There is no official changelog from Philips Hue yet, but I can draw your attention to a software update for the Hue Bridge. Yesterday evening they seem to have started rolling out firmware version 1.56.1956178040. With this update, the date and time of the last activity are displayed again in the settings under Accessories.
Yesterday evening, Philips Hue released another update of its in-house application in the App Store. Version 4.37 is now available and it includes another feature for the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box. “You can now set up Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa voice commands for the Philips Hue Play HDMI sync box in the Philips Hue app”, the update description for version 4.37 reads.
Just before Christmas, Philips Hue introduced a new scene: Natural Light. It automatically switches between individual scenes over a 24-hour period to give you the most appropriate light for the time of day. Philips Hue writes: “Start with bright, cool tones to energise you in the morning, and end the day with a warmer, golden hue to help you relax in the evening.”
Philips Hue has once again released a new update in the App Store. Version 4.35 of the official application for the smart lighting system is now available for download. Included is one small change in particular, which can prove to be quite practical. In the room and zone view, you can now create your own groups for scenes.
Only a few days after the major update to version 4.14, developer Stefan Göhler delivers the next update for his app iConnectHue. Version 4.15 is released shortly before Christmas, and not without reason: It contains animations for the new Philips Hue Festavia. The string light is probably already hanging on the Christmas tree of one or the other of you.
Last year, Philips Hue already announced the new “Natural Light” feature. After a bit of a false start in the summer, the new feature is finally available with the release of version 4.32 of the Philips Hue app. I would like to briefly introduce you to what you can expect. This is how Philips Hue explains its new feature Natural light uses different shades of warm-to-cool white light that are designed to help you stay productive and feel supported in your overall wellbeing.
Just before Christmas, Philips Hue probably didn’t dare to release the big new feature “Natural Light”. Nevertheless, there is an update – and there are actually some useful functions. If you have a Gradient Lightstrip or another Gradient light source, such as the Signe, in use, you can now also use the mirrored mode known from the Festavia light chain.
To control my Hue lights, I prefer to use the official app from Philips Hue. To configure accessories, I have so far resorted to iConnectHue (App Store link). With the latest update to version 4.14, Stefan Göhler’s app offers numerous new functions around the topic of colours – and thus also becomes really interesting for controlling lamps.
iConnectHue (App Store-Link) is one of the most popular places to go from the Apple App Store when it comes to controlling and configuring Philips Hue. The developer Stefan Göhler always delivers new updates and functions – next he will take care of the gradient control. Until now, you could only use magic scenes in iConnectHue to make the Philips Hue Gradient bulbs shine in multiple colours.
We have been waiting for the Natural Light feature in the Hue app since 2021. Earlier this year, I was able to tell you that the new feature is coming later. Then in July it was briefly available, but it was a bug and not an intended release of the feature.
Fabian