Philips
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Philips' new OLED TV has built-in, super colorful ambient lighting
If you've been waiting your whole life for a TV that offers a 4K resolution, an OLED panel and Philips' funky Ambilight technology, you're going to love TP Vision's newest 55-inch set.
Philips Hue motion sensor turns lights on for you
So you have your home all decked out with some sweet smart lights that you can control with your phone. Big deal. True convenience is when your lights turn on exactly when you need them to, without you even lifting a finger. And Philips' new motion sensor can help you achieve that. The $40 device will be available in October, and after my brief preview of the Philips Hue motion sensor, I can't wait till I can get one.
The best tech for honor students
Look, not everyone is cut out for late nights of drinking and playing DJ for groups of frat kids. Some would prefer to campout in the library until the wee hours of the morning studying and poring over notes and lectures. Of course, the days of pen, paper and microfiche are pretty much over at this point. You need powerful, digital tools like an Evernote subscription to help organize all your notes from class. And there's nothing like a solid voice recorder to document all those early morning classes before you're fully caffeinated. Of course you'll also need the basics, like a backpack and a laptop. But, you might also want to invest in a portable energy light to help keep you awake and fight off bouts of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) when you're spending 90 percent of your day indoors. Check out the gallery below for all our best bookworm picks and make sure to check out our full Back-to-School Guide right here.
Philips' new personal health tech includes a fitness watch
Watch out, Withings -- Philips wants to move in on your turf. The Dutch tech giant is launching a slew of personal health devices that take advantage of its expertise in health tech while seeming more than a little familiar. The centerpiece is arguably the $250 Health Watch. The wearable tracks your activity, heart rate and sleep patterns like numerous fitness trackers, but with a few nice twists. You're getting "clinically validated" data, Philips promises, and you can enter your calorie intake either on the watch or in the companion Android and iOS apps. You also have the option of Apple Watch-like (though thankfully customizable) reminders to stand. Just don't expect a full-on smartwatch -- this is more of a health device that happens to talk to your phone.
Philips camera monitors baby vitals from afar
Sure, junior looks fine sleeping on the baby-cam, but do you know her or his oxygen level, heartbeat and breathing rate, you monster? Of course not (don't worry, you're a good parent), because there's no way of monitoring such things short of hooking the poor tyke up to a pulse oxymeter. At least, until now. Philips has revealed a camera that can detect all those things from afar, without touching the patient. The fruit of the companies contactless monitoring project, it can get a pulse rate, breathing rate and blood oxygen level by detecting changes in skin color that are invisible to the naked eye.
Philips will launch a $400 Ultra HD Blu-ray player next month
Even as Ultra HD Blu-ray discs continue to trickle out, in the US there's only one option to play them -- Samsung's UBD-K8500. That should change next month as Philips introduces its own Ultra HD Blu-ray player. Available in two colors the BDP7501 (brushed aluminum) and BDP7301 (piano black), will cost $400, it supports HDR and also includes a second HDMI-out for audio receivers that aren't quite 4K-ready yet. It has Dolby TrueHD Audio and DTS-HD Master Audio support included and should be able to pass through Dolby Atmos or DTS:X encoded audio tracks. Its apps will also stream 4K from YouTube and Netflix.
Philips' Hue 2.0 app adds a host of new 'smart' features
Philips unveiled an app update for its Hue smart lights on Thursday. The iOS- and Android-ready program has been completely revamped, including a new UI.
Philips' latest Hue lights help you sleep
Philips has smart Hue light bulbs that produce flashy colors, but what about bulbs that change just enough to give you a good night's rest? You're set after today. The lighting firm is trotting out Hue white ambiance lights that offer color temperatures which mimic natural light, helping you sleep naturally. Combined with new "routines" in an upcoming version of the Hue app, they can shift gradually to reflect day and night cycles -- a sleep mode can use dimming light to replicate the sunset, for example, while "wake up" brightens the area. There's even a nightlight mode to help kids get back to sleep after wandering the hallway. Logically, the new Hue offering should also be useful for creating different moods. You could have cool, crisp lighting in a workspace, or warmer temperatures in the living room.
GE banks on LEDs, ditches compact fluorescent bulbs in the US
If you're the sort of person who gets worked up about what goes in your light fixtures, listen up. Starting today, GE is phasing out production of compact fluorescent light bulbs — yeah, those curly ones — in the US in favor of more efficient LED light bulbs. Don't expect those other bulbs to just disappear all at once, though. GE North American lighting GM Daraius Patell said the company plans to end production by the end of the year, but CFLs probably won't be downright scarce until the end of 2017.
Philips' izzy offers simple take on multiroom audio
As expected, a number of companies debuted multiroom audio gear here at CES, but Philips aims to make its system the easiest to use. With the izzy line of speakers, the company's goal is simplicity while still offering all of the perks of a multiroom setup. To accomplish that, the izzy speakers don't require an app to get going. Instead, the speakers create their own network by using so-called izzylink tech to pair with each other. When I asked if users should be concerned about range, a Philips rep assured me it wouldn't be an issue. I look forward to putting that to the test in the future.
Philips' Fidelio E6 system has surround sound when you need it
When it comes to home theater speakers, they're mostly meant for one purpose: audio from your television. Sure, you can connect a mobile device and listen to music, but you're pretty much stuck with the same speaker layout. Philips is looking to offer a solution that's more modular while still keeping the 5.1 surround sound abilities. With the €899 Fidelio E6 (no US pricing yet), the company's solution is detachable speakers. Yes, really. The concept isn't new to Philips, as it already launched a soundbar with removable speakers on the ends. The Fidelio E6 goes a bit further than that.
Google Cast is coming to more speakers this year
At last year's CES, Google announced that the Cast tech that allows you to beam video with a Chromecast would be available to audio as well. This meant that companies were free to put the feature in new devices alongside AirPlay and Bluetooth connectivity. While a few options arrived in 2015, Cast isn't yet a common feature on new speakers, soundbars and other audio gear. That stands to change in 2016, and today, a number of audio companies announced plans to take advantage this year.
Philips goes after Sonos with its izzy multi-room audio line
Companies have finally caught on to Sonos' style of multi-room audio and are trotting out similar products of their own. Philips is jumping on the bandwagon as well, and at CES this year, the company is debuting its izzy line. Made up of four speaker options, the izzy series aims to blanket your house with audio and it has a key feature that differentiates it from the competition. Most multi-room setups require an app to handle the configuration, but that's not the case here. Philips' izzy doesn't need a router or any extra software as the speakers create their own network and can be paired in a group of up to five with the push of a button.
Philips' living room audio gear includes 'detachable' speakers
Living room audio gear doesn't usually sport dual uses, but Philips' new Fidelio E6 speakers do just that. The units have detachable speakers that can be used as either a stereo setup or separately for 5.1 surround sound "on demand." The top section of the E6's two front speakers can be removed and placed elsewhere, should the need arise. In addition to those, there's a wireless subwoofer to handle the low-end tones. To further improve sound quality, the Fidelio E6 offers spatial calibration tech for a more immersive audio experience and balanced sound. The system features HDMI and Blueooth connectivity as well support for Google Cast and Spotify Connect. Perhaps best of all, it's available now.
Philips won't block third-party Hue bulbs after all
Well, that was fast. After announcing that it would drop support for third-party Hue bulbs, Philips is reversing its decision. The company initially nixed support for bulbs that weren't certified by its Friend of Hue program that ensures products from other brands don't cause any issues with the lighting setups. However, Philips says that it "underestimated the impact" on customers and a second software update is on the way to reverse this week's action. It also reminded users that using third-party bulbs may lead to the same incompatibility issues as before, such as not dimming properly or creating the correct colors.[Image credit: Jasper Juinen/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Philips Hue won't work with third-party light bulbs for now
Bad news if you're planning to slip a few non-Philips light bulbs into your Hue setup: they won't work, at least not for a while. Philips has dropped support for third-party bulbs after noticing that a growing number of them had "interoperability issues" preventing them from playing nicely with official Hue gear. Support will come back, but only through a Friends of Hue program that will certify lighting. Any existing lights you're using will work, Philips is quick to note -- it's only new, untested additions that are getting the boot.
Watch Philips and Rudimental meld smart lighting with music
If you were making connected lighting, how would you convey the concept to the public? Philips thinks it has a way. It just launched the Living Light Sessions, a series of performances that has musicians putting on a light show with Hue bulbs while they play. The music is great, as an inaugural video from UK outfit Rudimental shows, although the link between music and smart lights is a bit strained -- while Hue is supposed set a "laid-back mood" for the gig, it mostly amounts to a lot of blue and purple in a studio. If nothing else, though, this could serve as a friendly reminder that Philips' technology is good for more than just impressing your friends.
Philips Hue now responds to your Siri commands
One of the frustrations of choosing an Internet of Things device is finding one that plays well with the other smart appliances in your home. Philips' Hue lighting platform is already pretty extensible, but today it's finally gained support for another big partner: Apple. With its new Homekit-enabled bridge, Philips will let you control your lighting via Siri (and supporting third-party apps), whether your bulbs are old or new.
Finally, a 4K TV worth watching
If curved screens and the apparent threat of 8K leave you cold towards 4K, maybe Philips' focus on the back of its UHD TVs will get you to open up your wallet. The company's brought its crazy, dreamy projection-backed prototype TV into mass-production in the form of a 65-inch UHDTV. Pico projectors dotted around the perimeter of the Ambilux TV transmit the image (which can be broadcast TV, media, games or apps) outwards behind the frame. The gif shows the result: a constantly changing glow of glorious multicolored light. It's like an optical smoothie for the eyes. The TVs will go on sale in Europe before the end of the year. Check out all the news from Berlin at our IFA 2015 hub!
Philips improves upon its color-changing lightstrips
The idea behind Philips' Hue Lightstrips was pretty neat -- a line of LEDs that change color according to your whims -- but they suffered in the execution. After all, the hardware couldn't offer white light, so you were forced to shut them down if you weren't in the mood for a splash of color. Then there was the fact that the strips were only two meters long, making it pricey to run them down your dramatic entrance hall or under your kitchen cabinets. That's why the firm has spent the last year working on an upgrade, so please be upstanding for the new Philips Hue Lightstrip... Plus.
