Harmony
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Logitech adds MyHarmony.com PC setup to 600, 650 and 700 model remotes
Logitech's offered its MyHarmony.com setup software for the low-end Harmony 300 remote since it launched last year, but now users of its slightly higher end 600, 650 and 700 series remotes can get in on the drag-and-drop USB-connected programming action (demo video after the break) too. There's also videos and customization of buttons to make setup even easier. If you're a Harmony user (and it looks like many of you are) it's probably worth checking out to see if you can straighten out any kinks in your universal remote setup.
Poll: How many remotes are you using?
We've asked for your input on what's the best universal remote out there, but now we want to know just how many of you are actually using yours. Of course, in some setups, there's always one pesky component or two that might still stick out, or maybe you just let them all pile up and grab which one's needed at the time. So let us know in the poll how many remotes it takes to change the channel, play a DVD, set the sound and dim the lights in your setup and give us a hint on how you arrived to that setup in the comments. %Poll-59075%
Google responds to Oracle's Android patent lawsuit, we break it down
It's been just over a month and a half since Oracle first sued Google for infringing various Java-related patents in Android, and the big G's just filed its official response to the lawsuit after calling it "baseless." For the most part, it's a pretty standard answer to a patent complaint: Google says Android doesn't infringe any of Oracle's patents, and even if it does, those patents are invalid and / or unenforceable for a variety of reasons anyway, so, you know, shove it. That's basically all Google -- or any patent defendant -- needs to say in the answer, and if that was it, we'd just note it and move on with our lives. But we were struck by the factual background section, which reads to us like Google's geared up for war: it basically accuses Sun and Oracle of not playing fair when it comes to Java's open-source license situation and directly implies that parts of Android are based on code that might require a patent license. It's a little wonky, but let's break it down:
Behind the Mask: The keyboard is mightier than the text bubble
In roleplaying, everyone has his own preferences. Some people like simple, character-to-character interactions without a lot of heavy plot. Others love in-depth storylines and lots of character drama. One of the most heated preferences in roleplaying, however, is the way that characters should resolve conflict. Roleplaying is strange in that player characters get into fights about 3000 times more often than people do in real life. I'm a former US Marine, and I've been in less than a half dozen fights (including the kind involving guns) since I turned 18. On the other hand, my roleplaying characters tend to get into serious, earth-shattering battles involving guns, high-voltage electricity and psychic strangulation powers on an almost-weekly basis. Because I play Champions Online, this should be sort of an oddity. There are no playable villain characters in CO, so most characters should be do-gooding champions of love and justice. Even in comics, we rarely see heroes go up against other heroes except in strange circumstances. Isn't it a little odd that heroes would beat the heck out of each other all the time for no real reason?
Sony Internet TV, DISH first with Google TV this fall; Adobe, Logitech and others along for the ride
Sony will be first out of the gate with a Google TV powered device, with its "Sony Internet TV" devices -- in the form of either an HDTV or a set-top box with Blu-ray player -- arriving on shelves this fall. The rest of the partners were just as the rumors indicated, with Logitech adding a QWERTY Harmony remote, "companion box" to bridge the gap to existing home theater equipment and eventually video chat capabilities, Intel providing the CE4100 Atom processor at the heart of the devices and an Android 2.1 OS with Chrome browser brings it all together. DISH Network and Google have admitted to their ongoing trials but there's no word on any release date,(Update: We didn't catch it onstage, but DISH just announced it will enable "advanced integration" via HDMI on all of its HD DVR receivers this fall, details after the break) while Best Buy is already on board to sell all of this and inevitably offer to hook up those IR blasters for a fee, while Adobe is just happy to see another device that runs Flash 10.1. The rest of the details are in press release and video form after the break, but you can sign up for updates at Google.com/tv (developers check in here) or check out our ongoing liveblog right from Google I/O. Update: Vic Gundotra just confirmed in a post-keynote press conference that TV will go international next year.
Logitech Harmony 300 eschews LCD screen for universal affordability (video)
Logitech's Harmony remotes have a well earned reputation that treads the fine line between overkill and power user necessity, and while the 600 series brought the entry price down below the $100 mark, this latest Harmony 300 set is aiming to limbo even lower. Priced at $49.99 in the USA and £29.99 in the UK, the 300 touts a supposedly effortless web-based setup -- via a USB hookup to your nearest computer -- and compatibility with more than 225,000 devices from more than 5,000 brands. Of course, the lower price comes with some sacrifices, namely the removal of the LCD screen found in the higher models, and the limitation of controlling a maximum of four devices. If neither bothers you too much, expect this universal remote to land in your lap some time in early April. Video after the break.
Rock Band 3 to have vocal harmonies, Harmonix (accidentally) confirms
At Harmonix's PAX East 2010 panel, five Rock Band designers answered questions from the audience for "An Awkward Hour" with one major stipulation: No questions about Rock Band 3. However, when an audience member inquired whether Green Day: Rock Band songs would still have harmonies when imported into RB2, Harmonix Project Lead Chris Foster began listing off the games with harmony support. "We've said Rock Band 3 would have harmonies already, right?" Foster asked his fellow panelists, who responded with a booming, "No!" Foster clammed up without revealing more details about Rock Band 3's harmonies (or even answering the attendee's original question), only mentioning, "It's been nice working at Harmonix." (We think he was joking about that last part.)
Logitech Harmony 650 remote review
Fewer products are more appropriately named than the Logitech Harmony series of smart remotes. They do wonderful things to take home entertainment systems, comprised of a disparate jumble of mismatched devices, and turn them into peaceful entities that work together for the betterment of your living room -- you half expect doves with olive branches in their mouths to fly out of the box when you get one. Alas, there are neither birds nor branches included with the company's latest entrants to the series, the 600 and 650 announced two weeks ago, but still they offer the best value amongst the current Harmony lineup. Can they broker successful negotiations amongst all your devices? Read on to find out. %Gallery-88275%
Logitech 600 and 650 remotes bring Harmony for under $100
Logitech's most recent offerings in the Harmony line, the 900 and the 700, were much more affordable than the $500 touchscreen Harmony 1100 we reviewed last year, but neither crossed beneath the magical $100 threshold. Finally Logitech has a few new models that'll set you back less than a Benjamin, the $79 Harmony 600 and $99 Harmony 650, said to be shipping by the end of the month. Both share the same shape as the 700 but have been gimped somewhat to control a maximum of five devices -- a curious step back from the 700's six. Likewise the 600 offers only monochrome screen while the 650 offers color, but given your dog's lack of chromatic acuity he'll be perfectly content chewing on either. %Gallery-86885%
Ask Engadget HD: What's the best universal remote available right now?
We've all been there, feeling the need to spend up to an absolutely ridiculous amounts of money on the perfect universal remote, but we don't want to just follow the crowd and get the shiniest piece of kit Harmony is currently offering. So we start looking for alternatives, and end up exactly where our friend Mitch is: "So, I've been in desperate need of a universal remote for the last year, and I want to get something that can control all my gear, plus add-ons in the future (including lighting,etc). I'm looking for IR at the moment, but plan to install a cabinet in the future, so RF is a must as well. The obvious conclusion would be a Harmony (One or 1100), but I'd like some opinions on other options and what some experiences have been w/ the Harmony remotes. I'd like to keep it under $500, but if I need to save up for something more expensive, that is an option." We know from the last time we asked many of you have opted for various options from the Harmony line for your controls, so let us know how they're working out for you, and of course what alternatives seem the most worthy. We haven't always found simply spending max cash as a guarantee of a satisfactory experience, but maybe its different with someone else's fingers on the touchscreen controls. Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Logitech working on "ground-breaking" Android device according to job posting
While we're all sitting around waiting on the Squeezebox Touch to break into the world of the officially released, it's nice to take a little time to ponder what the next round of media products from Logitech might look like. A clue (and a pretty big one) has been found in a job posting for an "Android Applications Developer" on a contract basis, looking for a "a super-star engineer" who has written "world-class Android applications" to work on "a ground-breaking new product that will give users access a to broader range of media than ever before." It could be anything, but given the extremely limited selection of apps we've seen implemented for the Radio we wouldn't be surprised if Logitech weren't going open source for its next offering in the segment -- but we certainly wouldn't turn down an Android-packing Harmony, either. [Thanks, Elmar]
XBMC "Camelot" update brings lots of new features
Just in case the gifts you got from your family last week didn't float your boat (no kidding, I got a Yakov Smirnoff DVD -- I love my parents, but they're not the best gift givers in the world), here's another fun present to unwrap. The folks at XBMC released a brand new version on Christmas Eve, and it's available as a free download right now over on their website. XBMC is the open source app that started off as "Xbox Media Center" (designed to be run on the original Xbox hardware), but has now blossomed into a full-featured media center that is usable on your Apple TV or Mac. Thanks to an app, you can use your iPhone as a remote as well. The new version 9.11, a.k.a. "Camelot," has far too many new changes for us to list in their entirety here, but there's a revamped (and good-looking) user interface with increased skinning capability, updated support for different subtitles and video formats, new movie database scrapers for picking up information, and specifically in Mac OS X, support for the very popular Logitech Harmony Universal Remote. The devs say they're excited to get this one out the door, if only because it means they can move on to bigger and better very soon. Kudos on the release (during the holiday season!), and if you're an XBMC fan, have at it! [via Engadget]
Logitech's new Harmony IR repeater
Anyone who has had a Harmony Remote knows the "is this device on" hell that follows if an IR code is missed while an Activity is firing off. To address that and the whole hidden equipment craze, Logitech now offers a IR repeater called the Logitech Harmony IR Extender System that is available for $59. The way this works is there's one table top IR receiver that you place in the open, and then three IR blasters that you place in front of the devices you want to control -- of course this will require that you hide your equipment as otherwise the devices would receive the same IR signal twice. Not a bad deal at the price, but we do wonder if it is compatible with our own stick on IR emitters. We doubt this is as good as the RF version of the Harmony, but no doubt it's cheaper if you already own the remote.
Logitech aims for a chicken in every pot, a remote in every hand with Harmony 700
If Logitech's multifaceted Harmony 900 seemed a bit too rich for your blood, why not give the whole universal remote thing another chance with the Harmony 700? Priced at $149.99, this entry-level clicker packs an awful lot of promise into a package that practically any serious home theater junkie will be able to finance. Designed to replace a half-dozen remotes in your current setup, the 700 features a color display, rechargeable AA batteries and one-click control of your favorite activities. As with every other new Harmony, this one too can be connected to your Mac or PC and programmed via the internet to control whatever components you rely on -- "from Betamax to Blu-ray" as Logitech so eloquently puts it. Details beyond that are few and far between, but we're guessing the outfit's keeping things as simple as possible here as to not befuddle the target market.
Logitech's Harmony 900 remote controls components behind closed doors
Remember Logitech's Harmony Adapter for PS3? How could you forget, right? Turns out a similar device is shipping alongside the company's fresh Harmony 900 remote, as it seeks to turn RF signals into IR commands that components in your AV rack can understand. The device ships with an IR blaster and two "mini blasters," all of which work together in order to get crucial instructions from your remote to devices neatly hidden behind closed doors. The remote itself packs a full color touchscreen and can pull down codes for over 225,000 devices, and there's also a rechargeable battery and a base station to keep things juiced up when not in use. As with most Harmony remotes, this setup definitely won't run you cheap, with the entire kit getting priced at $399.99 when it ships later this month.Update: Looks like CNET has a review up, and we'd say the bottom line pretty much sums it up: "The Logitech Harmony 900 is, hands down, the best universal remote control we've ever tested."
Motorola W766 "Harmony" for Verizon gets Bluetooth SIG certification
In terms of leaking juicy product info, we're accustomed to the Bluetooth SIG being one of the least helpful certification bodies around town, so imagine our surprise to see those guys outing the upcoming Motorola W766 (codenamed "Harmony," apparently) with some photography. This clamshell certainly isn't anything special, but we've heard from other sources that it'll likely replace the W755 -- which basically looked old the moment it was launched -- at some point in the next few months. Oh, and yes, no worries -- A2DP's in the cards.[Via mobile-review]
The Beatles: Rock Band to feature harmonizing vocals
The rumors were true! The grand opening of the Microsoft Press Briefing featured a rousing rendition of "Day Tripper," as played by the Harmonix House Band on their upcoming moptopped rhythm title, The Beatles: Rock Band. Said house band featured three singers, who harmonized brilliantly -- the game will apparently keep track of three different singers' performances as they attempt to mimic the band's catchy harmonies. Good luck finding three friends with the guts to pick up the Rock Band mic! They're a rare, rare breed.
Logitech's Harmony Adapter for PS3 reviewed
Eager to know if Logitech's prayer-answering Harmony Adapter for PlayStation 3 really is as magnificent as you hope it is? Fret not, as our main men over at Engadget HD have the answer. They paired this up with their Harmony blaster and PS3 in order to see just how fantastic / terrible the IR-to-Bluetooth converter is, so head on over to read their two pennies. Go on, get!
Logitech Harmony Adapter for the PlayStation 3 review
We all love getting new gadgets -- marketing and design departments have honed their crafts to a point that pretty much guarantees a steady release of endorphins throughout the selection, purchasing, unboxing and first impression stages. We've spent about a week putting Logitech's Harmony Adapter for the PlayStation 3 through its paces; long enough that we feel we're safely past the "honeymoon" stage and can put a little perspective on how it fits in with HT setups incorporating a PS3. Follow us past the break to see if we'll be living happily ever after, seeking counseling or filing for divorce.
Logitech Harmony Adapter for Playstation 3 -- official, real, and in our hands
Yeah, sure, we knew the Harmony IR-to-Bluetooth remote adapter was coming down the pike, but even with FCC filings and official confirmation of the device from Harmony, the PS3 owners among us are breathing a small sigh of relief now that we've got our hands on a unit that prove it will make it to market. We have a love/hate relationship with the PS3's Bluetooth remote control -- the range and total non-directionality of it are great, but having a separate remote control just for the PS3 is a real stick in the eye of our couch potato lifestyles. There are a few choices for solving the PS3 remote control conundrum, but on first blush this unit has three things going for it: support from a big name like Logitech (of course including codes in the Harmony database), it does not eat up one of your PS3's USB ports, and it handles switching the PS3 on and off (not unique, but some other solutions don't). We'll give the IR-to-Bluetooth converter a full rundown in due course, but follow us past the break for our initial impressions, an official fact sheet and a link to a Q&A section on the Logitech blog.
