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Philips Hue will soon force users to create an account

defcon.social

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

#121

Post by yomlica8 »

mrweasel wrote: post #37

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…

Just get some of the many RF controlled switches available on amazon. Many of them you don't even need to do any wiring to use them.

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

#122

Post by tivert »

> Philips Hue will soon force users to create a Hue account and sign in to continue to use the app and control the smart lights. The best security model to protect smart devices is to keep them disconnected from the internet, or at least keep this option available.

Does this just apply to the phone app, or to the base station as well?

IIRC, the base station has a REST API and there are 3rd party apps that can control it (but I haven't touched my Hue light setup in about 5 years, and don't really use any of the smart features anymore).

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

#125

Post by 369548684892826 »

peterbraden wrote: post #105

Does anyone have a recommendation for a replacement bridge that works with home assistant? It seems I’ll be throwing out the hue bridge and never buying a phillips product again.

Hue isn't really a Phillips product. Signify is the company you want to avoid.

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

#126

Post by classichasclass »

poisonborz wrote: post #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

My Hue lights have never been connected to the Internet, so they'll never have to worry about this. I use my own Perl client: https://www.floodgap.com/software/huepl/

I might not buy another base station again, though, if this gets enforced at that level.

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

#127

Post by LeafItAlone »

imp0cat wrote: post #43
zeisch wrote: post #10

Time and time again It takes just one MBA trying to boost numbers to turn a good product into a data collection nightmare. Honestly is there any IoT brand that we can trust long-term? Maybe IKEA stuff?

Unfortunately the IKEA bulbs and switches are of much lower quality than Philips. From my experience, they don't dim quite as smoothly. :(

I haven’t used Hue bulbs since their first products, so I can’t really compare, but I have had no problems with IKEA bulbs or switches in terms of quality and features. My only issue is that their Tradfri outlets are too big and poorly shaped. I can only fit small plugs next to them (in US outlets).

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

#128

Post by krisoft »

grumblez wrote: post #120
krisoft wrote: post #9

I have noticed the announcement of the change too. This materially changes the product for me. I was a happy user so far, and was thinking about buying more bulbs in fact, but not anymore. Is there a way to force the company to return the money I have paid for my bulbs and hub so far? Even if it is arduous and cost me more money than I'm able to gain back I would be inclined to do it to signal my displeasure with thi…

Fortunately all of their lights work over a standard Zigbee connection. No need for a Hue Hub or App at all. I was already transitioning my lights from using the Hue Hub/App to directly connecting via Zigbee/HomeAssistant before this was announced.

That is good to know! Thank you very much. I will look in that direction then.

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

#129

Post by noamchomsky1 »

grumblez wrote: post #120
krisoft wrote: post #9

I have noticed the announcement of the change too. This materially changes the product for me. I was a happy user so far, and was thinking about buying more bulbs in fact, but not anymore. Is there a way to force the company to return the money I have paid for my bulbs and hub so far? Even if it is arduous and cost me more money than I'm able to gain back I would be inclined to do it to signal my displeasure with thi…

Fortunately all of their lights work over a standard Zigbee connection. No need for a Hue Hub or App at all. I was already transitioning my lights from using the Hue Hub/App to directly connecting via Zigbee/HomeAssistant before this was announced.

you still need a hub for zigbee connectivity right?
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