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.
Last October, I was able to announce that Philips Hue was working on AI-generated scenes for its lighting system. The feature was officially announced in early 2025, and at least the icon has already appeared in the Hue app. Now the official rollout is beginning, albeit with some limitations. “Earlier this week, we started an initial rollout of the Hue AI assistant to our English-speaking users in the Benelux”, explains Hue inventor George Yianni.
In recent years, I have been repeatedly confronted with support requests on this very topic, and now Philips Hue has finally integrated a solution into its app. With version 5.43 of the Hue app, which is already available in the Apple App Store and will soon also be available in the Google Play Store, a small accessory trap has been fixed.
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?
After almost exactly four weeks, there is finally a new update for the Philips Hue app in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Version 5.42.0 of the Hue app is now available for download, meaning that 5.41.0 has been omitted. What has changed in the new version? For the first time, it is now possible to hide the master switch on the home page.
It’s incredible how quickly time flies. Almost exactly ten years ago, Philips Hue introduced its still current Bridge (see header image). Back then, it was a modern piece of technology that was even made compatible with Apple HomeKit shortly afterwards. But one limit has never changed since then: The maximum number of connected lamps.
I currently only have a wired Hue Secure camera in use, which performs its tasks reliably within the limits of its capabilities. However, I keep reading about problems with the battery-powered Hue Secure cameras in the comments and on social media. What is particularly interesting is that not all cameras seem to be affected by the problems, some of which are considerable.
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.
Fabian