Smart home devices don’t live forever you know, and now it’s time to bid a fond farewell to the original, 1st-gen Philips Hue Bridge launched in 2012 – the device will lose all internet connectivity on April 30, 2020.
Contents
Philips Hue v1 Limited Support
It will still work in that it will still control your lights via the legacy Hue app. However, you won’t get any future software updates, and integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant will get switched off.
Philips Hue is recommending that customers upgrade to the 2nd-gen Bridge that made its debut in 2015, which will continue working and give you all the functionality you need for the foreseeable future.
If you’re not entirely clear on what the differences between the two are, the v1 Bridge is the circular one, while the v2 Bridge is the rectangular one. Both plug into a router to handle the business of controlling Philips Hue lights around a home.
End Of Life
Speaking to CNET, a spokesperson for Signify (which owns Philips Hue) said: “The 1st-gen Philips Hue Bridge no longer has the resources to guarantee the evolution of the system – from compatibility and quality, to speed and security – thus we decided to end the support for it.”
“As of April 2020 no software updates will be made available for the Hue Bridge v1 and compatibility with our online services will be terminated at that time,” the verified Philips Hue Twitter account said in response to a customer question. You’ll still be able to control the original bridge locally via its dedicated app.
The good news is that there are no plans for a new and updated Bridge yet, so version 2 of the controller device should be good for a few years at least. We’ve also recently seen Philips Hue bulbs that don’t need a Bridge at all. Philips Hue lights use Zigbee radios to communicate with the bridge, which stays plugged into your router in order to enable remote control from your phone from anywhere in the world via Philips Hue’s servers. The newest Hue lights include secondary, Bluetooth radios for simplified, close-range controls without need for a bridge at all, but a bridge is still required to access the most advanced Philips Hue features and integrations.
With so much tech packed inside our devices, it’s inevitable that this scenario is going to come up time and time again – see also Sonos – but eight years of product support seems like a reasonable period of time.
Source: www.techradar.com, www.cnet.com
More To Read
The Best Smart Tech Gifts for Renters and Tenants
Don’t suppose that smart-home generation is restricted most effective to those that personal a house. Today’s gadgets are a very good have compatibility for renters because of no-drill adhesive mounting, simple setup and unfastened options similar to object detection and native video garage. That method, so long as the rent lets in, renters can upload tough domestic safety features, at hand automation and voice assistants or app-controlled safes in your assets. Which method the reward concepts I checklist proper right here make absolute best upgrades for tenants. Read extra: 11 Home Security Myths People Still Believe (But Shouldn’t)A common wise…
Switchbot Candle Warmer overview (Matter, HomePackage, and many others)
I like the scent of candles, however I hate the nervousness that incorporates an open flame. There had been a couple of instances I’ve needed to flip round after leaving to double-check that I’ve blown out a candle. That is why the SwitchBot Candle Warmer Lamp stuck my eye. It guarantees all of the environment and scents of a candle with 0 chance of burning the home down. Best of all, it helps Matter proper out of the field, making it a local citizen for your HomePackage/Apple Home surroundings. HomePackage Weekly is a chain excited by sensible house equipment, automation guidelines and tips, and…
I Got Charmed via This Smart Candle Warmer and Its Safe, Cozy Scents
8.5/ 10 SCORE SwitchBot Smart Candle Warmer Pros Surprisingly efficient at spreading candle scents with out an open flame Smart options permit for faraway keep watch over and scheduling with out fireplace hazards Extra bulb incorporated Relatively little heating on surfaces Speedy setup Cons Hard to mention how it’ll react with surfaces or candles over the long run Some faraway options would possibly require a SwitchBot hub Won’t have compatibility further, further massive or tall candles A horrible stress exists on the planet: People who love candles and their smells will have to ceaselessly are living in puts the place…
Alexa Plus makes an attempt to gaslight person whilst turning the snark dial as much as 11
Stephen Schenck / Android AuthorityTL;DR Alexa Plus inexplicably became on a person’s mild with out being precipitated. When the person requested the assistant why it became at the mild, it falsely claimed the person requested for the sunshine to be switched on. Despite having no report of a up to date voice command, the assistant persevered to assert {that a} request were made. As a perk for Prime individuals, Amazon not too long ago started upgrading Alexa customers to Alexa Plus. While now not the case for everybody, some customers didn’t respect the pressured replace. Why would customers get disenchanted…
Ikea’s Cheap Smart Home Tech Will Be Hard to Beat in 2026
I’m a sucker for dependable, inexpensive sensible house tech. These days, that continuously manner turning to Ikea for a brand new faraway or sensor for my house. Ikea’s low costs are a large explanation why, however the Swedish house furnishing emblem, which has been making a larger play for sensible house tech bucks of past due, has a wholesome variety and maximum can also be managed in the neighborhood — no web required.When I heard Ikea used to be displaying on the global’s biggest client tech display, I jumped on the likelihood to prevent through its comfy suite on the Venetian Hotel…
Would You Let Ikea Take Over Your Smart Home in 2026? After CES, I Would
While Ikea is legendary for its reasonably priced, piece-it-together furnishings gracing flats, dorms and primary houses, you hardly pay attention concerning the corporate within the tech sphere. While Ikea has dabbled in good house generation in previous years, its choices had been restricted, brief and steadily required partnerships with 3rd events. At CES 2026, all that modified. This was once Ikea’s first CES, which is a remark in itself. The Swedish furnishings (and meatball) corporate got here well-prepared, bursting onto the scene with formidable lights and safety choices. It may exchange the good house international, and I’m now not certain different…
