Logitech Harmony 1000 Advanced Universal Remote
posted Friday, June 8th, 2007 by Andy Gore
Logitech’s line of programmable remotes have long been the king of multi-device controllers, allowing users not just to control a device, but to cluster device operations into tasks that make it easy to run even the most complex home entertainment set-ups.
With the Harmony 1000 Advanced Universal Remote, Logitech has severed its last tie to the traditional remote by eliminating 90 percent of the buttons. Instead, most of the remote (which isn’t even remote-shaped anymore), is a big touchscreen that configures itself automatically with the controls necessary for the task at hand, and that task alone. This makes the 1000 capable of controlling a plethora of devices while at the same time operating like a single-device remote.
As with the rest of the Harmony line, users must plug the H1000 into a computer and then log into the Harmony website to program it. Setting-up the Harmony through the site is still the best and worst part of using the new remote: Best because of the vast database of device controls that can be downloaded into the H1000; worst, because the Harmony set-up wizard is still difficult to navigate and obtuse when it comes to setting up something unusual (like programming direct input switching on our Sony Bravia LCD TV.) The new set-up utility – which miraculously works on both PCs and Macs – helps, but still begs for an expert mode that bypasses the wizard altogether.
Once set-up, the H1000 worked flawlessly, using nice big “soft” buttons on the 3.5-inch color touchscreen for selecting tasks and functions like play and fast-forward, and a tiny handful of physical buttons for universal functions such as volume control. The slate styling of the device may take a little getting used to for those familiar with wand-shaped remotes, but we became comfortable with the design very quickly. And the fact that it looks like one of those Star Trek PADDs is a point that won’t be lost on any geek.
Geek-o-Meter: The Harmony 1000 Advanced Universal Remote is, quite simply, the best remote control yet conceived (which it should be for a retail price of $499.99). Powerful, comprehensive, yet incredibly simple once configured, the Harmony team have outdone themselves. One point off for the obtuse set-up Wizard, it gets a 9 on the Geek-o-Meter.
June 11th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
“…begs for an expert mode that bypasses the wizard altogether…” -
Exactly!
The only reason the Harmony setup system doesn’t sink the whole product line is that you rarely have to use it. Initial setup, and then only when you make a change to your system. The whole point of buying hundreds of dollars worth of glowing universal remote, though is to have complete control in one hand. If what you want extends beyond the most basic activities and commands (like being able to control the lights, no matter what activity you’re in), be ready for hours of frustration. Every time you tweak something, you have to go through 10 wizard steps, just to find out, it wasn’t the right tweak.
Oh yeah, and it is web-based. Even with the downloadable SW you have to be connected to their application server. I can take care of my own data, thank you Maybe the wizard wouldn’t be such a pain in the ass if each step didn’t also include transfer and loading times.
A simple, local, textual “advanced” programming mode would take the Harmony product line from good to great.
July 1st, 2007 at 9:09 am
does anyone know how to add icons to the buttons in normal screens or how to replace the hideous cartoon icons chosen by logitech??