Philips Shows Off Prototype Hue Notification Center Widget for iOS 8 - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Philips Shows Off Prototype Hue Notification Center Widget for iOS 8

by

Philips today tweeted an image demonstrating how the Philips Hue app for its iPhone-controlled line of lights might look when integrated into iOS 8's Notification Center.

As seen in the image, adding a Hue widget to the Notification Center would potentially give users direct access to an off switch and a selection of light scenes.

philipshuewidget

Currently, the Philips Hue line of lights, which includes various bulbs and accent lights, is controlled through the Philips Hue app and through various third-party apps. Access to Hue controls in Notification Center would make it much simpler for users to turn off lights or choose their favorite scenes, as it would not require an app to be launched.

As described during Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference, iOS 8's Notification Center allows third-party apps to create widget extensions to display information directly in the "Today" view. Right now, Apple limits Today view to integration with its own stock apps like Calendar, Stocks, and Weather, but with iOS 8, users will be given far more customization options thanks to third-party integration.

Top Rated Comments

somethingelsefl Avatar
156 months ago
Apple should have just replaced the "Missed" panel with a "Dashboard" or "Wdigets" panel. A dedicated widgets panel would have made more sense.

There are going to be way too many widgets lined up one after another. It's going to be too busy.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Moonlight Avatar
156 months ago
As a Hue owner, The app was ugly until they did an iOS7 update to it. Now it is fine. For those saying it doesn't work, I disagree. It works pretty flawlessly for me.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
156 months ago
Looks pretty ugly, but functional I guess.

"concept prototype"
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
156 months ago
I like my Hue lamps, but I don't like the software. Philips need to hire a new team of people to do the user interface. Is has been a lost cause for too long. I no longer believe time will fix it. The problem seems to be Philips themselves think their software is great.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
flottenheimer Avatar
156 months ago
Philips makes some pretty cool products, but my god, their user interfaces are ugly.

Dear Philips, please hire some professionals to do your UI/UX/GUI — it is what your products deserve.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bacaramac Avatar
156 months ago
Holy awesome batman. I really can't wait for Homekit to be fully up and running. Can't wait to tell Siri I'm going to bed, then bam: Doors locked, garage door closed, alarm set and my hue lights shut off inside house.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra Screen

Apple Says CarPlay Ultra is Coming to These Vehicle Brands

Thursday May 21, 2026 11:53 am PDT by
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly a year later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon. In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. CarPlay Ultra...
Apple Event Logo

Apple to Release These 15 New Products Later This Year

Friday May 22, 2026 6:36 am PDT by
April and May have been relatively slow months for Apple this year, but there is a lot to look forward to heading into WWDC 2026 and beyond. Apple is expected to release at least 15 more products later this year, with some of them held up until the more personalized version of Siri launches. Beyond the usual annual updates to iPhones and Apple Watches in September, Apple's all-new smart...
MacBook Pro Low Angle Wide Lens 2

MacBook Pro OLED Display Production Clears Key Hurdle

Thursday May 21, 2026 1:41 am PDT by
Apple's first OLED MacBook Pro models have cleared a major manufacturing hurdle, with panel supplier Samsung Display having reportedly achieved yields above 90 percent on its Gen 8.6 OLED production line. According to Korean publication The Elec, some individual process stages are now reaching yields as high as 95 percent, a level that the display industry considers "golden yield" territory ...