FabianShortly after the announcements about Hue Secure and Hue Sync, Philips Hue has delivered the first app update of the year. Version 5.33 of the app is now available for you to download – and there is at least one new function. This revolves around scattered mode, which was originally introduced with the Hue Festavia and is now also available for all other gradient lamps from Philips Hue.
“You can now customize the number of colors your gradient light displays while in Scattered mode. To try it out, tap the light card, tap the Style icon, and tap each color to remove it, or tap the plus icon (+) to add more,” reads the Philips Hue update description. The effect distributes five colors colorfully across the various segments of the light source. In the case of the light chain, this has led to a colorful distribution of colors.
Unfortunately, I can’t tell you how many different colors you can select from the color wheel for diffuse mode. My three Hue Bridges require an update after starting the app, but I can only initiate this if I’m in the same Wi-Fi network – and that’s a bit difficult from Las Vegas. If you are already one step further, please write in the comments how many colors you have been able to select. I’m also happy to hear about any other new features that didn’t make it into the update notes.
I’m seeing a maximum of 5 colors in scattered mode on my gradient light strips.
It provides 2 to 5 colors for most of the Gradient products.
(Tested with both lengths of Play gradient light tubes, Signe gradient floor lamps, Play gradient lightstrips “ambilight style” for TVs & Monitors, Gradient lightstrips, and Festavia 20M).
Only exception is the Signe gradient table light, which provides only 2 to 4 colors.
They also added a randomize/shuffle orientation button for the linear and mirrored styles.
I noticed that the new version 5.33.0 (iOS) includes functions that allow to set a schedule for arming the HUE security system. I found them in the “Automation” tab and in the “Setting->Security” tab. Unfortunately these functions do not work properly on my iPhone and iPad. I was unable to set such schedule. Hue App asks to set the country and time zone and it doesn’t go any further. Has anyone managed to set such schedule or there is bug in the app ?
Indeed, my bridges have the timezone set properly and can do sunrise/sunset based automation, but the new “Arming schedule” automation first asks to confirm the home’s location and timezone, and fails to complete that step. Also, the online home properties do not include location and timezone, this is only a bridge-specific information for now.
I suspect they want to add the home location and timezone to configure that at the home group level instead of the individual bridge level, and that automation wizard will only work once the backend has been updated to contain that information.
The same symptoms are in my Hue app. This function needs to be fixed in the next app release.