Signify Launches Overhauled Philips Hue App

Signify, the lighting division of Philips, announced today that it’s launching an overhauled version of its Philips Hue app to improve performance and enhance the user experience.

Credit: Philips

The app has been rebuilt from the ground up to accommodate new features and serve as the foundation for controlling future lighting systems.

“As world leader in the smart lighting industry, the focus of Philips Hue is to keep improving its products and services with the latest innovations. The millions of users worldwide of the Philips Hue app are at the basis of its new launch,” said George Yianni, Head of Technology Philips Hue at Signify.

One of the app’s most noticeable change is the redesigned Home tab, which now has a host of new options that make it easier to control a user’s smart lighting systems. First off is Tile view, a new design element that allows users to see lights and scenes at a glance and be able to control them without having to navigate to other screens.

Credit: Philips

Another addition is the Hue scene gallery, a feature that lets users preview the different Philips Hue scenes, developed by the brand. Last for the Home tab is the addition of the ability to switch between multiple Hue Bridges quickly. This makes it possible for users who have different houses added in the app or multiple Hue Bridges for different areas of the home to control their lighting setups faster than before.

Meanwhile, the Routines tab has been replaced with the new Automations tab, which offers expanded personalisation options. In this new tab, users will find a new feature called multi-user geofencing. This feature checks whether anyone else is home before running a Coming home or Leaving home automation to make sure the lights won’t turn off on other household members also using the Hue app when the user controlling the automation leaves the house. The other addition is how users can now choose sunset, sunrise or a specific time to start the automation, as well as choosing to turn off the lights when the automation is finished.

The redesign also touts a more user-friendly experience, adding more places for users to customise and adjust their settings. Lights, Rooms and Zones can now be configured in their respective sections in the redesigned Home tab. Adding a new Hue light to a Room is also much simpler with the option to do it from the Room tab itself or Settings. Finally, there’s a new isometric 2.5D view to determine the exact location and height of lights for organising entertainment areas. The lights even change colour when highlighted in the app, making it quicker for users to determine what light is being adjusted.

Credit: Philips

The new Philips Hue app will be available for download in the App Store and the Google Play Store starting 3 June 2021.

Those who already have the Philips Hue app on their devices will receive the update automatically. Once the app is updated, users who open it for the first time will be greeted with a walkthrough of the new features and a guide on how to migrate their existing settings.

“It’s the new Philips Hue experience, and this is just the beginning. We are excited to share more innovations in the rest of the year,” added Yianni.

In a future update, Signify announced that it will be adding dynamic scenes, where lights are less static and can transition through different colours, better helping set the mood in a room.

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Written by Kyle Chua