Smarthome Philips Hue and Somfy TaHoma experiences

If I understood correctly, the "normal" switch controls the relay. The relay then switches the power on or off. If you have turned off the light with the "normal" switch, you can also turn it back on via WLAN/App/control. And vice versa (your request): if WLAN is gone, the FritzBox implodes and the internet fades away, you go to your "normal" switch and turn the light on, then off, then on again..... And there are also relays for roller shutters etc., but I haven't looked at those yet. Maybe check the pages of shelly yourself? By the way, the cloud is only needed if you want to turn the lamps on and off from Mallorca. Otherwise not. And even that is possible without the manufacturer if you want to make it a hobby. More interesting than the product pages might be the shelly-support forum. I personally find the shellys interesting because the hardware is open and there is open source software for the relays. That way, you get rid of the "phoning home." But that is probably not for someone who just wants to "use" the technology. They are probably better off with the manufacturer's firmware. At least more comfortable.

I was messing around a bit with Shelly last night and happened to come across the following in the forum you mentioned today:

According to this, switching via the original Hue app should no longer work despite Shelly.
Can you confirm that?

and/or
Do you know if one of these transparent Somfy original switches can also operate "groups"? Meaning one switch controls, for example, 4 blinds/shutters?

@all
Is there anyone here in the forum who happens to operate Hue lamps, io blinds/shutters from Somfy, and Apple's HomeKit?

Can you confirm that?

Yes, that is correct. The original apps (Philips, ...) are then no longer used (at most for rare configuration), but either the Shelly app or one of the many (already mentioned) smart home hubs, which work across manufacturers (or attempt to).

Most manufacturers are currently still trying to prevent customers from choosing components freely ("vendor lock-in"). Therefore, you either have full functionality (of one manufacturer, or a very small group), or flexibility regarding component choice, but then not the full functionality anymore.

Do you know, can one of these transparent Somfy original switches also operate "groups"? Meaning, does one switch control for example 4 blinds/shutters?

Theoretically, it is possible when pairing that you control several shutters with it. But for something like that, I use the app or say "Alexa, open all the blinds in the living room." Of course, a scenario must be programmed beforehand.

No idea, I’m a self-confessed technical embryo and stay out of Smart Home topics. Our house builder said you could create groups, but we never tried it. I also find it rather pointless, since you can hardly change such a coupling without an app or similar... and then you might as well use the app. Somfy offers multi-channel remote controls that can probably do that, but honestly: why? We only have several windows in corner rooms, and the position of the blinds is usually different there anyway (due to different cardinal directions).

Food for thought: one keystroke takes one second. If you spend even just one hour on "automation," that equals 3,600 keystrokes. ;)

@all
Is there anyone here in the forum who happens to operate Hue lamps, io blinds/roller shutters from Somfy, and Apple's HomeKit?

Maybe I missed the explanation in the previous posts, but I don't understand why one would insist on using Somfy for roller shutters/blinds instead of integrating them just as "uniformly" into HomeKit?