I already announced it on Monday, now it has happened sooner than expected: Philips Hue 4.12 is now available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. In addition to the already announced effects Fireplace and Candle, the new version also brings six new, especially romantic scenes for Valentine’s Day.
In my opinion, the new effects have hidden themselves quite well, because they are not integrated like a normal scene, but have to be activated individually for each lamp. How does that work? Quite simple:
- Open the room view
- Then click on a lamp
- Open the effects via the small icon with the three stars
- Select the desired effect
Important: The effects only work on lamps of the newer generation, recognisable by the ZigBee+Bluetooth functionality. The only exception is the first generation Hue Go, which can also display the effects. The candle effect also works with a Hue White, for the fireplace effect at least one White Ambiance lamp is required.
If you have several lamps in a room and want them to display one of the two effects at the same time, you can save your setting as a scene. Simply set the entire room once the way you want it – and then tap on the icon with the three dots and “Save as new scene” in the lamp view.
There are probably discrepancies around the Philips Hue Play Lightbar. There are different model revisions of the entertainment lamp launched in 2018. The Play Lightbar with the identifier LCT024 does not support the effects. Newer models, which were supposedly sold from 2021, apparently support the effect with the latest firmware.
The update description at a glance
- Mimic the natural world with all-new effects! Use Candle for a soft, gentle glow or Fireplace for dancing flames. Compatible with newer-generation lights. Open a light in the app — you’ll see the effects icon if it’s compatible with effects.
- We’ve added 6 new scenes to the new Romantic category in the Hue scene gallery — just in time for Valentine’s Day!