From CNET: Philips Hue just made a big play in the smart home space at the IFA tech expo, confirming a wave of new products after leaks surfaced earlier this week. The lineup includes motion-sensing smart bulbs, a redesigned video doorbell with a sharper 2K fisheye camera and new light strips -- all designed to expand Hue's reach beyond traditional lighting.
One of the biggest changes comes with the launch of Hue's new Essential bulb line. The standard A19/E26 bulbs are priced lower than the company's usual offerings, starting at $25 each or $15 apiece in a four-pack. That's as much as a 50% savings compared with earlier Hue bulbs, making it easier for more people to get started with smart lighting.
Philips Hue also launched new tech that adds motion detection to its bulbs -- the Bridge Pro hub. You'll need to change out your existing Bridge, but the upside is you won't have to swap out any of your current Hue bulbs. Also, the Bridge Pro has triple the capacity of the Bridge, allowing it to pair with 150 lights and 50 switches and sensors, and also store up to 500 personalized light scenes.
The company says that with "just a few clicks," you will be able to transfer the settings of all your Hue devices from the Bridge to the Bridge Pro. If you have more than one Bridge, you'll be able to transfer those to a single Bridge Pro by year's end.
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