When some Hue users discovered in June that their Hue Bridge Pro had stopped working after an update, it caused quite a stir. Philips Hue identified the issue relatively quickly and, according to its own statements, determined that fewer than 100 devices worldwide were affected. So the damage was limited, even though the situation was, of course, extremely frustrating for affected users.
There’s yet another new update for the official Philips Hue app. Version 5.71 has been available for download in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store since yesterday evening. This update brings improvements not only for the Hue Secure camera but also for the MotionAware feature. But let’s take it one step at a time.
It’s been nearly 14 years since Philips Hue first saw the light of day. The vast majority of the bulbs sold back then with the first starter kits are still working today. It’s an impressive success story, now summarized once again in a detailed video podcast from The Verge. The video, which runs over an hour and features not only The Verge’s David Pierce and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy but also a smart home journalist and Hue inventor George Yianni, is available to watch in full for free on YouTube.
With the launch of the Hue Flux and the Hue Flux Ultra Bright, Philips Hue has definitely headed in the right direction. The light strips have become more affordable, can display color gradients, and—if desired—are even brighter than ever before. Plus, Philips Hue is one of the few manufacturers that offers accessories allowing the light strips to be connected to one another and laid out flexibly.
The Philips Hue Secure Video Doorbell remains one of my favorite gadgets from the Hue ecosystem; in particular, the light alert triggered by the doorbell button is a real highlight. Philips Hue will soon be offering a new replacement part for the doorbell in its store—and there’s a good reason for that.
Earlier this week, the issue with the latest firmware update for the Hue Bridge Pro caused quite a stir. According to Philips Hue, however, fewer than 100 devices worldwide were ultimately affected. Was it really not that big of a deal after all? We can probably all agree that, after all these years, a backup feature for the Hue Bridge and Hue Bridge Pro is absolutely essential.
In June, Philips Hue launched several new products, including the new Hue Play floor lamp. Its design is clearly reminiscent of the Philips Hue Gradient Signe, which has been available for several years now. The price difference between the two floor lamps, however, is striking. I’d like to explain the differences to you—just as I did with the smaller table lamps.
It feels like everything is getting more expensive right now; even Apple has recently implemented massive price hikes. And Philips Hue is once again turning the price screw. At least, that’s what I’ve observed in the German Philips Hue online store, and it appears other countries are affected as well.
Throughout June, more and more reports began appearing online about Hue Bridge Pro units being rendered inoperable. Hueblog readers have now also confirmed that the Hue Bridge Pro could be completely disabled by a faulty firmware update. It stops working entirely; only a red status LED remains lit. Affected control hubs become completely inoperable and must be replaced.
I briefly mentioned this yesterday in my weekly recap on hueblog.de, and I’ve since received some feedback from you all. The latest firmware update for the Hue Bridge Pro appears to be causing significant problems for some users. In addition to the posts on Reddit, I’ve also received a handful of emails from you.
Fabian