Philips Seeking Beta Testers for Revamped 'Hue' App

Wednesday February 17, 2016 9:12 AM PST by Mitchel Broussard
Philips Hue today tweeted an open call for beta testers to join in putting the company's new and overhauled lighting app through its paces. Users will help Philips "shape a whole new lighting experience" through the beta test, which has already mostly been tested by the company and is seeking fans of Hue to help "with the last finishing touches."

philips hue beta

Users on iOS 8 and higher or Android 4.4 and higher will be able to join in on the beta, although it will have a limited availability and not everyone will be able to get in. After a few minutes of registration, users who get into the beta will be contacted by email with further instructions on how to install the new Hue app onto their smartphone.

Philips didn't give any specifics regarding new features coming to Hue in the update, but screenshots on the company's page hint at a focus on aesthetic and UI changes over drastic new additions to the software. Users interested can apply to be in the Philips Hue beta through Betabound.

Tag: Philips Hue
28 comments

Top Rated Comments

(View all)
Avatar
prowlmedia
52 months ago



Maybe someone sells alternate connectors to slip on to the LED strips to make wiring a whole lot easier.


Well it's 5 wires RGBW and power the strips I buy have connectors each end... So you can cut the connectors off and crimp connect your 1metre gap or what ever soldering the actual strip is damn hard and well the strips are £15 for 5m so not really a problem if you get it wrong. Also you can cut say a 2m and 3m if you need shorter or less you get the 2 end wires
[doublepost=1455757897][/doublepost]This is one of the things I've done with them.

Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
rwilliams
52 months ago
The current app is pretty bad, so I'm hoping the new version is a big improvement. I currently use Elgato Eve to control my Hue lights.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
surfingarbo
52 months ago
In school, I was never picked to be on any sports teams.

Finally, this could be my chance to be picked for something I might actually be good at.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
Gizmotoy
52 months ago

The current app is pretty bad, so I'm hoping the new version is a big improvement. I currently use Elgato Eve to control my Hue lights.

Agreed. I use Lightbow (fantastic app) to control the lights manually, otherwise I let my Smartthings hub automate them.
Rating: 1 Votes
Avatar
ayale99
52 months ago
Signed up. Still have not received a verification email. Anybody else have this problem?
Rating: 1 Votes
Avatar
lolkthxbai
52 months ago
Woot! Just signed up! Can't wait! I bought the new HomeKit version last year so any new features are very welcome! :)
Rating: 1 Votes
Avatar
rdlink
52 months ago

That's already been updated with their most recent update.


So you're telling me that the latest update restores the functionality of my non-Hue Zigbee bulb?
Rating: 1 Votes
Avatar
paulrbeers
52 months ago

Will this new version return functionality to non-Hue Zigbee bulbs that their system is supposedly standardized on, which was broken with their last update? If not, screw Philips, and I have bought my last product of theirs.


That was already fixed. They reversed course about a week later.

http://www.wareable.com/smart-home/philips-third-party-smart-bulbs-hue-bridge-2062

P.S. and yes I've already tested it with a GE Link Bulb hooked to my Hue Bridge 2.0. Although I have since removed it and am controlling it via my main hub (Wink).
Rating: 1 Votes
Avatar
prowlmedia
52 months ago

Ah, so here's the issue. I was able to use Siri before the bad update. Without the Siri functionality I have no need for the bulbs to work with Hue. Anyway, I will mess around with it some tonight when I get home. Thanks.

What's this light strip product to which you're referring?


I agree it was wrong of them to remove homekit / siri being able to control Non-philips lights. Their reason was it's licensing with Apple - which is balls. They just need to protect their business. I am sure someone else will come up with a hack at some point. the hub is based on dd-wrt router software. Or possibly a homekit compatible Zigbee hub that isn't Hue which will happily control any lights.

I actually use smarthings now to control my lights and never touch the hue App.

Like I say the iConnect hue app works in a different way with siri.

this is the controller - works great... I have about 100m of LEDs coming off 6 of them. All working though Hue.
https://www.dresden-elektronik.de/funktechnik/solutions/wireless-light-control/wireless-ballasts/fls-pp-lp/?L=1&cHash=c9c902ccdb43164696acccf81b62b2bd

It's on amazon US/UK/DE
Rating: 1 Votes
[ Read All Comments ]