I just picked up somewhere that hue support is coming soon, great to hear!
Started to wonder where my current remotes I use to control my lights fit in this picture. Its a remote control similar to the ones that come with the living color lights that are bit more common. There are varieties out there with color/brightness ring/buttons and a number of scene buttons. I won 2 kits at work with 2 dimmable CFL lights and 1 remote, kind of a predecessor to the current hue products.
With the remote I can link these lights to the hue bridge (not an easy procedure) but they can be all be controlled harmoniously through the hue hub.
The latest models use ZigBee I guess? I believe the device controls the lights directly and not via the hue hub. I don't know what role is used, is this a controller? Or just a remote?
Either way, it would be great if at least the scenes and slider could be linked to the almond+.