I already introduced the Lutron Aurora to you last year and I have to admit that I just love the idea. The manufacturer has created a switch that can be easily installed over an existing switch without having to interfere with the electronics. So it's almost exactly what we have all been wanting for a long time.
I have reported on Nanoleaf on several occasions in the past, and of course the French company has some exciting new products in store for the CES in Las Vegas this week. There is finally some definite information about the hexagonal light elements announced last year.
Even though most of us still rely on the full-grown Hue system with a bridge, I don't want to leave out today's update for the Bluetooth version of the Hue app. It is interesting for beginners who want to start with only a few bulbs – or for children's rooms where the child’s smartphone should only display lamps from their own room.
Last year in April, we announced that the popular Android app Hue Essentials will also be available for iOS. Now the release is online. Hue Essentials (App Store link) is now available for iPhone and iPad. Since we are rooted in the Apple cosmos we generally rely on the well-known and long-standing application iConnectHue.
A few weeks ago I already presented the SM216 from Samotech to you. With the switch adapter, mounting the Hue Smart Button over an existing light switch should not be a problem anymore. Now I can confirm: conversion is really very easy. Unfortunately, the Samotech SM216 is not yet available in stores.
The Hue Smart Button has kept us pretty busy in the past few weeks since its launch at the end of October. Especially the problems in connection with third-party accessories have caused irritation. As I was able to report last week, Signify took care of the problem and provided a firmware update for the Hue Smart Button.
MelLeave a Comment on Richer Colors, Perfect Fit & Annoying Sound: problems with the new GU10 spots More and more users report annoying whining More and more users report annoying whining
Philips Hue has taken a step in the right direction with the new GU10 spots which were launched in late summer. The new models are brighter, provide better colour rendition and have also been shrunk to a perfect size so that they fit easily into spot lights from other manufacturers. However, there seems to be another innovation besides Richer Colors & Perfect Fit: An extremely annoying whining.
Philips televisions with built-in Ambilight are a great thing. I've been using one myself for years but in the end a good offer for an LG TV came through. If you have an Ambilight TV in use you should definitely keep in mind the issues surrounding the interaction between Ambilight and Hue described in this article.
Do you remember my previous articles from November 2019? Back then, I reported that using the Hue Smart Button causes problems with third-party accessories, especially when used with the popular Innr Smart Plug. Also affected were Innr lamps or ZigBee products from Paul Neuhaus. As soon as the Smart Button is connected to the Bridge, these devices lose their connection after a few hours.
Finally, someone has understood what it's all about. After numerous smart home systems have flooded the market in recent years, it feels like just as many standards have been established. Some systems work together, but other products cannot be linked. The Connected Home over IP project is intended to address this problem.