New Logitech Harmony 900 Universal Remote
Filed under: Gadgets
The new Logitech Hamony 900 remote control has showed up on Gizmodo, it has the functionality of the Harmony 1000, however is in the form factor of a normal remote control. It is expected to retail later this month at $399.99
The Harmony 900 has lots of buttons on it as you would expect, however it also has a touchscreen display, this helps you control almost any device you want. The device also includes something they call an FR to IR blaster, this allows you to control all of your home theater components, before you would have to stick small IR receivers to the IR inputs on each device, however now you just put the blaster in front of them all, this makes the install process easier.
To be honest myself I cannot justify spending $399.99 on a remote control, no matter how good it is, but to be honest there is a market fro such devices so perhaps it will sell well. Head over to Gizmodo for more details and a larger image.
Do you think the remote justifies its $399.99 price tag?
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I own a Harmony 720 it’s a great remote and until recently I didn’t need a sleep function. So I went to the setup software to add this basic button. to my surprise no such function exists. This is as basic a function as you can have in a universal remote. I’ve seen posting for workarounds but they leave your remote out if synch. I’ve seen post extolling the NEW HARMONY 900 which has this function WOW $400 to add 1 function that should have been there already. Let me say I could build a single purpose robot that could physically push the power button for $400. If Logitech wants to charge everyone for this programming then do so I’ll pay $10 to get something I should already have but if that’s what it takes so be it.
In “Their” defense there is nothing on the packaging that’s says this function is available, then again there is nothing that says it not, this is because I as well as many of U expected the function to be there in the 1st place. I may buy a new remote and it may cost $400 but it won’t be a Logitech if they won’t stand up and make right what is clearly a wrong.
Normally I would recommend that if you feel as I do that this function should be there you should send them an email requesting politely that a firmware upgrade B made adding a sleep mode function to all their existing remotes that have internal timers (they all do). Include in the text that they clearly already have the programming code (from the HARMONY 900) and modifying it for the existing remotes would be very easy. Like I said NORMALLY that is what I would recommend except I can’t find anywhere what the customer support email address is. I even tried Googling to find it but no such luck I did find a toll free number for sales it is 800-231-7717 call them and again respectfully request the firmware change. If enough people call their toll free number (Call often) they may get the hint. I’m sure they will delete this message soon so please take action now.
The logitech remotes are very good with only a few quirks at controlling systems. The extra price for this one is due to the IR function. If you want control over a system that is out of sight behind closed doors or walls, this is the only way to go. It’s a much better solution than ugly IR nodes hanging off your hi tech system.