FabianApproval documents already suggested it at the beginning of the year, then yesterday the first product photos surfaced. Signify, the manufacturer of Philips Hue, will launch a smart home camera. However, not in the Hue cosmos, but for the independently operating WiFi system of the WiZ brand.
Works with Nest has since been discontinued
However, the topic of Philips Hue and camera is not entirely new. Until Google neutered its interfaces a few years ago, it was possible to link smart cameras and even smoke detectors from Nest with Philips Hue light bulbs via the “Works with Nest” programme. As soon as a camera or smoke detector detected something, Hue light bulbs in the house could easily be switched on.
With current smart home systems such as HomeKit or Alexa, it is also relatively easy to connect cameras and lamps from different manufacturers, including Philips Hue, of course. What sounds like child’s play to us, however, is perhaps already one hurdle too many for newcomers.
From this perspective, it is quite obvious that WiZ is now launching a “Home Monitoring Starter Kit”. Camera and light source are combined directly in one app. Would this also be something for Philips Hue? After all, our favourite brand belongs to the same manufacturer as WiZ.
In my experience, all wireless security cameras are flawed. They seem to work ok but there has been reliability issues with every single one I have tried.
Philips Hue should concentrate on their core business and accessories that augment that, like mmWave sensors motion or other tighter integrations.
They have to make it competitively priced for it to even be an option. I pay the higher prices for some of the lights but I don’t see myself paying 3x the cost of a competitor for a camera when there are a ton of other options.
Rather than cameras, I’d appreciate a more comprehensive ZigBee offering. If they want to, they could implement the option for power outlets to be “appliances”, rather than just “lamps”, maybe offer door sensors, thermometers, etc. Above that, though, I’d like the app to be more responsive and less fragmented.
Maybe supporting blinds, which are kind of lamp:ish, and light related? 🤔
Of course, not produce and market their own but allow the integration of other – zigbee based – brands, like IKEA etc.
Not a chance. Given Hues lack of investment in their lighting platform (specifically the limitations in their hub which is now very much legacy and outdated) existing customers feel very let down. Hue need to release a new lighting hub, and should focusing on nothing else until they fix the problem that is years old.