AppleInsider Staff
Fans of Philips's popular Hue programmable LED lights now have a more tactile way to control the bulbs' brightness with the announcement of the new Hue wireless dimming kit.
The Hue wireless dimming kit ships with a standard Hue white light bulb and the dimmer itself, which is battery powered. The dimmer sports four buttons — Â on, off, brighter, an darker.
An included wall plate can be used to make the dimmer act as a wall switch, though it can also be removed and used as a standalone remote control. A single dimmer can control up to 10 white Hue lights, though it can't be used with other Hue products.
The dimmer also does not appear to be compatible with Apple's HomeKit, though Philips has pledged to update its range with HomeKit compatibility this month.
"The Philips Hue wireless dimming kit is the lightbulb moment that will spark the natural progression into the modern, connected home," Hue marketing chief Leonardo Avezzano is quoted as saying, somewhat hyperbolically, in a release. "Not only does the kit show how simple it is to have clever products in your home, but like all Philips Hue products it is entirely future-proof. With the kit, anyone is able to begin enjoying the simplicity of modern dimming."
Philips's Hue wireless dimming kit will go on sale later this month for $39.95.
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11 Comments
Looks like this one is a work in progress... See review here http://fortune.com/2015/08/25/philips-hue-dimmer/
One button to rule them all!
Why four when some software intelligence would make one suffice.
Why four when some software intelligence would make one suffice.
The computer knows when you want the lights on or off? Or are you talking about voice command, which people will really like as they walk through the house, waking everybody up?
That's the problem with these smart lights so far. 90% of the time you just want the lights on or off, not some mood. Yet the most basic switch was $60. Old way = instinctive 1/4 second flick. New way = pull out your phone, unlock it, go to app...
The computer knows when you want the lights on or off? Or are you talking about voice command, which people will really like as they walk through the house, waking everybody up?
That's the problem with these smart lights so far. 90% of the time you just want the lights on or off, not some mood. Yet the most basic switch was $60. Old way = instinctive 1/4 second flick. New way = pull out your phone, unlock it, go to app...
I meant different patterns of taps and holds would make a one button design a bit harder to use initially but much nicer estetically.
konqerror - you do understand they still function as normal lights, right? You can still use light switches to turn them on, and they will all be a normal warm white light. You can then change them if you want. You sound like a cranky old man who doesn't like new things; they thought of you, and you can still use the light switch if you really want to. With a notification center widget though, you don't even need to unlock, just wake, swipe and tap. The geofencing features alone make your point moot, for me anyway.