screen applications yet, you have to run borderless windowed.

    It does work fine with XBMC, and someone has made a plugin to automatically turn it off/on when you use it.

  • jjcf on 18/02/2014 - 12:10
    +7

    It's like undercar neons for nerds instead of fullsikbros.

    Hopefully, someone had kickstarted matching chrome boost guages and spoilers for your midi tower as well.

  • justtoreply on 18/02/2014 - 12:23
    +2

    So it's like LCD backlight bleeding - except you pay for it??!

    • justtoreply on 18/02/2014 - 12:24
      +4

      You could get the same effect with no CPU usage by cutting some slits in the plastic backing of your monitor ;)

    • shaun-o on 19/02/2014 - 00:25
      +2

      Does your backlight bleed colour?

  • Joz2988 on 18/02/2014 - 12:25

    I have one and I can say it looks good but you really need more than 1 light pack if the screen is more than 24 inches. I have it on a 32 inch and it doesn't look anything like their videos, they put 2 packs on a 32 inch screen.

    I have it running on XBMC on my Ouya and works great.

    • samfisher5986 on 18/02/2014 - 12:53

      I have one on my 50" and it looks the same as their video.

      It depends how you mount it and the distance away from the wall.

      • Joz2988 on 18/02/2014 - 12:56

        Mines about 4 inches or so from the wall. How far is yours?

    • scyth3r on 18/02/2014 - 13:42

      I've got one pack on my 42inch TV and it looks fine. the further away from the wall you get, the more distance light has to diffuse. Mines about 25cm from the wall

  • cyrax83 on 18/02/2014 - 12:25

    Some people are underestimating the product. LCD Backlight can enhance the visual effect of movies. This is mine before any configurations and before a proper install (just used stickytape for testing).
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTb0nLNM1TQ

    I've since installed it properly and increased the visual smoothness in effect change.

    The software however is still pretty buggy and needs development and is lacking features. I'd call the product a beta to be honest and you have to like tinkering.

    • Velocita on 18/02/2014 - 13:31

      I really really like the concept, I'm not sure I like it in practice during movies/games though. Seems a little off putting.

      • samfisher5986 on 18/02/2014 - 13:40

        Either way its amazing for music visualisations.

        • Velocita on 18/02/2014 - 13:47

          Yeah I could imagine. I liked the demonstrations where they were scrolling through menus and similar options, but when the action started it began to take center stage other than the screen being the main focus. Still very cool.
          Got a link for music visualisations using this?

        • samfisher5986 on 18/02/2014 - 14:14

          XBMC, it comes with milkdrop, one of the best visualisers available.

    • lyon on 18/02/2014 - 14:46

      How come mine is not as good as yours… :|
      You are only using 1 Lightpack? Or Two?

      I assume you don't change/tinker with any of the settings?

      • cyrax83 on 18/02/2014 - 14:50

        Two on 58" Plasma

        • lyon on 18/02/2014 - 14:53

          Ah, that explains the "accuracy" of the lights! Cheers

  • czechboi on 18/02/2014 - 12:47

    Excuse my ignorance but how do you configure this for use with a tv?

    Doesn't seem like it is just unbox and start using. From what I have read this would not work with something like free to air TV right?

    • samfisher5986 on 18/02/2014 - 12:54

      It does work with FTA and anything else, but it has to feed through a computer.

      • czechboi on 18/02/2014 - 12:59

        Ok so that was my question, it always has to run through a PC or another source.

        Would be awesome if it was just a matter of plugging it into a TV's HDMI port and away you go.

  • Miami Mall Alien on 18/02/2014 - 12:52
    -7

    You could buy 7 of these for that price:
    http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&p…

    • Nom on 18/02/2014 - 13:00
      +1

      That's not adaptive to the display content - it's literally just some white lights.

  • reecho on 18/02/2014 - 12:53

    If anybody is keen I have 2 lightpacks pick up in Perth $150….one has been opened for testing but not fitted.

    • Joz2988 on 18/02/2014 - 12:54

      I'd be interested in 1 if you wanted to split.

    • Phildoot on 18/02/2014 - 13:07

      I'll take them - you have messages disabled, shoot me a message.

      • reecho on 18/02/2014 - 14:55

        I have enabled msgs and private msg sent…..cheers

    • abedean on 18/02/2014 - 23:59

      Ill go next in line if deal falls through

  • KLoNe on 18/02/2014 - 13:09
    +2

    Yeah, these just aren't as good or user friendly as they make out unfortunately. Still a long way to go yet.

  • opt on 18/02/2014 - 13:44
    -3

    Interesting device, but I don't understand is why they didn't include HDMI support, that way they could have supported many other devices like Game consoles, Media players and set top boxes.

    • scyth3r on 18/02/2014 - 13:49

      Apparently a lot of licensing costs to read directly from HDMI signal and patent issues with phillips and their ambilight system

    • samfisher5986 on 18/02/2014 - 14:15
      +2

      This cost would skyrocket as it would move calculation of the screen to the device rather then the computer.

      Could easily be $200-300, which is not worth it.

      • Elijha on 18/02/2014 - 15:52

        well it would remove the need for my $2000 pc to be near my TV .. plus it could then be easily used on live TV, foxtel Xbox etc … as it is now its uses are limited and specific.

        • samfisher5986 on 18/02/2014 - 18:00

          Yes but it would be a failure as a product as not enough people would buy it for the expensive price.

  • lostn on 18/02/2014 - 13:47
    -2

    Good to see KS projects coming into fruition. But this looks a bit gimmicky to me.

  • lyon on 18/02/2014 - 14:39

    I backed this at KickStarter last time + have it now. Great if you like to watch movies while turning your bedroom lights off

    On my Dell U2713H monitor: http://i.imgur.com/bvl59th.jpg

    I should have uploaded a video of it on my YouTube channel to show off. Maybe some time later

    • samfisher5986 on 18/02/2014 - 15:18

      Why do your lights not match the picture? or it is on mood lamp?

  • GateheaD on 18/02/2014 - 15:29

    I'm running this on Openelec is you need any help setting that up.
    Boblightd + Boblight + a conf file.

  • stupidmansuit on 18/02/2014 - 23:51

    what do you guys think about the lightpack clones? like this one. it should offer the same amount of functionality as the original right? (that is what I understood form the kickstarter video) and it seems to come at a cheaper price considering there are more RGB LEDs
    http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/90x-RGB-Leds-Light-kit-LightPack-…

  • Elijha on 18/02/2014 - 23:52

    there seem to be a lot of unofficial ones to be found on ebay .. with more lights and or a cheaper price.

    • stupidmansuit on 18/02/2014 - 23:53

      would it be worth getting something from ebay instead of the official one? and according to the kickstarter page - all of it was open source - even hardware circuit boards. wouldn't be that hard for someone to come along and make something cheaper.

      • Elijha on 19/02/2014 - 00:14
        +1

        Yeah .. until the kickstarter was done (shipped this christmas) that was the only way to get them unless you were a solderer and mad one yourself… so yeah they work.

        I actually have the Kickstater one, and found it to be fairly poor on the PC (software capture on a large screen was poor), bought it mainly for the TV though and have it running on a raspberry pi via Hyperion fine - though it's still more convenient for me to just use my smartTV to stream directly then mess about just to use these lights. It is 10 strips of 4 leds.

        Keep in mind that as far as I can tell all 'lightpacks' are basically 10 light areas ( unless you by 2 or 3 or them and combine then its 20 or 30) with the number of LEDs on the strip the thing that changes between ebay variants so a 90LED kit is 10 strips with 9 leds on it .. each strip will only be one colour so more leds does not = more colour fidelity just brightness and area spread.

        While I like the 'build quality' its worth noting with the official version that a) you won't get an aussie plug from these guys, and b) a lot of them had issues where for example plugs 3,4,5 were out of order and were 5,3,7 or some such ( I had 3 and 4 transposed on mine)… neither of these are show stoppers at all - but the benefits of the official set wane on me a little.

        • stupidmansuit on 19/02/2014 - 00:38

          thanks mate (Y) really informative. Then I'll probably just go for the one one ebay or might get two with fewer LEDs

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