Surveillance cameras for your own home detect storm damage early, capture cute pictures of animals or make it easier to get rid of sales representatives. The Dutch manufacturer Signify has expanded its Hue product range, which is primarily known for smart lighting, with some devices that integrate a camera, such as a doorbell and outdoor floodlights. These also deliver their live video to Apple Home in a timely manner. Users can view the video image from the devices integrated into the home network via WLAN or Ethernet on an Apple TV, for example. If the cameras detect noticeable movements, notifications appear in the Home app. Video streams continue to be recorded via the Hue Secure servers; If you want to keep recordings for longer than 24 hours, you must take out a subscription. The live streaming feature on Apple Home is expected to be rolled out within the next few months. In Germany, for example, a video doorbell and wired surveillance cameras from Hue are available.
SpatialAware: spatial gradient
Hue also has something new in preparation for the popular smart lights: the “SpatialAware” function enables users to create a three-dimensional light scene. To do this, they use the manufacturer’s iPhone app: a setup assistant measures the living spaces and independently registers the position of the lamps. If you then select a predefined light scene, the lighting adapts to the room layout and a uniform color gradient is created – for example from floor to ceiling and from entrance door to window front. At launch, around half of the lighting scenes offered will be compatible with SpatialAware.
Low requirements
Until now, spatially defined lighting required a sync box, in which users also positioned the individual lights in the room by hand. The SpatialAware feature package announced for March 2026 only requires a Bridge Pro – this revised version of the Hue base station went on sale in 2025. The lamps themselves do not need to be replaced; All of the manufacturer’s smart bulbs are compatible here. This also applies to MotionAware, which was activated last year: The lights detect when someone enters a room and start a predefined lighting scene.
