Not recommended, XMas lights don’t have Thread radios, “new” 2024 XMas lights same — beware
I had to download this app to use the “Essentials Matter Smart Holiday
String Lights”, which I bought because the Essential bulbs with Thread worked great (without the app, just with Home). The Christmas Lights promised to use Matter to connect to the HomePod Mini, but that never worked. The devices do not have Thread radios and only occasionally connect to 2.4 GHz wifi. They often disconnect, error messages are not helpful, and support is only by very infrequent emails and insultingly unhelpful. They never connected to Home so there is no scheduling. Also the app is not suited for the Christmas lights, most scenes are not made for them nor can one search for scenes that are. The app seems even worse this year, I might throw these lights away, so sorry I bought them, SO MANY HOURS WASTED. I was hopeful that the firmware update would help, but no. Thank God the lights have a useful button on the power brick.
String Lights”, which I bought because the Essential bulbs with Thread worked great (without the app, just with Home). The Christmas Lights promised to use Matter to connect to the HomePod Mini, but that never worked. The devices do not have Thread radios and only occasionally connect to 2.4 GHz wifi. They often disconnect, error messages are not helpful, and support is only by very infrequent emails and insultingly unhelpful. They never connected to Home so there is no scheduling. Also the app is not suited for the Christmas lights, most scenes are not made for them nor can one search for scenes that are. The app seems even worse this year, I might throw these lights away, so sorry I bought them, SO MANY HOURS WASTED. I was hopeful that the firmware update would help, but no. Thank God the lights have a useful button on the power brick.
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Unreliable
Unreliable app (updated Wednesday 13 Nov 2024 when the app crashes on opening) for unreliable products that provide unreliable service with unreliable colours/lighting on an unreliable connection version.
And they’ve just today again updated the app to “fix crash issues” and guess what it does instantly on opening?
You have to uninstall and reinstall the app manually. Only then will it work and only then will you get the notification to update the bulbs you’ve been having trouble with for months and “support” has claimed repeatedly is a problem with your network.
And they’ve just today again updated the app to “fix crash issues” and guess what it does instantly on opening?
You have to uninstall and reinstall the app manually. Only then will it work and only then will you get the notification to update the bulbs you’ve been having trouble with for months and “support” has claimed repeatedly is a problem with your network.
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Latest
The latest app version crashes at launch on latest iOS
Cannot connect to Matter over Thread.
I had two Umbra Conos that when I tried to pair found my Thread network but failed to connect and reverted to Bluetooth only, with limited functionality. However with the latest update 19.9.2 there is now a “connect to matter” option that works! All my Nanoleaf essentials are now working with Matter over Thread.
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Doesn’t work with HomeKit
After wasting several hours trying to get these downlights setup with HomeKit, I have given up and come to the conclusion that this firmware simply doesn’t work with HomeKit - despite what it says on the box. I have tried resetting to factory defaults, adding directly via the home app, adding via the Nanoleaf app, disabling Bluetooth, restarting devices, deleting the app and going again. Nothing works 😠
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Poor Software for $$$ Product
I love Nanoleaf. I love the concepts they have and the environment that their products help you create. They are innovative with so much customizability. But their software is sadly trash. Constant connectivity issues, which is HUGE since controlling your Nanoleaf devices from your mobile device is a cornerstone of their concepts. Connectivity issues aren’t the only problems: controllers not updating when there are updates available (and sometimes required for some functions), lights randomly turning on at full brightness during the night (repeatedly in the same night), light scenes randomly changing on their own. Even after replacing the controllers due to a recall, the same issues persist. It’s a shame that such a great concept product, with such a high price point, has software that doesn’t function properly or dependably.
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Love the product (Shapes Hexagon) but the app is confusing
Is there a way to control "shuffle" through scenes from the app? The button on the controller turns Shuffle on, but how to turn off?
Extremely poor app
Great product but the app makes the device completely useless. Why? - you need to integrate your device into your apple home app, there’s no option not to do this. - the customer support is abysmal to say the least. - Pairing the app to the lights is and always has been a nightmare. My advise? Try Govee lights if you’re on a budget and Phillips Hue if you’re ready to spend. Both have amazing apps and do much more without any hassle. Nanoleaf still seems to be in its beta stage due to how poorly their app functions. They have over complicated things within their app which makes the entire experience terrible.
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Very poor customer support
App is quite well laid out but the matter bulbs are extremely unreliable and constantly say they are connected in the app but not responding to commands. Customer service is pretty non-existent, says a few hours when you send a support request but it takes more like weeks for the initial response and more weeks between each follow up. Really regret spending a lot of money on Nanoleaf matter bulbs but I’m stuck now. If you’re thinking about it, find another brand
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Great, but painful to set up
I’ve spent hours and hours on my light panel shapes. It kept telling me the same thing over and over again and I watched all the tutorials and they didn’t help at all. This may be because my shapes are from the previous generation, but it still has brought me so much distress and frustration. These shapes are horrible to set up!! Although, I really do like them as they are very pretty and match my room. All the Nanoleaf devices are a wonderful idea. The app just really needs to be remade.
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