Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote with Color Touchscreen
by Logitech
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List Price: Our Price: $159.99 You Save: $40.00 (20%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote with Color Touchscreen
Customer Review: Programming the Harmony One Universal Remote Control
Summary: 4 Stars
Programming the Harmony One remote via USB and a web interface is a powerful, convenient feature. The software interface provides access to all controls, commands, and devices at a very fine level of detail. While not intuitive, it is relatively quick to come up to speed and effectively program the remote.
The user interface itself is awkward and cumbersome, requiring many repeated clicks to get to the correct screen to edit or add commands. Previously entered device commands can only be deleted and new ones added, so a minor change to a setting such as a delay requires many key strokes. There is no mechanism to specify that a command be repeated a specified number of times, so the work around is simply to enter the device command the over and over again in the command stack -- again, many tedious keystrokes. Finally, it would be very helpful to have the ability to view, or better yet, print out, a text listing of the various programming entries that have been entered (by device or by activity) to allow review and trouble shooting. A modern, drag and drop GUI would be much more intuitive. Luckily, the programming is something that can be improved and updated to the benefit of both existing and future users.
The controller itself is very ergonomic in the hand and has a bright LCD screen and convenient keyboard layout. I would have liked to see an LED indicator added that flashed when an IR command (but not a delay) is emitted by the unit to assist with troubleshooting and operation.
As an Apple Macintosh user, I appreciate the ability to control Apple TV and other Apple products via the Harmony One and encourage Logitech to continue to create a strong integrated environment with Apple products. I also appreciate that I can control my Lutron room light dimmer, but need the IR emitter of the Harmony One to cast a broader horizontal beam (asymmetric spread) or be significantly brighter to consistently reach the wall sensor of the dimmer located 60 degrees away from my AV equipment.
My initial unit was defective in that it would only go into its power-saving state for a few seconds before reawakening. It would repeatedly go through this cycle, eventually running down the rechargeable battery within 90 minutes (rather than over several days as designed). Logitech Customer Service was very responsive in sending a replacement for which I am still awaiting delivery.
Customer Review: Harmony needs some improvements
Summary: 2 Stars
We bought this remote in Dec. of 2009. It is our second Harmony remote - the first lasted several years (probably 5 or so) before the writing on the screen became so faint we could no longer see it, so replaced with this one. We have always loved the convenience of having everything on one remote and the Harmony was wonderful. That long as all your machines work with it!
Our Sony home theater system never worked correctly from the beginning, even after having the Geek Squad try to program it and the manufacturer's tech support trying everything they knew to do. It never would switch the home theater system back to the "watch TV" mode after playing a DVD, so we'd have to use the HELP button and go through a series of commands to get it back where it needed to be. BIG minus there!
Another negative: if we hadn't already had a prior Harmony remote, we would have been lost at trying to program and figure out all the bells & whistles on this one. It comes with virtually NO instructions or manual - doesn't even tell you what the buttons on it are for. Fine for the enlightened - horrible for the technically challenged.
The final negative came last week (Dec. 2010 - just over a year since purchase) when the remote completely died. A lengthy call to tech support resulted in learning that the remote was indeed dead and didn't simply have a dead battery. The technician informed me that they had been "having trouble with that issue for some time". Oh great, I replied. Since ours was out of warranty I was given a 50% off coupon to purchase a new one. Hmmm.
We then called Direct TV and they send out a technician (free of charge, I might add) who programmed our Direct TV remote to do everything I needed it to do. In fact, the only time we have to use another remote is when we're switching from TV to DVD and back again. A couple quick clicks and the TV and home theater system are right where they're supposed to be. Bottom we going to spend even 1/2 of $200 for a new Harmony? Ummm....let me think.....NO. We're perfectly happy with what we've got. Frankly it's just as easy, if not easier, to use the Direct TV remote than the Harmony.
Sorry to have to give such a low rating but frankly this remote (originally priced at $249.) should have lasted MUCH longer than one year!!!!!! Harmony, work out your kinks!!
Customer Review: Cool product, although not perfect
Summary: 3 Stars
Logitech Harmony One.
Prior to purchasing I thought I was in the market for a good all in one remote. Ive owned the cheap universal remotes that I bought from stores, and I always felt I wanted something more.
This product isn't bad at all. If you have lots of devices and looking to simplify your life than its worth checking out. However keep in mind, that although set up seems somewhat easy, it may be harder for those that are not tech inclined. Also, keep in mind that once you set up your remote your far from done. There are always little tweaks that you MAY have to go through. I say may, because devices vary between people.
I consider myself a very tech-inclined person, so setup was a breeze. However the constant adjustments regarding setting up refresh times just got too annoying for me. I found myself several months down the line, actually using my old remote controls. The refresh time was so much faster than logitech remote itself. Although there are times when the logitech remote is as fast as the device specific ones.
The actual design of this remote is pretty cool though. When comparing this to the older cheaper universal remotes...there simply is no comparison. The logitech can program upto 15 devices with different "activities"...such as turning on tv alone, or tv with surround, blu ray or HD...etc. So, if you do have lots of devices and end up using them quite a bit, then the remote may be for you.
Although I have a lot of components (AV reciever, bluray, HDdvd, dvd, and HDDVR) I really only use tv just for weekend football and occasional weekday evening use(as i work during the week until pretty late).
PROS: Very versatile, interfaces with your computer so setup and management is easier, and retains most all functions..plus you can customize buttons. Good battery life...
My main CON here is the speed and the reaction time of the remote. Im sure part of that can be due to my cable service (dont get me started on comcast), but even after an hour or so, the logitech seems to operate slow, even after adjustments with refresh times. If I was still within the 30 days...I probably would have returned it.
With regards if this is worth upgrading from a previous harmony remote...I dont know. This is my first logitech remote.
Customer Review: Gets worse with time!
Summary: 2 Stars
3/6/2011 UPDATE: I've had this thing for over 3 months now, and I'm getting more and more unhappy with it. The battery still doesn't hold a charge for that long - I even sent the remote back and got a new one, and it still doesn't last a week before it needs to be recharged. I don't leave it in the cradle or charge it before it gets fully drained, so the battery life should have been optimal.
The worst problem with the remote by far is that it is getting more and more unreliable - the 'hiccups' are getting more and more frequent when I choose an activity. For example, when I hit 'watch a dvd' sometimes it doesn't turn on the dvd player, or doesn't set the correct input for the amplifier, or something else - so then I have to hit 'devices', choose the specific device, go into that menu and hit power or input settings, then go back to current activity. The one-touch operation is one of the biggest selling points for this remote, so the fact that it is routinely messing up is really disappointing. I wouldn't buy this remote again.
I've had an old Sony commander remote for 6+ years - it was a great universal touch-screen remote, but was basically the size of an ipad so when I got a new tv I talked myself into upgrading.
Pros: the Logitech harmony one is pretty, feels like a regular remote (fantastic design, not cumbersome or awkward), and controls pretty much everything. I'm still discovering the different ways to use it, but the customizable layouts and touch screens are pretty awesome.
Cons: the biggest con is that it seems to hiccup at times - its rare, but in the past few days I've had it the thing didn't turn on one of the components once, the power button didn't want to turn off a component once, and twice the "watch a DVD" function has turned everything on but the picture stayed black. I don't know if that's the DVD player, new amp I got, or the remote - but it's still a hassle and casts doubt on an otherwise solid remote. The other much smaller con is the setup process - it's complicated, but it needs to be to give you all the options you want. I don't know how I'd make it much easier (I'm not a Logitech engineer) but it's listed as a con because you really have to play around with the software and plug in/update/unplug/test/repeat several times to make sure you get the layout right.
Customer Review: Piece of junk.
Summary: 1 Stars
I desperately wanted to love the Harmony One remote. I needed it to make it simple for my wife and granddaughter to be able to press one button and watch tv, or press another to watch Netflix, among other things
But after opening the Harmony One and installing the software, I knew I was in trouble.
When I typed in my model of tv (a Philips 47PFL5704D/F7), the software happily found it, but did not list all the settings on my original remote, particularly the "source" button, which changes inputs to the tv. I was unable, for example, to set the simple "Watch TV" activity to switch my Philips to the "tv" setting. It simply did not seem to know that the setting existed. When I ran the "help" on the remote, it guided me through the settings and eventually selected the correct input, but it would never do it automatically. I had to essentially go through the same tedious process each time. I'd make a change, plug in the remote, wait a couple minutes for it to update via USB, then try again. Each time, it failed to turn on the tv immediately, so I had to guide it through until it found the right code, and then it would fail to change the tv input until I guided it through each of the inputs until it got to the "tv" input. Then I was urged to update the software via USB again, after which the remote still didn't complete the basic task.
So I called tech support. The tech guy was unable to help, and after 20 minutes, he escalated me to tier 2 support, but not before asking me to give a 5-star rating on Amazon. Yeah, well, thanks for reminding me to write a review!
Anyway, the tier 2 tech support guy also couldn't get it working, and blamed it on Philips, and said that they (at Logitech) need the "discrete hex codes for input" of the remote, and that I needed to contact Philips for them and email Logitech the codes. Once I hung up the phone, I became angry - for $170, they wanted ME to research the codes for them, on a device whose web page says "you know it will work with what you have today and what you'll add tomorrow."
Nope. They obviously don't need or want my business.
I'll cope just fine with the $15 universal remote I have, and teach the family how to use it.
I've never had a product fail as miserably as the Logitech Harmony One remote.