I would like to use the weekend to thank you all once again. Of course, for stopping by here regularly. But even more so for always keeping a watchful eye and sending me tips and information. In the last few months alone, I have been able to publish two exciting reports thanks to the community.
Motion detection with Philips Hue has been possible for what feels like ages with the Hue Motion Sensor. The motion detector is available for indoor and outdoor use, and its tasks can now also be performed by a Hue Secure camera. I told you some time ago that Philips Hue is working on motion detection without additional hardware.
Almost ten years after the launch of the second-generation Hue Bridge, Philips Hue continues to work on the security of its control hub. The firmware of the Hue Bridge has now been updated once again and software version 1971060010 is now available. Among other things, this update has improved the security of the system.
Philips Hue has been offering its Hue Secure products for more than a year and a half now, including several cameras and contact sensors for windows and doors. However, one particularly important function is still missing: location-based control of the system. Until now, you have always had to manually select in the Hue app whether you are currently at home or whether the system should be armed when you are away.
In April 2019, Signify, formerly Philips Lighting, acquired the French company WiZ. Since then, it has been operating as a low-budget brand with WiFi connectivity right next to the top dog Philips Hue. Now I ask myself: could the products of the two brands WiZ and Philips Hue soon be compatible with each other?
We’re bridging the bridge between the public holiday and the weekend in Germany with two small firmware updates for Philips Hue. There is new software for the Philips Hue Bridge and the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 4K. However, there are no major innovations, I can already say that in advance.
Not a day goes by without questions in my inbox or in the small Hueblog community. With this e-mail from Philip, I would like to draw your attention to a topic that I am sure many of you are interested in: The backup function, which has been in development for quite some time, but has never been officially announced until now.
Philips Hue has now been on the market for more than ten years and the first-generation lamps are still working. Since then, some products have disappeared from the market or have been replaced by newer versions, such as the Hue Tap switch. However, there are still some “dusty” products that are still being sold.
The Philips Hue Datura was launched in Europe, and therefore also in my home country Germany, last year. Now there is good news for all Hue fans in the United States, because the Hue Datura can now also be ordered there. For $299.99 you can get the round Hue Datura with a diameter of 38 centimeters and a maximum brightness of 3,000 lumens.
In September 2023, Philips Hue presented its smart home cameras, and the launch was accompanied by a contact sensor. Apart from price reductions and software updates, not much has changed since then and the Hue Secure portfolio has remained unchanged for almost two years. This could change this year. I can well imagine that Philips Hue will add further components to the Hue Secure system in the fall.
Fabian