Reddit reviews Hue

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-Hue/dp/B01LWAGUG7

Hue Smart Home skill is not compatible with scenes from the Philips Hue app Gen 1.

Compatible with: Philips Hue Bridge V2 (square shape) to add support for Philips Hue scenes and rooms. On, off, and dimming of lights is already supported on both Philips Hue Bridge V2 and V1 with Amazon manufactured Alexa products (e.g. Echo, Dot, FireTV).

The V1 hub does not allow for changing colors via the Hue Skill and that is the only way the Echo can natively change hue bulb colors. Says so right in the skill description. Are you saying you can say "Alexa, set <bulb name> to <color>" with a V1 hub and it works?

Here is the Hue skill description for reference.

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-Hue/dp/B01LWAGUG7

Works fine for me. Do you have a v2 hub? Did you install the new Skill? http://alexa.amazon.com/spa/index.html#skills/dp/B01LWAGUG7

IFTTT doesn't work nearly as well, in my experience.

I saw this on the description from adding the skill on alexa:

"This skill specifically adds support for Philips Hue scenes and rooms. It is only compatible with Philips Hue Bridge V2 (Square shape) and NOT compatible with Philips Hue bridge V1 (circular shape) in order to ensure reliability for this new functionality and to provide the best customer experience."

http://alexa.amazon.com/spa/index.html#skills/dp/B01LWAGUG7 (don't know if that will be an actual link or if its a private link, but I found that page at alexa main -> smart home -> hue in the description.

I know you can do ifttt still, I didn't keep going to see if the 1.0 worked I just assumed it didn't, re-reading it it may be referring to the specific skill of the scenes but I'm not sure.

It isn't working for me on my 2.0 bridge, but the info for the new feature is below.

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-Hue/dp/B01LWAGUG7

Color Control:

• It offers possibilities for playing with colors on color lights. Say, "Alexa, set the bedroom light to orange"
  
• You can control shades of white on your Hue white ambiance lights, from cool energising daylight to relaxing warm white light. Say:
  
• "Alexa, set the kitchen light to cool white"
  
• "Alexa, make the living room warmer"
  
  
  
  

I don't have any of the assistants with a screen, no. They would be nice to have but I don't think I could justify the price for a screen I would only use for recipes.

Seeing as how the two combos are very similarly priced, I would get this combo instead and test out the Echo Dot if you haven't had any experience with either platform yet.

Then you can enable skills on the Echo Dot through the Alexa app to use your lights as an alarm (see Hue skill and IFTTT). You could even use the Echo Dot itself as an alarm in unison with the lights.

Watch some youtube videos on useful Alexa/Echo skills. Worst case scenario you don't like the Echo and you could sell it or give it away.

*Edit - There's also a very good chance that your thermostat company will have an Alexa skill too (nest skill, ecobee skill, honeywell skill, etc) which means you could control the temperature of your house with your voice as well

I don't have any bulbs that change colors, so I have not tried it, but it does show that it has that capability here. Of course, you need to have a bulb that is capable of changing color for it to work (not all are).

Well Philip Hue works the same for some of their devices, as long as you have the Hue Hub.. You just press the button the Hub, and Alexa will discover it on the network. But your control is limited. (The Echo Plus is only required if want to eliminate the Hue Hub)

>Basic lighting functionality (on / off / dimming) is available without the Smarthome skill and is compatible with Philips Hue V1 (round) and V2 (square) bridges. Philip Hue Skill

I use these also (again because no skill is required and I don't need to turn my lights pink, purple, blue.. on/off is good for me)