zlacker

Signify, the makers of the product, are slowly but surely moving towards a subscription model, and requiring a login at all times is a first step to that. They are starting with their (stupidly expensive) security products where some functionality needs to be paid for, but they are bound to start moving other functionality behind a subscription model.

I am genuinely upset, as up until now, their lighting products have been excellent, easily better quality over alternatives in terms of physical build and capabilities. I have been a staunch Hue supporter since I first bought one of their products.

Some of the better functionality, such as the ease-in and ease-out instead of a hard on/off as well as the gradual dimming —> off for motion-sensor controlled lamps are really hard, if not impossible, to manage with the various 3rd party tools. Node-red can do a mostly-decent job, but that requires a level of work that few people are willing to invest, for results that are still not that great.

It is a real pity, but i’ll be looking for alternatives now.