Coupled with some good third-party apps and things like IFTTT, these lights are fantastic (see below). Talk about a wow factor when people see how they look and what they can do. It took me a year to get over the price of the starter kit, but I'm glad I finally took the plunge when the price dropped for a day.
Setup of the A19 Starter Kit was easy. Plug in the lights and the hub, install the official Hue app, press a button on the Hub, and you're pretty much done. I downloaded numerous third-party Android apps and my two favorite Android apps are called "Huerray!" and "Ambieye" because they not only allow you to create "rooms" that can each be handled separately, but they also contain a lot of features that the Philips app does not. With "Huerray!" you can create color scenes AND animations in each room. You can also set alarms, create animated moods from your scene palettes, use NFC tags to trigger colors, and even use your device's microphone to listen to music and have the lights dance to the music! It works great. "Ambieye" has some unique features, like offering hundreds of color palettes from a website called Color Lovers, so you can select a favorite palette and apply static color schemes or animated ones based on the palettes submitted by users from around the world. I also installed a Chrome extension called Lightswitch Pro (which is identical to the "Ambieye" Android app above) that allows me to do the same things as in the "Ambieye" app using a button in my Chrome web browser.
"IFTTT" (If This Then That) is a powerful app and website that allows you change your lights based on triggers. The functionality is huge. You can set it up so your lights go off when your phone leaves your house and turn them back on when the phone comes back home. Or you can make it so the lights come on or off at certain times of the day automatically. You can even change the colors when the weather changes! I have mine set to change to a mellow blue theme when rain is detected in my town. I also have it set up so my lights flash when I get a new e-mail from certain people. IFTTT is a must-try when you get your Hue... and it's free!
These lights are expensive but oh so addictive. It will take me a while to do every room in the house because of the cost, but I can now see myself doing it. Thanks a lot, Philips. :)
| Brand | PHILIPS |
|---|---|
| Light Type | Incandescent |
| Special Feature | Philips 426353 Hue Personal Wireless Lighting, Starter Pack, Retail |
| Wattage | 10 watts |
| Bulb Shape Size | A19 |
| Incandescent Equivalent Wattage | 60 Watts |
| Specific Uses For Product | Lamps |
| Light Color | Hue White |
| Voltage | 240 Volts |
| Unit Count | 1.0 Count |
| Color Temperature | 2000 Kelvin |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Brightness | 600 Lumen |
| Connectivity Technology | Infrared, Wi-Fi |
| Controller Type | Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, SmartThings, Amazon Alexa, nest |
| Connectivity Protocol | ethernet |
| Color Rendering Index | 80 |
| Power Consumption | 10 Watts |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Light Source Type | LED |
| Item Weight | 143 Grams |
| Light Source Wattage | 10 Watts |
| Control Method | Voice |
| Average Life | 15000 Hours |
| Manufacturer | CQMTO |
| Part Number | 426353 |
| Item Weight | 5 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 12 x 5 x 10 inches |
| Item model number | 426353 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Assembled Height | 10 inches |
| Assembled Length | 12 inches |
| Assembled Width | 5 inches |
| Style | Color Starter Kit |
| Color | A19-starter Pack |
| Special Features | Philips 426353 Hue Personal Wireless Lighting, Starter Pack, Retail |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Wattage | 10 Watts |
