When I got a chance to take a look at the press release shortly before the official presentation, Custom AI Behaviors didn’t really blow me away at first. I assumed it was just another one of those AI features that manufacturers build into their apps to keep up with the trend.
Philips Hue has unveiled quite a few new products—word has probably already gotten around. Our favorite smart lighting manufacturer used the IFA in Berlin as the backdrop for this. They aren’t exhibiting at the trade show itself; instead, they hosted an event at an off-site location in Berlin on Wednesday.
Last night, Philips Hue unveiled its new hardware at an exclusive media event in Berlin. We’re still working on our event video, which will go live by tomorrow morning at the latest. First up, there’s a “major” software update for you, as it jumps from version 5.73 to 6.0. First and foremost, the update focuses on support for the new products, most of which are available now.
Over the past few weeks, quite a few leaks have surfaced, and overall, we can say that many of them turned out to be accurate. Only the Hue Go XXL and the kitchen lighting were not officially confirmed by Philips Hue today. In addition to the new hardware, we can also look forward to new software features, including the long-awaited “Backup & Restore.”
Philips Hue has announced an “Ask Me Anything” session with George Yianni on Reddit. The Hue inventor will answer questions from the community on Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. German time (11 a.m. EST). You can find the official announcement on Reddit via this link. “He’ll answer our questions and share exclusive information about the latest Hue products.
In recent years, Philips Hue has consistently unveiled new products in conjunction with the major electronics trade show IFA. It’s that time of year again in Berlin in early September. Philips Hue won’t be represented at the trade show itself; it will likely be an off-site event. In recent years, this has always taken place on Wednesday evening, which would be September 2.
Version 5.72.0 of the Philips Hue app has been available on the Google Play Store for a few days now, and the update has since arrived on the Apple App Store as well. Unlike recent updates, however, there are no real new features this time around. The update description in the App Store simply states: “Various bug fixes and stability improvements.”
There’s yet another new update for the official Philips Hue app. Version 5.71 has been available for download in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store since yesterday evening. This update brings improvements not only for the Hue Secure camera but also for the MotionAware feature. But let’s take it one step at a time.
It’s been nearly 14 years since Philips Hue first saw the light of day. The vast majority of the bulbs sold back then with the first starter kits are still working today. It’s an impressive success story, now summarized once again in a detailed video podcast from The Verge. The video, which runs over an hour and features not only The Verge’s David Pierce and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy but also a smart home journalist and Hue inventor George Yianni, is available to watch in full for free on YouTube.
It feels like everything is getting more expensive right now; even Apple has recently implemented massive price hikes. And Philips Hue is once again turning the price screw. At least, that’s what I’ve observed in the German Philips Hue online store, and it appears other countries are affected as well.
Fabian