It feels like everything is getting more expensive right now; even Apple has recently implemented massive price hikes. And Philips Hue is once again turning the price screw. At least, that’s what I’ve observed in the German Philips Hue online store, and it appears other countries are affected as well.
Throughout June, more and more reports began appearing online about Hue Bridge Pro units being rendered inoperable. Hueblog readers have now also confirmed that the Hue Bridge Pro could be completely disabled by a faulty firmware update. It stops working entirely; only a red status LED remains lit. Affected control hubs become completely inoperable and must be replaced.
Last fall, Philips Hue introduced the first bulbs capable of communicating via Thread in addition to Zigbee and Bluetooth. This enables direct pairing with a Matter border router. However, during the initial setup, users previously had to choose a communication method: either pairing with a Hue Bridge or connecting directly to a Matter system.
Last night, I ended up turning on Sports Live again. Our German team’s game was actually quite entertaining and, above all, full of goals—perfect for lighting effects in combination with Philips Hue lights. But what happens after the World Cup? So far, Sports Live has actually only been confirmed for the major tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.
It’s truly remarkable how much effort Philips Hue is putting into developing the new Hue Bridge Pro. Since its launch in September, there has been at least one software update every month. June, which has just begun, is no exception, as Philips Hue is already rolling out a new software version today.
In Europe, Philips Hue raised the price of the Hue Bridge Pro—which was only launched last September—a few weeks ago. In Germany and other countries, the price went from €89.99 to €99.99. Not exactly great news, but ultimately still a moderate price increase. The situation is quite different in the US.
Yesterday I was a guest at Logitech in Munich. You’re probably wondering: What does this have to do with Philips Hue? Well, the two companies have launched a partnership. For some time now, you’ve been able to control Hue lights using the Logi Options+ software in conjunction with MX products. But that’s another story, which I’ll explain in more detail to you soon.
Last fall, Philips and Sonos launched their partnership. It all began with the integration of Philips Hue into Sonos Voice Control. Using simple voice commands that are processed locally and don’t rely on the cloud, you can easily control the Hue lights in your home via Sonos speakers. So far, there’s been just one hurdle: even years after its launch, Sonos Voice Control is still available exclusively in English and French.
It’s time for a few updates again. The next version of the Philips Hue app, this time likely without any major new features, is expected to be released later this week. Updates for the Hue Bridge Pro and the standard Hue Bridge are already being rolled out. In addition, information is finally available regarding the update for numerous Hue lights.
On Wednesday, Philips Hue announced a brand-new feature that will be used for the first time during the upcoming World Cup. During each match, you’ll be able to make your Hue lights in the living room (or any other room in your home) light up in sync with the game. Today, I’d like to share a few more details about the new Hue Sports Live with you.
Fabian