Philips Hue app adds iPad support, 3D Touch widgets for iPhone

Philips on Tuesday pushed out an update for its Hue connected lightbulb and accessories controller app, adding iPad support and new home screen widgets for iPhone users running iOS 10.

The updated Philips Hue app brings the remote lighting control software to Apple's tablet for the first time since the connected home product line launched in 2013. Previously, iPad users had to rely on third-party apps or hubs to manage individual lights.

Alongside iPad support, iPhone owners can access preset widgets via a 3D Touch press on Hue's app icon. This feature is particularly useful when users need to quickly change scenes or activate macros like turning room lights on and off.

In addition, today's app update includes an improved scene edit tool, allowing users to customize lighting scenes both with and without a reference picture. Previously, the Hue app required users to select a color scheme from a camera roll photo or a stock image provided by Philips.

The Hue app also includes the usual bug fixes and improvements.

Today's release builds on Philips' "Gen 2" Hue app, which delivered a raft of features to its HomeKit-enabled lighting products, including routines, voice control options and Notification Center widgets.

The Philips Hue app is a free 73MB download from the iOS App Store.

7 Comments

🎄

mac_128 12 Years · 3452 comments

About 8 years ago

Where's the Watch support?

🎁

disneylandman 9 Years · 297 comments

mac_128 said:

Where's the Watch support?

The Apple Watch is supported. Go to iTunes and it says, 'Offers Apple Watch App for iPhone'. The watch support is not a new feature. That was added back in July to the new Philips Hue app, and added back in April 2015 with the original Philips Hue gen 1 app.

🌟

monstrosity 17 Years · 2227 comments

About time. Not like it's a complicated app. iPad support could have been completed in half a day.

⛄

sergiobevi 16 Years · 7 comments

But why do we even need this? Isn't it already incorporated in Apple's own Home app?

boltsfan17 12 Years · 2294 comments

sergiobevi said:

But why do we even need this? Isn't it already incorporated in Apple's own Home app?

The Hue App does way more than Apple's own Home app. The Home App only controls your favorite scenes and you can turn on/off individual lights. You need the Hue app to control colors, room setup, etc.