Philips has added support for Apple to its Hue lighting. According to The Next Web, Apple users can now control their Hue lighting using Siri. The new Hue Bridge 2.0 uses Apple’s HomeKit to allow iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch users to control the lights with voice commands.
The existing Hue users are required to have a new box as Apple requires HomeKit devices which have specific hardware that the previous Bridge is not compatible with. For the existing customers there is a discount. Phillips is offering the new Hue Bridge 2.0 for USD 40 to existing customers. The new customers will have to pay USD 60.
The new Bridge is essentially the same and it still supports all the third-party systems it always has, like Nest and SmartThings.
In addition, there is a new version of the accompanying app of the new Bridge 2.0.
The users can set up various scenes that they like. They just have to say ‘Siri, turn on the table lamp’ or ‘Siri, chill out mode’, and that is it.
