Live data from Hacker News

Philips Hue will soon force users to create an account

defcon.social

61–70 of 338 posts

Re: Philips Hue will soon force users to create an account

#62
This is frustrating. I have invested a lot in the Hue ecosystem and have also recommended it to my friends based on the facts that you don't need an account to control it, it integrates easily with HA, and you can block it from the internet.

Now after one announcement it's something I want to get rid of fast and am ashamed of recommending it to my friends. I already block my Hue Bridge from accessing the internet, so that should keep it from updating so that the functionality stays the same.

Does anyone have any good app recommendations for Android? I use HA, but last time I checked you weren't able to configure the actual Hue scenes in it (and using HA scenes triggered Hue's spam limits).

Re: Philips Hue will soon force users to create an account

#63
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This one is French, but I thought it might be what you are referring to. https://www.netatmo.com/

Word of warning about Netatmo cameras - even if you buy the HomeKit Secure Video ones, they stop working if the memory card dies. And it dies a LOT on their cameras. I've got 3 of their outdoor security cameras, and two of them stopped working while I was away on holiday. I had a very long conversation with them about this massive flaw in their system, they kept just saying "it needs the memory card to save the video…

Good to know! I have been using Logitech circle view with HomeKit secure video with no problems other than needing to make sure wifi strength is plentiful.

Ideally, there would be a wired HomeKit secure video option, but I have yet to see it.

Re: Philips Hue will soon force users to create an account

#64
In the Polish comedy film "Miś" ("Teddy Bear"), released in 1981, there is a famous line: "We don't have your coat, what are you going to do about it?"

This line is uttered in a cloakroom scene. In the scene, the protagonist Ryszard Ochódzki goes to a cloakroom to retrieve his coat. He hands over his ticket to the attendants. They search but claim they can't find his coat. Ochódzki becomes agitated but the attendants are nonchalant.

The scene satirizes inefficiency and lack of accountability in bureaucratic systems.

Hue's "take it or leave it" answers ("Believe us, this change can only benefit the users, when it comes to security.") about their recent changes feel kinda the same. The message seems to be, "We're changing this and what are you going to do about it?"

It's scary how a movie about life in communist Poland can still feel relevant when dealing with companies today.

Re: Philips Hue will soon force users to create an account

#65
post #60
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use Home Assistant. It's open source and there is a huge community around it.

You still need the Hue hub for that though right?

You will need a Zigbee Hub for sure, but it doesn't need to be Philips Hue hub. Folks have used ConBee II or Sonoff Zigbee USB dongle to replace Hue hub.

I have used Sonoff Zigbeen to replace Ikea hub, bot haven't got around to replacing Hue hub just yet. It's on my list :-)

Re: Philips Hue will soon force users to create an account

#66
post #26
post #3

#internetofshit

I do have real use-case, though : lights on a cable system, but long enough to light different areas (dining table AND couch, for instance). It's quite convenient to be able to control each area separately, instead of needing to turn them all on or all off.

You're thinking of KNX.

Re: Philips Hue will soon force users to create an account

#67

The whole IoT world is a huge mess. A large number of the products are a massive privacy nightmare, security is questionable in interoperability is a pipe dream. I have an old house, where it location of a few switches are just completely illogical. One solution would be to install a few "smart" switches and a relay or two. If I want to stay secure and care the least bit about cost and privacy, there's no choice othe…

Zigbee Sonoff relays paired to one of their coordinators flashed with Tasmota. Although if the walls are too thick or tge sistances too high it could pose an issue for 2.4Ghz.

Re: Philips Hue will soon force users to create an account

#68
The big question is at which level this auth is enforced:

- official Hue apps - who cares

- hue bridge - bad, would break apps like HuePro and would force more complicated setup for some

- bulb - unlikely, that would mean everyone buying this for IoT lighting can throw out their whole set

Re: Philips Hue will soon force users to create an account

#69
post #65
post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You still need the Hue hub for that though right?

You will need a Zigbee Hub for sure, but it doesn't need to be Philips Hue hub. Folks have used ConBee II or Sonoff Zigbee USB dongle to replace Hue hub. I have used Sonoff Zigbeen to replace Ikea hub, bot haven't got around to replacing Hue hub just yet. It's on my list :-)

Thanks, I run HomeBridge on a Pi so I might try this if Hue go through with their plan.

Re: Philips Hue will soon force users to create an account

#70
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Word of warning about Netatmo cameras - even if you buy the HomeKit Secure Video ones, they stop working if the memory card dies. And it dies a LOT on their cameras. I've got 3 of their outdoor security cameras, and two of them stopped working while I was away on holiday. I had a very long conversation with them about this massive flaw in their system, they kept just saying "it needs the memory card to save the video…

Good to know! I have been using Logitech circle view with HomeKit secure video with no problems other than needing to make sure wifi strength is plentiful. Ideally, there would be a wired HomeKit secure video option, but I have yet to see it.

I have a Logitech cam too and it's been trouble free with a great picture, though for some reason it does seem to take longer to start streaming on my iPhone than the other cameras. I was really hoping for some big improvements in Home / HomeKit with iOS 17 but alas, no.
Post reply on HN