The launch of the new Hue wall switch modules is just around the corner. My local hardware store has already confirmed the prices, and all five new products (including a two-pack) are already listed on a Swiss online store. Additionally, a small but not entirely insignificant piece of technical information has come to light.
Philips Hue will be launching several new products later this month. But as we all know, the year is still long, and Philips Hue’s biggest launch usually takes place in early September around the time of IFA in Berlin. Possibly including two new products that a Hueblog reader has now discovered in his Hue app.
It’s truly remarkable how much effort Philips Hue is putting into developing the new Hue Bridge Pro. Since its launch in September, there has been at least one software update every month. June, which has just begun, is no exception, as Philips Hue is already rolling out a new software version today.
In Europe, Philips Hue raised the price of the Hue Bridge Pro—which was only launched last September—a few weeks ago. In Germany and other countries, the price went from €89.99 to €99.99. Not exactly great news, but ultimately still a moderate price increase. The situation is quite different in the US.
Just under two years ago, the Hue Slim recessed light was launched in a total of four different versions: with a white or black housing and a diameter of 9 or 17 centimeters. An improved version will be released later this month. This was already to be expected, as the previous models have been offered at significantly reduced prices in recent weeks.
Back in mid-May, I was able to tell you that Philips Hue was working on two new products in the Play series and would likely release them in June: a 60-centimeter-tall Hue Play table lamp and a 135-centimeter-tall Hue Play floor lamp. The latter is labeled “Hue Play Floor Lamp Large” on the packaging.
There’s another new update for the Philips Hue app available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Version 5.68.0 is available for free download for all users. In addition to the usual bug fixes, there’s also a new feature. “You can now edit a scene directly while previewing it from the Scene Gallery”, according to the update description for iPhone and iPad.
Philips Hue hasn’t exactly been successful at keeping its new products under wraps this summer. Following the new lights from the Hue Play series and the improved E14 candle bulbs, new wall switch modules have now also appeared. There will be four new products in total, including, for the first time, switch actuators for the smart control of classic ceiling lights.
For comprehensive configuration of your entire Philips Hue setup, the paid iConnectHue app for iPhone and iPad continues to offer the most features. German developer Stefan Göhler has been hard at work again in recent weeks and has now added support for MotionAware zones in conjunction with the Hue Bridge Pro.
Yesterday I was a guest at Logitech in Munich. You’re probably wondering: What does this have to do with Philips Hue? Well, the two companies have launched a partnership. For some time now, you’ve been able to control Hue lights using the Logi Options+ software in conjunction with MX products. But that’s another story, which I’ll explain in more detail to you soon.
Fabian