More than a year after the original announcement, Philips Hue unlocked the new Natural Light feature yesterday. A 24-hour scene that provides the optimal white light throughout the different times of the day. Cool, activating white tones in the morning and relaxed warm white in the evening. The first big problem: Natural Light can so far only be activated manually in the app.
Last year, Philips Hue already announced the new “Natural Light” feature. After a bit of a false start in the summer, the new feature is finally available with the release of version 4.32 of the Philips Hue app. I would like to briefly introduce you to what you can expect. This is how Philips Hue explains its new feature Natural light uses different shades of warm-to-cool white light that are designed to help you stay productive and feel supported in your overall wellbeing.
Just before Christmas, Philips Hue probably didn’t dare to release the big new feature “Natural Light”. Nevertheless, there is an update – and there are actually some useful functions. If you have a Gradient Lightstrip or another Gradient light source, such as the Signe, in use, you can now also use the mirrored mode known from the Festavia light chain.
To control my Hue lights, I prefer to use the official app from Philips Hue. To configure accessories, I have so far resorted to iConnectHue (App Store link). With the latest update to version 4.14, Stefan Göhler’s app offers numerous new functions around the topic of colours – and thus also becomes really interesting for controlling lamps.
We really don’t need to discuss that Philips Hue is expensive fun. But apparently expensive is not yet expensive enough. After the prices were already increased in January 2021 for outdoor products and then in May for almost all other Hue devices, the next price increase is now imminent. According to my information, Philips Hue will adjust its official price recommendations again on February 1st 2023 – upwards.
If you were flirting with buying the new Philips Hue Festavia before Christmas, there’s bad news for you: Nothing left. Apart from one small country surrounded by big mountains, the string lights are currently out of stock. In Switzerland, there is still a remaining contingent available. According to my information, it is almost impossible that there will be a possibility to order the Festavia light chain via the Philips Hue Shop before Christmas.
The new Philips Hue Lightguide series with the iconic light bulb design was supposed to be launched at the end of September. The first products were also shipped at that time – until increased problems with condensation inside the glass globes were discovered. After that, sales were stopped completely. Now there is good news: At least one of the three Lightguide models is available again.
iConnectHue (App Store-Link) is one of the most popular places to go from the Apple App Store when it comes to controlling and configuring Philips Hue. The developer Stefan Göhler always delivers new updates and functions – next he will take care of the gradient control. Until now, you could only use magic scenes in iConnectHue to make the Philips Hue Gradient bulbs shine in multiple colours.
You have to hand it to Philips Hue: After they have made a mess of one or the other product launch in the past and the availability in the in-house online shop was often very poor, it worked out wonderfully with the Festavia string light despite the tight schedule. On 11 November, which was a Friday, it was possible to order the string light in the Philips Hue online shop, and the first orders were already delivered on the following Monday.
It had been announced for a long time, but now the time has come: If you use the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box, you no longer have to use the Hue Sync App to control it. With the update to version 4.31, the functions have been integrated into the Sync section of the Hue app.
Fabian