Get dramatic desk lighting with Philips Hue Play

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  • Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
  • I’ve been using Philips Hue Play lights behind my Mac monitor for about a month now, and these are my thoughts on the experience, using both the Hue Sync app for Mac and Apple HomeKit
    Philips Hue Play is a clever lighting option that can color coordinate with the content on your Mac, PC, or TV. The lights also work well in HomeKit with any kind of scenes, automation, and controls there. But is the Philips Hue Play system worth the extra cost and hassle for your desk and smart home?
    Hue Play Smart Light 2 Pack: geni.us/GcckAG [Amazon]
    Hue Play Single Smart Light extension (no power adapter): geni.us/ZPDVT [Amazon]
    Hue Hub (required if you don't already have one): geni.us/QBtpxYn [Amazon]
    TIME CODES:
    01:59 Installing
    03:44 Using with Sync App
    07:44 Using with Apple HomeKit
    09:32 Advantages
    10:57 Disadvantages
    13:57 Is it worth it
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    #PhilipsHue #HuePlay #DeskSetups

Комментарии • 43

  • @myHomeKithome
    @myHomeKithome 3 года назад +8

    I do appreciate the wide variety of lighting types and accessories that Hue offers, but I have to say that I am phasing it out of my setup. For me, the benefits don't outweigh the cost and lack of brightness. Adaptive lighting has been a pretty sweet HomeKit addition.

    • @EricWelander
      @EricWelander  3 года назад +2

      While I still enjoy Hue products, I can see where you are coming from.

  • @OurAppleHome
    @OurAppleHome 3 года назад +8

    What a great video, we've been looking to get the playbars, but the Sync app on the computer makes this a fun project. We've been working a sync + gradient lightstrip video, but this may have to come first!

    • @JoshOwens98
      @JoshOwens98 3 года назад +1

      Agreed Brayden, this would be fun to try with the gaming PC too.

    • @EricWelander
      @EricWelander  3 года назад

      Thanks! Yeah, it's nice to have the option of the app and not have to spend extra money on the sync box for every kind of Play setup.

  • @ShaneCreates
    @ShaneCreates 3 года назад +4

    Great video Eric! The setup looks great!

  • @sunshineprogamer
    @sunshineprogamer 3 года назад

    I bought these Hue Play lights (2) a while ago and even though I'm 100% Homekit user, I don't own a mac, I'm a PC gamer and I have the Hue sync app installed and always works like a charm, even when I'm gaming some very demanding games, I know they are expensive but as every Hue light, they are very reliable

    • @EricWelander
      @EricWelander  3 года назад

      That's great to hear! Thanks for sharing.

  • @TheBradLloyd
    @TheBradLloyd 3 года назад

    This desk set up looks awesome, Eric! Diffused lighting makes a big difference, especially since you’ve synced these with your Mac. I love that one light bar wasn’t quite enough for you. Impressive!!

    • @EricWelander
      @EricWelander  3 года назад

      Thanks Brad! Since I spend a lot of time down here I do put an inordinate amount of effort to make it just so. My Nanoleaf essential bulb is working well in here too.

  • @uniqueflh2941
    @uniqueflh2941 3 года назад +3

    Am I incorrect in viewing this type stuff as nothing more than a novelty?
    I mean, I guess they are fine...but it seems to me like a 'product looking for a market' - and using 'reduced eyestrain' as the sales pitch. Maybe it actually does reduce eyestrain. Dunno.
    But.
    What I DO know is that decades have been spent trying to improve screen brightness, dark levels, contrast ratios, etc on televisions and monitors - and putting lights behind a screen seems sorta counterintuitive to those efforts.
    Just my $0.02. Maybe I am totally wrong about all of it.
    Either way. Another good video. Always like seeing the notifications for your stuff.

    • @samuelgomez974
      @samuelgomez974 3 года назад

      It’s a novelty, but it’s a good one when watching movies. That being said, as it’s a novelty I would go with a cheaper alternative, try looking for videos here about the goove immersion

    • @EricWelander
      @EricWelander  3 года назад

      Hey Bradley! I agree it's a non-essential luxury for sure, but one I enjoy.

    • @EricWelander
      @EricWelander  3 года назад

      That's a great point Samuel. I don't love how the Govee one requires a camera sensor looking at the TV to match the color, and it doesn't work with HomeKit. But I agree there's a market for something lower cost here.

    • @samuelgomez974
      @samuelgomez974 3 года назад

      @@EricWelander well, aesthetics wise they are not the prettiest, but for those that don’t use an external smart box for streaming and instead use the software of their smart tv it’s better as Philips need an external source to work.
      And you can’t compare the $70 price tag of govee against the total amount you’ll spend on Philips (around $470 for the sync box and 3 play bars to give the same results as govee from all 4 sides or $419 with their newest play gradient)
      On the HomeKit side, well that would be the only positive of Philips but it can’t beats the negatives. And also, you should be able to make a Siri shortcut or in worse case option, activate it from a widget on the iOS screen

  • @HeyTechi
    @HeyTechi 3 года назад +2

    Great video! I’d love a set of these to really finish off my Xbox set up... but the additional cost is off putting... I might just have to stick to traditional RGB LEDs for now!

    • @EricWelander
      @EricWelander  3 года назад

      Nice! Yeah I would love these on my Xbox too, but the cost of the Hue Sync box is a little much for me.

  • @Shadowfynx
    @Shadowfynx 3 года назад

    Amazing technology these days

  • @alexgreer1479
    @alexgreer1479 3 года назад +1

    I am wanting to get a sync box
    but in the UK they seem to be out of stock absolutely everywhere

    • @EricWelander
      @EricWelander  3 года назад +1

      Yeah there are a number of smart home tech products in short supply these days. Back in December it was really hard to find Hue Play products here in the US.

  • @3212Dre
    @3212Dre 3 года назад +1

    I removed three of these from my desktop setup simply because they were too dim. I liked them at first and used them with the app but wanted more intense lighting behind my monitors so I replaced them with the Hue light strips. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with Hue Play lights, I'll repurpose them somewhere else in the future.

    • @EricWelander
      @EricWelander  3 года назад

      You could maybe use them as accent lights in the kitchen or bedroom

    • @3212Dre
      @3212Dre 3 года назад

      @@EricWelander I took your advice and put them in the bedroom.

    • @Weppo.
      @Weppo. 2 года назад

      Hey maybe you will read this, did you put a 1m or 2m strip behind? The normal or play variant? And how many zones does the light strip give?
      The bars only have 1 color zone :(
      Also is the light strip much brighter?

    • @3212Dre
      @3212Dre 2 года назад

      @@Weppo. Moved the Hue Play lights to the Master bedroom behind the headboard since they were so dim, seemed more appropriate than behind my monitors. Just used the normal light strips behind my widescreen monitors that provide plenty of brightness and color. I don't use zones.

  • @JasonColdham
    @JasonColdham 2 года назад

    Awesome video, I going to get these today now that I've seen this video! I do have one question though, what are the desktop wallpapers you are using? They look great with the lights!

    • @EricWelander
      @EricWelander  2 года назад +1

      Thos wallpapers are from macOS Big Sur. They are the dynamic pictures that change over the course of the day and dark / light mode with your Mac. I think these are from dark mode in the early morning or evening.

  • @ModernDayTech
    @ModernDayTech 3 года назад

    Cool Stuff Eric. Do the Hue Play lights get hot after a while?

    • @EricWelander
      @EricWelander  3 года назад

      They do not get hot. Thanks Eric!

  • @ShaneKranenburg
    @ShaneKranenburg 3 года назад

    Your videos are all good but please don’t say ‘smash’ the like button. I have pressed it for this video. But youtubers saying ‘smash the like button’ are a bit cringe. Otherwise keep it up!!

    • @EricWelander
      @EricWelander  3 года назад +3

      That's a good point Shane thanks for the feedback. The term "smash" is very trite at this point and a little cringe worthy. Thanks for your continued support of my channel!

  • @michaeleorias
    @michaeleorias 3 года назад

    For audio/music sync, do the light bars get the audio through HDMI or are there built in mics on them? Also, do you have the HDMI sync box and know if using it would reduce CPU utilization vs using the app? Nice and informative video. Thanks!

    • @samuelgomez974
      @samuelgomez974 3 года назад +1

      For Music They use the app/sync box on the mac/pc/tv not a mic. That being said, there are many good apps that can make it work with Music player directly from your phone/tablet

    • @EricWelander
      @EricWelander  3 года назад +1

      It's monitoring the system audio output from your Mac. I don't have the sync box, but I would imagine it monitors the audio coming through HDMI. The sync box removes the need for the computer to do the processing as it's color matching with the data coming over HDMI.

  • @pelaomaster96
    @pelaomaster96 2 года назад

    Hi! Dou you know if it is necessary to own the bridge to use the sync app or is it possible to use the sync app with the bluetooth?

  • @alexgreer1479
    @alexgreer1479 3 года назад

    Can you use the play bar as a normal Philips hue light??

    • @EricWelander
      @EricWelander  3 года назад

      Yes you can! And it's a unique little light for doing so that could work in a lot of random places.

  • @mdwhite85
    @mdwhite85 3 года назад

    Can you do a video with regards to these play bars (the hue sync box) and a living room TV (preferable an Apple TV) curious how my ATV would with hue play bars if I got the sync box

    • @EricWelander
      @EricWelander  3 года назад

      Thanks for the request. I might try that at some point.

  • @zeza8603
    @zeza8603 2 года назад

    Wow, just wow.. lol

  • @Keza82
    @Keza82 3 года назад +2

    Straight up not worth the money and all the cables/hassle for what you get