PhantomStranger

That is clearly where the high-end remote market will end up. Either an app for your smartphone or tablet.

Spiky

Maybe. But touchscreen remotes have been around a long time. Market penetration is not all that great. People do like buttons that you don't have to see to use.

Spiky

Looked at the R40. I had thought it was computer-programmable from the price and a quick glance, but I see it's just what the R50 should have been. The R50 has some stupid button design choices, esp the FF RW buttons.

IDK, I've got an RTI setup I should put together that I got for nothing. But it only included the lowest remote they have, which isn't great. A better one would be hundreds just for that. It's like I've always just missed having exactly what I want for remotes.

Drexl

It may be the cost more than anything. I don't think many people see good value in a remote that can cost as much as a laptop. At least with another device you're leveraging something already bought for other reasons.

Deftones

I wrote a review on Amazon, talking about the button choices. For me, logic would dicatate volume and channel up/down should be right around the circle, not above it. That's my biggest gripe with the remote, but I've learned to use it just fine.

chino77

I got one a month ago. I can't remember the model but it was $40. Couldn't get my computer to recognize it with the awful Web based program. Went to the website, saw I had to pay for phone support. Then I checked the forum and saw many people with my problem and logitech won't offer a solution. I returned it that day and will never buy another harmony remote.

Sdallnct

The web based program is the strength of the Harmony. Since it is web based it is continually updated and can be programmed for almost anything..,easily. Wireless light switch? Check. Mono price HDMI switcher? Check. Heck I still get small gasps from guests when I hit "play movie" and not only does everything get set correctly, but the lights dim to a movie watching level.

But it is the easy at how you do that, that had set the harmony apart. But getting to more advanced items (like delays) is possible, but cumbersome.

I need to get my Harmony One set up for my new projector (that will likely take all of 5 minutes) and ill be set.

Again, many other remotes can do similar and even more. But it is the ease at which Harmony does it that sets it apart.

Spiky

Yeah, but you almost have to dedicate a device to it if you want it to be a remote.

CRM114

Harmony existed long before Logitech slowly destroyed their reputation and I'm sure Harmony will exist after Logitech unloads them. This is good news if you ask me.

I have a 650 and a One. The 650 was $39. Who gives a shit if it flakes out once in a while. It was 39 bucks.

CRM114

Your computer can't make a USB connection? IT's not the remotes fault, dude.

gmanca

The best thing anyone who's into having customizable remotes can do is to start learning/using JP1 because you can get any JP1 remote and map it to do what you want. It's great if you have a high remote death rate due to "user error" like spilt drinks, a foot stomp, etc. because the basic models are so cheap.

Only issue is the learning curve but it's totally worth it.

I used to program the older style of programmable remotes but those went out of production so I got one of the Harmony Remotes, a notch above the basic, and it went out fairly quickly.

chino77

uh yes it is, if you read what i posted you will see that many people have the same problem with that remote not connecting and with the program not installing correctly. plus logitech wont do shit about answering how to fix it on their OWN support forum. and if i want to call for tech support its $40. wtf kind of customer service is that? the POS remote didnt even cost that much.

chino77

sure maybe for the $200 remotes but there is no need for the $30 remotes. it doesnt do all that crap. i just needed a simple universal remote for a blu ray player in a pinch. ended up getting a $15 ge remote at walgreens and it works perfectly. i only bought the logitech at first because i live right next to a radio shack and that was all they had that had the buttons that i needed.

hahn

I think it goes beyond poor sales. I think Logitech sees the writing on the wall. More and more of these devices are being connected to the home WiFi network. Thus, apps will be able to control them all. The hardware remote is on its way out (eventually).

Sdallnct

So you bought the wrong remote for your needs and blame the remote?

All of their remotes (but one) work the same based on macros. If you want a remote for a single item, you don't want a Harmony. The difference between the Harmony's is the button lay out, number of devices, screen, battery, etc.

$200 is on the upper end of their range. Which is more like low-mid level of the remote world.

fujishig

Is there an app that can control multiple components, or even some kind of unified api? So far I have an app that controls XBMC, an app that controls my tv, etc., but it's probably even more frustrating switching between them on a single phone or ipad than it is to have even separate physical remotes.

chino77

how did i buy the wrong remote? it was just a basic all in one remote. no fancy options or lcd screen. the $15 ge remote i got does everything the harmony could do...which wasnt much other than your basic controls that come on an oem remote.

and i didnt blame the remote for anything. i blamed logitech for their awful customer service and having to use a program that doesnt work for a lot of people for a cheap remote that doesnt benefit from using a program instead of just entering in a code.

comanche_doyle

I've had trouble with the 300 on my new computer. I gave up on trying to fix it. It is too bad because it worked on my xm boombox.

Spiky

Yes. Some of them come with hardware to give the iDevice IR capability. Or there are apps that combine with known systems, like Crestron.

CRM114

I haven't contacted tech support in ages but you used to be able to do it right though the app and they got back to me very quickly.

You use Windows or a Mac?

CRM114

I don't think so.

For one, I'm not aware of any apps that can control a complete home theater with one button. (I'm sure there is something out there, I'm just not aware.) Harmonys allow you to easily create macros to control everything at once. Two, people that watch TV and theater want hard buttons. And they don't want to unlock an iPad every time they want to turn the volume down.

I just think Logitech realized what we all wondered at the time of the acquisition - how is this part of Logitech's core business? It isn't.

CRM114

Harmony remotes are not for controlling a single device. They are for controlling a series of action on multiple devices.

Pointyskull

Well, my old Harmony has officially taken a dive so this must be a sign. I think the URC 40 is now more imminent than ever.

Spiky

There are at least 2 products on the iOS appstore where they sell you an IR dongle for your iDevice, and the app can control whatever you can program it to do. I believe they have macro/activity ability.

Also, companies like Crestron have provided apps as an alternate means of controlling their systems.

None of these are extra cheap. But it is possible.

There are several Android tablets that have IR built in, and people have made apps, too. I haven't looked into these as much. Don't even know how powerful the IR is on my son's tablet.

Just realized I already posted this above. Genius. Anyway, the iOS products are "L5 Remote" and "RE Remote". Haven't used them.

Sdallnct

I was going to say this (tho kind of did earlier) but glad you did.

Tho not impossible to use the Harmony on a single item, it is silly. Even in bar where I only have two items (dish receiver and TV) the activities are helpful.

Also remember and activity can be different functions of the same items. So while I have "watch TV" in my theater room, I also have "listen to music" and "play a game" that essentially use the same equipment just different inputs to those. And of course different light levels in the room.

And it is doubtful his $15 replacement remote can do anywhere near what the Harmony (even less expensive ones) can do. It might do all he wants or all he needs, but that is not the same.