Logitech launches Harmony One

Looks like Harmony is listening to users -- witness the Harmony One's revised layout. Centrally-located transport controls and good separation on the numeric inputs go a long way to addressing our gripes. They're touting the "same one-touch, activity-based control" as existing models, so no telling if the programming side of the house has been revamped. We're hoping they take the one-size fits all wizard approach and make tweaks and adjustments a little more easily accessible. Control freaks and those who make a habit of shuffling their gear (sound like anyone familiar?) would really appreciate a more direct way to tweak out their remotes!

Gallery: Logitech's Harmony One, Squeezebox Duet, and diNovo Mini in the flesh

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[Eric Walker @ Jan 29th 2008 10:43PM]

I pre-ordered this thing straight from logitech...Think it might be shipping this week. i can't wait to replace my 880 that broke a few months ago.

[Scott Thatcher @ Jan 5th 2008 8:13PM]

This is the antithesis of the iPhone simplicity interface, and therefore, I reject it. Remote controls need to work like the iPhone, and get away from having 5 billion buttons on the screen.

It can be so much better than this. I think Logitech could benefit more from the iphone interface than any other company-- cell phone manufacturer, or otherwise.

[av8or @ Jan 5th 2008 8:19PM]

i disagree, the point of a good remote is NOT having to look at it to use it, for that you need hard buttons, not touch screen, plus then you'd have that huge screen lighting up when your watching a movie every time you want to adjust the volume or anything, not to mention the greater battery drain...
frankly i'm sick of the whole 'everything should be like the iphone' bandwagon fanboyism thats going on (not specifically you, but a broad generalization)
yes, touch screens are good for some devices, but not all

[Ted Brown @ Jan 5th 2008 8:43PM]

No, TV Remotes do not need to be like the iPhone. The only thing this thing needs is bluetooth.

[repdetect2 @ Jan 5th 2008 8:16PM]

Does it integrate Bluetooth?

[Dan @ Jan 5th 2008 11:29PM]

I will tear my own dick off if it does. I picked up an 880 on Boxing Day for half price (which was still $150).

[Andir3.0 @ Jan 5th 2008 9:23PM]

I hope it (or someone does soon.) After using the PS3 remote, I'm really liking BT remotes. I don't have to worry about the coffee table blocking the iR or when I'm laying on the couch, the blankets I cover up with.

[av8or @ Jan 5th 2008 8:15PM]

looks good, at least they're getting away from that goofy peanut shape, thats what kept me out of the majority of their remotes except for the excellent 720 I own

[LegendZ28 @ Jan 5th 2008 9:35PM]

That peanut shape is called ergonomics, and if you had bothered to look past your disliking for that particular nut, you'd understand that their remotes actually feel good to hold and use.

[av8or @ Jan 6th 2008 12:59AM]

i love peanuts, and peanut butter, can barely walk by the jar in my cupboard without takin a spoon
i'm fairly familiar with ergonomics and human factors design
but that shape didn't work for me, did not feel natural or comfortable in the least, and the peanut harmony's were not aesthetically pleasing to me, despite my preference for women with curves like that XD

[xraycat @ Jan 5th 2008 8:50PM]

Sideshow?

[jtc970 @ Jan 5th 2008 8:53PM]

I have the Harmony 550 and love it, except the battery life and messing up when battery is low.
I would grab this in an instant if it wasn't 250 USD

[DustoMan @ Jan 5th 2008 9:06PM]

Very nice. I have a 880 and been wanting a new one since mine was an early model with some manufacturing quirks. This looks like a redesigned version of that model.

[Steven @ Jan 5th 2008 9:07PM]

i still rather have my sony remote commander RM-AX4000 battery life is great only thing that would make it better would be bluetooth

[Eric @ Jan 5th 2008 10:13PM]

Wow, you guys asking for BT are freaking LAZY. One problem with remotes, including this one, is that no one uses channel up and down. Think about it. How long does it take to change a channel on a digital cable box or a satellite. A good second, if not more. I actually applied for a patent to fix this issue, you'll see it soon. Anyway, the page up and page down are more used than channel up and down, by far, because they are used in the guide. And then you use up and down on the directional pad to get to your channel. You could almost remove the buttons completey. With all this being said, I think they have done well with this remote. As long as they put on a DVR button which is assigned to the central thumb area, which looks like that star button could be.

[Tom @ Jan 5th 2008 11:11PM]

So, you tried to patent a remote with two fewer buttons? That's like trying to patent a car with no cigarette lighter. You're not inventing anything here, just trimming things off.

[Larry @ Feb 15th 2008 3:32PM]

Eric...I just bought the Harmony One and love it...BUT...it does NOT have a hard button that links to the DVR button on my Motorola QIP6416-2 converter. Harmony has this converter in its database, but the only way to get to your recorded events is to use DEVICE/PVR/and then click on the appropriate button. This is the only oversight I can see with this remote, other than it's high gloss black and shows smudges and fingerprints terribly. I don't know why they didn't give it a matte finish.

Larry

[Galley @ Jan 5th 2008 11:06PM]

No bluetooth? No sale.

[Sean O @ Jan 6th 2008 4:13AM]

Sorry for the personal attack, but you guys are retarted.

Those "gripes" that were supposedly addressed are complete bogus. Are you telling me a tech blog like Engadget can't find someone who actually owns a Harmony and knows how to use it? This is the most uninformed blogger I've seen in a while.

1. Annoying wizards: This is an issue with the universal Harmony Software for Windows. If Logitech was "listening" to it's users and fixing this "problem" (it's really not that bad), then the fix would take place in the form of a software update and it would apply to all Harmony remotes, old and new. The release of a new remote model has nothing to do with this.

2. Lousy Button Layout: There are over a dozen models of Harmony remotes. Only the 800 series has these problems. The 800 series is not the defacto or "current" model as you characterize it. The 670 is actually newer than the 880 I believe. Most other models are still in production as well, like the original 659, the 770, the 550, and it's Xbox 360 cousin.

3. No Discrete IR Commands: Wrong. Sickeningly wrong. Harmony remotes have ALWAYS supported discrete remote commands. Always. You are lame for not being able to figure it out. It's not that hard. If your TV supports discrete IR codes, you can configure the Harmony to use it. It even asks you if you want it in the frickin wizard! But let's get hypothetical pretend discrete IR codes weren't an option. If that were true, refer to #1. This would again be a shortcoming with the Harmony Software. So again, Logitech wouldn't be "addressing" anything with this new Harmony One model. They'd address it with a software update.

[cronick @ Jan 6th 2008 1:11PM]

I bought a Harmony 850. It's trash. It's lousy. For all it's potential, the programmers who designed the software should be ashamed of themselves. IMHO