Logitech to unload Harmony line after 'disappointing' quarter - Page 2

Yes they Harmony delay led me to URC which have no delays. You can tweak it on the Harmony so it's almost gone (and some folks don't even notice it) but it's never eliminated.

Harmony's still use macros. They're just called "Activities" now. It's the one feature that endeared Harmony remotes for my use. I used to have to manually program macros to do the same things the Harmony's do automatically. FWIW, I've used several URC/Home Theater Master remotes and the Harmony One is far better, IMHO. Not having to swap out batteries frequently is a huge plus.

Then again, remotes are such a personal thing that I would never expect everyone to agree on one brand as being the best. However, if one brand stands out over the rest it has to be the Harmony line. Based on the plethora of threads and posts about remotes here over the years I'd have to wager that the Harmony One seems to be the remote of choice for most HTPC users.

The "macros" he is referring to are called "sequences" on a Harmony and are limited to 5 steps. A sequence is up to five commands that can be mapped to a button within an activity. One could send "menu, down, down, enter" mapped to a single button. The 900 and 1100 do not have the ability to create sequences. I'm not sure, but I don't think you can make sequences using My Harmony except on the Link.

Wow. I love my Harmony One and think its one of the best investments ive made. As long as we are still able to support ourselves and update the remotes using the Harmony DB I am ok. If this means a firesale on Harmony remotes, I am going to buy as many Harmony One's as I can.

I'm not optimistic about the future though. Look no further than the Squeezebox and the Revue.

I have a few delays programmed in to allow for EDID/HDMI/HDCP sync but no other delays. I am using the Media Center PC - SE program set from logitech to control my HTPC>

Some controllers are built to send out multiple codes for each button. If you load the profile for it you will get a delay b/c you are sending 1 code instead of 3-4. Rosewill does this, who else I don't know. The only way I found to get by this was to use standard mce codes.

I have the Rosewill 11001 IR receiver with my H-900 main RF to IR blaster pointed right at it from about a foot away. I don't get any delays at all.

Remember when cars had buttons and knobs, like a volume knob? Now you have to navigate a touchscreen menu to change the radio station. It sucks. This will suck too.

Do you use standard mce codes or codes learned from the remote?

I agree. I simply don't understand touchscreens for car or TV navigation. It's a fundamentally flawed proposition, as touchscreens require you to look at them while you use them (besides basic navigation like swiping, and even then buttons are substantially faster).

Touchscreens are soo cool though.

I use the MCE-SE codes on the logitech software.

I'm not surprised - Logitech seems to not care about Harmony. I've been trying for about 4 months to get the Echo's remote added to Harmony's DB and have not been able to get anywhere with Logitech - I can't even get a call back. I even went so far as to meet with them at CES and they pretty much didn't care about Harmony at all - they couldn't even give me the name of a person to contact for Harmony.

Expand your product line and buy Harmony, Eric!

Honestly, it would probably make more sense to just make our own design from scratch rather than buy them (don't read too far into that statement) - they really don't actually bring that much to the table. I'd argue their product isn't that good (and I own and use a few Harmonys) - it's just that everything else is far worse.

Not reading too much into it but there's going to be a big hole here now and somebody can fill it.. Might as well be you guys. Plus it puts you more into the CE business rather than just the PC business.

Just sayin!

Once I saw the new Touch remote I instantly purchased a spare ONE for the time when mine dies. After reading this somewhat distressing and highly annoying news I decided it was time to at least load in my custom set-up in case they go the full route and discontinue their web/software interface support.

Of course that will only be helpful until I add or change a piece of gear and like everyone else here, that is a somewhat constant process. I have ZERO plans to ever use a phone or tablet to control my gear. I remain hopeful someone might take Harmony and run with it, or come out with an even better hand held remote that will fill the niche. As for Logitech, sounds like they have 2 Chimpanzees and a trainee running things!

** Still using the ONE I purchased in Feb, 2008. I use it daily/heavily and am surprised it has lasted this long, although I have never dropped it and there are no kids in the household.
Edited by MartyGillis - 1/26/13 at 8:34am

[cough]... Echo remote included... [cough]

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

I certainly see your point, although I really like my Harmony remotes, particularly my One and my 650. The programming software certainly has its idiosyncrasies, but I generally found I could set up a new Harmony remote with ~4 activities controlling ~5 A/V components pretty quickly. I just wish the menus for customizing activities were more coherent. But the layout and feel of the Harmony One (and the 650, 700, and others that look roughly the same) are great.

I'm somewhat hopeful that Logitech will find a buyer. I actually know a lot of people with Harmony remotes (that aren't techies, in most cases), and lots of people that use my Harmony remotes say they love it. Its certainly going to be a niche market still, but they must make pretty good margins on those remotes. Maybe the new buyer will show more of an interest in the Harmony line than Logitech has.

Agree.

I agree here too.

My car has dual climate with buttons and a screen.

WTF was wrong with one knob blue and red ???

Your cold ? More red. Your hot? More blue. It's so simple .

So, touchscreen is a good idea and a bad idea? Make up your mind man

^^ lol

touchscreen is great for things you look at while using. otherwise buttons all the way.

i dont like to look at the remote while using it. thumb knows where to go by feeling buttons.

One of the engadget editors did an editorial a few months back about buttons, or rather lack of them. They speculated that the next generation won't know what they are or use them. No buttons on televisions, av equipment, computers, telephones, thermostats, security systems, appliances, etc.

Cars need something like Kinect instead of touchscreens. You raise your middle finger and it knows to honk the horn.

LOL! That is rich!

bryan, how about a siri based car led sign

http://youtu.be/QZTvn2JVs4A

a smaller more elegant version of course that screams "FU!!"

Technically blue is hotter than red is in science, so it's not quite that simple

Perhaps, but on the color scale, blue is cooler and red is hotter. It's also a universally accepted color coding symbol for hot vs. cold.