FabianNext week, Philips Hue will not only introduce a number of new hardware products, including new Play Light Strips, Festavia models, the Nanoleaf controller, and new Sync hardware. Software development isn’t being neglected either: the partnership with Sonos is being further expanded.
Last year, Sonos expanded its in-house Voice Control to include Philips Hue lights, rooms, and scenes. Unfortunately, Sonos’s locally running voice assistant is still only available in English and French. If you use Philips Hue and Sonos in your smart home, you’ll soon be able to enjoy a new feature.
This is Sonos Accessory Control
I had already reported on this potential feature back in May, and now we can make it a reality: On a support page that has since been taken offline, Philips Hue presented Sonos Accessory Control in detail.
“With the Sonos Accessory Control feature, you can use your Hue accessories—such as switches or buttons—to easily control Sonos speakers and other Hue devices in your system,” the introduction states. In principle, all Hue switches are supported, including the wall switch module, the dimmer switch, the Smart Button, and even the buttons on the Twilight bedside lamp.
Philips Hue also reveals which Sonos actions will soon be controllable via Hue buttons: “You can customize your setup with a combination of control functions for Sonos and Hue devices. With Sonos, you can control playback (play/pause, next/previous track), start a favorite song or radio station, and adjust the volume.”
Another exciting feature: Sonos speakers are controlled entirely locally via the Hue Bridge and do not require an internet connection. All you’ll need to do is link your Sonos account through the Smart Home settings in the Hue app.
