Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote with Color Touch Screen
by Logitech
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List Price: Our Price: $169.11 You Save: $30.88 (15%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $99.99 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
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for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote with Color Touch Screen
Customer Review: WOW! And I mean WOW!
Summary: 5 Stars
I recently bought this remote and use it to control
Sony STRDG920 7.1-Channel Audio/Video Receiver
LG BD 390 Network Blu-ray Disc Player
V VIZIO VO37LF - 37" LCD TV - widescreen - 1080p (FullHD) - HDTV
and an old Toshiba VCR (which we hardly ever use but is hooked up anyway)
This device controls them perfectly. This remote is so easy to use that now my wife actually feels like she can work everything. I've tried older universal remotes and the cable company gives us one for the dvr. They were ok, but really lacked some things. My AV receiver remote had no code for the LG and the LG remote didn't handle either the AV receiver or the dvr. So basically if you were watching Blu-Ray or Netflix you needed the LG remote for control of it and the Sony remote for control of the volume. Although you could control the TV with the Sony remote, the dvr was only partially supported. So if you stopped watching Blu-Ray you had to set the Sony to SAT and pick up the Comcast DVR remote. Even for me this was a pain. With the Harmony you just touch the activity you want to do. So if you are watching a Blu-ray and want to watch TV just push the activities button and touch watch tv.
If for some reason something didn't come on or work (like maybe the cat walked in front of the device IR receiver) just push the help button and it will step though a bunch of fixes until everything is on and working. And these steps are all in plain English (is the tv on? yes no). The buttons are back lighted so you can see them if you watch a movie in a dark room. As soon as you pick the remote up or ove it the back light comes on.
The Harmony was really easy to set up and worked everything the first time. Set up is done by connecting the remote to a pc with a usb. Then run the program on the enclosed disk. It will ask you the names of the devices you have and some questions about what you want on for each activity. All very straight forward and easy. After I used it for a bit I went back to customize it further- add some Touch screen buttons, move some things around, change some names add the VCR - This was really easy to do as well.
I honestly can't recommend this highly enough. I got it on sale at Amazon last week for $179. Well worth it. Its hard to describe how easy it is to integrate a bunch of different devices with this remote.
Customer Review: A "Must Have"
Summary: 5 Stars
I wish I would have bought this sooner.
Pros: Excellent ergonomics, great configurability. Kudos to Logitech for investing in the research necessary to bring such a product to market at a fairly reasonable price. Online programmability, decent component library and almost endless customization make this unit a "God-send" for people who have been buried under a pile of remotes. Switches have great user feedback (positive clicks), touch screen "soft keys" provide access to most commands for all units. If the commands are not in the online library - no big deal. Teach the Harmony One from your original remote and add the command.
Cons: In order to get the MAXIMUM benefit from the Harmony One, a person MUST be computer literate and willing to invest some time in programming. Online library is sufficient for most applications, but depending on your own configuration of equipment, commands and functions MUST be modified and/or added to in order to optimize usefulness. Be prepared to spend hours learning the quirks of programming. While it's fairly intuitive, reading the manual is well worth the time invested. Many customers will not need to do a lot of customizing. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and enjoy the challenge of getting the most out of the unit, so for me, it's great! The main thing I learned is to go completely through using the "Help" function immediately after changing the programming. Shut everything off, allow everything cool down, then try again. Going through the help function is mandatory to get the unit synchronized to your components. You will not know if your re-programming has been successful until you go through this evolution. Do NOT assume that if it doesn't work immediately after a re-programming that you need to do it again. If it doesn't work after using the "Help" function and one cool-down/start-up sequence, then re-programming is probably necessary. Don't get frustrated and give up. You'll be able to figure it out.
Because of the almost endless variety of components out there, it's almost impossible for any manufacturer to have everything work straight out of the box. At least Logitech gives us the tools to make this unit fit our individual configurations. That cannot be said for all of the so-called "Universal" remotes out there. After a few weeks of getting used to the Harmony One and tweaking its functions, that pile of remotes you've been living with will make its way to a drawer somewhere and you'll once again be able to see the top of your coffee table.
The Harmony One may not be "The neatest thing since sliced bread", but it's close.
Customer Review: Fascinatingly ergonomic and sleekly robotic
Summary: 5 Stars
The concept was there with previous models - Have your computer program your universal remote for you by just telling your computer the model #'s of your components, to create a user and system specific menu to download a sweet system to the remote. Also, to group components together seamlessly as "activities," which recognizes that you will use an AVR to regulate sound, a TV just for the picture, and the cable or satellite box to change channels, and you want to be able to control all 3 at the same time, and you want your remote to read your mind and know that is what you want to do. Harmony succeeds in the mind reading, and in the activity based approach, and in the programming.
The previous model, the Harmony 720 was previously available at Costco, and when this came out I was fortunate to be able to return the 720 to Costco (even though it had been over 90 days). The previous model had these concepts down as well, but the Harmony One makes such a significant improvement in ergonomics that I do not find myself going back to the old remote because of ease of use.
The ergonomics are evolved to the point it is a work of art, which demands admiration and fascination when held in your hand. The only problem is that using the remote to change channels with one hand, especially the 789 or 0 rows, requires counterbalancing to the point of juggling.
It is fun to download the component information, and can even be fun to download the favorite station information and icons. Tip - The television network icons are available on Wikipedia Then you have favorite stations identifiable by the network icons.
Also, by purchasing the Nyko remote for the Playstation 3, and plugging the USB attachment into the PS3 console, and pretending that the Nyko remote is a game console WITH DVD, you can use the Harmony One to also control the PS3 (although this can be tricky).
The docking station is also an improvement, with the ability to almost drop the remote into it, and the remote will settle in the way it should.
There are times when the remote does not turn on every component the way it should. That can be fixed by pressing the help key, and letting it walk you through with questions until each device is turned on. Not perfect, but greatly minimizes the level of geekiness required to operate a complicated system (see their commercial of a grandfather operating an AV system ).
At a price greater than a combo dvd recorder, tv tuner and vhs player, the remote better be able to do something though.
Customer Review: Fantastic remote if you've got a lot of stuff
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm going to summarize here:
PROs:
-Incredibly easy to set up (with a computer via USB)
-The Harmony software uploads your remote setup/devices to Logitech, meaning if you get a new remote or new computer, you don't have to re-enter all of your devices
-Responsive touch screen, though (in my opinion) a touch screen is unecessary
-Larger and more easily pressed buttons than other Harmony remotes (why I bought this one)
-Rechargeable battery and solid dock
-Updated via an online database, that means that, if you bought this remote last year (like I did) and you buy a receiver tomorrow that just came out, it will already be in the database--I have yet to come across something this remote can't control (that has IR receiver)
-Back-lit better than any other remote I've used
-Good battery life
-Even controls my tower fans
-Can easily switch between Watching TV and Watching a movie (involving changing the inputs on several devices) with two presses of the touch screen
-Can turn everything on, with the TV, reciever, dvr, etc. all on the correct input and setting
-Is a learning remote, so if you're missing a function of the original remote, just point them at each other and the Harmony One will learn the command
-Comfortable in my hand
-Sensors detect when you pick up the remote and light it up for you so that you can see
CONs:
-Occasionally, you will hit something on the touch screen that you did not mean to hit--i.e., Watch Movie rather than Watch TV (this can be a little annoying, which goes back to my point of the touch screen being completely unnecessary)
-Doesn't turn off my BluRay controlled PS3 without an accessory (not really the remote's fault)
-It's expensive...but you likely won't need another remote until this one dies
All-in-all, I LOVE this remote, but it doesn't give you a TON more functionality than other Harmony remotes (that are less expensive). If you want a Harmony remote with a rechargeable battery, this is the best choice as the the charging stations on certain other models have issues over time (my brother has to put a shoe or something of similar weight on top of his remote when in the charger to get the thing to charge). If rechargeable batteries aren't important, and if you don't mind tiny buttons (seriously, Logitech, we don't all of tiny fingers), then save yourself some money and get yourself a different Harmony remote. I, however, love this one, and it was worth every penny.
Customer Review: Harmony is Right!
Summary: 5 Stars
What ever possessed me?? I walked by the Logitech remotes at Best Buy some time ago and before I knew what had happened, I was walking out the door, $250 lighter, with the ultimate remote control!
The operational philosophy of this remote takes you down two different paths, device or activity. Let's say you would like to watch a DVD using your home theater system and the LCD TV as the screen. You can either select such as an activity and by a single touch of the remote's touch screen, you can turn on your LCD TV, set it to the correct input for your home theater system, turn on the home theater system and automatically set it to the correct output. You can even program which disk to play if you have a changer.
The other path is to use the remote to select the device, the each command. This is much like one would do when using OEM remotes, back in the day of having an extra $250. Personally, I prefer the first path, doing as much as possible with the fewest of buttons. Then watching the reactions :)
The instructions suggest to set aside 30 minutes for the initial programming session. Depending on how many steps that you wish to designate for one keypad touch, your actual time will vary.
I have no dislikes to share with you, nor have I had experienced buyer's remorse. One should keep in mind, though, that this unit is command-driven and behaves only as instructed.
The limit of 15 devices provides plenty of fun for me. With updates via the Internet -- both software and firmware -- there is no foreseeable future to when one would outgrow this new realm of power! Maybe that is why it is the Harmony ONE?
To summarize, this is a highly sophisticated remote that is easy to configure and is only as complicated to operate as you choose. You install the software, type the brands, types and model numbers of the devices you intend to operate with this remote and the USB cable transfers the data right to your new end table adornment. That reminds me of the flashy and secure cradle that keeps your remote fully charged. This all helps to make the operation of this remote simple, IF you want it to be. On the other hand, I enjoy precise control and creative macros in order to satisfy that technical guru that lives within. And I have found it all in the Logitech Harmony One.
If you want the last word in remote controls, enjoy demonstrating your programming prowess, and can part with the money, then this is ultimate remote control for you, too.