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The popular HomeKit-enabled Philips Hue line of lights is expanding, with Signify today announcing the upcoming launch of additional outdoor lighting options.

There's a new wall-mounted Appear fixture, priced at $140, which is designed to create a directed triangle of light that reaches both up and down, with the aim of elevating the home's curb appeal.

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The new low-voltage Lily XL Spotlight, priced at $140, is similar to the existing Lily spotlight but it's larger and provides more light output.

philipshuelilyxl-800x622.jpg

The Philips Hue Econic family is gaining a new low-voltage pedestal light, priced at $130, which is ideal for path lighting, plus there's a new 100W outdoor power supply unit and a 2.5-meter extension cable with T-part for more flexibility arranging outdoor lighting options.

philipshueeconic-800x535.jpg

All of the lights in the outdoor collection can be customized with 16 million colors and 50,000 shades of warm-to-cool white light, and all of the lights also integrate with existing HomeKit-enabled Hue setups.

Along with outdoor lighting, Signify today announced improvements coming to the Hue Play HDMI Sync Box, which allows Hue lights to be synced with televisions, gaming consoles, and more.

The Sync Box is getting HomeKit integration, which means the it will be able to respond to Siri commands. Siri will be able to turn the sync box on or off, change the light settings, and switch between HDMI devices, which will make it much easier to control the Sync Box without the need to open up the app.

huesyncbox1-800x435.jpg

Siri integration will be available in the spring of 2020 through an update that will be installed on the Sync Box through the Hue Sync mobile app.

The Hue Play HDMI Sync Box can also now be controlled using infrared TV remote controls, which can turn it off or switch between HDMI inputs.

As of today, there's a new update for the Hue app, which updates the Zones feature. There's a permanent Zones addition that allows accessories like the Philips Hue wireless dimmer switch or the Philips Hue Smart button to control a Zone in the home rather than a room.

More information on the new Hue products can be found on the Hue website.

Article Link: CES 2020: Philips Hue Line Gaining New Outdoor Lights and HDMI Sync Box Improvements
 
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That's nice but I wish they would turn their attention to their core products. I am still waiting for:
  • Assortment of bulbs that can output more than 800 lumens
  • Wired wall light switches, ideally with occupancy sensor
  • Bridge with Wi-Fi and support for more than 50 devices
 
Philips needs to update the hub to support more devices because the current limit is way too low for all the stuff they’ve released.

I was thinking the opposite. I want one input output that plugs between my receiver and my TV. Increased protocol support (DV, HDR10+, etc) are my biggest issues.

HomeKit support is weird considering you still can’t turn the Apple TV on with HomeKit.
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Can’t you connect about 50 devices per hub.
50 bulbs, but only 10 accessories (switches, motion sensors, dimmers...)
 
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Homekit and IR input support comes just a little bit too late for as I returned my black friday purchased Hue Play box, and the input part was the biggest reason for it.

But, I still consider repurchasing in the future, especially in the light of these news.

This is one situation that Philips should have been more clear from the get-go in promising support for. Anyway, good that it's coming.
 
I was thinking the opposite. I want one input output that plugs between my receiver and my TV. Increased protocol support (DV, HDR10+, etc) are my biggest issues.

HomeKit support is weird considering you still can’t turn the Apple TV on with HomeKit.
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50 bulbs, but only 10 accessories (switches, motion sensors, dimmers...)
Just get an additional hub
 
Philips needs to update the hub to support more devices because the current limit is way too low for all the stuff they’ve released.

I'm sure they will, and then they will stop supporting hub v2 and make everyone upgrade. Support for v1 hub ends in April of 2020.

I love their products but I don't agree with this move. It might hint at the release of a v3 hub or some other new products in April.
 
That's nice but I wish they would turn their attention to their core products. I am still waiting for:
  • Assortment of bulbs that can output more than 800 lumens
  • Wired wall light switches, ideally with occupancy sensor
  • Bridge with Wi-Fi and support for more than 50 devices
Dude, seriously, the lack of standard switches is killing me.
I don't want to mix-and-match when I already have multiple systems going on. I know that with HomeKit it isn't hard syncing them, but it sure would be nice to have them all in the Hue app when needed. Also, I DON'T want another hub, which the number restrictions is also a problem for!
 
Also, I DON'T want another hub, which the number restrictions is also a problem for!
Having used both hub-based (Hue) and Wi-Fi lightbulbs, I actually prefer hub-based solution for any devices that I intend to buy in bulk.

With a hub, setting them up is typically far simpler as they tend to auto discover new devices. With Wi-Fi, I need to painfully add them one by one. Also, hub will ease Wi-Fi congestion (less of an issue with Wi-Fi 6, but these devices won't support them for a long time... most don't even support Wi-Fi 5).

Most Wi-Fi routers will become congested around 40-50 Wi-Fi devices.

My only gripe is that most of these hubs tend to require ethernet. I want the freedom of choosing where these hubs are placed, as they often cause interference with nearby Wi-Fi router and other hubs.
 
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Having used both hub-based (Hue) and Wi-Fi lightbulbs, I actually prefer hub-based solution for any devices that I intend to buy in bulk.

With a hub, setting them up is typically far simpler as they tend to auto discover new devices. With Wi-Fi, I need to painfully add them one by one. Also, hub will ease Wi-Fi congestion (less of an issue with Wi-Fi 6, but these devices won't support them for a long time... most don't even support Wi-Fi 5).

Most Wi-Fi routers will become congested around 40-50 Wi-Fi devices.

My only gripe is that most of these hubs tend to require ethernet. I want the freedom of choosing where these hubs are placed, as they often cause interference with nearby Wi-Fi router and other hubs.
I agree about the need for Ethernet being annoying. However, to clarify, I don't mind that I need a hub for my Hue bulbs, it's that I don't want MORE hubs. For example, the August smart Lock is a single item, maybe 1-3 in any given house, and yet it requires a hub for remote access. That is the kind of thing I am trying to avoid - the unnecessary proliferation of hubs plugged into my router just hanging around.
 
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