Philips Hue will soon require an account to use its app — here’s what that means
(www.theverge.com)
from throws_lemy@lemmy.nz to privacy@lemmy.ca on 28 Sep 2023 19:07
https://lemmy.nz/post/2008297
from throws_lemy@lemmy.nz to privacy@lemmy.ca on 28 Sep 2023 19:07
https://lemmy.nz/post/2008297
#privacy
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This is the best summary I could come up with:
After launching a new security system last month and finally making good on its promise to support Matter, the company is now requiring users to sign up for a Hue account to use its app.
Signify has a page on its site with details on what benefits you get from an account, but I reached out to find out why this change was being made and exactly what it means for your devices and data.
“What we will over time change is that if you want to have an overview and to manage which applications and users have access to your Hue system, you will need to be logged into your account,” says Yianni.
This is good news for people who have or plan to have more than 50 lights and accessories (the current limit on existing bridges), as it will make it easier to expand their system.
If you don’t want to sign up for an account, you can still circumnavigate the Hue app by directly integrating the bridge (and its connected accessories) into a platform such as Apple Home.
In both of these cases, you lose the features of the Hue app, such as scenes and automations, but you can control the lights locally in your home with no cloud integration and no need to create an account.
The original article contains 1,181 words, the summary contains 220 words. Saved 81%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
Actual physical security that requires people to be admitted into your home before they can manage your config is somehow inadequate? Compared to a fucking clowd scheme it’s so much better.
I have a friend with a bushel of hue bulbs in her garage, having swapped dozens for something less enshittified. They’re going to the landfill. She’s never touching the hue line again and regrets spending any money with them in the past. THAT’s what that means. It’s okay if they die.
It’s probably a logistical issue, not a basement security issue. It sounds like they’re implementing something like an OAuth API for integrations that operate outside your house, and you use the account for managing or deauthorizing those integrations.
Same company?
nbcnews.com/…/philips-recalls-ventilators-sleep-a…
No, it’s not at all the same company, despite using the same Philips brand. Philips split up into several separate companies. The healthcare division is the only thing left of the original Philips company.
My understanding is Philips licensed their name out to Singled who actually owns the Hue products.
I really like my Hue stuff… sucks I’m going to have to rip it out…
Get a ZigBee hub and home assistant
If you have the hue hub you don’t need to change anything…except the hue app to the home assistant one :)
Yes but I think in this case you will eventually be asked to sign up and login via the app to e.g. add a new bulb
If I’m not mistaken it’s possible to add bulbs via bridge alone due to how they work.
That being said, stop buying hue bulbs. Once you have home assistant you can integrate other brands into the mix. Don’t reward Phillips after they try to steal your information.
Yeah this is the problem for sure. The generic-zigbee-usb-stick approach might work today, but I'd still be wary.
This year it's "Hue Hub now requires cloud account".
Next year, we get to "Firmware updates now require Hue Hub". Annoying - and someone will probably work around it - but not realistically a long-term strategy. Better hope that the security/functionality holds up long term with whatever version you're running. With firmware supporting Matter seemingly coming out about the same time as this change, that could be a very real problem.
A bit further down the line, we arrive at "All Hue products released after <date> only work with the Hue Hub". And then it's all over. What was open is now closed, and it's the end of the line for anyone who refuses to capitulate.
In theory, you're fine to keep using he things you currently own. In practice, they're almost certainly going to make that as difficult as possible for you.
Better to vote with your wallet. As a few people have suggested in various threads around the internet, the kind of bait-and-switch they've pulled might well entitle you to a full refund if your country has consumer protection laws that are worth a damn.
You can repurpose it to spots that don’t need the smart feature. I only have a couple bulbs, but they’ve now found their way into my basement where I don’t need smart lights. That way the bulbs don’t go to waste since they still work with a simple light switch still.
Until someone flicks the light and they end up flashing for forever… I have off brand ones I’ve done that with for security reasons and a few months ago we ate dinner with those lights flashing. It helped not to make eye contact with my wife, she didn’t find it as funny as I did.
The off brand do that, yes. But I don’t think Phillips do as easily. I think it has to be 3 quick on-off’s to reset them. Using them as a normal light should be fine. We have been using it for a few months now as I moved them out when I converted to matter
Thank you for that!
I’ve just switched to the Home app for now. Google has actually fixed all my complaints about it - now it launches to the favorites screen which can have devices or groups. I have mine set to show my two cameras and the light group for each room, and that’s basically all I want.
If they end up making it so you have to be logged in to even use the lights with the Home app, I’ll just switch to something else.
I’ll consider that, thank you!
It means, that luckily i only have a few hue items to replace.
Here’s what it means… my household will remain free of Philips hue products.
Sooooo… avoid Hue products. Got it.