Over the last few days and weeks, I have received an increasing number of messages about Siri shortcuts. These can be used to create practical little automations and widgets for the home screen of the iPhone and iPad, especially for Philips Hue. However, some users are now experiencing problems with this.
A few years ago, Apple completely overhauled the notification centre and thus also buried the widgets previously available there. With iOS 15, the widgets moved to the homescreen, but had a big problem there until now: they did not allow any interactions without opening the associated app. Since then, there has been no Philips Hue widget for iPhone and iPad.
If you have been wondering in the past few weeks why the geofencing of your Hue app no longer works properly, then I can tell you today: It's not your fault and it's not the fault of Philips Hue that your lights no longer switch on and off reliably when you come home or leave home.
I announced this new feature a few months ago, and with the launch of iOS 15 earlier this week, I can now announce it's a reality: There is an easy option to set a timer for Philips Hue lamps. And of course all other HomeKit devices that can be switched on and off.
The proportion of users with Apple devices here on the blog is quite large. That's why I would like to take this opportunity to explicitly discuss the connection of HomeKit in connection with the new Gradient function. After all, the existing Play Gradient Lightstrip as well as the new releases Ambiance Gradient Lightstrip and Gradient Signe can display a fancy colour gradient.
As you may have noticed, a new HomePod has been launched. In Germany the HomePod mini costs 96.50 euros with reduced VAT, and from next year the price will be back at the regular 99 euros. However, the HomePod mini is currently hard to get, online orders at the Apple Store will probably not be delivered until next year.
At WWDC this summer, Apple introduced a new function for HomeKit: Adaptive Lighting. Lamps connected via HomeKit are automatically controlled throughout the day to create the ideal lighting scene at any time. In practice, this is quite simple: to activate Adaptive Lighting, a small icon is selected in the HomeKit app via the colour selection function for the desired lamp.
Yesterday evening Apple gave us a preview of their new operating systems for iPhone, iPad and Co. Also included were some new features for HomeKit, which is not entirely uninteresting for us Hue users. After all, Philips Hue was one of the first manufacturers to offer HomeKit support a few years ago with the launch of the second-generation Hue Bridge.
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.
MelLeave a Comment on Philips Hue App with improved HomeKit connectivity With the update to version 3.33, the Hue app for iPhone and iPad offers an improved HomeKit connection. With the update to version 3.33, the Hue app for iPhone and iPad offers an improved HomeKit connection.
HomeKit, which is at home in the Apple cosmos, is a fine thing. Not only can all devices be controlled via Siri, but also complex automations can be created. They also work across several manufacturers. In this regard, Apple definitely offers more possibilities than Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. The update of the Hue app (App Store link) released this morning contains three improvements for HomeKit integration: improved synchronization with HomeKit when changes are made to the Hue app fixed a HomeKit problem where names in the Home app do not match names in the Hue app corrected a HomeKit problem where saving a scene in HomeKit would cause the “value is higher than maximum” error Luckily, I haven't been able to find any of the three problems mentioned in connection with HomeKit.
Fabian