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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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 Touchscreen
Customer Review: Update stuck at 3%...going back to Sony
Summary: 1 Stars
So I have been using my Sony universal remote that costs $60. It was a decent remote and does have 1-button turn on multiple systems option. I would say it covers 95% of my need, but when I see this nice touch screen universal remote from Logitech that requires internet/software to sync up, I thought maybe I should pay $160 for the touch screen, and given that it would always have the latest update, it must cover all the edge cases and 100% of my need! Well boy was I wrong--I didn't even get 1% out of this remote!
First I am fairly comfortable w/ computer and I have never had issues installing/updating any software, so it's surprising to me that they can screw this up. But after running into the below issues, I am going to return it (nope, not going to waste time calling their CS)
1. First issue: It could find my DirecTV DVDR and I need to get the remote to teach it (hey my Sony UR needs to do this too--without any software! But fine, I did play along)
2. After configuring the software w/ all the devices, I try to update the H1 remote. The update got stuck at 3%.
3. It recommended me that I disable my anti-virus and firewall (already off). So I did and tried again. Same problem.
4. Googled "harmony one stuck at 3%", turns out it's a common issue (so common that when I typed "Harmony one st" it autocompletes "Stuck at 3%"). There's supposed to be an alternate way to update using a website (If that's the case, why do I need to install the software on my computer!?)
5. Unfortunately, even using the website, the install still stalled at 3%. I could probably try to reboot my PC and see if that would make a difference, but nope Logitech I am not going to waste more of my time to fix your product. Path of least resistance to earn your customer, and you have failed my friend.
There was another reviewer (who was lucky enough to actually use the remote) who said he could do all the H1 functions w/ his Sony UR without all the fancy software, by pressing 3-digit codes for each device manufacturer. I couldn't agree more! Why not just keep it simple? I have bought many crappy products before, but this is the first time that a product fails to be even set up!!
Customer Review: Near Perfection
Summary: 5 Stars
Nothing is perfect... but, I am astounded at the ease of setup and intuitive operation of this remote. First, you load the software on your PC. Next, you add devices: AV Receivers, DVD players, BluRay, iPod Dock, Satellite receivers, Cable boxes - you get the idea. You can always go back and add other devices and you can rename them for more descriptive labels on the remote. Next, you define activities and the software walks you through properly setting the devices to operation for a particular activity. For example, After I have added all of my devices, I want to define a new activity which is generically described as 'watch tv' - you are then prompted to select the devices you want to use for that activity - Sony TV and Onkyo Receiver, for example. Next, you are asked which inputs are used on each device: Video 5 on the TV and Video 2 on the receiver for cable tv, for example. This is exactly where everyone gets confused when you have a bunch of remotes and inputs for various devices!! All of the guesswork is eliminated and the Harmony One sets all of the devices properly - just as a unified remote should.
Before you set up your devices, make a list of all of your devices: Manufacturer, model number and note thier location - then input the data into the software...
The power and awesomeness lies in the simple, intuitive PC-based software that Logitech has designed to manage the remote. BTW, I am running the software on a Windows7 Ultimate machine - no issues! You can always go back and tweak the settings and rename devices and activities. Last, The remote, itself, is well designed with an intuitive, logical layout. I like it much better than the cable remote. The remote is for IR-controlled devices only - no bluetooth. So, Wii is not an option for the Harmony One. I've set up devices located in multiple rooms and defined activities based on location: Watch TV-FR for the TV in the Family Room, for example. This remote is superb! The software recognized every device I input without error and properly programmed the remote for flawless operation on the 1st try....and the software tells you to go try it out and return to report the results. If you haven't figured it out by now - I love this remote!
Customer Review: Buggy.
Summary: 3 Stars
Software is very limiting and buggy. Cannot set up a directv receiver because the software hangs. My setup was not imagined by logitech so configuring the remote requires a great deal of the kind of tedious steps I was trying to avoid. Macros and learning are an afterthought. You have to create an account on a web site to configure the remote. Existing device sets appear to have been entered by other customers. Software ui is counterintuitive, rarely clear what to do next.
My setup: receiver w 3 zones, apple tv, directv, and a Sony tv.
[UPDATE] After my initial disappointment and some convincing from another owner I decided to give it another go. I plugged it into the PC this time, not the Macbook, and was able to successfully create the DirecTV device. After spending a couple hours dorking around with codes and settings I actually like the remote. So upped my review to 3 stars. I can't give it any more than that due to flaky software behavior. For example:
- During device setup it asks me how I set the inputs for my AppleTV. (Multiple choice, no "none of the above" and no "skip this question".) It also includes AppleTV as a video output device. Someone please tell Logitech that an AppleTV is a source device, not an actual television.
- About 10% of the remote codes didn't work, but the remote was able to learn them from the original remote.
- You are typically presented with a huge list of radio-button options (Seventeen radio buttons? Are you kidding me?) and often none of them are what I want. Eventually I learned how to lie in order to trick the software into doing what I want to do.
- Software can time out while you are setting up your buttons, erasing all your work
- When editing buttons, Clicking "Learn" to add a new one will also erase any unsaved custom button edits
- Sometimes clicking "Off" doesn't turn off all the devices due to bad aiming or general IR flakiness, which happens when any IR remote sometimes. But clicking "off" again doesn't do anything because I guess the remote thinks everything is already off. You have to turn something back on and try again.
But once set up, the remote does a good job and I will keep it.
Customer Review: One remote to rule them all...
Summary: 5 Stars
I didn't intended to buy the Harmony One with our new entertainment system, but after I kept reading how others had obviated the manufacturer's remotes with it, I took a chance. Now I can't believe I've gone so long without this little gem.
First off, it looks good. Digital touch screen, elegant shape, and black finish makes it much sleeker and sexier than anything that came with the components. Just pick it up, and the lights come on. Secondly, it feels good. It fits beautifully in your hand, and the sweep of your thumb reaches across all of the regular control buttons. Also, the back is contoured to feel good in your palm, and the balance is just right.
Mostly, the Harmony One is the antidote for all the programming and menu switching headaches. There's a normal learning curve in setting up the remote, but as with everything else on the H1, it's fairly intuitive. The software and computer guide is terrific, and after a little play, it's easy to get a feel for what to do, and how to customize your directives. Here's what it did for me:
I purchased a new Pioneer receiver, Samsung B860 Plasma and 6500 BluRay player; along with our DirecTV box, working with menus and input switching was infuriating. It took a few weeks before I remembered that I hadn't tried the remote yet (!) so I fired it up--and presto, problems gone. The H1 switches your inputs and devices automatically, and you can continue to add automated tasks. For example, I programmed it to turn on the TV, switch it to the #1 HDMI input, turn on the DVD player, open the drawer, turn on the receiver, and change the receiver input to surround. Switching activities is a snap, too--it changes everything at the touch of one button, be it input, device, or setting.
It's great to come across first-rate engineering, partly because it makes things easier, but also because it's such a pleasure to use. The H1 is one such item, obviously designed by a team that put real thought into their product. It is one of the better electronic gizmos I've ever owned, and I can't sing its praises loud enough. Get one, and you'll see what I mean. Just don't throw it in the fire to see the Elven runes on it.
Customer Review: The much cheaper Harmony 520 has more features, but this one has color touchscreen...
Summary: 4 Stars
Yes, it's pretty and yes, it's rechargeable.
But the Logitech Harmony 520 Advanced Universal Remote - universal remote control ( 966191-0403 )has the four dedicated red, blue, yellow and green buttons like the more expensive 900 does.
I think they all use the same Harmony Remote Software to program things to your liking.
So it looks like we're paying more for a prettier, and easier to use screen, but we're losing some very useful features like the four color buttons. Now I have to leave four spaces on the screen for the four colors, and that's screen real estate that I'd rather use differently.
My One rattled right out of the box, and so I googled it and thought my old 520 didn't rattle, but it does too.
But my Logitech Squeezebox Duet - Network audio player - high-gloss black remote doesn't rattle at all, so I don't see why they couldn't make a silent tilt detector for the Harmony remote lines, like they do for the Squeezebox Remote.
The One does seem to do a better job of turning things on in the right order, but it could be that I had never correctly programmed the 520.
The button layout is way better on the One; it seems to be more intuitive. But I'd like to see a row of dedicated "blank" or programmable hard buttons so I don't have to fiddle with the screen as much.
They're selling dirt cheap over here in France, for around 120 euros, so I picked one up to compliment my new fiber-optic triple-play box for Free Telecom, designed by Philippe Starck. Well, it turns out the new TV receiver (with Blueray player!) it comes with is only RF, not IR!! So my One is totally useless with it. Then I thought, hmmmmm, Logitech knocked the price down just a few weeks ago; they must have known that this device would be obsolete soon.
EVERYONE (seriously, millions!) is ordering this new Starck triple play box, so no one's going to want the Harmony One anymore.
I guess it's already passe?