'Philips Hue Sync' App Launches for Mac and PC to Sync Lights With Movies, Music, and Games

[MacRumors]

A few days after updating its iOS app to version 3.0, Philips Hue today is launching the "Philips Hue Sync" app for Mac and PC computers. Using the app, users can sync their Hue lights to films, music, and games that they're interacting with for an even more "immersive experience," according to the company.

The app works by creating light scripts for nearby Hue lights, based on screen-grabbed content from the Mac and what Philips calls a "smart color algorithm." With this information gathered, the app then matches the chosen Hue lights to the on-screen action of games and films in real time.

For music, Philips Hue Sync creates light scripts based on the beat and type of song "on the fly," and matches the playing music with dynamic lighting effects. Any of these features can be further customized, including brightness levels, "immersion controls" from subtle to intense, and a mode change for easily switching out the color pallet.

To set up the app, users will need to create a new entertainment area within the updated Philips Hue app on iOS or Android devices. Entertainment areas can encompass everything from one Hue bulb to a collection of devices like Hue Light Strips and table lamps (totaling up to 10 lights), but they most be color capable. Then simply download the Philips Hue Sync app for Mac, connect to a bridge, and choose the new entertainment area in the start-up menu.

Following the 3.0 iOS app update and the new Sync app for Mac, Philips is planning a line of Hue lights for outdoors that will be coming in July. With the outdoor Hue bulbs, users can connect and control their lighting on a patio, balcony, or other environments outside. The new lights include the Philips Hue Lily, which can be used to highlight key features in a garden, and the Philips Hue Calla, which can be placed in the ground and light pathways through outdoor spaces.

Article Link: 'Philips Hue Sync' App Launches for Mac and PC to Sync Lights With Movies, Music, and Games

 

[dan9700]

been waiting for this cant wait to try it out

 

[Hermes Monster]

This would make much more sense as a tvOS app

 

[Mike MA]

Reminds me of the Philips Ambilight feature. Honestly, we used it once and afterwards deactivated it till we sold the TV.

 

[robertcoogan]

Sigh.

Is it actually that hard to:

1. Get up.
2. Walk over to light switch.
3. Dim/turn off lights (using said switch).

Seriously?!?

 

[michael31986]

Anyway to have this work with my Sonos speakers? I have yet to find a good app that actually syncs well with music playing.

Also there is a limit on lights being added for entertainment area.

 

[adamjackson]

Holy Crap, a new Mac App!

 

[Mac-lover3]

Sigh.

Is it actually that hard to:

1. Get up.
2. Walk over to light switch.
3. Dim/turn off lights (using said switch).

Seriously?!?

This is way more immersive than just turning on a light though.
It's a cool feature but not necessary.

 

[boshii]

Anyway to have this work with my Sonos speakers? I have yet to find a good app that actually syncs well with music playing.

Also there is a limit on lights being added for entertainment area.

Maybe if you Airplay to an Apple TV after the Airplay 2 update.

Of course you would have to have an Airplay 2-compatible Apple TV as well as have it connected to at least a Playbar or Playbase.

EDIT: Nevermind. I see it only syncs with your Mac or PC. That’s kinda pointless.

 

[Gorms]

Has anyone seen the version of this using a strip of individually controllable LEDS and a Raspberry Pi? THAT really looks cool and a lot more immersive as the light is more correct to the region of screen it emanated from. Much more so than you could achieve with Hue LightStrips* and a few bulbs in the room.

https://hackernoon.com/the-best-tv-experience-philips-ambilight-clone-f164e392266a

*disclaimer: the new lightStrips might allow for individual LED control, I only have the first gen that definitely doesn't.

 

[macduke]

How many non-geek users actually use their Mac to run their home entertainment setup? I get why they didn’t go the tvOS route—multitasking is a bit too limited. But why not just create an HDMI dongle with passthrough that can control everything for us? I’ve seen a competing lightbar product that can do this.

 

[chrixxa]

This would make much more sense as a tvOS app

^^ SO much this. I'm way past watching movies on my computer. tvOS app please. only makes sense people!!

 

[steeevo]

Sigh.

Is it actually that hard to:

1. Get up.
2. Walk over to light switch.
3. Dim/turn off lights (using said switch).

Seriously?!?

Smart lights are more than turning them on and off like traditional light switches. You can set them up to be on timers when you are on holidays/vacations which is my main reason for purchashing them. After buying them for that reason i fou d out loads of other great features like geofencing your location so it turns the lights on when you get home andturn all lights off at 11pm. So good

 

[BeardMan7]

Sigh.

Is it actually that hard to:

1. Get up.
2. Walk over to light switch.
3. Dim/turn off lights (using said switch).

Seriously?!?

Must be fun for you, standing at the light switch, dim/turn on and off the lights manually to sync to your watched movie.

 

[travis64]

Who the hell watches movies on a mac

Make this for apple 4k tv and xbox ps4

 

[x-evil-x]

This is way more immersive than just turning on a light though.
It's a cool feature but not necessary.

Some people dont get it, its ok. If you cant imagine what its like in a house full of voice controlled lights or watch/phone controlled then you dont get it. Changing how your place feels in .2 of a second is pretty fun to do. Laying in bed and turning the air on without getting up is nice. Turning off all the lights with one button or voice command is pretty big. It makes little things like turning on a light switch seem that much more ancient.
Try Turning off 18 lights multiple times a day dimming them, changing the color hue to fit how you want your place to look. Then turning them off when you go to sleep and see how much better having a smart controlled home is.
But its true if you dont have it you dont know what your missing

 

[Baumi]

Reminds me of the Philips Ambilight feature. Honestly, we used it once and afterwards deactivated it till we sold the TV.

We've got an Ambilight TV, and I like the effect of the LED strips that are integrated into the device. However, I hardly ever use the "Ambilight + Hue" app to sync it to my Hue lights, since that doesn't really add all that much.

 

[Swampthing]

Sigh.

Is it actually that hard to:

1. Get up.
2. Walk over to light switch.
3. Dim/turn off lights (using said switch).

Seriously?!?

Seriously. Believe it or not there are people with physical disabilities which limit their movement. What might be easy for you is an incredible effort for them. So tell me... feeling stupid yet?

 

[larryj]

Sigh.

Is it actually that hard to:

1. Get up.
2. Walk over to light switch.
3. Dim/turn off lights (using said switch).

Seriously?!?

You didn't read the article, did you?

 

[spazzcat]

Sigh.

Is it actually that hard to:

1. Get up.
2. Walk over to light switch.
3. Dim/turn off lights (using said switch).

Seriously?!?

Why, when I can say hey siri set the living room to blue, etc.

 

[mastermind6192]

I just tried it out syncing it up to iTunes on my Mac and it was pretty awesome!

 

[michael31986]

Why would I be playing music from my Mac. When we have Sonos and home pods. This should have a iPhone app too

 

[zv470]

Just watched a movie, oh my god Hue Sync is awesome!
The new streaming API is super fast!

To those hoping this could be a tvOS app... don't think that's possible. Apple would need to support it at the OS level.

Making this app free is pretty genius now I want to get more color lights for the office.

 

[foxcub6]

I take it it takes its data from the Mac screen and sound so is it poss to airplay the Mac to the Apple TV downstairs where my Philips hue lights are ? Or does the Mac screen go black when you airplay to the Apple TV so long since I tried it

 

[benji888]

This would make much more sense as a tvOS app

^^ SO much this. I'm way past watching movies on my computer. tvOS app please. only makes sense people!!

^^I agree. I don't get where someone above says they can't do it...wasn't there a TV show that, a couple years ago, synced with Hue and took control of the lights during the episodes? (I don't recall if that worked via iOS app or what).

I take it it takes its data from the Mac screen and sound so is it poss to airplay the Mac to the Apple TV downstairs where my Philips hue lights are ? Or does the Mac screen go black when you airplay to the Apple TV so long since I tried it

Yes, I still AirPlay from my 2010 Mac w/Sierra to ATV, only works from iTunes and certain videos from certain apps (Safari, Quicktime, & ?). (My Mac is too old to do mirroring or AirPlay as a second monitor.)