Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote with Color Touch Screen
by Logitech
|
List Price: Our Price: $169.16 You Save: $30.83 (15%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $125.00 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
|---|
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote with Color Touch Screen
Customer Review: Logitech's Best Harmony Yet...But Could Still Be Better
Summary: 4 Stars
The introduction of the new Logitech Harmony One Advanced Universal Remote has really raised some eyebrows and produced a lot of chatter in the electronics gadget market. Once you see this remote and try it for yourself you will understand what all the buzz is about!
The Harmony line of universal remotes has become the most popular among average consumer grade remotes here in the U.S. Although not cheap, the Logitech Harmony series offers great functionality, easy computer-based programmability, and stylish looks at a somewhat affordable price. I already owned two other Harmony remotes, including the Logitech Harmony 550 Universal Remote and the Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote Control, before deciding to buy the new Harmony One. The 880 model has proven to be a wonderful but somewhat frustrating remote to own. It has very small buttons, a smallish color LCD display, and I had problems with the charging feature working properly when sitting the remote in its charging cradle. The Harmony one improves on all of these aspects. This new remote has much larger buttons, which have unique shapes that make it easy to determine function of most buttons by feel (so you don't have to look at them before pressing). The LCD screen is bigger, brighter, and has a much higher resolution; not to mention the fact that it is a touch screen. The newly designed charging cradle is formed precisely to hold the new Harmony One snug, so it cannot wobble and lose connection with the charging contacts. The Harmony One is a slight bit larger than the Harmony 880 and 890 series remotes, but feels more balanced in the hand; likely due to the remote's wonderful contoured body. Setting up the new Harmony One could not be much easier, using the same USB interface and Harmony Remote software that all of the other Harmony remotes utilize. If you already have a previous Harmony remote, you can copy over all of the activities and devices onto the new Harmony One. However, doing this will cause you to lose any custom button settings. As could be expected, the Harmony One also has an IR learning capability, so you can teach it IR commands from other device remotes that you have.
Although some of the features of this new model are not unique from other Harmony models, here are a few of the perks you get with the newly designed Harmony One:
- Beautiful 2.2" LCD Touch Screen Display (220 by 176 pixels)
- 40 Essential Backlit Function Buttons, With Unique Shapes That Make Them Easy To Identify By Touch
- USB Interface Allows Easy Setup via Computer With Included Harmony Remote Software
- Harmony Remote Software Currently Includes Database Of More Than 5,000 Manufacturers and 175,000 Devices.
- Activities Can Be Programmed For One Touch Control Of Your Entire Home Entertainment and/or Home Automation System (i.e., Watch DVD, Listen to CD, etc.)
- Up To 15 Devices Can Be Programmed, Meaning You Can Essentially Replace 15 Remotes With The Harmony One
- Logos Can Be Added For Favorite Channels Or Device Functions (although setting this up can be rather tedious!)
- Rechargeable Litium Ion Battery Powers Remote For Several Days Between Charges
- Up To 8 Photos Can Be Uploaded For Slideshow On LCD Display (resolution and file size limitations apply!)
- Ergonomic Body Fits Well In Hand And Feels Light And Well Balanced
- Included Charging Cradle Holds Remote Snug And Keeps Remote Charged And Ready For Use
- IR Learning Feature Allows Custom Teaching Of Specialized Device Remote Commands
- Built-In Motion Sensor Automatically Tuns On Backlighting When Remote Is Picked Up Or Tilted
With the good you always have to expect some bad, and the Harmony One does indeed have a few flaws that nick my overall score of this otherwise awesome device:
- Glossy Surface Of Remote Promotes Ugly Finger Print Smudges And Accentuates The Appearance Of Dust Particles
- Only 3 Activities Are Displayed On LCD At One Time (you can flip pages to display other activities in sets of 3)
- No RF or Bluetooth (IR only!)
- No WiFi for Remote Setup (must be plugged directly into PC via included USB cable)
- Photos and Custom Button Icons Can Be Painful To Setup and Configure
- Remote Wobbles A Bit When Sitting On Hard Surface (counter top, night stand, etc.)
- Cannot Customize Order Of Device List
- No Tactile Response/Feedback for Touchscreen Buttons
Overall I am extremely pleased with my new Logitech Harmony One Advanced Universal Remote. It is definately a step up from my Harmony 880 model. However, with a $250.00 price tag this may not be a practical choice for everyone. Many of the cheaper Logitech Harmony universal remotes offer most of the same capabilities; just not with all of the bells, whistles and high-tech style as you get with the Harmony One. I definately wish Logitech had designed this remote with a matte finish, rather than the finger print attracting gloss finish. I also wish they included the ability to customize the order in which it displays the device list. I have 15 devices programmed into my Harmony One, and I find myself flipping through page after page in order to find the device I want (since the LCD only displays 3 per page). These design oversights, and those listed in my cons list above, as well as the hefty price tag prevent me from giving this wonderful remote a 5-star rating. Still, the Harmony One is one of the best, affordable, full-featured universal remote controls you will find on the market today (IMO). Since this remote has firmware that can be upgraded via the Harmony Remote Software, I am hoping that Logitech tweaks this device a little over the coming months. Still, there is no way for them to add features like RF, Bluetooth or WiFi without introducing an upgraded model in the future. This means that buying the Harmony One today may leave you wanting a newer (improved) model, which is sure to be released by Logitech in the near future (as they did when they introduced the Harmony 890 after many of us had already purchased the Harmony 880!). If you are looking for a sleek, one remote solution for your home entertainment and/or home automation needs, and you can live without RF and Bluetooth for the foreseeable future, then I highly recommend the Logitech Harmony One. It really is one amazing remote control device!
Customer Review: Finally, a truly "Universal" remote
Summary: 5 Stars
I already love this remote, despite the sticker-shock.
It's often not that hard to get a remote where you can enter a code number and it'll control a number of devices. Some can learn from existing remotes. We had a One-for-All Kameleon for some years, but it was kludgey, couldn't really be customized, I was never able to get downloaded remote programs to work on it, and it ate batteries like candy.
Meanwhile the remotes on our coffee table proliferated like a warren of rabbits. One for the TV, another for the AV Receiver, still others for the cable box, Roku, CinemaTube media player, Playstation 3, Yamaha region-free DVD changer... TOO. MANY. REMOTES!
I received the Harmony One and its PS3 bluetooth-to-infrared adapter accessory as an early holiday gift. (Actually, my spouse told me to go buy it.) Now it's still early for a real review, but my first impressions are very positive, with a few small criticisms.
Cons:
- Initial programming can be intimidating to the non-technical. But if you follow the program wizards, you should be able to get the remote up and running with reasonably complete functionality within a couple hours.
- The in-box printed documentation, while slick, is in my opinion extremely inadequate. There are some important details, information, and instructions which just can't really be figured out from the multi-lingual pictograms and declarative sentences. I'll cover a few of these below in Helpful Hints.
- The in-cradle charging display is totally misleading, and a bad design mistake (also covered below), made worse by misleading documentation.
- Should be more flexibility in creating 'Activities', other than just the single generic 'Utility' choice. Should be given options for custom Activity icons, too.
- Wish there were more custom icon options for the touchscreen buttons; at present, you can only do TV channels.
- I also wish there was some way to mix Activities and Devices. Sometimes you just want to control the one device, and it takes a few steps to make this happen. Also, as people have noted, Devices are sorted alphabetically; be nice to be able to sort them as one likes.
- Not inexpensive. Especially if you add the PS3 adapter. Not a remote you want young children or clumsy drunken party-attending adults to be fooling with.
Pros:
- Sleek, well-designed physically, comfortable to hold in the hand. Buttons are well-placed and easy to reach, and all of them are of a good size. Haven't had a remote this comfortable since we retired our old Tivo.
- Backlighting and touchscreen lighting are very nice. The touchscreen itself seems responsive, but not overly so (sensitivity is also configurable).
- I like the tilt sensor for turning it on when you pick up the remote, unlike our old Kameleon which flares like a blue nova if you even breathe at it.
- Between Logitech's fairly comprehensive online database, plus a few missing buttons I had Harmony learn, this is the first remote I've owned which has been able to learn every single remote we currently have.
- I very much like the customization possibilities, in setting or reprogramming buttons to do whatever you want, and it's wonderful being able to program every single button on the remote for multiple functions. I haven't even begun to explore multi-function sequences. However, I wish there was a more advanced interface available, and not forcing nearly everything to go through the wizard.
- No problems having the Harmony learn new commands from our other remotes (I needed to add some buttons from the Sony Bravia remote -- most notably the number pad 'period' and 'enter' keys.)
Helpful Hints:
- The battery goes in with the blank, white side up (they really should print 'this side up' and an insertion arrow on it). Push it in until the back edge drops into place; there's a little spring in the back of the battery enclosure, providing resistance for the last quarter inch. To remove the battery, lift the edge slightly and the spring should pop it out.
- When you put the Harmony One in the cradle, if it's charging, the touchscreen shows what looks like a 1/4 filled battery with a lightning bolt through it. The ONLY thing this indicates is that the Harmony is in fact receiving power. Otherwise ignore this static icon display, as it in no way shows actual battery charge amount. If you pick up the remote, on the touchscreen in the upper right corner, above the date/time, there's a tiny cell-phone style battery bar. Pretty small -- but that's where you can find the actual battery level. Normal charging time to full from out-of-the-box seems to be about 4 hours. Supposedly there's enough charge straight off to do the basic programming set-up...but I decided to wait a while, just in case.
- For learning from other remotes: The Harmony needs to be connected to your computer and the Logitech program running. Follow the prompts to add a button (there's online help if you're not sure how to do this). Note that the receiver for learning new codes is at the BOTTOM of the Harmony, not the top as is usual for other learning remotes. Also, the guide wizard says it may take up to 30 seconds to learn the function, but this doesn't mean mash the button and hold it. Press and release the button to learn from as you normally would use it. If the program doesn't pick it up, wait a couple seconds and press it again. The program itself usually will tell you if it's getting a good signal or not. Once learned, you can assign the new function to any button on the remote.
Would I get this remote again? Yes. "One remote to rule them all", as I've heard many times. Would I recommend it to a friend? Also yes.
Would I recommend it for the technologically challenged? Sort of... this might work out best if you or someone you know who is tech-savvy did the set-up and programming for them. However, for example, my spouse has been so intimidated by all our remotes and the complicated steps necessary to do almost anything with our set-up here, essentially I always run the equipment when we watch anything. I do think she'd be a little put off by the programming of the Harmony, since it can get complicated fast. She nevertheless likes the Harmony because now she can just point and shoot. "Watch TV" -- boom, done. "Watch Media Player" -- done. Play a movie, ditto.
Customer Review: Logitech ALMOST gets this perfect!
Summary: 4 Stars
There are a few downsides to this remote, but overall, Logitech ALMOST gets this remote perfect!
First, a brief recap of how I got to this remote: I was an early adopter of the VERY FIRST Harmony Remote way back in the 1990's, back when Harmony was its own standalone company (before it was purchased by Logitech). The remote was pretty unintuitive to setup, its Mac support was weak, and the remote control didn't last very long (I had to replace it several times). Even after I painstakingly got it setup, I was the only person who could figure out how to use my own remote and I still had to have a few extra remotes laying around the coffee table.
I always wanted to dive back in again with another Harmony remote to give them another chance, but if you take a look at all the Harmony remotes that preceded this one, they were designed with absolutely no sense of intuitiveness or user-friendliness of where the buttons were placed. It would be impossible to figure out where the buttons are in the dark, without turning on the light and looking at the remote control.
FINALLY, SOMEONE AT LOGITECH GOT THE BUTTONS *ALMOST* RIGHT! This Harmony One remote is not only intuitive & user-friendly in your hands (you can feel your way around all the buttons in the dark), but also the new touchscreen is totally intuitive & a welcome relief as well. However, there's a few small problems: First, the touchscreen is WAY too sensitive, even after turning the sensitivity down all the way to the lowest setting. You may find yourself accidentally pressing the buttons on the touchscreen just when you're shifting the remote from one hand to another. We accidentally press the touchscreen all the time -- way too sensitive. Another more important issue is that the rewind/fast forward/replay/skip forward buttons are WAY TOO SMALL. These are arguably some of the most commonly-used buttons on any remote (outside of play/pause/volume), and they're just way too small and they feel EXACTLY the same in the dark. That's because they ARE exactly the same shape & size. It's nice that this remote caters to TiVo users with the rewind/fast forward/replay/skip forward buttons, but it would be great if they took a page out of TiVo's handbook and made the buttons BIGGER and easier to find in the dark. The TiVo remote is pretty intuitive & easy to feel around in the dark -- Logitech is sooo close to getting there, but they still need to do some refining.
Now onto the software for customizing your remote: The new Java-based configuration software has been completely revamped, it is totally Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard compatible, and the Logitech database even recognizes the brand new Roku Netflix Box which just came on the market a few months ago. (Although I did have to email tech support to figure out that one: You have to choose PVR->Roku, and then manually type in "Netflix" as the model number.) It took me less than 15 minutes to set this remote up, and it worked PERFECTLY right after the first configuration! Also, any extra buttons on your original remotes that don't fit on the Harmony remote will show up on the touchscreen for you to press! This is INGENIOUS, Logitech!
Now onto the major problem with this remote: I was thrilled to discover that this remote could control my brand new TiVo HD DVR as well, and that it had buttons on the remote (or touchscreen) to represent every single function on my TiVo remote! HOWEVER, there is a serious delay when using this remote to control the TiVo HD DVR. There is almost a ONE SECOND DELAY after pressing a button on your remote before the TiVo responds. The TiVo's original remote, on the other hand, is instantaneous. I spent over 3 hours on the phone with multiple technicians at Logitech's Level 2 Technical Support, making COUNTLESS CHANGES to the remote configuration, but we could do NOTHING to eliminate the delay. We actually got it down to about 1/2 second delay after fiddling with a number of different settings. We tried everything to completely eliminate the delay -- changing the inter-key delay, changing the repeat settings, setting it up with a different TiVo profile, learning the raw commands from the original remote, etc. etc. The list goes on & on. This experience was not for the faint of heart -- I literally spent over 3 hours on the phone with Logitech. Finally, they gave up and said that sometimes there's a delay when the Harmony One Remote controls certain devices, and that "there are no TiVos in Canada" so their engineering team in Canada can't test the TiVo up there. So if you're a TiVo HD DVR owner, be aware that it may be a frustrating experience for you to use this remote with a TiVo.
On the plus side, the technical support team was very friendly & helpful & knowledgeable, and they told me that they will try to fix this issue in an upcoming firmware update... IF they can get their hands on a TiVo.
Another upside to this remote: I LOVE the fact that there are no more batteries to deal with... you just set it in its beautiful cradle and it recharges for you. Logitech even went through the extra hassle of putting rubber feet on the bottom of the cradle so the cradle doesn't slide on your table when you place the remote in it.
I read through some of the other reviews on this remote, and some of them made me nervous that the infrared (IR) line-of-sight would not be good. I have found this complaint to NOT be true for MOST of my devices. Again, the lone problem is the TiVo. I can point the remote in the complete opposite direction of my TV, DVD Player, and Roku Netflix box, and the devices will STILL respond to me pressing the buttons on the Harmony One Remote. HOWEVER, the TiVo needs a direct line-of-sight from the remote and it needs to be pointed fairly accurately at the TiVo. Go figure. There seems to be something between the Harmony One Remote and the TiVo HD DVR where they just don't like playing along with each other too much.
In any case, for the most part, I am very happy with this remote, and I can deal with the TiVo incompatibilities for now. Overall, Logitech really spent their time on this remote and it shows. I am so thrilled to finally be back in the fray again with a Harmony Remote, because they did it almost perfectly this time.
If Logitech could fix the outstanding TiVo compatibility issues, and make some of the buttons on the remote a little bigger and more user-friendly, this would be the perfect remote.
Customer Review: Painful Setup, Outstanding Day To Day Usage
Summary: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
The Good: The Harmony One simplifies your entertainment experience by applying the right controls to the right device without toggling between devices. It has a rechargeable battery, and a nice color screen for activity based usage. The keys are well spaced and laid out in an intuitive way creating a comfortable, highly satisfactory user experience.
The Bad: Initial programming is an extremely frustrating experience. It has no RF support.
Overall: This is the first advanced universal remote that I have used, but I am pleased with the results - after having to put in a bit of effort to get them. I have a total of six devices that I am controlling with the Harmony One: 2 TVs in different rooms, a digital cable receiver, a DVD player, a stereo, and a VCR. What follows is my experience from out of the box to day to day usage.
PREP WORK: Logitech did a good job of providing both brief and detailed instructions to accommodate a variety of preferences. I found what I needed in the shorter set. Before getting down to serious business, you need to install the battery and charge the remote. Once that is complete you also need to install the software from the included CD-ROM. From here you move on to the laborious task of programming the remote.
PROGRAMMING: First let me say that I am a veteran of setting up and using technology and gadgets from wireless networks to cell phones with Bluetooth headsets, and I rarely have difficulties in getting things working. However I found the Harmony One to be very challenging.
To start you collect the model numbers off of the devices that you wish to control. At the appropriate prompts, you tell the software what type of device, the manufacturer, and the model number. Of my devices my stereo did not register as an exact match; therefore, the Logitech software asked me to use the remote from the stereo to aide in setup. While my stereo is a Magnavox, the recommended device was a Sony stereo. I trusted the software and went with this choice, but much to my chagrin it didn't work. I was unable to get the "Listen to the Radio" activity to start. Only after going back into the software and troubleshooting the device did it register as a Magnavox stereo. After retraining the remote using a similar model number it then began to properly control my stereo.
The next challenge was the "Watch a DVD" activity. My TV requires you to change the input source when switching between watching cable TV and a DVD. There are two different key sequences that accomplish this on my TV remote. I was unable to successfully train the Harmony One to use the first so I decided to try the second. I went through a few cycles of tweaking the controls before I finally got this to work properly.
The final challenge was with control of my VCR. Using the default setup, I was able to watch a tape without problem. However when it came to setting up a timed recording, I was able to get into the VCR's on screen menu but not navigate it. I went in to troubleshoot the VCR from the Logitech software, and I was able to fix this by training the remote with the VCR remote which buttons navigate the menu.
Eventually I got everything working the way that I wanted it, but I was a little disappointed in the amount of effort that it required. Given that the Logitech software recognized all but one of my devices, I would have expected the DVD and VCR components to have worked a little more smoothly.
As a final note on the desktop software, Logitech needs to invest as much in the usability of the software as they have the actual remote. The final thing that I wanted to do was set up my favorite channels for watching TV. I was frustrated that the basic set up did not ask if I wanted to add favorite channels to the "Watch TV" activities. I had to go digging through the options under "Watch TV" to find the place to do this. I fear that the limitations/usability issues of the desktop software will create a barrier to the user base that would get the most benefit from using the remote.
USAGE: After getting the programming behind me, I must say that I really like this device. I am impressed that it is able to effortlessly send the proper controls to the correct device for things such as changing channels and adjusting volume. It is really nice not to have to think about this. Also the "activities" are a real boon. Now that it all works, all if I have to do is choose "Watch a DVD", and all of the right devices power on and move to the appropriate settings.
The motion detection that automatically powers the device on is a nice feature. This takes power management largely out of your thinking. While you are in an entertainment activity, the remote wakes up when needed and then powers off after being idle. As long as you keep it in the recharging cradle after you are done, you never have to worry about the battery going dead.
The buttons are well constructed and have the right amount of resistance to be responsive while requiring a normal amount of pressure. The layout is very intuitive, and the touch screen is very responsive and well organized. The icons for the various activities are easily distinguished so you don't have to spend a lot of time making sure that you are selecting what you really want. Finally, the remote has a very natural feel in my hand, and it is comfortable to use.
I also really like the favorite channel settings. It is nice to push a button on the touch screen that says "ESPN" and not have to remember what channel it is. The usability of the remote itself is an area where Logitech hit a home run.
CONCLUSION: While the programming was a painful process, it is something that you only have to do once. After you get over the hump, the day to day usage of the Harmony One is really nice. If I were to break down my review, I would give the desktop software/initial programming 1.5 stars and day to day usage 5+ stars. I settled on 4 stars overall because I think that the day to day usage is far more important.
Customer Review: Logitech's Best Remote Yet
Summary: 5 Stars
In recent years Logitech has issued a series of universal remotes under the Harmony name. These share a number of common traits and features: 1) An extensive online library of remote codes for nearly any device imaginable that uses an infrared remote; 2) Software that runs on your Mac or PC to set up the remote for your devices, download the appropriate remote codes for them, and allow you to customize the buttons, settings and behavior of the remote, all via a USB cable; 3) Learning ability, in case you have an exotic device that Logitech doesn't already know about, or you need to add a code for a special button, or one or more of the buttons for a device doesn't work as you expect. (One example in my case: my Logitech 670 remote -- which I bought the Harmony One to replace -- would "press" the arrow keys on my DVD player twice with every button press, making menus hard to navigate. This was easily corrected by having the remote re-learn the codes for those buttons from the original DVD remote.)
The Harmony One combines these positive features with an ideal marriage of a touchscreen remote and a traditional button remote. Touchscreens are infinitely flexible as well as attractive, but require looking at to be used. The Harmony One uses the touchscreen for selecting which activity or device the remote will be used to control, and, once there, for any custom buttons or macros you might want to have beyond the basic controls. However, all of the common everyday functions are provided on beautifully-designed physical buttons that feel nice to operate, and are laid out in such a way -- and given distinctive shapes -- that you can operate all of them by feel. The sculpted underside of the remote both feels comfortable in your hand, and helps your hand and fingers locate each area of buttons. And when you do look at the remote, the buttons are subtly but clearly backlit.
It would be hard to say too much about the appearance and design of the Harmony One. The first words of all of my family members were, "Wow, that's a gorgeous remote."
Another thing that the Harmony One has that some earlier models (such as my old 670) lacked is: a rechargeable battery and charging cradle. Considering the 670's appetite for batteries, this feature alone is golden in my view. The remote rests easily and snugly in the cradle, which also has a pilot light with adjustable brightness so that it is easily found in the dark, a thoughtful touch. The Harmony One also has a motion sensor, turning on and lighting up as soon as it is picked up or moved. This is a simple-sounding feature, but one you will appreciate with every use, since you never have to worry about what button you can safely press to make the keys light up. (This again is an improvement over the 670, which had a "Glow" button -- if you could remember where.)
Logitech's Harmony remotes work around the concepts of "Devices" and "Activities." You set up your devices by brand and model number -- Sony Receiver, Samsung TV, Pioneer DVD, Scientific Atlanta cable box, whatever -- and then add the appropriate devices to activities: Watch TV, Watch Movie, Listen to CD, etc. The software guides you through the process, asking you which device you use to change channels, or adjust the volume, what inputs your TV and receiver need to be on, and so on. Thereafter, when you select a given activity, the remote attempts to turn on all the needed devices, change them to the correct inputs, and otherwise get the activity started. (If you want, you can even have the remote finish by pressing play for you, or selecting a favorite channel or radio station, but I prefer to do that myself.)
Sometimes setting up an Activity doesn't work because one of the devices doesn't hear a command, or things are not as the Harmony thinks they are when it starts off. In that case, you can simply press Help and the remote will ask you what's wrong and try to fix it. "Is your TV on? Is your receiver on? Is the receiver set to input 'TV'? Did that fix the problem?" etc. The long series of questions can get annoying, but it does work.
You also have the option of switching the Harmony One to Devices mode. In that mode, the touchscreen offers you a menu of all your devices, and you can choose one to operate manually. (This is more the way a normal "dumb" universal remote would operate.) The Harmony One's touchscreen makes this much clearer and easier than with Logitech's earlier models, since the color background on the screen actually changes when in Devices mode, making it always immediately obvious which mode you're in.
Note that the setup software requires an internet connection, and you have to sign up on Logitech's web site and give yourself a unique username. The software expects to be able to check for updates every time it is used, and it seems to store part of your remote configuration online. Depending on how consistent your connection is (or, perhaps, how paranoid you are about personal data) that might be something to weigh when considering this product. Also, for some reason, each user account can only be associated with ONE remote. If you lose or break a Logitech remote and replace it with a new one, you can tell the software to transfer your existing configuration into the new unit, but you can't move or copy data between two current, active remotes; each additional remote needs a separate username.
On the other hand, if you are the technogeek sort who likes to customize things and tweak settings, you can have hours of fun with the Harmony software just re-arranging and customizing the layout and function of the touchscreen buttons. It's even possible to load custom graphics to display on the touchscreen as a screen saver.
The only feature that the Harmony One lacks that some other Logitech remotes offer (i.e. the 890, the 1000) is RF transmission, to allow the remote to be used without line-of-sight. (Nor, or course, is it able to replace Bluetooth-based remotes such as for the Wii or PS3.) But if the RF feature isn't important to you, there is no reason to hesitate about the Harmony One. It is a joy to look at, a joy to use for both the geek and the technophobe in your family, and has no noticeable drawbacks other than being moderately expensive. Highly recommended.