Philips Hue Gaining Apple HomeKit Support This Fall

[MacRumors]

Philips on Monday morning confirmed that its series of connected smart light bulbs, Philips Hue, will begin supporting Apple HomeKit sometime in the Fall. First announced nearly a year ago at last year's WWDC, HomeKit is Apple's home automation platform that aims to give developers and manufacturers a standardized framework to build devices that interact not only with Apple's products but one another as well.

According to Philips, all current Hue owners will be able to upgrade their existing home systems to take advantage of Hue's interaction with HomeKit. Unfortunately, besides confirming the partnership and that current Hue owners will be able to take advantage of it, Philips didn't reveal any other information today, besides that the company plans to give out "more detailed information" this September.

Philips' announcement of HomeKit support comes a few days after the first products compatible with the Apple home automation platform entered the market. Led by companies like Elgato, iHome, and Lutron, the HomeKit-supported devices allow users to measure air quality, control power to various electrical outlets, and even control lighting with a wireless dimmer.

Since the Philips Hue lighting system currently requires a wireless hub directly connected to a router to function, it's unclear whether the HomeKit upgrade will require a simple software update or need some actual new piece of equipment to work properly. The company did note that, "Philips Hue will help existing users to upgrade their system," whenever the update does go live. Philips encourages those interested in the HomeKit-related news, and general announcements from the company regarding Hue, to follow them on Facebook and Twitter for updates throughout the summer, leading up to its September announcement.

Article Link: Philips Hue Gaining Apple HomeKit Support This Fall

 

[crashoverride77]

Boom Boom Boom. Happy days and it puts a rest to the discussion of wether people have to upgrade their products. Awesome

 

[Arran]

At last Philips! Phew

 

[ck2875]

Unfortunately, besides confirming the partnership and that current Hue owners will be able to take advantage of it, Philips didn't reveal any other information today, besides that the company plans to give out "more detailed information" this September.

Rephrased: Phillips, today, issued a statement kindly asking customers not to abandon them in favour of companies that actually spent the past year readying HomeKit support for their products.

 

[RichTF]

Rephrased: Phillips, today, issued a statement kindly asking customers not to abandon them in favour of companies that actually spent the past year readying HomeKit support for their products.

Haha, a cynical take, but probably true. I've already got a lot of Hue bulbs though, so I'm just relieved and happy to take whatever scraps they throw.

 

[axe9920]

I was literally looking a hue prices an hour ago. Guess there's no hurry, I've been putting it off for long enough now anyway!

 

[Arran]

Haha, a cynical take, but probably true. I've already got a lot of Hue bulbs though, so I'm just relieved and happy to take whatever scraps they throw.

Well, they say this over on their U.S. website [bold mine]:

With Apple HomeKit... Your existing Philips Hue lights will work seamlessly and any necessary upgrade to the system will be fully supported. More details will follow from September 2015...

That's pretty encouraging, if they mean it.

 

[RichTF]

Well, they say this over on their U.S. website
. . .
That's pretty encouraging, if they mean it.

Yeah, it's certainly encouraging, although interesting that it only says "existing lights".

Again, it's being a bit cynical, but it's possible we might need a new base station? Hope not, so we'll have to wait and see I guess.

 

[UnfetteredMind]

I don't have Hue so this doesn't affect me, but I'm wondering if the bulbs themselves will be compatible (why wouldn't they be?) vs the bridge. Will it just be a firmware update or will you need a new bridge? I'm really not sure what that statement (quoted by Arran above) from Philips means.

I'm in this same situation with the UDI ISY994 and waiting to see what it will take for that to be HomeKit compatible.

 

[UnseenLlama]

Yeah, it's certainly encouraging, although interesting that it only says "existing lights".

Again, it's being a bit cynical, but it's possible we might need a new base station? Hope not, so we'll have to wait and see I guess.

Agree with this take. All new HomeKit accessories required new hardware for the security aspect (new chips). I had to replace my Lutron Caseta hub with the "new" HomeKit hub even though they are exactly the same on the outside.

 

[jsmith189]

Fall? Really? They've had more than enough time to be ready.

 

[avanpelt]

According to Philips, all current Hue owners will be able to upgrade their existing home systems to take advantage of Hue's interaction with HomeKit.

Sure, they can upgrade but the question is, how much is it going to cost to do so? I can upgrade my existing Insteon system to be HomeKit-compatible, too, but it's going to cost me $150 for a new Insteon hub.

 

[iConnected]

Fall? Really? They've had more than enough time to be ready.

Come on. Hasn't the lead time on Apple Watch trained you to deal with waiting for good things?

 

[Iconoclysm]

Fall? Really? They've had more than enough time to be ready.

They probably set this target alongside iOS9's release from the getgo.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

I'd still avoid buying them now if you want HomeKit integration as it will require additional hardware to make it work. The current hardware is not compatible with HomeKit requirements.

 

[jsmith189]

They probably set this target alongside iOS9's release from the getgo.

I can see that. I think it would have been better to launch now so that people can go and re-purchase everything they need to (since we know a new bridge will be required) in preparation for iOS9, but... oh well lol.

 

[0098386]

Good to hear! But I'll wait until I see Hue boxes with "designed for Homekit" (or similar) printed on them.

 

[2457282]

Boom Boom Boom. Happy days and it puts a rest to the discussion of wether people have to upgrade their products. Awesome

Except that it does not. The statement is not clear if you have to update hardware or software, only that they will assist in the upgrade. I am hopeful for a software only upgrade, but think hardware will be needed. In anycase, I am just happy to get a confirmation that they will finally support HomeKit.

 

[Zxxv]

According to Philips, all current Hue owners will be able to upgrade their existing home systems to take advantage of Hue's interaction with HomeKit. Unfortunately, besides confirming the partnership and that current Hue owners will be able to take advantage of it, Philips didn't reveal any other information today, besides that the c

Deciphered

Please keep buying our product as we need to shift old stock. A new hub and product is coming soon. You will need to buy a new one else you are stuck with limited functionality. We are not sorry. Love the Philips hue team.


All abandon ship now.

 

[Zxxv]

Philips fix the issue of this light may not be reachable.

I'm thousands of miles away. What does this mean?

Your light is blinking red green red all day and night?

Your light is on full time?

Your light is off?

Wtf is goin on at home?

 

[m11rphy]

Judging my the fact to get HomeKit on the luton you need to buy a new hub and to get home kit on Ecobee you need to buy a whole new thermostat its safe to say we will be buying a new bridge for our phillips hue kit

 

[Zxxv]

Judging my the fact to get HomeKit on the luton you need to buy a new hub and to get home kit on Ecobee you need to buy a whole new thermostat its safe to say we will be buying a new bridge for our phillips hue kit

Pity hue team told so many of us we wouldn't need to. Maybe they meant we will give you a free one when we **** you over.

 

[iConnected]

Pity hue team told so many of us we wouldn't need to. Maybe they meant we will give you a free one when we **** you over.

The hub itself isn't expensive compared with the bulbs and other Hue products.

In the meantime (and continuing until later this year), you will have enjoyed the benefit of its use. So it's hardly a complete waste of loads of money.

 

[Zxxv]

The hub itself isn't expensive compared with the bulbs and other Hue products.

In the meantime (and continuing until later this year), you will have enjoyed the benefit of its use. So it's hardly a complete waste of loads of money.

It is when many of us were told we WOULDNT NEED TO BUY A NEW BRIDGE and to JUST GO AHEAD AND BUY THE CURRENT PRODUCT

Lies lies lies by Philips hue?

 

[Arran]

Yeah, it's certainly encouraging, although interesting that it only says "existing lights".

Again, it's being a bit cynical, but it's possible we might need a new base station? Hope not, so we'll have to wait and see I guess.

Good catch.