Leave a Review Philips Hue
Finally! Power On Behavior Settings!
I’ve been using Hue in my home for almost two years now. My biggest issue with the system is how the lights would all turn on bright white after a power outage or if lights connected to a light switch would reset to the default white if someone turned it off from the wall switch. Now with this update, my largest gripe has been resolved! I will say that the firmware update required for this feature took longer on some bulbs than others. Most of my bulbs received the update within 30 minutes or so. But I had a handful that took over day, almost two days! They did eventually update and now all bulbs are on the latest firmware.
The next thing I am waiting for is the ability to use Hue Entertainment with my AppleTV so that I can sync my lights to what’s on the screen. Hopefully, that comes sooner than later.
Other areas of improvement would be to the routines. It would be nice if I could set a routine to turn on at sunset but turn off at a fixed time of day without having to create two separate routines (one for on and the other for off). At the moment, the only other option that it gives you within a single routine is to have the lights turn off at sunrise if they are set to turn on at sunset.Show lessVirtualMirage
Every update breaks something
Ok, 3 strikes an your out. I installed a recommended update today and sure enough it broke every light and routine I had configured just like the two updates performed earlier this year. The app can now only turn and lights on or off, my color and brightness level settings only remain in effect for about 5 seconds and then something mysteriously changes all the lights to settings I did not specify. The same thing occurs if I manually adjust the settings, it’s now impossible to control colors or brightness levels on any light. The only solution I have found so far is to perform a factory reset of the hub (square) and re-create every light, room, and routine. I have a iPhone 7 running the latest iOS rev and my network works flawlessly with all my other apps and devices. If a solution exists on the hue website or anywhere else I cannot find it. Unless hue can provide a solution i would not recommend this app or the purchase of any hue equipment unless you are willing to reconfigure your entire system every time the release a buggy update. This is unfortunate as I really like the system when it worked.Show lessZagmeyer
Crashes over and over: can’t use my lights
I haven’t used my hue lights in sometime and downloaded the app today. I was unable to see my zigbee bridge and had to type in a manual IP address. trying to sync by pressing the button on the hardware crashes the app repeatedly. I can only use my really expensive lights as bright white lights now.
Update: I was able to install the now unsupported app and use it to upgrade my firmware on the hub. Subsequently, I then used the new app (which could then see my hub and not continuously seg fault) to upgrade my hub firmware. After these steps I was able to then update the firmware on my six lights - this worked and I was able to finally use my investment. Unfortunately, the update bricked one of my lights so I’m down to five, which is a real pain. Unfortunate since I only got a few hours of life from a $60 bulb. I was posted overeats and my lights were in storage, so no warranty. Can’t be sure it’s the apps fault, but still... hopefully newer generation bulbs are more robust.Show lesssoko3000
Shortcut for alarms, please!
I’ll start off by saying that I’ve barely touched the Hue app in several years, since I’ve been able to control everything I need with HomeKit. However, I’d recalled that Hue has this nifty way to wake you up where it slowly adjusts lighting over time, instead of a jarring sound or something, and I wanted to try using this. The only way to do this is through the Hue app itself. I got even more excited when I learned that Hue started supporting Shortcuts, hoping that I’d be able to incorporate an action to set this type of alarm in the app in my shortcut for bedtime (I work varied shifts throughout the week, waking up as early as 5 and as late as 8am). There doesn’t appear to be a way to execute this shortcut without just telling Shortcuts to open the app, like I can do with the clock app. I’m not sure if this is a limitation of available actions developers are permitted to donate, or if this is just not something that had been considered, but I would love to see this!
The only other downgrade is for how confusing it is to set up new lights and assign them to rooms. I’ve set up this stuff probably 50 times (moving several times as well as adding new accessories over the years) and I never remember that you name the light and then have to back all the way out and add it to a room. It seems kind of clunky.Show lessPinkWhimsy
You updated five days ago and you still have not fixed the routines?
I went into the App Store and saw that you had an update five days ago and I was excited because that meant that I probably could now use my routines. Wrong! I cannot believe that you guys still haven’t fixed the routines section. In the other routines area, after trying to save something on the third chance, the app freezes. I am simply not able to set up anything in other routines. Come on guys! This is terrible really do like the update, but there are so many mquirky problems with the darn app! You fixed the widget problem very quickly, and I appreciate that. Now you have a problem with routines! I cannot for the life of me set up my routines using the “other routines“ area. In the past I’ve been able to have my lights go on at a certain time and go off at a certain time specifically, every day of the week, and it’s just not working. I press the button to save, and it goes right back to the same screen as if it has not been saved. I press save twice, and it doesn’t work. The third time I press it the system goes into an eternal spinning circle frozen app! And then I have to simply reboot the program! Like I said, I like the styling that you did and some of the features you added, but you have really screwed up a lot of small areas of the usefulness of hueShow lessRMS
Developer Response
Hi there! Thank you for your review, we're glad to read you like the update. Could you go to the Hue app > Explore > Hue Labs > settings top corner > i > manage resources to check the amount of rules and routines still available. Could you send us a screenshot via http://m.me/HuePhilips and a screenshot of the routine you are trying to set-up, so we can assist you? Thank you!Nice Try
New 3.0 version ....No instructions make it a challenge. I just can’t figure out how to hold my light color and brightness it wants to just do its own thing. If you go through and set each room with color and brightness then save it when the timer activates the light in the room it is not always the color you selected or brightness. It actually changes brightness levels to all the same also. I am in the original hue system and did clear all old info through the app. If you are on the first version I suggest you hold on just a bit longer as this one has promise but is not there yet. Hey developer, some beta trials with real consumers would probably uncover issues like this. Edit-reset entire system, set up entire system like new. All appears to move along well except I can not save a custom routine. I can create it but then the only choices are save and cancel to exit the set up screen. If I reboot my iPad it set up scene is gone, close the app it is gone, hit cancel and the routine is cancelled. If I attempt to add two on the same screen it will not save and freezes the APP. Final edit. Scenes work perfectly on my iPhone... do not work on iPad Pro .Otherwise we have a nice app here😀Show lessPauly_!
Still No Sensor Options
I wanted so long for V3 to come out. Total disappointment. Basically it is prettier and easier to use. As far as more features, not much. The one I really wanted was Sensor customizations. You cannot pick which lights in a room to have turn on or off. I have multiple Hue lights in my bathroom. I have a Sensor in it. I want my Sensor to detect motion and then if it is night time, turn on only the cabinet lighting very dim. This is just so when you go to the bathroom at night you don’t have blaring lights or have to get your phone out to turn them on. In the Hue App, the only option is to have ALL the bathroom lights come on. You cannot pick just one or two lights. You can do this in HomeKit, but then some of the customizations for the Sensor Hue allows won’t work. (I.e. how strong the motion had to be to work, how long to keep it on, etc....)
Hue Hyped this new version for months if not a year. Now it is here and like I said... it basically is the same app just better designed. Very disappointing. Will not be buying more sensors until they fix this. One last thing... same thing is true with Hue Tap and Hue Dimmers. Both only let you pick rooms, not individual lights. Dimmer only has 4 customization areas when there are 5 in HomeKit. It’s like Hue forgot all about their accessories. C’mon... I wasted $250 on 5 Sensors, $100 on 2 taps, and $200 on 5 Dimmers and all of them you can’t do what you claimed you could when I got them.Show lessDjgrolyos
Developer Response
Hi there! Philips Hue App 3.0 is a first step in addressing feedback that our candid users shared with us. Keep sharing your ideas and we’ll keep working on new functionalities, so you can enjoy the best lighting experience. Other features will be announced during 2018 but for the moment we cannot disclose any details. Right now, the best option would be to create a separate room for your cabinet lighting , and then link that room to the motion sensor.Finally, a Hue App to write about!
I’ve been a sucker for Philips since the invention of the CD. I’ve had every Hue product and every version thereof, aside from the flood lights. While sadly at the cost of my paycheck, it’s been nice to watch Hue evolve over the years, that’s goes for the tie into 3rd party cloud APIs (Echo/Alexa has been a ride) as well, but the Philips App serious was lacking, frustrating to use and just became mundane. I actually got so sick of it I’d write my own software to control the lights (gg on the API Philips). So yeah, if you haven’t downloaded version 3 of this app, it’s pretty kick a**, finally you can move things around, before you had to delete everything and add them back in a specific order, trying to color match was a nightmare, and so many other issues the previous apps had, this resolves! So for now, it’s hats off to Philips, thank you and please keep making improvements on your hardware and software, you’ve certainly won me back with this one. Cheers, ~TShow lessTommy G-Code
Sooo Disappointing since Newer APP
First off... I absolutely love Philips Hue! But I remain totally SHOCKED that with all those super smart programmers and APP developers at Philips, since the newer 2.0 and now 3.0 version of the APP came out, one can no longer program a single light bulb into multiple rooms!!! Or group rooms into ZONES!!!!!! I am still using the 1st version of the APP with my 47 Philip Hue bulbs and many devices!!! And am frustrated beyond belief that they took the ability to create zones away ever since they updated the APP! How is this an improvement Philips!??? Once people get invested into the Philips Hue ecosystem and spend time programming and creating scenes that work for their house and family it’s soooo counter productive to do updates like this!! Sonos and many other companies do it right! Philips Hue... I’m still waiting for you guys to allow better management of the devices that people invest a lot of money in!! Also.. since I’m in the mood to give suggestions... :). How about show the updated/zoomed camera roll image as the icon when you enlarge and save a picture. Philips please call me... I’d love to share my thoughts on some of the problems with the new 3.0 APP. I still love Philips Hue... just wish I didn’t have to use a third party APP! :(Show lessCheroney31
Developer Response
Hi there, we're sorry to hear you've been so disappointed in the new update. App 3.0 is just the beginning of the changes we plan on making to the app based on the feedback we've received from users. New features will be announced throughout 2018, but right now we can't give anything away. Please feel free to give us further feedback on what you like/think could be improved. You can reach us here: http://m.me/HuePhilips
