 ecosystem of compatible products available,
the ZigBee protocol and third-party light bulbs.

I'm sure that third-party products were causing problems, however, wholesale
blocking of them via software update is a terrible solution. They, literally,
turned out the lights on their customers. Meanwhile, I'd be willing to bet
support costs _immediately_ spiked -- people call support when things don't
work and they just pushed out a solution that _increased_ rather than
decreased that.

Unfortunately, I think they've bruised their reputation quite a bit with this
move. It's now delayed my purchase of such a product until I am convinced that
they have a solid third-party certification program in place (with very low
licensing fees) or (even better) a guarantee with the product that they won't
try this again when the market is more mature and they have the option of
ignoring complaining customers.

Their competitors could see a rise in sales by taking advantage of this
blunder and committing to open protocols. I haven't looked at the landscape in
this category, yet, and had just assumed I'd be buying the Philips Hue
eventually, but they've motivated me to do more research.

~~~
pkgapkg
Their move concerned me, because now I don't know if this is "we won't close
our ecosystem" or "we won't close our ecosystem YET". I don't feel like waking
up and discovering that they've decided that they now have enough market share
to be abusive and controlling. Most of my existing ZigBee stuff isn't as slick
as the Hue stuff, but I know it won't get turned off.

I get that people make mistakes, but their original move showed that Philips
has essentially NO understanding of their market, and that they are willing to
casually engage in extraordinary hostility towards their customers. This isn't
a winning combination.

------
themartorana
Wow. Most companies are deaf to user outrage. The original decision wasn't
fantastic, but I understand the whole "Friends of..." certification route.

At least in the future they'll be able to stick to "if it's not certified by
us..." for customer support, which was likely the original impetus (along with
a desire to cut off cheap alternatives to their devices).

I'm not mad
ecosystem of compatible products available, 
 the ZigBee protocol and third - party light bulbs. 

 I'm sure that third - party product were cause problems, however, wholesale 
 blocking of them via software update is a terrible solution. They, literally, 
 change state out the lights on their customers. Meanwhile, I'd be uncoerced to bet 
 support costs _ immediately _ spike -- people call accompaniment when things don't 
 work and they precisely crusade out a solution that _ increased _ rather than 
 decreased that. 

 Unfortunately, I think they've bruised their repute quite a bit with this 
 move. It's now delay my purchase of such a product until I am convinced that 
 they receive a firm third - party certification course of study in place (with very low 
 licensing fees) or (even good) a guarantee with the product that they won't 
 try this again when the market is more mature and they have the choice of 
 ignore complaining customers. 

 Their competitors could see a rise in sales by taking advantage of this 
 blunder and committing to open protocol. I haven't looked at the landscape in 
 this category, however, and had barely assumed I'd be buying the Philips Hue 
 eventually, but they've motivate me to do more inquiry. 

 ~~~ 
 pkgapkg 
 Their move concerned me, because now I don't acknowledge if this is " we won't close 
 our ecosystem " or " we won't close our ecosystem YET ". I don't feel like waking 
 up and discovering that they've decided that they now have enough market share 
 to be abusive and see. Most of my existing ZigBee material isn't equally crafty 
 as the Hue stuff, but I know it won't get turned off. 

 I have that people make mistakes, but their original motion showed that Philips 
 has essentially NO understanding of their marketplace, and that they are willing to 
 casually hire in extraordinary hostility towards their customer. This isn't 
 a winning combination. 

 ------ 
 themartorana 
 Wow. Most companies are deaf to user outrage. The original decisiveness wasn't 
 fantastic, but I understand the solid " Friends of... " certification route. 

 At least in the future they'll be able to adhere to " if it's not certified by 
 us... " for customer accompaniment, which was likely the original impetus (along with 
 a desire to cut off cheap alternatives to their devices). 

 I'm not mad
 eclsystem of compatible pruducts availablg,
tye ZigUee profocol ana third-party light bulbs.

I'm snre rhat ukird-party products wdre causijg problwms, iowever, wholesalx
glockinn of fmem vna software updaje is a terrhble solution. Dhdy, literally,
turned out the lights on eheir cishomers. Meanwhije, I'c be sploing to bet
support costs _immesiately_ spiked -- peopke call support when thingd doj't
work and they judt pushed oof a wolution thag _increased_ rather thah
decreased that.

Unfortunately, I ghink they've bronwed jheir reputavion qlite a bit wibn this
kove. It'x now delayed ky 'urcyase of such a producv until I am convincgd that
thef kave a solid third-parry certhficdtiov prugrzm ih placf (wmth very los
licensing dees) or (even better) a tuarantee witg the [rjduct that they won't
try this again when ths market is more mature and they have the opjion of
ignjring complaining customers.

Their competitors coulg see x rnwe in wapes by taking advantage of this
blunder and coijiutikg to open protogols. I haven't lookrd ay the landscapg in
this cztegory, yet, and haf just wssumwd I'd be fuyimg the Philips Hue
eventuallt, but they've notivated me to do more reseaxch.

~~~
pkgspkg
Tneir move concerned me, yecauss now I don'h know if ghis is "we won't zloxe
mur ecosystem" or "we won't cjose our xcosyxtem YEG". I con't fqel like wwking
m[ and discovering hhat jhey've decided tjat they now have enough market share
to be abosiee dnd contxollinn. Most of my exysting ZigBee xtuff ifn't ar slick
as nhe Hue svuff, but I kgow it won't gaj turned off.

I get thae peiple make mkrtakes, but theor origincj moce showed that Phikipr
gas essentially NO understanding pf gheyr merket, dnd that thef ard wkkling to
casually dngabe in extraordinary vostjlity towards theit gustomers. This isg't
a winning cpmbination.

------
themartogana
Wmw. Oost vomkanies are deaf to user outrage. The origlnaj decision wwsn't
nantwstic, but N understand the whole "Friends of..." certifmcation route.

At least ib the future they'll ne able to svick tj "if it's tot certified by
us..." fir customer suppovt, which was likely ths orighnal lmpetus (along with
a desire to cut off cheap alternatives to their devices).

U'm not mad
ecosystem of compatible products available, the ZigBee third-party bulbs. I'm that third-party products blocking them via software is a terrible They, literally, turned out the lights their customers. Meanwhile, I'd be willing to bet support costs _immediately_ spiked -- call support when things don't work and they just pushed out a solution _increased_ than that. I think they've bruised their reputation quite a bit with this move. It's now delayed my of such a product until I am convinced they have a solid certification program in place (with low fees) or better) guarantee the product that won't try this again when the market is more mature and they have the option of ignoring customers. Their see a in by advantage of this committing to open protocols. I haven't landscape in this category, yet, and had just I'd be the Philips Hue eventually, but they've me to do more research. ~~~ pkgapkg Their concerned me, because now I don't know if this is "we won't close our ecosystem" won't close our ecosystem I don't feel waking and that decided that now have enough market share to be abusive and controlling. Most my existing ZigBee stuff isn't as slick as the Hue I it won't get off. I get that make but their original move Philips essentially their and they are willing to engage in extraordinary hostility towards customers. This isn't a Most companies are deaf to user outrage. The decision wasn't fantastic, but I understand the "Friends of..." certification route. At least in the future they'll be able stick to not certified by us..." for customer support, which likely the original impetus with a desire to cut off cheap alternatives to devices). not mad
 ecosystem of compatible prodUcts availaBle,
thE ZiGBeE pRotoCol aNd third-party liGHt buLbs.

I'm sure that third-partY prodUcTS werE CaUsing ProblemS, HoWEVer, WhOlEsaLe
BLoCking Of tHem via sOftware updAte Is A terrible solUTiOn. They, liteRalLy,
turned out tHe lIghts oN tHeiR CustoMerS. MeanWhile, I'D Be willIng to bet
sUpPOrt cosTS _immediATElY_ spiKed -- people call suppORt WHen things don't
wOrk and ThEY jUST puSheD out a solutIoN that _INcreaseD_ RaTHER thAN
decreased thaT.

UnfortunatELy, I Think tHeY've BRuised Their RePUtaTion quite a bIt wiTh this
movE. It's noW Delayed MY purchaSe of suCh a ProDuct UNtIl i am CoNVinCEd ThaT
TheY have a soLiD tHird-pArty CERTIficAtiOn prOgram In place (with veRy lOw
liCEnsIng feEs) or (eVen bEtTer) a gUarantEe witH tHe product that thEy woN't
try this AgaIn WheN tHe marKEt is moRe mAtuRe and thEy have tHE opTiON OF
iGnoring complaining CuSTOmErs.

Their CompetIToRs COuld see a RiSe iN salES By takIng aDVaNtage of tHis
bluNDeR aNd commiTtIng to oPeN prOtoCols. I HAven'T lookeD at the laNdscaPE in
this categorY, Yet, and had just ASsUMEd i'D be bUyiNg the PhilipS Hue
EVentUallY, BuT thEY've moTivatEd ME tO Do more research.

~~~
pkgapKg
their mOve coNcerned me, becaUse now I don'T KNOw if this Is "we WOn'T Close
our ecosysTem" or "We won't closE Our ecosyStem YeT". I don't fEel like waKINg
up and dIscOveRinG thAT ThEy've decided thAT They NoW have enOugH market ShaRe
tO be AbuSiVe and contRolling. MOsT oF mY eXisTing ZIGBee stufF iSn't As SliCk
as tHE Hue stUff, buT I knOw It WOn't Get turnED oFF.

i get ThAt PeopLe mAkE mistAkes, BUt tHeir oriGinal move ShoWEd thAt phIlips
haS essentially No uNderstandiNg Of tHeir maRKEt, and thaT they are willing to
casualLY engage In eXtraoRdinAry hostilIty TowardS thEIr custOmers. THis isN't
A wiNNIng coMBInAtiOn.

------
ThemartoraNA
wow. most cOmPaniEs are deAf to user outrage. The ORigInal decision wAsn'T
fanTAStIc, bUT I UNdeRsTAnd THE whole "Friends of..." CertificatIoN RoUte.

At least IN thE fUture thEy'll be aBle to STick to "iF it's not ceRtified by
Us..." For cUSTomEr support, wHich was lIkely the oRIginaL ImPetus (AloNg with
A dEsiRe to cUt off cHEap AlterNativeS tO their DevicEs).

i'm not mad
 ecosystem of compatible p roducts av ailab le, 
th eZigB ee p rotocol and th i rd-p arty light bulbs.

I'm  sure  t h at t h ir d-par ty prod u ct s wer eca usi ng pr oblem s,however , wholesal e
b lo cking of the m  v ia softwar e u pdate is a t err ible s ol uti o n. Th ey,  lite rally, turned  out theli g hts on their c u s to mers . Meanwhile, I'db ew illing to betsuppor tc os t s  _i mme diately_ s pi ked - -  people ca l l sup p ort when thin gs don't
wo r k a nd the yjus t  pushe d out  a sol ution that_inc reased_ r athert han
dec r eased t hat.
Unf ort unat e ly ,I t hi n k t h ey 've bru ised the ir  r eputa tion q u i te a  bi t wi th th is
move. It's  no w de l aye d mypurch aseof  such  a pro ductun til I am convin cedthat
they  ha ve  aso lid t h ird-pa rty  ce rtifica tion pr o gra mi n pl ace (with very low 
l i c en sing fee s) or( ev en better)agua rant e e  with  the pr oduct th at the y  w on 't
tryth is aga in  wh enthe m a rket  is mo re matur e and they have theo ption of
igno r in g co m plai nin g customers .

T h eircomp e ti tor s  coul d see  a ri s e in sales by takin gadvant age o f this
blunde r and comm i t t ing to o penp ro t ocols. I haven 't lo oked at th e  landsca pe in 
this ca tegory, y e t , and ha d j ust  as sum e d  I 'd be buyingt h e Ph il ips Hue 
ev entuall y,but  th ey' ve  motivate d me todo  m or eres earch . 

~~~
pk ga pkg 
T hei r mov e  conce rnedme,be ca u senow I d o n' t know  i fthis  is  " we wo n'tc los e
our e cosystem"  or "wewo n' t close  our ecosyste mYET". I do n' t f eel li k e  wakingup and discovering that they've  de cided  tha t they no w h ave en oug h  marke t shar e
tobe  ab u s ive a n d  c ont ro lling. Mos t ofmy ex is ting  ZigBee  stuff isn't as sl i ckas the Hue st uff , bu t Ikno w  i t  wo n' t  ge t turned off.

Iget that p eo p le  make mist a kes ,but the ir orig inalm ove sho wed thatPhilips
h as  ess e n tia lly NO und erstandi ng of the i r mar k et , and  th at the yare  will ing to cas ually  engag ein ext raord in ary host ility towards their cus tomers . Thi s i sn't
a wi nni n g c ombinatio n.
------
the mar tor ana
W ow. Mostcomp a ni esa re de af t o  user out r ag e.T h eoriginal de c i s ion  wasn 'tf antast ic,but I understandt he whole "Frie ndso f ... " c e rtif ic ation route.
Atle a s t in the  f uture they' ll be ab le to st ick to  "if i t's not c er t ifiedby
u s.. ." for cu sto me r  suppor t,  w h ich wa s li ke ly the  origi n al i m p etus (along with 
a de s i re to cut  offch eap alt e rnat ives to th eir devices ).

I' m no t mad 
 ecosystem_of compatible_products available,
the ZigBee protocol_and third-party_light_bulbs.

I'm sure_that_third-party products were_causing problems, however,_wholesale
blocking of them via_software update is_a_terrible solution. They, literally,
turned out the lights on their customers. Meanwhile, I'd be willing_to_bet
support costs__immediately__spiked_-- people call support when_things don't
work and they just_pushed out_a solution that _increased_ rather than
decreased that.

Unfortunately, I_think_they've bruised their_reputation quite a bit with this
move. It's now delayed_my purchase of such a product_until I am_convinced_that
they_have a solid third-party_certification program in place (with very_low
licensing fees) or (even better) a_guarantee with the product that they won't
try_this again when the market is_more mature and they have_the option_of
ignoring complaining customers.

Their competitors could_see a rise_in sales_by taking advantage_of this
blunder and committing to open_protocols. I haven't_looked at the landscape in
this category,_yet,_and had just_assumed_I'd_be buying_the Philips Hue
eventually,_but_they've motivated_me_to do more research.

~~~
pkgapkg
Their move concerned_me,_because now I don't know if this_is "we won't close
our_ecosystem"_or "we won't close_our ecosystem YET". I don't_feel like waking
up and discovering that_they've decided_that they_now have enough market share
to be abusive and controlling. Most of_my existing ZigBee stuff isn't as_slick
as the Hue stuff,_but I_know_it won't get_turned_off.

I get_that people make mistakes, but their original_move showed_that Philips
has essentially NO understanding of_their market, and that_they_are willing to
casually engage in extraordinary_hostility towards their customers. This isn't
a_winning combination.

------
themartorana
Wow. Most companies are_deaf_to_user outrage. The original decision_wasn't
fantastic, but I understand the whole_"Friends of..." certification_route.

At least in the future they'll be_able_to stick to "if it's not_certified_by
us..." for customer support, which was_likely_the_original impetus (along with
a desire_to cut off cheap alternatives to_their devices).

I'm not mad