Philips Shows Off Prototype Hue Notification Center Widget for iOS 8

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.

This is a concept prototype to show the use of extensions to provide access to hue from the notification centre! pic.twitter.com/xC92LAgVfq — Philips Hue Dev (@philipshuedev) June 5, 2014

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.