Hue Features and SmartThings

Devices & Integrations Connected Things
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I have searched the forums using multiple search terms and did not find anything, but if I just missed it, a simple point in the right direction would be much appreciated.

I have several Lightify bulbs throughout the house (and outside) and am quite happy with how they are working with the SmartThings system. However, they have been hard to find of late (I understand it is probably just the switch from Lightify to Smart+, but aside from Amazon and other online retailers, I can’t find them), and Best Buy has a combo deal with the Phillips Hue starter kit and Google Home, so I’ve been contemplating Hue. And thus my questions:

  1. I see “Extend your TV viewing experience to the whole room…Lift your gaming experience to the next level. Download third-party apps and discover the amazing things you can do with Philips Hue.” in the description. I’ve seen video where the Hue lighting dynamically changes with the images on the TV, and I assume that’s what this means. Is this a capability native to Hue and works with any TV, or is there something else (hardware or otherwise) needed to make it work?

  2. I know the Hue hub will connect and work with SmartThings, but how much, if any, functionality do you lose by controlling the Hue bulbs through SmartThings as opposed to through the Hue hub separately (without connecting to SmartThings)? Can you still do #1 above? Can you still do scenes? I found [UPDATED 4/19/17] Hue B Smart (Smart and FAST Hue Lighting) does that cover everything? Can you set up those features in the Hue app and then use SmartThings to trigger them? It looks like Hue itself has 3rd party apps, can those be added/triggered in SmartThings? Once the Hue hub is connected to SmartThings, can it still be controlled by the Hue app independent of SmartThings?

OK, so #2 looks like 2, 3, 4, 5…but it really just boils down to this…if I invest in the Hue system and connect to SmartThings, is there still at least some way to have full Hue functionality as if I just had the Hue system by itself not connected to SmartThings?

  1. (or 6.) I’ve seen in some threads folks have noted difference in colors between Hue, Lightify, and other bulbs. Is that difference significant? The one thing I wish was better (so far anyway) about the Lightify bulbs is that is seems that some colors just aren’t as good, or distinct, as others. I love the blue, red, yellow, and even orange. But pink almost looks white, and purple/violet, just doesn’t seem rich enough, and I don’t typically see much if any changes when adjusting to different shades of color. Are the Hue bulbs better at that?

In essence, I went with Lightify bulbs because they were cheap (big sales when I first started with this) and I didn’t need another hub. But I am curious about Phillips Hue, and I know that sometimes paying more is worth it. I’m just trying to figure out if, for me, that might be the case here.