I’m not really familiar with the Android world, but I could imagine that something like this has existed there for some time. With iOS 18, Apple has expanded Dark Mode and now also offers darkening on the home screen. To be more precise, app icons can be darkened. However, this still requires the help of the app developers in some cases, including Philips Hue.
On 3 October, Philips Hue released another update to its official application in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Version 5.27 is particularly interesting for owners of a current iPhone and iPad, as it integrates a new augmented reality function. This allows you to try out numerous Philips Hue products virtually within your own four walls.
That I can still experience something like this. After the prices of numerous Philips Hue products have continued to rise in recent years, they are now going down. Since 1 October, Philips Hue Secure cameras have been offered at significantly lower prices. The price adjustment is permanent and applies to all markets.
Philips Hue has been offering another firmware update for its Bridge since last week. With software version 1966117030, the long-lost “Do not disturb my scene” function, which was previously part of the now discontinued Hue Labs, is also set to return. At the moment, I assume that this function will be rolled out slowly.
Yesterday evening, Philips Hue released an update for its application. After the announcement at the beginning of September, we are waiting for some exciting features, but unfortunately I have to disappoint you here. It’s only a small update – but I don’t want to leave it unmentioned for the sake of completeness.
iConnectHue received another update yesterday and you can now download version 5.7 from the App Store on iPhone and iPad. And there is some interesting news, as four new effects from Philips Hue are already available in the third-party app. So if you can’t wait any longer to use Cosmos, Underwater, Enchant and Sunbeam in the Hue app, the new effects are now available in iConnectHue – but only for members or with a 2024 package.
At the beginning of September, Philips Hue not only presented several new products at the Internationale Funkausstellung in Berlin, but also numerous new software features. For example, the multi-bridge support was explained in detail and an impressive augmented reality function was shown. Unfortunately, I didn’t actually think to enquire about the possible backup function, which I reported on earlier this year.
One question has been asked again and again over the past few days, perhaps because of the announcement of the new Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8K: When is the Hue Sync app finally coming to other TVs? A year and a half after its launch, the €129 application is still only available on Samsung televisions.
Philips Hue introduced new GU10 spotlights in the summer, with the White Ambiance and White and Color Ambiance models in particular benefiting from significant improvements. The new spots now achieve an impressive 350 lumens with standard white, and 400 lumens with 4,000 Kelvin. In addition, “deep dimming” is now possible and the service life has been increased from 15,000 to 25,000 hours.
Exactly 20 years ago, the first Philips TV with integrated Ambilight was presented at IFA 2004. Since then, 35 million TVs have been sold and 80 percent of buyers do not want to do without the backlight on their next TV. I feel the same way, so today I would like to take a look back and ahead.
Fabian