Helpful tips and tricks about Philips Hue make life easier with your own smart home. Whether it’s switches, apps or bridge settings, you can often get even more out of Philips Hue with a few little tricks.
Apple introduced a new HomeKit architecture this year with iOS 16.4. Apart from the fact that the iPad can no longer be used as a home hub, not much has changed in terms of handling the system. However, there is a big change in the interaction with Philips Hue. Pairing with HomeKit is now only possible if you use a home hub in the same network.
In September 2020, Philips Hue launched the first “Gradient” product on the market. The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box, which was released in 2019, was followed by the Philips Hue Play Gradient Lightstrip – a light strip for mounting behind the TV to create an Ambilight-like effect in combination with the Sync Box.
The Philips Hue Lightguide series was launched just over a year ago – if you can call it that. The Globe and Triangular versions were quickly discontinued due to quality problems, leaving only the Ellipse. And that’s exactly what Hueblog reader Tobi sent me a question about via Instagram: I would like to use a Hue Ellipse as a table lamp.
The Philips Hue Play Gradient Light Tube is actually intended for installation under a TV that is already equipped with a Play Gradient Light Strip on the other three sides. However, the smart tube is versatile and also cuts a fine figure in the bedroom, for example. We’ve been using it in our son’s nursery since we switched to a new bed (again).
Fabian1 Comment on Community question of the week: All about the Hue Secure alarm function Arming the system and activating the alarm auf Deutsch lesen Arming the system and activating the alarm
The Hue Secure system, which was launched around two months ago and so far consists of three different camera models and contact sensors, still has many unresolved issues. Today I would like to answer two interesting questions from the community about Hue Secure and the connected smart home cameras from Philips Hue as soon as more than one bridge is involved.
Last week, Hueblog reader Raphael sent me a rather exciting and interesting question about Philips Hue. I would like to present the answer to all readers here on the blog, as newcomers in particular may not yet be aware of this major advantage of Philips Hue. But let’s get to the question first: My Hue Bridge is connected to the router in the house.
A community post by Jenaih brought a rather interesting story to my attention. He writes in his comment: “Am I the only one who noticed that the effects Candle, Fireplace and Prism also run on Hue lamps without Bluetooth?” I can now answer this question with a partially “yes”. But let’s start from the beginning.
I’m sure I reported on this last year or the year before, but the question keeps coming back to me – twice this week, in fact: How do you link a second Philips Hue Bridge to your Philips Hue account? For example, Paul writes to me in an email: “I have a holiday home in which I operate a second Hue Bridge.
Hue Secure was officially integrated into the Hue app this week, but apart from integrating existing motion sensors, there’s not much you can do with Philips Hue’s new security system yet. Cameras and contact sensors are only “coming soon”, the official statement still reads “in autumn”. However, I couldn’t just sit around idly either, so I tried my luck with two ZigBee contact sensors.
At the end of August, Philips Hue introduced another new light source. After E27, GU10 and E14, there are now spots with a GU5.3 base. From September, the new lamps will be available as White Ambiance and White and Color Ambiance, but there are still some question marks. For example, Marvin asks in our comments section: Is there already information in the technical data about the protection class of the new lamps?