Logitech Harmony 1000 Advanced Universal Remote (Silver)
by Logitech
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Logitech Harmony 1000 Advanced Universal Remote (Silver)
Customer Review: The epitomy of convenience.
Summary: 5 Stars
If you have more than one electronic component for your home entertainment needs, then you need a Logitech Universal Remote!
I'm guessing that if you are the one who set up your home entertainment system you have gotten a call from your spouse or significant other. During this call, their voice likely sounded extremely frustrated and their question may have sounded a lot like this: "All I want to do is watch my favourite show, how in the %!&$ do I work this stuff?!"
While you may be savvy enough to set the TV to "Input 1", the receiver to "Video 2" and so on, your loved ones find it infuriating. Trust me on this one.
The answer is a Harmony Universal Remote from Logitech.
These remotes take the complicated combinations of inputs & outputs and reduce them to a simple one-touch button like "Watch TV". When the user pushes the button, the remote takes care of turning on the appropriate devices and setting each one to the right inputs. It really is that easy.
Now for the usual questions...
Q: "How does the remote know what settings to use?"
A: This will take a little of your time, but it is EASY. You will spend about a half an hour setting up the remote the *first time* you use it. The easy-to-use software loads on your PC and asks you what gear you own and what your configuration is like.
Q: "What do you do when it doesn't work?"
A: Every now and again you will hit the "activity" you want but maybe the sound doesn't come on. There is a convenient HELP button on the remote that will ask you a short series of questions. All you do is answer a few "Yes or No" questions and it will fix the problem 99% of the time.
Q: What if I don't want to spend $300 on a remote?
A: If the price for the Harmony 1000 is a little high for you tastes, then look at one of these: Logitech Harmony 890 Advanced Universal Remote Control or Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote Control.
The 890 is essentially the 1000, but with a smaller display and shaped like a "normal" remote. The 880 is the 890 without the RF feature included in both the 1000 and 890. The RF feature allows you to control your gear without direct line of sight- behind a cabinet door for example. Bear in mind the RF feature requires an RF Extender: Logitech® Harmony® RF Wireless Extender
In conclusion, this product is so amazingly useful that I think everyone should own one. Any issues others may describe are insignificant next to the benefits you will reap.
My wife, who just doesn't understand our A/V system at all, got acclimated to this remote in about 45 seconds. Since purchasing the remote I have never had to answer one of those "How do I work this thing?" calls.
Do yourself and your loved ones a favour and buy this remote right now.
Customer Review: $pendy for what you get, but it generally works. Maybe buy again, maybe not...
Summary: 3 Stars
I'm an IT professional, but fairly jaded about electronics 'wow factor'. My wife had only one requirement about our home theatre and that is that she could easily use it. If she wants to watch a DVD or television she just wants to sit down and do it without first having to initiate a routine akin to calibration of the Death Star and I can't say I blame her.
I was a little nervous about ordering this (including the RF extender, which at the time was only $4 after rebate) because of the mixed reviews. (My policy is to examine the trend of the reviews and noted that it was pretty much equal between 5 and 3/4 stars so I did proceed). Plus I am using Vista, adding potentially to an adventure.
Configuration - first thing I did after loading the software was note a couple of updates on the web site for Vista. I downloaded those and then launched the config utility. It is required that the utility automatically check for updates. The only choice is whether to auto install or manually choose whether to do it. So, it went through the drill for me redoing what I had just done. When this process works, it's slow and I found that it usually doesn't work. I would have to cancel and retry about three times before it would finally complete.
Best advice I'd seen (here I believe) was to use a laptop in the same room as the devices. **Do that - even if you have to borrow one**. Otherwise you'll be forever going back and forth to your pc and cabling/uncabling/recabling. Second thing I learned - when configuring the RF extender, when it says to switch back and forth from the remote to the extender, *unplug the other one*. I'm pretty literal in following instructions because I do software testing and one has to be. The instructions don't tell you to unplug A before plugging in B but do it.
Only other issue I had was setting up for an Apple TV. I finally got it to mostly work but it took several attempts. I config'd as a Media PC and allowed the device to autoconfigure from there based on something similar (Apple TV suggested). Keep you Apple Remote handy because it's just more straightforward once the Harmony has configured everything to use the ATV, to control it with the Apple Remote.
The Harmony generally works, slowly, although about 25% of the time something doesn't get configured quite right (TV or amp doesn't go to the right input for example) and my room is only 15x15. The Help function does fix the problem every time although it's a step by step process (Is the TV on? Is the amp on? Is the TV set to Input 1? 'No'...<Harmony resends code to do so>...Did that fix the problem?...etc).
One thing I find annoying is the confirmation dialog that occurs each time an operation (Watch TV) is completed. U understand the idea to be for the user to know the difference between a process not working properly vs just needing some patience for the process to complete but it's a modal dialog that the user must dismiss each time before proceeding. It takes about 2 seconds to go away.
It's fine for now, but all over again I'm honestly on the fence about whether I'd buy again.
Customer Review: Harmony 1000
Summary: 5 Stars
The Harmony 1000 is the most simplified and advanced universal remote I have EVER experienced, yet, it is much more! First, with most universal remotes you have to program in all your devices and then select each one individually to do your business such as watch a DVD. With the Harmony 1000 you click to watch a DVD, it automatically knows what room you are watching it in and turns on the speakers or surround sound system for that room, it turns on the receiver if one is hooked up, and it turns on the TV to view the DVD - just one button turns it all on and all off when you are finished. And surprise, it will also adjust the room lighting to what I like when watching a dvd, yes, still with only the one button on the remote!
Next, the Harmony 1000 is different from most universal remotes in that it does not requires line of site as most remotes do. For example, I may want to listen to the speakers in my bedroom with the receiver located in the living room. With the Harmony 1000 I can turn on the receiver in the living room, (mind you, a few walls in-between) and my Harmony 1000 has turned on the receiver and is allowing me to change the stations and volume etc as though the receiver were in my bedroom and directly hooked up to the speaker there. In addition, Yes, it will also allow me to control the lighting in my bedroom so I need not get up to flip a switch or dim it accordingly, - it is amazing this Harmony 1000. Oh, yes, I am using it with new speakers in my bathroom now as well, but it will not light my candles, hmmm, I actually discovered a flaw, lol.
Next, oh my goodness, look at it, feel it, - no other universal remote is as attractive, functional, and sooo sleek. It almost looks and feels like the smallest laptop computer ever made which essentially it is, ergo the higher cost to do all these things. Also looks like an iphone and actually had the touchscreen with icons before the iphone came about.
Oh, you might ask, will it also make coffee for me? YES, it does by turning on your coffee pot when you awake, again by pressing one button on the Harmony 1000. Plus, it will turn on the heater for you as well so you do not have to get up and walk over in the cold to your wall thermostat. Now even though it is a bit pricey, try to beat all of this with anything else and add to it how small and convenient it is to easy carry around with you to control everything in your home if you like, or have a couple of them around!
Hmmm, with all the technology available today, and how small some rooms are, have you ever thought about placing your receiver, dvd, vhs, cd player, cable box etc, etc, in a closet and yes, the Harmony 1000 knows where they are and will turn each on/off or adjust them as needed for your convenience! You no long require a nice fancy cabinet to place all your components in, but you do need electrical outlet in your closet. Personally, I feel this is what we will all be doing rather soon, or at least I may if I can find an empty closet, hmmm, mind you a woman is saying this and the odds are against me, I may have to move... - Jessica de Bosson
Customer Review: Nice Look and Feel, Same Great Features, Same Sluggish Software
Summary: 4 Stars
I have just received my 1st H1000. It is basically as I'd expected from the Harmony line-up. I'm a professional in the sound and video industry and have programmed and setup almost all the Harmony remotes that have been out. The H1000 is pretty much the same to set up as the other remotes. The biggest change that this remote brings is a simpler interface. If any of you are familiar with the H880 or H890 then you know how small some of the buttons are and how this can be difficult for some people to operate. This remote certainly will help in that regard. After selecting an activity such as 'watch DVD' for example; each activity has multiple screens associated with it. Touching the top left corner 'play/pause' icon brings up the main transport control icons on-screen, touching the bottom left small 123 icon brings up the number buttons, touching the bottom right 'star' icon brings up user custom buttons, and the top right 'disc' icon brings up... well nothing yet as I am able to program. It looks promising however. The programming interface is the same as it's been with the other remotes and when you 'customize buttons' the software automatically maps out which of the four corners that button will fall under. There is no way that I've found to custom map what buttons go in each of the four screens. I found a feature under 'devices' that allowed me to input the DVD Disc Names of the DVD's in my Sony 400 Disc Changer. I entered 20 names and updated the remote expecting them to be available under the top right 'disc' icon, but they weren't there! So my biggest complaint like before would have to be the software interface that allows you to program these remotes. It took me over 30 mins. just to upgrade the firmware, (not optional - it makes you do it before proceeding). I had to take the battery out and reset the remote 5 times to get it to finish. I think that Harmony had a great thing going that was new and inventive, cutting edge, before Logitech stepped in an bought them out. Now I'm feeling a little sold out. I still see the creative force driving these products, but it seems that rather than focusing on innovation, Logitech has focused on reaping the rewards of a past innovation. They really do need to update the software and test it more. This is the only draw back. You will have to work with the software to get it right. However once you do you will certainly enjoy this remote. It feels right in the hand, one or two hands. It has a responsive touch screen, and a bright clear display. Some minor issues: The hard button Volume and Channel buttons are hard to see in the dark even with the backlighting of the button, I did get them confused a few times at first. (You just can't read the blue etched 'vol' and 'ch' very well) The speaker volume is a little low even at max volume if you want to hear feedback clicks as you operate the remote. Other than that I really do like the remote. I've given it four stars because compared to what else is out there, Universal Remotes MX3000, Philips Pronto, Crestron, etc.. this really is a little wonder! I just wish the programming software would work like it is suppose too!Customer Review: Great Concept. Big dissapointment.
Summary: 2 Stars
First, let me start by saying that logitech products are very well designed.
With that said, the harmony 1000 puts almost every other remote design to shame (except for the philips tsu9600). The 1000 combines a light weight, thin, and comfortable sized remote with a beautiful color touchscreen display, illuminated buttons, and a well thought out software concept; although it is not very well executed.
You can customize the lcd background with your favorite pictures such as a vacation pic or dream motorcycle. The screen looks fantastic and is bright, although not very responsive.
Also, the 1000 feels like your driving a beautiful sports car, with its rubber-smooth back , brushed-metallic surface and silky-black polished screen. Pressing any of the illuminated buttons makes you feel like your holding something special. However, these feelings get diluted once you discover how the remote actually handles.
Unfortunately, this beautiful logitech remotes software falls into the category of first generation blunder. Like most first generation products, the 1000 comes with a number of software glitches and problems that will keep you up all night programming it only to find out that all your efforts are worthless. You will find yourself going back and forth, from your tv to your computer, then back to your tv, only to discover that although it did figure out how to change your tv to the correct inputs, now some of the buttons are missing and/or your dvd player does not turn off when instructed.
Having to look back and forth from your tv to your remote almost every instance because the touchscreen does not respond correctly the first time is a hassle. You almost have to puncture the lcd screen to get a button to work. Also, when on the computer, updating the remote is sluggish at best and takes lots of time to upload even on a quad-core dell xps 710 h2c top of the line computer.
Couple that with a slow responsive time and you got yourself a pinto motor packed inside a lamborghini diablo. I own a sony av-3000 lcd touchscreen remote and the responsive time is dead on instant. Unlike the sony, the 1000 lags when changing channels and/or when switching to a different activity.
Also, the interface of the 1000 is not up to par. Since it does lack enough buttons to access your different hardware, you find yourself having to use the slow and poorly executed software. You have to press many buttons to get to your tv inputs and a few more buttons to get back to your hardware of choice; distracting you from your overall viewing experience.
I have already processed a no-hassle return with AMAZON for the logitech 1000 and expect to get a refund shortly. In the meantime I plan to use my sony lcd remote until LOGITECH upgrades its software. If logitech gets to work and fixes these problems sooner than later, I will gladly re-welcome the 1000; their BEST remote so far.
Two stars because of the software problems and sluggish lcd screen. Although the harmony 1000 warrants, is asking for, a 5 star rating.