Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote Review
A Touch Screen Activity Based Universal Replacement Remote Control
Sep 10, 2008
The Logitech Harmony One is designed to replace up to 15 individual remotes with a single programmable universal replacement remote control. With today's home entertainment systems consumers are often faced with several battery operated remotes, each controlling complex functions of high definition TV, DVD players, games, and cable/satellite boxes.
Activity Based Functions
Harmony One combines the functions of each remote in one device using a novel activity-based approach generally requiring only one button to turn-on/turn-off home entertainment systems comprising multiple components.
For example, after appropriate on-line programming, touching one button on the Harmony One touch screen will turn on a TV, cable/satellite box, audio receiver, and speakers, set the appropriate inputs for each device, and tune the TV to the channel most frequently watched.
Similar programming produces one-touch watching of DVD movies or listening to favorite CD's or radio stations.
On-line Programming
To program an activity the consumer connects Harmony One to a computer's usb port, loads the software DVD shipped with the remote, and connects to the Internet. After inputting the make and model numbers in the consumer's setup, the consumer is asked to define an activity, such as "watch TV."
The software asks a series of questions about the consumer's setup, such as which components are utilized while watching TV, the TV input where the signal can be found, specific channels to be set, and similar questions for each component of the home entertainment system used for watching TV.
Though some reviews criticize Harmony One's software as non-intuitive, this reviewer had no difficulty interacting successfully. When all activities are defined and sequences specified, the software downloads the IR codes necessary to accomplish each activity.
Harmony One Coverage
The Harmony One learns activities while connected through a computer to an Internet site where the codes for thousands of consumer devices are stored. In an online interview, the consumer is asked to describe the specific operations sequences for the equipment to be controlled.
The sequence of operations and the specific remote codes necessary to accomplish the sequence is downloaded to Harmony One where it can be activated with the touch of one button.
The Internet based nature of programming virtually assures that the functions of the consumer's existing remotes, as well as those purchased in the future, can be combined in Harmony One.
Device Based Functions
In addition to the user friendly activity based functions described above, Harmony One can also be used as a direct one-for-one replacement for an existing remote. During programming, all function codes of the remote to be replaced are available for download.
Other Harmony One Features
The Harmony One features a full color touch screen, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, a combination docking station/charger, and both activity-based and device-based functions.
Logitech Harmony One Shortcomings
Aside from the high cost of Harmony One, the only shortcoming observed is that the shiny black case, though attractive, clearly shows fingerprints after just a few operations. Logitech tacitly acknowledges this by including a soft wiping cloth in the package.
The Best Universal Remote Control might also be helpful in assessing universal remotes.
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