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.
On Thursday, Philips Hue released another update for its official app, as it does nearly every two weeks. There are no new features this time, but there are a few minor optimizations. First up are the new wired wall switch modules. These could already be paired with version 5.69, but now some translations and details have likely been further improved.
Last night, I ended up turning on Sports Live again. Our German team’s game was actually quite entertaining and, above all, full of goals—perfect for lighting effects in combination with Philips Hue lights. But what happens after the World Cup? So far, Sports Live has actually only been confirmed for the major tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.
Complaints are currently piling up online, not just in our small community, but also on Reddit and in App Store reviews. After the latest update to version 5.69, the Philips Hue app seems to regularly lose its connection to the Hue Bridge. What is currently known about this, and how can the issue be resolved?
Just in time for the upcoming start of the World Cup in Mexico, Canada, and the U.S., Philips Hue has released another update for its app. And for good reason: this update unlocks the new Sports Live feature. As previously explained in detail, you can use it to make your lights glow in sync with game events during the World Cup.
On Thursday at 9:00 p.m. German time, the moment has arrived: The first match of the World Cup kicks off. And that also marks the launch of a new and exclusive feature from Philips Hue. Sports Live will ensure that the lights in your living room light up in sync with game events, such as goals or yellow cards.
There’s another new update for the Philips Hue app available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Version 5.68.0 is available for free download for all users. In addition to the usual bug fixes, there’s also a new feature. “You can now edit a scene directly while previewing it from the Scene Gallery”, according to the update description for iPhone and iPad.
Last fall, Philips and Sonos launched their partnership. It all began with the integration of Philips Hue into Sonos Voice Control. Using simple voice commands that are processed locally and don’t rely on the cloud, you can easily control the Hue lights in your home via Sonos speakers. So far, there’s been just one hurdle: even years after its launch, Sonos Voice Control is still available exclusively in English and French.
From June 11 to July 19, it’s that time of year again: the World Cup is just around the corner. Due to the time difference—the tournament is taking place in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, as you know—most matches will be held late at night for us in Europe. The perfect opportunity to pair the sporting event of the year with Philips Hue smart lighting.
The new SpatialAware feature has been available in the Hue app since Tuesday. When used with the Hue Bridge Pro, lights in a room can be scanned to determine their positions, thereby optimizing the display of scenes. And in practice, this actually seems to achieve the desired effect, at least according to your initial experiences.
Fabian