Tag Archive: logitech harmony


Logitech Harmony 300 Remote Control – Does the Job

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May 10, 2012

Logitech Harmony 300 Remote Control (Black) review by Steve Taylor

My Overall Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars
3.8 out of 5


Logitech Harmony 300 Remote Control (Black)
Logitech Harmony 300 Remote Control (Black)

I was so excited when I heard about the Logitech Harmony 300 remote control. I had wanted to buy the predecessor but I couldn’t justify spending over $200 on what is effectively just a remote control. I was frustrated with using three different remotes to operate my television, PlayStation and my surround sound system and wanted one remote to control everything. This Logitech Harmony 300 is exactly what I was after and is a fraction of the price of the other Harmony remotes. Ok, so it is a lot simpler with no touch screen, well no screen at all and no activities, but it does exactly what I wanted it to do – it controls everything with just one remote!

Setting up the remote control was a snap. All you do is connect the remote to a computer (Mac or PC) and enter the make and model numbers of the device you want the remote to control. You then sync the remote, using the set up wizard and that’s all there is too it. After a few minutes I was down to one remote instead of three and that has made me very happy indeed!

As I said, this is the more basic model of the Harmony remotes, but that doesn’t mean design and style has been thrown out the window. This remote looks nice enough and it feels nice to touch, it is sleek. The buttons are laid out well and are easy to get used to which button is where. I would recommend this remote control to anyone who wants to downsize on the number of remotes in the house without paying a fortune.

Key Features
Effortless control of up to 4 A/V components
Supports 225,000+ devices from 5000+ brands–more than any other brand of advanced remotes
Simple online setup using your PC or Mac
“Watch TV” button allows you to choose which devices you want to power on/off with the press of one button
Favorite-channel one-touch buttons and DVR / Blu-ray controls

If you want to buy one of these universal remotes they are currently on sale at Amazon through this link.

Here is what current buyers think of the Logitech Harmony 300 Remote Control (Black):

Errol W Stevens,
I’ve tried many remotes in the past and they have all worked for about 60 to 90 percent of the functions. The Harmony 300 works 100% on all functions. The control is light and easy to hold. Programing the control was a breeze, just go to Harmony300′s internet site, log on and the site leads you through the programing. I wish everything I buy was as good as this remote. Hey Logitech, what other good things do you make? I will be looking I can assure you. Read Original Review

Ambrose,
I don’t get why people would pay hundreds of dollars, or even a hundred really, for a remote. This one has everything you need, good ergonomic usability features, awesome, up-to-date device support, and no unnecessary, silly screen. For $50, you can’t beat that. Read Original Review

Steve Taylor Steve Taylor

Steve is a professional technology reviewer and writer. He has been reviewing console accessories since 2004 and has reviewed over 100 products.
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Logitech Harmony 900 Rechargeable Remote – Easy Browsing Pleasure

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April 23, 2012

Logitech Harmony 900 Rechargeable Remote with Color Touch Screen review by Steve Taylor

My Overall Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars
3.7 out of 5


Logitech Harmony 900 Rechargeable Remote with Color Touch Screen
Logitech Harmony 900 Rechargeable Remote with Color Touch Screen

The Harmony 900 can replace all infrared remotes controls in your house. With this remote you will be able to control all of your entertainment audio visual devices. Whether you want to listen to music, watch a movie on surround sound or watch the television you’ll be able to do so with the use of just one remote control, at the click of a button. This remote has a touch screen that is easy to use, even for those without much technological understanding. It takes out the complexity of everything! Once it’s set up you don’t need to remember the correct settings, everything will be automatically turned on and set for you.

To set up the remote you need a computer with an internet connection. Attach the remote to your computer with the included USB cable. Install the system software that’s supplied and follow the set up guide. The set up guide is easy to follow, although allow at least an hour because it does take time to register each device to the remote and configure it. When you want to update the software it’s a breeze, all you do is load the software, run the update, connect the remote control to your computer and click to update it.

The remote control is a well designed ergonomic shape, with sculpted buttons that feel nice to press and it’s full colour touch screen is of a good resolution. What makes this remote control stand out from Logitech’s other remotes is its infrared ability. You don’t need to point the remote to use it, which means it functions with audio visual equipment that is enclosed in a cabinet or even in the room next door.

What’s Included:
Remote’s control
Charging base
Rechargeable battery
IR master blaster
2 Mini Blasters
2 Power Adapters
5-ft. USB cable
System software on a DVD

If you want to buy one of these universal remotes they are currently on sale at Amazon through this link.

Here is what current buyers think of the Logitech Harmony 900 Rechargeable Remote with Color Touch Screen:

Maria Eugenia Berger,
It is a great product because it takes away the hassle of having 4 or more controls and it is easy to use because it tells ypu what to do next. It is light and reliable and the instructions are very clear. Read Original Review

Henry Griffin,
The Logitech Harmony 900 is great and far better then the Nuvo remote it replaced. The remote has great distance, as I use it at least 100 ft from my A/V, and I do not have to point the remote at my A/V for it to work. I also like the light up screen. I like the fact that all you have to do is shake the remote and it lights up the face of the remote. I just hope it last for years. Read Original Review

Steve Taylor Steve Taylor

Steve is a professional technology reviewer and writer. He has been reviewing console accessories since 2004 and has reviewed over 100 products.
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Logitech Harmony 650 Remote – Setup is a Snap

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March 1, 2012

Logitech Harmony 650 Remote – Universal remote control – infrared review by Steve Taylor

My Overall Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5 out of 5


Logitech Harmony 650 Remote - Universal remote control - infrared
Logitech Harmony 650 Remote – Universal remote control – infrared

The Harmony 650 remote works perfectly with my audio visual system. Setup was a snap, it only took around 10 minutes using the online guide. Once set up everything has worked perfectly. I have my TV, VCR, DVR and Home Theatre all set up. The only negative thing I have to say about this remote is that it’s not compatible with the PS3 unless you buy an adaptor for it. Buy the adaptor and problem solved!

With this remote you can click one button and it will turn on everything you need to watch a DVD – once programmed the remote knows what components to turn on and which to leave off, saving you time from going to all the individual remotes, turning the component on and finding the right setting. It also saves power by only turning on the components that you actually need for watching that DVD or satellite channel.

The remote is easy to use. It has a color LCD screen that’s surrounded by five contextual buttons. The layout of the remote is good, with buttons in the right place. All of the buttons on the remote are backlit, so it’s easy to use in a dark room, which is useful when you’re watching a movie with the lights down – when you want to pause it you can do this in seconds and you won’t press stop by accident and then have to search to find the right place in the movie!

Overall I love this remote. It’s made my simple life even easier. Now instead the pile of remotes on the table, we only need the one remote and that looks a lot better! No one in the home now struggles to get the DVDs to appear on screen and the surround sound working – it’s all a breeze. This remote has restored peace in our household!

If you want to buy one of these universal remotes they are currently on sale at Amazon through this link.

Steve Taylor Steve Taylor

Steve is a professional technology reviewer and writer. He has been reviewing console accessories since 2004 and has reviewed over 100 products.
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IR Extender System – Let’s me hide the clutter and still watch TV!

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September 25, 2011

Logitech Harmony IR Extender System (Black) review by Steve Taylor

My Overall Review: 4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5


Logitech Harmony IR Extender System (Black)
Logitech Harmony IR Extender System (Black)

This infrared extender system is amazing!

I have recently decorated my living room – I’ve gone for the minimalistic style, with stylish cupboards to house my entertainment systems – DVD player, TV Box and Stereo and all of the cables that come with these devices. My 42” plasma is mounted on the wall. But the remote control wouldn’t work through the housing unit, so I had to keep the doors open in order to actually use the various entertainment systems… not exactly ideal!

But with the Logitech Harmony IR Extender System I’ve found the perfect solution. I can now close the doors and the remote controls work! So now I have no compromise – I can watch the TV, play DVDs and listen to music whilst sitting in a stylish, uncluttered room!

With the Extender System in place, I can use the remote as I normally would – it boosts the signal so everything works perfectly even though the media systems are out of view. The infrared receivers are very small, so I don’t even notice they are on show.

Setting this up was a piece of cake – and I’m a bit of a technophobe. It probably took me about ten minutes. I didn’t need to do any programming – I simply put the infra red receiver next to my TV, put the infra red blaster and mini blasters next to my stereo, DVD player etc. inside of the cabinet and then shut the cabinet doors – it took a little experimenting of exactly where to position the blaster and mini blasters, but that’s all there was too it!

Key Features:

  • Extends the signal of your remote – so you can control components hidden in cabinets

  • Universal design – works with virtually any infrared remote

  • Simple and quick to set up – no programming required!

  • Sleek, low-profile design – blends in with your home entertainment system

  • Good sensitivity – works consistently

If you want to buy one of these universal remotes they are currently on sale at Amazon through this link.

Here is what current buyers think of the Logitech Harmony IR Extender System (Black):

K Wilson,
I recently upgraded my TV to 52″ flat screen LCD/LED and had a custom cabinet made to hide all my stuff. The cabinet came out great with all my components, players, Xbox, Medic Center PC, cable box underneath and behind solid doors. Problem is when you shut the doors the remotes (aside for the TV) don’t work. I tired another brand that was designed to repeat from one room to another but it did not do a good job inside a divided cabinet as it only repeated from the main unit. My problem is the cabinet is divided down the middles with cable access between the sides in the back. Being a big fan of the Harmony remotes I went ahead and ordered their extender. It was a bit more expensive than others but went ahead based on it being Logitech.
Once I received it and opened up it I was surprised at how small and sleek each piece is. Since it came with one blaster and two mini blasters it game me a lot of options. I have one mini blaster on one side of the cabinet plugged into the main blaster and second mini blaster on the other side. The blaster and mini blasters do a great job of radiating the signal throughout the cabinet. The main blaster unit sits on top of my BD player (inside the cabinet) on one side for all connection. I positioned the mini blasters one on each side to cover the remaining components.
The (visible) receiver unit is also smaller than expected and sits at the base of my (black) Sony TV without being seen at all.
There where no setups to go through and the biggest challenge was how to run the cables, which by the way are plenty long enough for any application I can imagine.
Way to go Logitech ! You built a winner !
I highly recommend this unit (BTW: I NEVER write reviews)
Read Original Review

Terry,
Having been in the customer support business of my 84 year old mothers computer, phone and TV system for several years, when she started complaining about having to keep the cabinet doors open to watch her big screen, I jumped on this for a birthday present.
Without even reading the instructions, I simply plugged it in and in 5 minutes, she was using her all-in-one Logitech remote and just seeing her TV – nothing more! Simple, worked as advertised, showing it off to all her friends and best of all – she thinks I’m a genius!
Read Original Review

Steve Taylor Steve Taylor

Steve is a professional technology reviewer and writer. He has been reviewing console accessories since 2004 and has reviewed over 100 products.

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Logitech Harmony 650 Remote – TV, DVD, Sound at the touch of ONE button

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September 14, 2011

Logitech Harmony 650 Remote Control (Silver) review by Steve Taylor

My Overall Review: 4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5


Logitech Harmony 650 Remote Control (Silver)
Logitech Harmony 650 Remote Control (Silver)

The remote is fancy looking, lightweight and styled in an ergonomic design with a thinner front and thicker bottom back. The buttons are well marked and very easy to use.

This remote has simplified what used to be a complicated TV and movie watching setup – I used to have to press several different buttons on several different remotes before I could get the DVD and surround sound speakers to play, but that all changed when we bought this remote. I now press just one button.

The buttons that I use on the remote are:

  1. watch TV

  2. watch a movie and

  3. listen to music.

For the one click buttons to work, you have to program the remote – it takes about 40 minutes to program all five devices. To do this you go to the Logitech website and select your make and model of TV, DVD player, stereo etc. and hey presto – the remote knows exactly what to do!

From this moment on my five entertainment devices have been controlled by the one remote, at the touch of a single button. Only having the one remote makes it much easier – I was always losing the DVD remote as I didn’t use it very often, but now I don’t have to search to find the lost remote. I will never go back to having more than one remote control.

Key Features

  • Favorite channel icons – jump right to your top news, sports and movie channels

  • Quick commands – instantly see and select commands for whatever devices you’re using

  • Smart display – get on-screen help at the touch of a button

  • Motion activated – the remote changes color when it’s moved and goes to sleep when its put down

  • One click activity buttons – press ‘watch a DVD’ or ‘listen to music’ and all the right devices turn on in the right order

If you want to buy one of these universal remotes they are currently on sale at Amazon through this link.

Here is what current buyers think of the Logitech Harmony 650 Remote Control (Silver):

Nicholas S Berry,
I’ve owned the Harmony 659, 670 and 880… this one takes the cake.
The button response is great and the button placement is wonderful. The 659 buttons are horrible and un-naturally placed. Configuring this remote was a piece of cake and worked right out of the box.
The only difference between this remote and the 700 is the 700 has built-in rechargeable batteries… not worth the extra $$ in my opinion.
Buy this remote!
Read Original Review

WanChaiMan,
This is a steal at this price.
The unit is sleek, easy to hold and the buttons are very responsive. It replaced 5 of my old remotes including one for a surround sound system that was driving me nuts as the keys (and writing) were miniscule. It comes with a micro USB to USB cable as well as a set of Duracell batteries (usually things like this come with a set of the cheapest batteries around).
Setting it up is a cinch and all you have to do is connect it to the USB port of your computer – in my case a Mac running OSX 10.5.8 There is no SW disc inside the box and you have to download it but that means you get the updated version right away. (as well as not having to store away yet another s/w CD).
Keying in the 5 AV units (Logitech calls them “Devices”) I had was easy and so was setting up what I wanted to do with them (Logitech calls these “Activities”). The menus are simple and easy to follow with lots of prompts and help as you go through them. There is a cool “troubleshoot” option, which sorted out a couple of things for me quickly and easily.
It took me about 30 minutes to set it up initially and then another 15 minutes to tweak it. Updating the settings on the remote went without a hitch and I am now very happy. Many times I wouldn’t bother switching on the surround sound system when watching a DVD (just one more remote to find and a few more buttons to press). Now I can do everything with a single press!
Wonderful and highly recommended. Read Original Review

Steve Taylor Steve Taylor

Steve is a professional technology reviewer and writer. He has been reviewing console accessories since 2004 and has reviewed over 100 products.

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