Philips’ Hue upgrade adds location-based features, timers and more

Philips’ next generation of the Hue app (version 1.1) can now hook up to users essential internet services via their smartphone or tablet - meaning bulbs can act as indicators for weather, stock quotes, sports scores, email, social media and more.

The bulbs can be set to behave in any way you choose. For example, to change colour if it’s going to rain; to blink if you receive an urgent email or Facebook message from someone special; illuminate gradually as the sun sets; or even flash in your sports team’s colours when they score. This is made possible through internet automating service IFTTT (If This Then That), meaning your home lighting can now connect to the world in innumerable, exciting new ways.

New location-based lighting to welcome you home

App v1.1 is the first upgrade to Hue’s future-proof system and will be delivered to existing users via a simple-to-download software update. Its new ‘geofencing’ feature means your smartphone or tablet can detect when you or your family are approaching or leaving home and trigger Hue’s bulbs to turn on/off automatically, change colour or change the light setting - all without having to even take your phone out of your pocket.

Intuitively enhancing your lifestyle

The recurring schedules feature means you can program Hue to enhance your family’s daily routine and create settings for activities such as waking up, homework or bedtime - without the need to reset each day. If you go on holiday, the timer function can be set to turn lights on and off at random times while you’re away to give you peace of mind.

Light with limitless potential

Developers are also excited about the possibilities to extend Hue’s capabilities with new applications and integration with other products and services. Since Philips published Hue’s open APIs and software developers kit (developers.meethue.com) on 11 March, over 30 new apps have already hit the market. Some of these allow Hue’s smart bulbs to coordinate with music and album art, visualise your heart rate for home workouts, assist in planetary study, respond to spoken commands and synchronise with television screens for an ambient, immersive viewing experience.

“People have really taken to Hue and the idea that connected lighting is the key to a connected home,” commented Filip Jan Depauw, Senior Director, Philips Lighting.

A smart solution for a smarter home

Using the ZigBee LightLink standard, Hue bulbs can not only communicate with each other, they have the potential for communicating with other ZigBee-based devices such as motion sensors and home thermostats, while offering a broad signal range and using significantly less stand-by power than traditional Wi-Fi systems.  Additional apps developed for Hue are available through app stores or meethue.com, allowing users new ways to further enhance their lighting experiences and lives. Further innovations such as new Hue bulb types are also due to be announced later this year.

Philips is expanding availability of Hue via new retail partners and to new markets including Australia and New Zealand, all of the EU and some Eastern European countries starting this month. In addition to availability at Apple stores and Apple.com, Hue will also roll out across a network of 550 approved Apple resellers across Europe and at Amazon.com in the United States.