Perhaps you have already noticed: Today is the longest day of the year. It's also clear that the days are getting shorter again and lighting is needed on the terrace or balcony in the evening. Philips Hue has presented a potential candidate today: The portable table lamp from the Hue Go series.
In late summer 2022, Philips Hue will launch its first own track system. Various starter sets starting at 649.99 euros can be configured with additional light sources and accessories so that you can create your very own lighting experience. Even though I have not yet been able to install the Perifo system in my home, I have already been able to gather the first impressions for you.
In addition to third-party Friends of Hue switches, Philips Hue has previously offered the Dimmer Switch, Smart Button and Wall Switch Module as “light switch” accessories. After the retirement of the Hue Tap a few years ago, the second generation is now on its way: The Philips Hue Tap Dial switch.
Finally the time has come: Philips Hue has introduced new products. As of today, the first new light sources and also a new switch are already available, and more new products are to be launched by late summer. And as I can already announce: What Philips Hue has shown today will not be all for the year 2022.
This autumn, it is hopefully time: The new smart home standard Matter is to launch and be able to connect a wide variety of devices. At the same time, we users should be able to decide for ourselves which apps we want to use to control the system. The Matter standard will also support Philips Hue – but not directly via the light bulbs, only via the bridge.
A few weeks ago, Innr introduced new outdoor products. In addition to two brighter light strips for outdoor use, there are also new globes. These are called Innr Outdoor Smart Globe and are available in a 3-pack as a starter set with power supply and ZigBee radio module. In addition, the starter set can be supplemented with up to two further globes.
For real Hue experts, this question is probably not really exciting, but I assume that especially newcomers are quite unaware of the power consumption of Philips Hue. This is also reflected in the current community question of the week, which reads as follows: Now the question: Can I switch off both the Bridge and the Lightstrips and they will remember each other when they get power again?
For some time now, Philips Hue has been working on making its separate apps redundant. Since the end of February, it has been possible to pair Hue lights within the Hue app via Bluetooth and no longer have to use the separate Bluetooth app. Back in March, I reported that Philips Hue had also started work on integrating the Sync Box into the regular Hue app.
Unfortunately, last week's Community Question had to be cancelled – I had a little rest in the Netherlands. This week, however, it continues again – and this time I would like to clarify a question from Sandra that reached me by email a few days ago: As far as I know, the Philips Hue Play Gradient Light Strip can also be controlled as a separate light via the Hue App when the TV is off (not as a colour gradient, but at least as a single-colour lamp).
After several months of work, Stefan Göhler releases version 4.11 of his popular iConnectHue application (App Store link) for iPhone and iPad this afternoon. Included are 700 individual changes and, of course, numerous new functions. The update is worthwhile especially for users with many rooms, zones and perhaps even several bridges.
Fabian