No firmware upgrade goes unpunished

The LIFX Android app has been updated to a new version. Then, the new app wanted to update the firmware on my bulb. And I say yes, thinking, “Surely a firmware upgrade is a good thing, right?”

But now, the end result is that the new app and the new firmware can’t talk to each other anymore.

I got the strange message “There are nobody else’s bulbs on your current Wi-Fi network. Tap above to switch to your own location.” I’m not even sure what that message is trying to say. I don’t want to use somebody else’s bulbs; I want to use my bulb! So why is it talking about somebody else’s bulbs? I don’t get it. And then, what does it mean by “tap above?” Tap on the “LIFX” at the top of the screen? Tried that, it doesn’t do anything. Tap on the blank, dark grey area above the message? That would be strange, but I tried tapping there, too. Still nothing.

So, I rebooted my phone in an attempt to get the app to behave itself. Now, I get a different message: “BULBS OFFLINE. Check they’re switched on and connected to the internet or the same Wi-Fi as you, or get help.” Well, yes thank you, my bulb is switched on… it’s producing light! As for being on my Wi-Fi network, well, it sure used to be, before the firmware update, and it used to work fine with the old version of the app. So the only reason it wouldn’t be on my network anymore is if your firmware update broke it!

LIFX’s advice? Factory reset the bulb.

So, I factory reset the bulb. Went to add bulb in app. Luckily, the bug with connecting a Bluetooth keyboard is fixed.

Didn’t work:

Repeat several times. Reboot phone. Now, trying to add the bulb results in this:

Hit “Try Again.” Same result. Fine, follow their advice and power-cycle the bulb. Then try it again.

Yay! Bulb worked. Was able to control it with app for a little while. Yay! But then,

WTF, LIFX? Power-cycling the bulb didn’t fix the problem. So, power-cycled the phone. Yes, that worked. But really?