Logitech Harmony 300 eschews LCD screen for universal affordability (video)
By Vlad Savov 
posted March 31st 2010 6:27AM
posted March 31st 2010 6:27AM
posted March 31st 2010 6:27AM
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Can it control a PS3? No? It's not universal then.
@spaz1
Well no, since it's not Bluetooth. However, there is already a remote that Logitech makes for the PS3, so technically it doesn't matter.
Such is the peril of using technology other than IR...
@spaz1
Well now you mention it my Harmony 555 doesn't control my oven! It's now universal!!!
Seeing as Sony decided to use a technology other than that every other media device on the planet that comes with a remote uses what is it you expect Logitech to do apart from developing the PS3 adapter they've been selling for a couple of years now?
@r34p3r actually, no. Logitech makes an adapter that they sell for $60 for the PS3 that works with all of their remotes.
@spaz1 My Harmony remote actually does control my PS3... sort of.
My PS3 Slim supports HDMI-CEC as does my Panasonic TV set. So while I'm playing PS3, remote commands sent to the TV get forwarded to my PS3 as HDMI-CEC instructions.
Yes, it's cheating, but it works well and it means I don't have to pay Logitech's absurd price for the Harmony PS3 adapter.
If you have a PS3 Slim and a TV that supports HDMI-CEC, give it a shot.
@UnnDunn
That's pretty freaking cool. Too bad my TV doesn't support it.
@nrb
Are you sure? Even mid-range TVs support it these days, and manufacturers use a variety of brand names for it such as Viera Link (Panasonic), Bravia Sync (Sony), AnyNet (Samsung) and Aquos Link (Sharp.) They almost never refer to it directly as HDMI-CEC.
@UnnDunn You did make me do some lookin' on the interwebs. Toshiba calls it Regza-Link. My TV doesn't support it. Probably too old. :(
@Tes
I would expect Logitec to add bluetooth so I can control my PS3 Slim. So it becomes a Universal Remote like it says, for all AV appliances.
I got downranked for saying what I did, but considering that lot of us use a PS3 for BR/DVD playback, it sucks that I have to buy a dongle on top of a remote (both from Logitec I might add), so I could fully replace DS controller, and have ONE remote to control all.
/rant
@UnnDunn
HDMI-CEC is the spawn of Satan's own loins. The worst thing to ever happen to home theater electronics since Monster Cables. However way you've managed to get around the control issues that almost always crop up with macro based remotes and HDMI-CEC, it almost never works right.
@UnnDunn
works well with my toshiba tv as well. I use my tv remote almost more than the sony sucky bluetooth remote.
"harmony" is such an ironic name for that button-flooded monstrosity
@mrqs
Yep. So much nicer juggling between three or four remotes to watch a DVD..
@(Unverified) The problem is, these things don't work very well. They're slow, and don't have the same buttons as the manufacturer or MSO-supplied supplied remote. There's nothing wrong with having a collection of remotes, it gives you more control over what you're doing, and most of them can also control the volume.
Gonna have to agree with the unpopular mrqs. Way too many buttons on that thing.
@(Unverified)
You can remap virtually EVERY key to this remote through the software. So, while the label may not be the exact same as the factory remote you can retain the same functionality 99% of the time.
I don't find my Harmony remotes any slower than the OEM remotes that ship with my devices.
@nrb
Have you ever used a Harmony One, or any of the other Harmony remotes? I can say the same for my FiOS Remote, or my Onkyo remote, and neither of them do half the things the Harmony does. I have owned 4 of these remotes, and each generation has gotten so much better. The H1 is a thing of beauty and replaces 6 remotes in my setup. So yeah, it HAS to have a lot of buttons, but my family has no problem using it in my setup.
@(Unverified)
Universal remotes in general, agreed. Especially when you go for the lower end of the market. The "type in a number and cross your fingers" type are horrible. Even the learning remotes are a pain.
But these are not low end remote handsets. It took me about 3 minutes to set up all my devices for basic use, and a few days of tweaking to get the activity based macros just right. Now I have, it's a doddle to switch to the right input and just enjoy my setup.
I got the slightly more expensive 555 model at Christmas. And I still feel it was money well spent. If the application worked in Linux, it would be perfect.
@(Unverified)
i was referring to the visual impact of the device, not the functionality
Piano look makes this a loser. I dont understand why all these braindead product designers think that entertainment products need to have this el-cheapo plastic look that collects dust and smeary fingerprints like a magnet. Especially when you actually touch it all the time like a remote...
And dont get me started on TV sets. One reason why I dont buy any Samsung equipment, for example, is their absurb gloss fetish that goes as far as making the otherwise good technology behind it suffer from horrible reflections in any room that is not pitch black all the time.
To answer my first question though, it is clear. Its the people who buy this crap. They want this cheap bling-bling look. Sad, sad world.
@Bahumbug
Well maybe you should try cleaning your gadgets every once in a while, my remotes never get smudges, collect dust or such.
But yeah im not american and we tend to eat at the Dining table and take breaks from eating.
@Bahumbug This *is* the $50 entry level model. Go complain about the Harmony One and 900, maybe for the Harmony Two we can have a nice, grippy Teflon body.
@Bahumbug I was looking at the images on Amazon, so I came back to watch the video. It actually looks like the face of this one is not glossy. The sides and possibly the underside are smooth, but the face looks like more of a matte finish.
@Jordo1234 Holy shit, foreigners have tables! I didn't even know they had electricity or access to the internet. Apparently I'm too ignorant to clean my electronics, or put down that tasty Hot Pocket.
Play.com has it listed for £59.99! Whats going on!?
@Marko
Most online retailers play off the fact people for some reason, despite being on the net, tend not to shop around. You can get this thing, with no screen, for £59.99...or you could get the 555 for £40, or the 525 for £42.90, both brand new and with free delivery from Amazon.co.uk.
The people who benefit the most from this are eBay sellers. I tried to pick up a WDTV Live (£95 from Amazon) for a bargain price, but idiots keep bidding USED ones up to well over £100.
they could really stand to better design their newer remotes, they charge a lot of money for them, the quality feels good in your hand, but the screens are pretty bad for something so expensive. i'll stick with my 880 until they really push the envelope.
(obviously this is not an example of one that would have replaced my remote anyway, but it got me thinking about the other remotes they offer)
Steve Jobs would poo himself if he saw this remote...
Two simple inclusions are urgent. 1., a slide out qwerty remote. 2., a monochrome LCD that CORRESPONDS to hard buttons - not soft-lcd buttons.. which offer no tactile feedback of your fingers positioning.
Actually, this is interesting!
I have the 100, with the touch screen and it is a pain because, whenever you want to confirm an action, such as answering the asinine: "Do you REALLY want to record this," you have to look at the touch screen to find the yellow triangle with the "A" in it to press it.
It would be much easier, I think, the find the raised yellow button on this new model - especially as you could keep your eyes on the TV!
The thing actually has a VCR button. Lol.
BTW there is a way around the 4 device limit. If you have another, say 15 device remote you set it up with all your devices. then using the Logitech software you change to the new 4 device remote for that account. There you go a 4 device remote with up to 15 device on it.
Logitech just make all the remotes 15 devices. The limits on Harmony remotes are just marketing limits,
@SmokemeaKipper Not much use when there are four fixed buttons!
The problem with this remote over the others in their line-up is that the four fixed buttons are device buttons, not activity buttons. If they were activity buttons it would have made this remote so much more useful.
@panayis Yeah, what's with that? Activities are the whole point of using a Harmony remote. Who cares about the 4 device limit? The real problem is the 1 activity limit.
Take the VCR button off of there....Stupid.
Guess they are showing us who this product is aiming for....
@BMills
What? You mean people who don't want to pay 200 dollars for a freaking remote control?
I've been more than pleased with my Harmony One Remote, wasn't cheap, but when you have a full entertainment system it's worth it imo. Oh and the fact that my wife isn't confused anymore and turning things on and off randomly with the wrong remotes is the MAIN reason it's worth it.
Looks about as useful as my Fios remote. But my Fios remote was free with service and can control 5 different devices... Correct me if i am wrong but this remote seems pointless if you have Comcast or Verizon Cable services and know how to program a remote the old way.
@JohnWayneBrady
It's not a question of know how. It's a question of ease. If you have a 6 or 7 device set-up, manually entering codes and learning functions (traditional remote set-up) can take hours. In many cases it simply just doesn't work as well as you want. On top of that you need to walk through a series of steps unless the remote functions decent macro capabilities.
Contrast that with the Harmony set-up. You type in your devices on the website. It asks a few questions (like when you watch TV what device controls the volume) that virtually anyone can understand. When you are done the macros are created for you for.
In my case, when I press "Watch TV" the remote does the following :
-- Turns on TV
-- Sets TV to Input 1
-- Turns on DirectTV receiver
-- Turns on audio receiver
-- Turns receiver on to satellite
-- Turns off Media Center / Xbox / Blu Ray drive
So, while my old remote could do all these things, I literally had 9 button presses to simulate what Harmony's single Activity does.
@JohnWayneBrady
Let's be honest here. Your Fios remote might be able to control all your devices, I'll guarantee that you are most likely the only one in your house hold who knows what needs to be turned on or switched to. I had 6 remotes sitting on my table at one point and my fiance simply said 'No.' to that. I can switch remotes like nobodies business but sometimes simplicity is the best way to go.
@JohnWayneBrady I have a philips dvd player, and a lg tv that don't work with the comcast remote(practically). I guess this is basically a comcast remote with 4 devices instead of three, that has a watch tv button, that can control way more brand/models.
Sounds really bad. They took out all the harmony.
The four device limit is so arbitrary and insulting.
@MiggityMikeB
yep. thats the one downside to the harmonys. i love my harmony one... bt ive had it for a few years now, and its wearing out (it was a gift). i wouldnt spend $300 on a remote to replace it... but cant get any of the lesser models because i have too many gadgets to control.
@Microdot
Do buttons wear out? I had this issue with other Logitech remotes but I was hoping Harmony One will be more durable. How many years did u have it?
That's as low as a limbo stick at carnival time!
No iR learning? No Activities? VCR button ? I'll pass. Just ordered Harmony One on ebay. Pricey, but I hope it's more durable than other Harmony remotes I had so far...
Looks like they got rid of the "help" button. What happens now when the remote gets confused about the state of the devices, or one of the devices misses a command?
Sounds like trouble.
@wobbl
This is the biggest issue that I see. I use the Help quite frequently - my audio receiver is fickle at times. While it's pretty easy for me to troubleshoot what went wrong in the process asking my wife or kids to do the same thing will only lead to frustration.