Philips Hue Reveals New Candle Light Bulb Coming to Europe in April and U.S. Later This Year

[Jimmy James]

The "Hue White Ambiance" bulbs (800 lumens, $30 retail), which have controllable color temperature and dimming, can go from 2200K to 6500K.

The "Hue White" bulbs (800 lumens, $15 retail), which have only dimming, are fixed at 2700K.

Given that the new bulb is 470 lumens for $40 retail, one would hope it'll have controllable color temperature.

Oh, the press release says:

"The Philips Hue candle light bulb is a 40W equivalent E14 – 470 lumen at 4000 kelvin – and is available in white ambiance, providing a broad spectrum of white light; or white and color ambiance, with a range of more than 16 million colors. Both bulbs feature deep dimming from warm white to cool daylight with a 2200k – 6500k color temperature range."

Nice, thanks.

 

[BrentD]

Why does it have to be Hue? Lutron has their Caseta system with all sorts of wall switches, and there are many Z-Wave switches that will work with SmartThings. Hell, SmartThings will even integrate with the Hue bulbs you already have. And I believe both offer iOS and Android apps (I know SmartThings does, not sure if Lutron does Android). Lowes and Home Depot both carry the Lutron equipment, as well as GE branded switches that will work with SmartThings. You could be up and running with these today if you wanted, all that's needed is a trip to the hardware store and maybe Best Buy.

He's already said why it has to be Hue. He likes the Hue app and he doesn't have an Apple TV 4, so would have to leave his iPad at home if he wanted to control things remotely. I'm starting to feel sorry for the guy for even mentioning anything with all of the non-reading (or non-comprehension) going on. I completely agree Hue should make a standard, hard-wired on/off mechanical wall switch, though I'm not sure they ever will since it would potentially cut into their bulb profits.

 

[parseckadet]

He's already said why it has to be Hue. He likes the Hue app and he doesn't have an Apple TV 4, so would have to leave his iPad at home if he wanted to control things remotely. I'm starting to feel sorry for the guy for even mentioning anything with all of the non-reading (or non-comprehension) going on. I completely agree Hue should make a standard, hard-wired on/off mechanical wall switch, though I'm not sure they ever will since it would potentially cut into their bulb profits.

You're right, he did say that. But then he's asking Hue to be something that I think Philips doesn't want it to do. There are a few home automation hubs out there that can control multiple device types to differing levels of complexity. Instead of turning the Hue hub into one of those, Philips has instead partnered with the makers of such hubs to ensure interoperability. In my mind, the Hue hub offers minimal functionality to get people buying Hue bulbs and nothing more. Once you start going beyond the capabilities of a Hue bulb you have to start looking elsewhere.

 

[Tinmania]

Why does it have to be Hue? Lutron has their Caseta system with all sorts of wall switches, and there are many Z-Wave switches that will work with SmartThings. Hell, SmartThings will even integrate with the Hue bulbs you already have. And I believe both offer iOS and Android apps (I know SmartThings does, not sure if Lutron does Android). Lowes and Home Depot both carry the Lutron equipment, as well as GE branded switches that will work with SmartThings. You could be up and running with these today if you wanted, all that's needed is a trip to the hardware store and maybe Best Buy.

Thanks. Yea it looks like I might have to do that. I didn't really want to give up the Hue settings, scenes, and routines I already have in place, nor add another app and hub. From what I have read SmartThings has to go though its hub, then to the Hue bridge to work properly with Hue bulbs. It would almost be easier to have switches on a different ecosystem. It would just be easier if Hue made a switch.*

It might be different if I started out knowing I wanted the switches, but I only started out with a few Hue bulbs thinking it would be enough. Then it grew, and grew.



* Cue the "But Hue DOES make a switch!" comments.



Mike
[doublepost=1490041991][/doublepost]

I'm using a mix of Hue bulbs in lamps and Lutron Caseta Wirless switches for ceiling / exterior lights. So far, I just have them both on an automated schedules through HomeKit, but the voice control works for both of them as well. The Lutron switches also work with Amazon's Alexa, so you have a lot of options to control them.

Replacing the wall switch is a much more economical way to automate your lights. Like most people have said, if you have a fixture with 4, 5, or 6 bulbs, that's a lot of money to spend on Hue bulbs.

Insteon also makes a hub controlled smart switch that works with HomeKit. I prefer the look of their switches over Lutron, but Lutron is more available where I live and that's what I started with.

I know what you're saying about how it would be nice if Phillips would make a Hue switch, so that you'd only have to use one app to control everything, but I think a Lutron hub and some switches would be the next best thing. HomeKit works well enough to provide voice command for both without having to worry about switching apps, and you can get creative to automate lights with schedules, scenes, motion sensor, etc.

Thanks. I'll give that another look.



Mike

 

[parseckadet]

Thanks. Yea it looks like I might have to do that. I didn't really want to give up the Hue settings, scenes, and routines I already have in place, nor add another app and hub. From what I have read SmartThings has to go though its hub, then to the Hue bridge to work properly with Hue bulbs. It would almost be easier to have switches on a different ecosystem. It would just be easier if Hue made a switch.*

It might be different if I started out knowing I wanted the switches, but I only started out with a few Hue bulbs thinking it would be enough. Then it grew, and grew.

Yeah, that is how I've done it, and it does seem to be pretty responsive. I've never had issues with commands sent by SmartThings never making it to Hue, or having significant delays. Still, it sounds like the remaining lights you want to upgrade are sort of separate from the ones that are currently Hue. You could run the two in parallel and limit the cross-over points if you were to have issues.

 

[Tinmania]

Yeah, that is how I've done it, and it does seem to be pretty responsive. I've never had issues with commands sent by SmartThings never making it to Hue, or having significant delays. Still, it sounds like the remaining lights you want to upgrade are sort of separate from the ones that are currently Hue. You could run the two in parallel and limit the cross-over points if you were to have issues.

I think SmartThings is what I will use. I might as well make the jump. It seems to tick all the boxes: Google Home and Apple Homekit compatibility, Hue compatibility, switches available, apps for both Android and iOS, and remote access when away from my home. Might as well just do it; shouldn't be that hard. And I'd like to tie a few other goodies into the mix.




Mike

 

[parseckadet]

I think SmartThings is what I will use. I might as well make the jump. It seems to tick all the boxes: Google Home and Apple Homekit compatibility, Hue compatibility, switches available, apps for both Android and iOS, and remote access when away from my home. Might as well just do it; shouldn't be that hard. And I'd like to tie a few other goodies into the mix.




Mike

Just to clarify, SmartThings doesn't support HomeKit. Anything connected to the Hue hub will still work with HomeKit, but anything connected to SmartThings will not. However, there is an open source solution you can run on any server called Homebridge. Honestly, I find the only real benefit of HomeKit to be the fact that it's built into iOS, but even then I often want to control things when my phone is in another part of the house.

 

[Tinmania]

Just to clarify, SmartThings doesn't support HomeKit. Anything connected to the Hue hub will still work with HomeKit, but anything connected to SmartThings will not. However, there is an open source solution you can run on any server called Homebridge. Honestly, I find the only real benefit of HomeKit to be the fact that it's built into iOS, but even then I often want to control things when my phone is in another part of the house.

Ah, okay. No biggie, as I am now mostly using Google Assistant with my Android Wear watch for voice control. I also use the Hue apps on Android or iOS. As long as SmartThings has the apps I should be okay, and they do have both iOS and Android. I do have a home server that runs 24/7 if I ever really need to try Homebridge.

Sounds like I can still keep Hue as-is for my Hue bulbs, for now, and then migrate Hue control to SmartThings if and when I want to. I also think I will swap out a few Hue bulbs that are just not bright enough for my liking (not as bright as the bulbs they replaced). I can replace with a higher lumens LED and use a SmartThings compatible switch for control. If I want brightness control I can get dimmable bulbs and switches.


Mike

 

[PCsNot4Me]

I've got the Hue White Ambiance starter kit and an extra W/A bulb, and I'm liking it so far.

Unfortunately, Philips is in the light business as Mike first mentioned, so I doubt very much that there will ever be a proper switch from them. Like Mike, I have some bulbs that I don't intend to replace with Hue bulbs, and a couple of appliances that I'd like to automate. In the past X10 products did this for me, but they've grown unreliable over the years.

I didn't want to add another manufacturer's Hub but that looks like what I'll have to do. Maybe Lutron, I don't know. But I DO like the idea of the upcoming candelabra bulbs. Pricey, I'll use them in a light or two but don't know if I'll put them in my chandelier.

And yeah, I want some 75-100W bulbs!

 

[madeirabhoy]

thinking of getting Philips hue for the first time but all of my lights are gu10. I know theres a difference in length but my fittings look okay with that, but are there any differences between the types of bulbs and any advantage to ripping out my fitments and replacing them with ones with another connector.

I never even realized the differences between connectors till I started looking at Philips hue, but the other connectors bulbs look entirely different on the light part, the gu10s being flush flat the others being round, does it make a difference?