Signify appears to be planning a much deeper integration of Philips Hue with Sonos speakers. According to recent information from HueBlog, which originated from a Signify support page that has since been removed, a new feature called “Sonos Accessory Control” will allow music playback from Sonos devices directly via the Philips Hue Bridge as well as via Hue remote controls such as the Philips Hue Smart Button.
Music Control Directly via Hue Remotes
According to the leak, the feature will be supported by all Hue remote controls and will allow users to control music playback, skip to the previous or next track, play a preset song or radio station, and adjust the volume.
The key advantage over using just the Sonos app: Since the integration takes place directly within Philips Hue, these music actions can also be incorporated into existing Hue scenes and automations. In the future, a single button press could both bathe the living room in a specific color and start your favorite artist’s playlist at the same time.
Local Processing via the Hue Bridge
Communication between Hue and Sonos is intended to run entirely locally via the Philips Hue Bridge, rather than via a cloud-based route. This is intended not only to eliminate a potential source of error but also to ensure faster response times. According to the leaked information, setup requires only that you enter your Sonos account in the Hue app—a separate setup on the Sonos side does not appear to be necessary.
It remains unclear whether the new feature requires the more expensive Hue Bridge Pro or if it will also work with the standard bridge. No specific launch date has been announced yet either. Sonos Accessory Control wouldn’t be the first connection between the two ecosystems: Signify previously announced that Philips Hue would be controllable via voice using Sonos Voice Control —however, the newly leaked feature, which enables direct music control via Hue hardware, takes a different approach.
Sources: HueBlog
