Philips Hue Line Gains New 'Festavia' String Lights

[MacRumors]

Lighting company Signify today announced new Festavia string lights that are being added to the Philips Hue lineup ahead of the holidays.

The Philips Hue Festavia string lights include 250 mini smart LEDs on a 20-meter cord, which can be used on a Christmas tree, stairway, mantel, and more.

As with other Hue products, the Festavia lights can be set to more than 16 million colors, and a single strand supports multiple colors for a gradient effect. Festavia lights are HomeKit-compatible and pair well with other Philips Hue products.

The lights can be controlled with Siri, the Hue app, and the Home app. Lights can be turned on or off, dimmed, and the colors can be changed. With Spotify integration, the lights can be set to flash, dim, and brighten in tune with a song that's playing.

With the launch of the Festavia lights, the Hue app is gaining a sparkle effect that can make the strand twinkle, plus there is a new Scattered option that spreads five colors randomly along the light string.

The Festavia lights are priced at $160 and will launch on November 15. They will be available from the Philips Hue website.

Article Link: Philips Hue Line Gains New 'Festavia' String Lights

 

[Kierkegaarden]

Is this to celebrate Festivus?

 

[zachz]

This is awesome, way better than light strips to add nice bedroom lighting that isn't behind a desk or dresser/bed.

Can't wait for these!

 

[contacos]

Cool idea but ridiculous price. Cheaper to just get a smart plug 🤷🏼‍♂️

 

[meady100]

It’s like the cost of living crisis isn’t happening.

 

[munpip214]

Wonder how this will compare to Twinkly Strings - 400 lights, 105 feet, $180, indoor/outdoor.

 

[Nozuka]

Cool idea but ridiculous price. Cheaper to just get a smart plug 🤷🏼‍♂️

Being able to turn them on or off is not what makes these "special".
If that is all you need then yeah of course, that is cheaper.

 

[Imperial926]

Simple, plain white lights in a tree - no flashing - no music. Classy and a hell of a lot cheaper.

 

[WiiDSmoker]

Is this to celebrate Festivus?

Finally something for the rest of us.

 

[Squuiid]

$160? Aaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahaha.

Sure not exactly the same but an IKEA HomeKit Smart Outlet is $13. Plus some high quality white LED string lights, $50 max. And, as others have mentioned, a lot classier than chintzy colored lights.

 

[iZac]

Is this to celebrate Festivus?

Well, this forum frequently hosts 'the airing of grievances' so makes sense.

 

[NightFox]

Wonder how this will compare to Twinkly Strings - 400 lights, 105 feet, $180, indoor/outdoor.

Or more of a direct comparison - Twinkly 250 for £95 (I'd guess a similar $ price?) with all the features of the Hue (including HomeKit) - but most significantly, the bulbs on Twinkly lights are individually mappable and addressable so can you create any image/pattern/effect you want, whereas these Hue ones only seem to offer a gradient effect.

If you haven't seen Twinkly lights in action, go check out some of the videos on YouTube.

 

[Theodore24]

I can’t find it on the site… somebody a link?

 

[tubedogg]

Or more of a direct comparison - Twinkly 250 for £95 (I'd guess a similar $ price?) with all the features of the Hue (including HomeKit) - but most significantly, the bulbs on Twinkly lights are individually mappable and addressable so can you create any image/pattern/effect you want, whereas these Hue ones only seem to offer a gradient effect.

If you haven't seen Twinkly lights in action, go check out some of the videos on YouTube.

$120 in the US apparently, though it's very hit or miss whether it's available. Best Buy and Kohl's have it, but Amazon, Home Depot, and Lowe's all have either no listings or only third parties for massively inflated prices.

 

[tubedogg]

But in general, yes; these Hue light prices for anything beyond the standard bulbs are out of control (and even then they're on the high end).

 

[CarlJ]

Cool idea but ridiculous price. Cheaper to just get a smart plug 🤷🏼‍♂️

A smart plug just makes the whole string go on or off all at once.

Lights like this are generally individually addressable RGB (or RGBW) LEDs, along with the driver electronics to send out a pattern to control each of the 250 LEDs individually. (Haven’t looked into how this particular setup is arrange yet.)

 

[CarlJ]

Or more of a direct comparison - Twinkly 250 for £95 (I'd guess a similar $ price?) with all the features of the Hue (including HomeKit) - but most significantly, the bulbs on Twinkly lights are individually mappable and addressable so can you create any image/pattern/effect you want, whereas these Hue ones only seem to offer a gradient effect.

It’s been a while since I looked into Twinkly lights, but I seem to recall some odd security / privacy issues with needing to have your Christmas lights internet addressable (yeah, weird). I’m not sure if I’m remembering that right.

 

[beanbaguk]

Want this so bad along with all my other Hue lights....yet my credit card hates me!

 

[karranz]

Way way overpriced.

 

[beanbaguk]

Way way overpriced.

(As with every other product on this site. iPhone, cases, stands, chargers, batteries, cables, etc...)

We're all idiots because we all buy it.

 

[Black Belt]

It’s not nearly as capable as Twinkly which has individually addressable and programmable leds, not just a strand

 

[centauratlas]

I can’t find it on the site… somebody a link?

This is the only reference:

New products and features | Philips Hue

Check out all the new Philips Hue products, including smart lights, accessories, and features. Shop now to get them first!

www.philips-hue.com

It says:

Available on November 15th

Festavia string lights​

Get the ultimate decor for any holiday celebration with Festavia, our long-awaited string lights.

 

[gjpgjp]

I've been using "Twinkly" for a while now. They are HomeKit compatible.

Strings (Multicolor)

Light and color take the stage with Twinkly’s Strings for the most dynamic lighting displays. The exclusive Twinkly app uses your smartphone camera to map LEDs into screen-like displays. Play and customize presets or create your own from a palette of over 16M colors including warm white. Group...

twinkly.com

 

[George Dawes]

I avoid Philips products like the plague, great at innovation , useless at actually making stuff

Had the misfortune of buying 2 of their TVs over the years … utter garbage

 

[ProfessionalFan]

I am surprised it took them this long