The Philips Hue Smart Button has found many fans in recent weeks, even though it is very resource-intensive and expensive. Today, I would like to point out a function that the Hue Smart Button does not yet implement in a good way. It’s all about the dimming function which is actually quite well integrated.
It’s been almost two years since Philips Hue released a big update for its app. Since then some new features have been added but in visual terms, everything has remained the same. Smart lamps are also available from other manufacturers – and in this case, LIFX is showing how modern and useful such an app might look like.
Some time ago, I already introduced the Samotech SM216, a light switch adapter for the Philips Hue Smart Button. Unfortunately, the small carrier was only available for a short time in Germany, ordering it via the manufacturer’s UK website involves high shipping costs. Now there is an alternative from Rhodesy.
In the past months, I have been asked a question again and again: how can I restrict access to the Hue app on a child’s smartphone? The bad news is that there is no such option yet. It is simply not intended.
MelLeave a Comment on iConnectHue 4.1 released: These are the new features Exclusive long button press, light migration wizard and more Exclusive long button press, light migration wizard and more
The application iConnectHue (App Store link) for iPhone and iPad, which is now partly subscription-based, has received its first functional update after the major upgrade a few months ago. It comes with the exclusive long print, which I already presented to you a few weeks ago. What else there is to discover?
So is this good news or bad news? Check Point’s security experts have discovered a vulnerability in the Hue system that allows you to access even computers that are shared on the network with the Hue Bridge. The vulnerability has now been resolved by Signify – at least partly. Signify, the manufacturer of Philips Hue, was already informed about the gap in the system in November 2019.
Almost two years ago, Philips Hue launched the Calla and Lily, its first outdoor lights. I have also used three of them in my garden and have noticed a bit of condensation at one time or another. Depending on the respective weather conditions, this is completely normal. In my case, it was actually only a few drops, which disappeared again with the next sunshine.
At CES earlier this month, Signify announced three new partners for its Friends of Hue program. All of them are from German-speaking countries and are therefore especially interesting for us. Before I provide you with further details, I would like to give you the official text of the press release: “The partnership program of Philips Hue also has some new features: the smart lighting can now be controlled with new intelligent switches developed by Voltus and Jung.
The Friends of Hue switches from various manufacturers have been available for about a year now, and for us in Germany, Busch-Jaeger and Gira are of particular interest. In cooperation with the Berlin start-up Senic, Gira launched a Friends of Hue switch on the market last September. Happily, it can be integrated into the Standard 55 system.
iConnectHue (App Store-Link) for iPhone and iPad has always offered the possibility to assign a long keystroke to the Philips Hue dimmer switch, and more recently to the Philips Hue Smart Button. Until now, this function had only one disadvantage: the long key press was always executed in addition to the short key press.