![]() For example, you might set up a basic "watch TV" activity, which would turn on your TV and sound setup and any streaming box you use. At the top of it, there's a touch display, which allows you to turn on and off "activities," or scenes with your devices. On the remote, you'll get a range of controls, many of which you're likely acquainted with. ![]() The remote is 7.5 inches long, 2 inches wide, and a bit over 1 inch thick at its thickest. The remote isn't necessarily small compared to other remotes, but the fact is that it should replace all of those other remotes that you have - so it likely won't be a big deal that it has some heft to it. Perhaps more important than the hub, however, is the remote. I didn't end up needing them during my testing, but they're helpful to have if you have devices behind closed doors or hidden by other devices. These are helpful if you have infrared devices you want to control that might not be in the line of sight of your remote or hub. ![]() You may also want to connect the two infrared mini blasters. The hub sits in at around 4 x 5 x 1 inches, and it's a little under 4 pounds - so it's not too large, and should be easy to find a space for among your other devices. The hub is relatively sleek and unassuming, which is good news for those who are buying this to simplify their home theater setup in the first place. But the design and smarts built into the Harmony remote I tested justify the investment.The Logitech Harmony Elite comprises two main parts: a hub, which you'll need to place somewhere on your TV stand, and the remote. There are certainly other configurable universal remotes that do the same thing that Logitech's device does at lower prices. That kind of misstep might have thrown a casual user for a loop and resulted in a call to an absent spouse or tech support. The built-in "help" feature offered a few quick on-screen questions that corrected the problem in just a few seconds. When I told the Harmony I wanted to watch the DVR, my television turned on and the cable box turned off. A few button clicks and the remote knew it had moved to the other room and which devices it needed to command.Īt one point, my living room cable box had been left on overnight. I was even able to take the Harmony remote into the bedroom where I have a Microsoft Media Center PC set up for watching TV, DVDs and surfing the Internet. Choosing "Play a DVD" switched the set to the appropriate input for my DVD player and turned the device on. Selecting the desired activity, things just happened. I clicked the power-on button and got a list of options: Watch the DVR, Play a DVD, Record a Show. It knew I had an old Sony set, HD cable box from Time Warner and an RCA VHS/DVD recorder in front of the couch. I opened the box, plugged in the charging base, installed the included configuration software on my computer and connected the remote via an available USB port.Īfter an hour of charging the battery and 20 minutes of clicking through the step-by-step set-up software the Harmony 890 was ready for use in my living room and bedroom. Oh, and it's got a cool color display and rechargeable battery. ![]() The $350 remote promises a lot: control of up to 15 devices, a 100-foot range with no "line-of-sight" needed, fewer button clicks thanks to a focus on entertainment "activities" and compatibility with pretty much anything that has an infra-red receiver. The Logitech Harmony 890 Universal Remote made its way to my tiny Manhattan apartment a few weeks ago and, even though I don't spend my days anywhere near a corner office, the handy little device found its place atop the pile of channel pickers in my living room. 9, 2007 — - If you're buying a gift for the high-powered executive who has everything, what are you to do? Well, give them more control, of course. ![]()
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