I saw this at the home of an old chum in SoCal over the turning of the year: The Philips ÂHue lighting system. LED bulbs incorporate wireless technology and are controllable from iPad or iPhone (or, presumably, Android analogues). User preferences include color, brightness, timing. Set on-off beforehand while you're on vacation; adjust remotely from the road. At home, specify ambience for specific functions (reading, romance). Home wireless setup required, natch. I was very impressed seeing the system in action, particularly when I was persuaded that the LEDs could be made as bright as a "proper" incandescent bulb.
The downside is that you will pay dearly to be an early adopter: the "starter kit" of three bulbs and software is about $270. Additional bulbs run between $100 and $130 apiece (shop wisely!). They had better last a long, long time: I'd be prepared to lay out a C-note for a bulb that does all that Philips claims it will do, but I want at least three midterm elections to elapse between purchases. Still, I'm tempted to spring for the starter kit as a substitute for the cumbersome mechanical light timer presently and annoyingly in use.
Pitch here:
http://www.meethue.com/en-US
cordially,