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Purchasers of the Philips Hue "smart" ambient lighting system are finding out that the new firmware pushed out by the manufacturer has cut off access to previously-supported lightbulbs.
Philips uses ZigBee, which should mean any bulbs compatible with this standard will work with its Hue products. Not anymore. The firmware update removes this support, limiting this "open, global" standard to Philips' own bulbs and those it has designated as "Friends of Hue."
When owners complained that they had been given the old bait-and-switch on products they already paid for, Philips issued this statement:
While the Philips Hue system is based on open technologies we are not able to ensure all products from other brands are tested and fully interoperable with all of our software updates. For guaranteed compatibility you need to use Philips Hue or certified Friends of Hue products.
The Philips Hue is a premium-priced LED lighting system, but the rapid pace of LED efficiency gains has started to leave them behind. Cheaper competitors have started to significantly undercut Hue's pricing. Maybe this lockout is more about pricing protection than it is about quality protection
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 15 2015, @11:20PM
Why the fuck do your light bulbs need a computer? I never got this.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 15 2015, @11:27PM
Because there are some pretty cool presets you can create for your home lighting. Automatic lights on/off, dimming at night, for color changing bulbs you can have preset color schemes for fun mood lighting. I personally have none of it, but I see the appeal.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 16 2015, @12:30AM
It would be nice to have my entire house work like f.lux [justgetflux.com] does with my computer screens; white sunlight temperature light during the day and orange/red warm light at night. I'm not totally convinced of the claims that it makes you sleep better but it definitely is more comfortable to look at.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 16 2015, @05:07AM
Having windows, and using bulbs with a low color temperature (search for "red party bulb"), would achieve this effect. During the day, bluish light would come through the windows. I know, I know, some dwellings [wikipedia.org] don't have windows.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 16 2015, @12:54AM
I want to never have to touch a light-switch again.
When I walk in a room, it lights up. When I leave, the lights dim to black. When I lie down in my bed at night, the lights dim to black and when I wake and sit up, the lights ramp back up.
In the rare case where I need the lights to do something out of the ordinary I want to just gesture with my hand and make and have it automagically do what I want.
All those things require a computer behind the scenes.
(Score: 3, Funny) by snick on Wednesday December 16 2015, @12:59AM
Got you covered [amazon.com].
(Score: 3, Insightful) by bob_super on Wednesday December 16 2015, @01:27AM
It gets a lot more complex wen you start considering the vast array of activities once you get on your bed.
Setting up a computer to identify them all reliably is a lot more complex than putting a dimmer somewhere. Especially if preventing accidental "full lights" requires pointing a camera at your bed "for the lights only".
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 16 2015, @02:50AM
> the vast array of activities once you get on your bed
It isn't a case of identifying all the "activities" on your bed.
You only need to identify the cases where you want the lights to react.
> requires pointing a camera at your bed "for the lights only".
You don't need a "camera" you just need 3d-mapping like the infrared dotmap used by the kinect.
(Score: 3, Funny) by q.kontinuum on Wednesday December 16 2015, @06:46AM
It's not only about identifying the activities. Some people prefer certain activities in the dark, others prefer lights on.
In some cases the decision might depend on the perceived attractiveness of the other person(s) or creature(s) involved.
Probably this is a good case for a webcam pointed at your bed, and Google matching the image to your browser histrory to identify your personal taste.
Also, Google needs to analyse who earns the money to decide whos preference take priority, right? Because it might get difficult to find compromises in case of conflicts.
Hand gestures I'd really hate. It would just be weird to start gesturing in certain situations.
Personally, I'd prefer a server in my house controlling electric devices, and a smartphone-app to override/pre-set it. The connection an be completely over intranet, and even if the phone data is snooped upon it will not contain any juicy details.
Registered IRC nick on chat.soylentnews.org: qkontinuum
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 16 2015, @09:09AM
> Hand gestures I'd really hate. It would just be weird to start gesturing in certain situations.
Compared to getting up and walking to a wallswitch, or getting out a smartphone/tablet?
Yeah, so weird...
(Score: 2) by q.kontinuum on Wednesday December 16 2015, @10:09AM
Exactly. As we are discussing the bedroom situation, my smartphone is usually next to the bed on the bedside-table, so no big deal. Watching out to not do the wrong moves to avoid accidentally toggling the light (if the recognition algorithm is too lenient), or to do the same gesture over and over again until it is recognized properly, like a rain-dance, (if the recognition algorithm is too strict) would be weirder to me.
Registered IRC nick on chat.soylentnews.org: qkontinuum
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 16 2015, @01:23AM
If you want your house to look lived-in while you're on vacation, this could do that.
Unlike the outlet-centric timers, these will also work with ceiling lights.
Has a high amount of variability as well.
Add some controlled table radios for audio accompaniment.
In normal everyday life, like you, I don't see computer control of lights being especially useful.
.
I was listening to a guy being interviewed on the radio and he said "Hold on. I just had a blackout."
The interviewer got concerned about the guy's health.
"Oh, not that."
"Ah, you hadn't moved in a while and the passive infrared motion detector turned off the lights in that room."
WRT lighting, that's the kind of thing I see as (possibly) useful.
-- gewg_
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 16 2015, @05:16AM
There are timers—both mechanical and electronic but non-networked—that can replace a wall switch.
http://www.homedepot.com/c/heat_lamps_how_to_replace_a_single_pole_switch_with_a_timer_HT_PG_EL [homedepot.com]
(Score: 1) by Francis on Wednesday December 16 2015, @05:24AM
That's because you don't own them. I use 2 colors, the timer and dimmer. With other options I would need at least 2 fixtures for the colors, a timer and dimmer. A whole lot less convenient. Plus you would need bulbs that handle the colors and those aren't that cheap.
(Score: 2) by Hyperturtle on Wednesday December 16 2015, @11:19PM
You are a wise person. I never would buy these because you don't need a computer, you need a cell phone and an apple ID or something to then run the DRM on your bulbs...
No thanks. I can't see why this is attractive, unless perhaps one already is signed up for all of the rest. My desktop shouldnt need any of that and I would hope I'd need nothing more than a windows 3.1 type interface to configure a few values for the hue of color or a VGA color slider...
but that isnt web 2.0 i guess.