It is only through the numerous applications from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store that Philips Hue has become what it is today. Here you’ll find the best apps for your smart light.
In the past, there were already ways to make your own Hue lamps light up to music – in different colours and brightnesses. Until then, such disco functions usually required access to the smartphone microphone. A solution that is not necessarily optimal. As of today, Philips Hue offers a deep integration of Spotify.
Already with the launch of the new Philips Hue app, Signify has announced to deliver an exciting new feature this summer: Dynamic Scenes. After I already gave you the first key data around the new feature quite a while ago, there is now news. As I was told by several readers, the dynamic scenes are probably about to be launched and are to be officially introduced with the update to version 4.4 of the Hue app.
As announced by me last week, Philips Hue has now released version 4.3 of its app. And even though we still have to wait for proper widgets for iPhone and iPad – if anything will happen here at all – there are some new features. The first innovation listed by Philips Hue in the update description, however, is not new at all.
After version 4.2 of the Philips Hue app was released earlier this month and, among other things, the timers returned, work is now already underway on the next update. Version 4.3 should make it to the App Store in the coming weeks and brings some improvements. The Hue Light Scene Gallery, the area where you can select the predefined scenes, receives a visual makeover and is supplemented by two new groups with new scenes for Entertainment and Outdoor.
A little patience is still needed until Philips Hue officially presents its new products on 1st September. I have already given you a small preview of some of the new products this week. More products are still expected, although some of them will only be available in October. Of course, the launch of the Gradient products is particularly exciting.
I have already mentioned it several times in the past: Many of you miss the widgets. With the launch of the new Philips Hue app they were banned from iPhone and iPad, as an alternative you are supposed to use Siri shortcuts. For many Hue fans, this is not a satisfying alternative.
If you opened the Software Update section in the Hue app this week, you may have wondered about the large amount of updates available. Signify has not yet commented on the details of the new firmware in the release notes, but I can provide you with more information. Philips Hue is laying the foundation for dynamic scenes with the current firmware update for virtually all light bulbs and sockets.
Philips Hue has released app version 4.2 for iOS and Android. And as of now, the timers are back. They are well hidden: You can find them in the “Automations” section and have to scroll down quite a bit – the timers have made it into the app as the penultimate function.
One of the biggest criticisms of the current Philips Hue app for many users is the tile view. What still looks quite pretty with the scenes and is also quite good to use thanks to two rows, is a big cramp with the lamps. Here, only one row is used for the display and on many smartphones there is a lot of unused space, yet you can only see three bulbs without having to scroll horizontally.
The subject of widgets has kept the Hue community very busy in recent weeks. Not without reason, because the widgets, which were popular with many users, have been virtually eliminated without replacement on the iPhone and iPad. Siri shortcuts and the corresponding iOS widgets are to serve as a replacement. A workaround, because only these can perform actions directly from the homescreen without having to open the Hue app.
Fabian
Frederick