Philips Seeking Beta Testers for Revamped 'Hue' App - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Philips Seeking Beta Testers for Revamped 'Hue' App

by

Philips Hue today tweeted an open call for beta testers to join in putting the company's new and overhauled lighting app through its paces. Users will help Philips "shape a whole new lighting experience" through the beta test, which has already mostly been tested by the company and is seeking fans of Hue to help "with the last finishing touches."

philips hue beta

Users on iOS 8 and higher or Android 4.4 and higher will be able to join in on the beta, although it will have a limited availability and not everyone will be able to get in. After a few minutes of registration, users who get into the beta will be contacted by email with further instructions on how to install the new Hue app onto their smartphone.

Philips didn't give any specifics regarding new features coming to Hue in the update, but screenshots on the company's page hint at a focus on aesthetic and UI changes over drastic new additions to the software. Users interested can apply to be in the Philips Hue beta through Betabound.

Tag: Philips Hue

Top Rated Comments

P
prowlmedia
138 months ago


Maybe someone sells alternate connectors to slip on to the LED strips to make wiring a whole lot easier.
Well it's 5 wires RGBW and power the strips I buy have connectors each end... So you can cut the connectors off and crimp connect your 1metre gap or what ever soldering the actual strip is damn hard and well the strips are £15 for 5m so not really a problem if you get it wrong. Also you can cut say a 2m and 3m if you need shorter or less you get the 2 end wires
[doublepost=1455757897][/doublepost]This is one of the things I've done with them.

Attachment Image
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
surfingarbo Avatar
surfingarbo
138 months ago
In school, I was never picked to be on any sports teams.

Finally, this could be my chance to be picked for something I might actually be good at.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rwilliams Avatar
rwilliams
138 months ago
The current app is pretty bad, so I'm hoping the new version is a big improvement. I currently use Elgato Eve to control my Hue lights.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
P
prowlmedia
138 months ago
Ah, so here's the issue. I was able to use Siri before the bad update. Without the Siri functionality I have no need for the bulbs to work with Hue. Anyway, I will mess around with it some tonight when I get home. Thanks.

What's this light strip product to which you're referring?
I agree it was wrong of them to remove homekit / siri being able to control Non-philips lights. Their reason was it's licensing with Apple - which is balls. They just need to protect their business. I am sure someone else will come up with a hack at some point. the hub is based on dd-wrt router software. Or possibly a homekit compatible Zigbee hub that isn't Hue which will happily control any lights.

I actually use smarthings now to control my lights and never touch the hue App.

Like I say the iConnect hue app works in a different way with siri.

this is the controller - works great... I have about 100m of LEDs coming off 6 of them. All working though Hue.
https://www.dresden-elektronik.de/funktechnik/solutions/wireless-light-control/wireless-ballasts/fls-pp-lp/?L=1&cHash=c9c902ccdb43164696acccf81b62b2bd

It's on amazon US/UK/DE
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Gizmotoy Avatar
Gizmotoy
138 months ago
The current app is pretty bad, so I'm hoping the new version is a big improvement. I currently use Elgato Eve to control my Hue lights.
Agreed. I use Lightbow (fantastic app) to control the lights manually, otherwise I let my Smartthings hub automate them.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rdlink Avatar
rdlink
138 months ago
That's already been updated with their most recent update.
So you're telling me that the latest update restores the functionality of my non-Hue Zigbee bulb?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments

Popular Stories

iOS 27 Next to iPhone

Here's When iOS 27 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: It's Out]

Sunday September 13, 2026 3:00 am PDT by
Update 10:04 a.m.: iOS 27 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Apple is about to release iOS 27, which will finally deliver more advanced Siri AI capabilities as well as a variety of other refinements, improvements, and new features to iPhones. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at Wednesday's iPhone event...
Read Full Article • 151 comments
iOS 27 Icon iPhone

iOS 27 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday September 14, 2026 9:00 am PDT by
Update — 10 a.m. Pacific Time: Apple has released iOS 27. During its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event last week, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released widely on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 should be available around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Settings app, under General → Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight new features and...
Read Full Article • 111 comments
Apple iCloud Plus expansion hero

iCloud+ Now Includes Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Curated Apple Music Stations in Over 100 Countries

Tuesday September 15, 2026 1:43 am PDT by
Apple today announced a new subscription initiative that turns paid iCloud+ subscriptions into a broader services bundle in more than 100 countries. In select countries, Apple says every paid iCloud+ plan, including the cheapest 50GB tier, now includes Apple TV and Apple Arcade "at no additional cost," while family sharing extends the storage, TV and Arcade access to up to five people....
Read Full Article • 105 comments