Recs.
Updated
Specs
Pros
Pro Security feature - can trigger a preset if a sound occurs that is louder than a user defined threshold
With listening mode enabled, this app can trigger a preset, then revert to the prior mode after a specified amount of time has elapsed. This was intended to be a security feature. The idea is if someone broke into your house or something and they approached your computer or wherever your microphone is, Hue-topia would register the sound and trigger hue lights of your choosing, and this might be enough to scare them away.
This feature could be used in unintended (hacky) ways as well such as with a virtual audio device such as Loopback. It's a simple feature, it's only good for triggering one preset temporarily and then reverting to the current settings. It can't do Home Kit/Siri kind of stuff.
Cons
Con Dawn/Dusk simulation is just white light brightening/darkening.
Other dawn/dusk simulators change color in addition to brightness which more accurately simulates dawn/dusk. There are no options to pick color sequences for dawn or dusk.
The options available is the duration of the dawn/dusk routine, what time the routine should start, and there is a toggle to set the time automatically based on your geographic location and local dawn/dusk times.
Con Standard application - menu bar does not persist
This means the application must be open (in the dock) for the menubar to exist. If you close the application from the dock or Quit by shortcut Command + Q etc, the menubar and FN key shortcuts disappear AFAIK. Scheduled items should theoretically still work. Will contact devs and do some more testing before purchasing.
Con Color picking not as responsive or friendly to use
Color picking in Hue-topia is not as user-friendly as other offerings. You can't click and drag your eyedropper. Wherever you click, that is the spot sample of color that is sampled.
The same applies for using the MacOS built-in color pickers. Sliders don't slide smoothly, they can only jump so much at a time.