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Philips Won't Block Third-Party Bulbs After All (engadget.com)

Posted by samzenpus on from the on-second-thought dept.

An anonymous reader writes: A day after Philips announced that it would drop support for third-party Hue bulbs the company has reversed its decision. An announcement reads is part: "We recently upgraded the software for Philips Hue to ensure the best seamless connected lighting experience for our customers. This change was made in good faith. However, we under estimated the impact this would have on a small number of customers who use lights from other brands which could not be controlled by the Philips Hue software. In view of the sentiment expressed by our customers, we have decided to reverse the software upgrade so that lights from other brands continue to work as they did before with the Philips Hue system."

5 of 110 comments (clear)

  1. Well thanks for tipping your hand anyway by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Thanks for announcing that you have both the drive and the ability to lock down your """smart"""bulbs to their own little Philips eco-system, regardless of how you plan on leveraging it. It's still a nice red-flag for those of us who don't want to throw their money down the toilet.

  2. Sure, Philips... by SeaFox · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This change was made in good faith. However, we under estimated the impact this would have on a small number of customers who use lights from other brands which could not be controlled by the Philips Hue software.

    The fact they changed their decision shows it's not really such a small number of customers.

  3. So... Too soon? by Falconnan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I read this a bit differently than how they worded it. To me it reads, "The combination of low numbers of adopters of the system combined with a natural desire to avoid 'lock-in' will limit our market share. Hence, we have decided to wait until more people adopt the product before trying again." Until they promise to NEVER do this AGAIN I recommend against the product.

    1. Re:So... Too soon? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

      Hurr durr RMS. Muh digital freeedoms!

      Who cares, its a fucking smart phone light bulb system. If they lock you in throw the stuff out and buy something else. You guys are such drama queens.

  4. "Drop support"? by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A day after Philips announced that it would drop support for third-party Hue bulbs

    Is "drop support for" a euphemism for "actively block"?

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