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Philips Hue

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Philips Hue, initially introduced in 2012, is a line of color changing LED lightbulbs and accessories created by Dutch company Philips. The line utilizes the Hue Bridge in order to facilitate control over LED lights and accessories. Control can be wielded directly from the Philips Hue app, or via systems like Apple’s HomeKit. HomeKit compatibility allows users to control Philips Hue lighting directly from Control Center, from the Home app, and from Siri.

HomeKit remote control ‘Wemo Stage’ to compete with Philips Hue Dimmer

HomeKit remote control Wemo Stage

An upcoming Belkin HomeKit remote control to be known as the Wemo Stage has been discovered through FCC documents. Like the Philips Hue dimmer, there are several buttons that can be used to activate different devices and scenes, and it can either be used as a mobile remote or attached to a wall-plate.

The documents include photos that show a small white unit with three buttons…

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Philips Hue wall switch module finally solves problem; new outdoor lights too

An upcoming Philips Hue physical wall switch module

An upcoming Philips Hue physical wall switch module will solve one of the biggest problems experienced by smart home fans who share a home with less techy people: If someone uses the physical wall switch to turn off a light, it can no longer be app- or Siri-controlled.

The smarts for controlling Hue bulbs are in the bulb itself – and they require mains power to receive and respond to app or Siri commands. That means if someone physically switches off the light, it’s no longer reachable until you physically switch it back on …

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Philips Hue now supports HomeKit Adaptive Lighting for all users

HomeKit Adaptive Lighting for Philips Hue bulbs

Philips Hue lights now support HomeKit Adaptive Lighting for all users, after an earlier smaller-scale rollout. The feature is designed to match the color temperature of smart lights to the time of day, as Apple explains.

Light bulbs that change color can be automatically adjusted throughout the day to maximize comfort and productivity. You can ease into morning with warmer colors, stay focused and alert midday with cooler colors, and wind down at night by removing blue light …

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PSA: Philips Hue outdoor power supply recalled due to potential damage and safety risk

Philips Hue has expanded its lineup of smart lights considerably over the years and that’s included its outdoor options. In an announcement today, the company shared that power supply units included with six Philips Hue outdoor products sold between 2018 and 2020 could short circuit and in “very rare cases” cause electrocution when touched.

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Philips Hue bulb brightness about to double, but with two drawbacks

Philips Hue bulb brightness about to double

If you’re unhappy with Philips Hue bulb brightness, it appears the company is about to solve the problem with a new 1600 lumen version in an E27 fitting. That’s twice as bright as the current model, which is around 800 lumens –  equivalent to a jump from a conventional 60W bulb to a 100W one.

There are, however, two drawbacks with the new model …


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Philips Hue vulnerability lets hacker control bulbs, could escalate to network

Philips Hue vulnerability lets hacker control bulbs

A Philips Hue vulnerability allows a hacker to take control of individual bulbs, switching them on or off at will, as well as changing both color and brightness. This can be done remotely using a laptop with radio transmitter. You can watch a demonstration video below.

While that risk remains, the company has acted to block an escalation vulnerability that previously allowed the attacker to compromise the Hue bridge and from there the rest of the network, including any PCs connected to it…


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Philips Hue unveils new HDMI TV box that lets smart lights color match what you watch

Philips Hue sync smart lights TV Play HDMI Sync Box

The newest Philips Hue product is slated for release soon and will allow users to sync up their smart lights and TV for a rich gaming and viewing experience. The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box connects between your set-top boxes, game consoles, etc. and your TV to offer smart light effects that match what’s happening on screen.


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Philips Hue Outdoor Review: The best HomeKit landscaping lighting comes at a price

Philips Hue Lily Spotlights

When Philips Hue first announced its line of outdoor smart lighting back at CES 2018, I was immediately intrigued. I was on-hand for the demo in Las Vegas and saw an answer to a problem that has seemingly plagued my outdoor spaces for years. There are plenty of lighting solutions for gardens and outdoor areas but most are clunky and unrefined. I’ve leaned on outdoor-grade smart plugs each Christmas for a while, but those lack the integrated dimming controls that are often best suited for landscape lighting.

The Philips Hue outdoor line arrived on the scene with an answer in-hand, and a hefty price tag to match. But what I found was a refined solution that met the needs of my burgeoning HomeKit setup while highlighting the unique architectural aspects of my home, which you can learn more about below.


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Hands-on: Philips Hue Outdoor sensor: an ideal smart home companion [Video]

Hue Outdoor sensor

Last Friday, Philips expanded on its lineup of outdoor smart lighting products that it began introducing last year. At CES 2019, Philips revealed the Hue Outdoor sensor, a $49.95 product that we were able to go hands-on with while in Vegas. Like the company’s existing indoor sensor, the outdoor sensor allows users to automate smart lighting via motion sensing.


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