Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote with Color Touch Screen by Logitech
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Digital camera reviews of Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote with Color Touch Screen
Digital camera Review: A Simple and Well Rounded Universal Remote
Summary: 5 Stars
This remote is easy to setup. It replaces the existing remotes' basic functions with a quick setup process: less than 15 minutes. It is customizable: by either adding stored button settings to the LCD screen and by learning commands from the existing remote.
As the default, this remote will use settings from Logitech Harmony remote database. You need to have an account to access the setting database.
Battery charge lasts about a week with moderate use.
I used Philips Pronto TS series before. One thing I like about Harmony One, that Pronto did not have, is the Help feature. You can fix interrupted macro. Selecting an activities: watch DVD, watch TV, etc, might not turn on the correct devices or turn off the incorrect device. Before, I had to manually turn on/off the device. With the Help feature, Harmony One will synchronize your devices state (power and source) with the device states on the remote.
It is a user friendly remote for both techy or non-techy.
Digital camera Review: A True Universal Remote
Summary: 4 Stars
It took some time to get this unit programmed, having to gather model numbers, identify video and audio inputs, etc., but once it was all done it was worth it. I'm able to control my cable box, TV, blu ray DVD player and mini system (radio, CD or DVDs) simply by touching one activity button and all the correct devices come on all set to the proper input and configuration. It does make life a little simpler! The price was worth it.Digital camera Review: A device seeking a reason for its own existence
Summary: 3 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I am not a fan of this device. Maybe if I had 15 components in some elaborate home theatre system I would think it worth the effort to set it up. But I have only four components and, frankly, the setup wasn't worth the effort.
In my opinion, the setup is the killer for this device. First you have to load software for the device, which takes suprisingly long.
Then you have to gather up the model numbers of all your devices. For many, this may be quite a chore since they have long since lost their manuals or invoices and will need to look on the back or buttoms of devices. A lot of work considering that the next step still involves lining up the remotes so the Harmony can read the signals of the other.
The process is marred by imperfect English in the setup screens. For example, I was instructed to press the "Power Toggle" button. This instruction appeared next to the words "Power Toggle" on a colored bar. Duh . . . so I pressed on the Power Toggle button. Sure looked like a button to me, ill-designed, but not unlike some I've seen on websites.
Nope. They mean the power switch on the remote for the device you are trying to emulate. The on-off switch, power switch, what Americans call it, which is not the "Power Toggle".
The Harmony doesn't want to admit that its database is incomplete. As it happens, my digital cable box is a brand new model which apparently hasn't made it into the Logitech database. (It is so new that the techs at Comcast had never seen or heard of it either.) So rather than confess its ignorance, the Harmony setup process simply ignores the fact that I have cable television. In its much-touted ability to set up macros for all your devices for processes such as watching a recorded TiVo program, because it couldn't find information on my cable box, it simply didn't offer me the option of watching television. Pride goeth before the fall, I guess.
Although I provided the requested model numbers for each of the components, Logitech apparently doesnt have a complete or accurate database. For example, it refused to acknowledge that my television has a Video 1 input . . . or again in an example of language difficulties, it thinks that "component input" is Video 1 because it does offer me the option of Video 2 and Video 3, which are also component inputs. I sure can't figure out what Logitech is trying to tell me.
In any event, though I correctly specified the input for my TiVo, the Harmony ignored me. There was a spiffy correction routine though.
Battery life appears to be short so you'd probably want to keep this in its charger near your setup, which may be easier said than done in many homes.
The design is nice. The touchscreen is pretty cranky it seems, but to be honest by the time I was able to start using it, I was pretty cranky too.
I don't think the utility value of the Harmony is very high. I doubt that I'll be using this all the time because, frankly, the TiVo remote handles all the functionality we need except for the DVD which as a simple remote. And I seriously doubt that I could convince my far better half to even bother with the Harmony.
On the whole, I think Logitech missed the boat on this one with its cumbersome setup process and poor translation of the instructions to English. Logitech advises to allow 30 minutes for the setup process. Took longer than that for me.
As I said, maybe if you have a humongous home theatre setup, the time investment in learning the vagaries of the setup process might be worth it. For our paltry few components, it is not worth the bother.
Jerry
Digital camera Review: A dream remote!
Summary: 5 Stars
Owned a 720 which was ok but this thing is just awesome. Takes a while to program perfectly but once you got it sorted its just a heavenly remote.
After a few weeks of use you will discover some buttons or functions that are missing in the activities - write them all down and when you have time program them in until perfect
Digital camera Review: A few minor negatives, like no RF support, but an outstanding remote!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
This is one high end remote, and for as sophisticated as it is, it works wonderfully in a beautifully designed ergonomic frame that is easy to setup and use.
Presentation: Logitech presented the Harmony One in an elegant display box, showing the gleaming black case through clear plastic. The box graphics are nice and do a good job adding to the whole experience. No blister packs here, this feels like you are opening something important.
In the box you will have the following:
Universal Remote
Charging Station
USB Cable
AC Power Adapter
Lithium Ion Battery
CD-Rom with Logitech Software
Installation Guide
Setup: Setup is a cinch, though I must admit I did have some trouble connecting this unit to my Intel iMac. After installing the software the unit did not want to acknowledge my USB connection. There was a number to call. The call center help was very friendly and helpful. Above average tech support. The problem was resolved and we moved forward.
The software is easy to install, and once installed you hook up your remote to your computer through the supplied USB cable. The software then asks you for the items you want to control. (Note: It would be helpful in advance to have the makes and model numbers of everything you want to control.)
After you setup all the items you want to control, the software then asks you how you have your components set up to work. For example, if I want to watch TV, I need to turn on my Dish DVR and turn my TV on and to Video 1. These are called setting up activities, and I'll get to a little later.
After this is all setup to your liking, the software installs the information to your remote, reboots it and you are off to test it out.
I mentioned before the concept of "Activities". One of the major drawbacks of universal remotes in the past was having to control different components, and switch between them to do tasks. This remote does it for you. When you want to watch TV, you simply push the "Watch TV" icon on the color touch screen. The unit will then do all the tasks, turning on the DVR, TV, Sound system, etc, you had to do separately. It is really neat, and a nice time saver.
If you are having trouble, and the system is not working as desired, you can either hook the unit back up to the software or you can utilize the on remote help. The remote will guide you through some dialogue boxes on the color screen to help you resolve your problem.
Remote Operation: The remote works with easily with a surprisingly large number of units. I use a DVR and the buttons seemed laid out perfectly for DVR operation. It also worked my VCR and DVD recorder/player as if it was designed for it, unlike most universal remotes I've used.
It also worked a few things things I never thought of. It works my Sirius Starmate Replay, which I have in its boombox on the living room table. It also worked my relatively cheap Durabrand amplifier as if it was designed for it. For each of these speciality items, special control buttons appear on the touch screen for controls that are specific to that unit and that unit's remote.
Another nice feature is the motion activated backlight. The unit itself is a shiny jet black, and in a dark room you would never be able to find the buttons. But simply pick up the unit, and it lights up, buttons too, for you to easily control.
The only negative I've found is that it doesn't have RF support. I have a Dish Network DVR, and the second television needs to control the DVR through RF, which this unit cannot utilize. So be warned if you need RF, this unit will not do it.
Bottom Line: Few glitches aside, I was extremely impressed with this remote. It is smart, sexy, and works great. From those of you with just a few items to control, to those with dozens, this remote has more than what it takes to control all your audio, visual, and other household units.