2023-07-04 20:21:06
For a few years now, Ambilight TVs from Philips have been compatible with Hue bulbs from Philips. But with the 2023 range, this is no longer the case. For some obscure reason, Philips has removed compatibility, even as Philips partners with Samsung to offer Hue compatibility – for a fee – in its TVs.
A press image of a Philips TV.
The problem of the many “Philips”
First, a word regarding Ambilight. This is an iconic function of Philips televisions, which allows a colored background to be projected behind the television screen thanks to LEDs placed in the chassis. The colors are synchronized with what is displayed on the screen, and the effect is interesting to improve immersion. Compatibility with Hue bulbs allows the use of accessories from the Hue range to increase the effect of Ambilight, by synchronizing bulbs or accessories — les Playfor example, are dedicated to this use – which further improves the famous immersion.
A press image of the Hue Sync Box kit, very similar.
The main problem, in fact, comes from the fact that while televisions and light bulbs display the same “brand” (Philips), the companies behind the products are not the same. For televisions, the parent company is TP Vision. This company founded in 2011 took over the TV division of Philips in 2012, which kept 30% of the shares of the company. But in 2014, Philips sold its shares to TP Vision, which can simply continue to use the name. On the other hand, Philips Hue bulbs are owned by Signify, a company also spun off from Philips, but in 2016. In fact, even though the trademark is the same — Philips — Signify and TP Vision are two independent companies. .
The reason for the abandonment of this partnership is not known, but two things should be noted: Signify has been selling an external box for years – the Hue Sync Box — which allows you to obtain an effect equivalent to Ambilight and the company also announced at the beginning of the year a paid application for Samsung televisions which allows you to create an Ambilight effect ( once more) without an external box.
Hue Sync TV, the €129 application to synchronize your Hue bulbs with your Samsung TV
In practice, buyers of modern Philips TVs (whose product number ends in an 8) will have to mourn Philips Hue integration and settle for Ambilight, as the blog Then English.
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