This week, the Connectivity Standards Alliance, which includes Philips Hue manufacturer Signify, made a sweeping announcement. In addition to Matter 1.5, which I told you about yesterday, Zigbee 4.0 was also announced. As you know, Zigbee is the wireless protocol that Philips Hue has been using for more than ten years.
The open ZigBee standard has always made it possible for third-party lamps to be connected to the Hue Bridge. Although not with all functions, the essential smart lighting control works perfectly. Swedish furniture giant Ikea now offers two extravagantly designed lights in the Pilskott series, which can be ordered now for 99.99 euros in the online shop and also purchased directly in stores.
The possibilities of Hue Entertainment have enjoyed great popularity at least since the launch of Spotify integration. Hue Entertainment is also used in combination with the Hue Play HMDI Sync Box. Especially there, fast reaction times are important. To make this possible, a direct connection is established between the Hue Bridge and the lights in the entertainment area when synchronisation with Hue Entertainment is active.
FabianLeave a Comment on Samotech SM315 and SM317 review: Perfect for old floor lamps and stylish filament lamps Install switches and dimmers directly in the cable Install switches and dimmers directly in the cable
The British manufacturer Samotech is known for its sometimes very clever solutions, among other things it has made a name for itself in this country with its switch covers. With the Samotech SM315 and SM317, I briefly introduced two new products to you before Christmas, now I could try them out myself.
Normally, converting a floor lamp is not particularly difficult: you unscrew the old bulbs and insert Philips Hue lamps. This is done within a few seconds and works perfectly. But what if you cannot simply remove the bulbs from the floor lamp, for example because they are permanently installed or have a certain form factor?
One thing is as certain: standard Philips Hue lamps, no matter whether with E14 or E27 base, will certainly not win a beauty prize. After all, filament lamps have been available in stores since September 2019 which are visually very convincing thanks to their twisted filaments. Unfortunately, the filament lamps are only Hue Whites, which cannot display different colour temperatures.
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.
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