CNET calls the Logitech Harmony One "arguably the best consumer remote control currently available," and I agree. I've owned one for nearly two years, and it's without a doubt my favorite remote ever.
Alas, Logitech still sells it for $249, same as when it debuted in early 2008. But if you're willing to go the refurb route, you can get the Harmony One for $149.99 shipped from CompUSA.
For those not familiar with the Harmony line, its claim to fame is a simple, Web-based interface for setting up your devices, programming "activities" (a.k.a. macros), and so on.
This particular model features a color touch screen, a perfect button layout, and a docking station for keeping its rechargeable battery topped off.
CNET's review (and the above video) should tell you everything you need to know about the Harmony One. For what it's worth, a handful of CompUSA customers rated it 5 stars on average, while some 800 Amazon buyers rated it 4.5 stars. Needless to say, it's a winner.
Because it's a refurb, the warranty expires after 90 days. I have no problem with that; usually, a product like this either works or it doesn't. My 2-year-old One has been dropped, kicked, abused by children, and more, and it's still plugging along just fine.
Thus, if you're in the market for the ultimate universal remote, this is the best deal I've seen yet. (If you know of a better one, be sure to mention it in the comments!)
Due out shortly, the RF-capable Logitech Harmony 900 carries a list price of $399.99.
(Credit: Logitech)When we reviewed Logitech's Harmony One universal remote last year, we gave it an enthusiastic Editors' Choice award and really lamented only the fact that there was no RF option for users who had components hidden in cabinets or in closets. Well, more than a year later, Logitech has given us what we asked for--and even a little more--in its Harmony 900.
(Credit:
URC)
The URC MX-5000 universal remote looks like a typical universal remote control. But this $1,500 clicker is a rare gem packed with a 2.7-inch haptic feedback touch screen, Wi-Fi, and radio frequency communication. Haptic? Think of it as making onscreen keys behave like real buttons with the familiar tactile feel and audible clicks, a feature available on some touch-screen mobile phones. There's no official word on the actual implementation, and details on the MX-5000's full capabilities are pretty lean.
Even if you're willing to meet the ridiculously marked-up asking price, this is one remote you can't pick up in mega electronics stores. That's because the MX-5000 is an A/V professional-centric product for custom installations and requires complex programming via the control software. You'll probably have to sound out your local A/V installer to check the availability of this controller.
(Source: Crave Asia)
The Harmony 1100 is a touch-screen, tablet-style universal remote that lists for $500.
(Credit: Logitech)When Logitech brought out its touch-screen, tablet-style Harmony 1000 in 2007, it was clearly taking a stab at the high-end of the universal remote market. Unlike other high-end--and more expensive--models from the likes of Crestron, Universal Remote Control, and Philips' Pronto line, the Harmony 1000 didn't require hiring a professional home installer to program or update it, which made it a value proposition--even if it was relatively expensive compared with other mainstream universal remotes.
All in all, we liked the 1000, but it did have a few kinks. Users griped that it wasn't quite as responsive as it should have been (the interface just seemed to lag a bit). And the remote had a tendency to freeze up occasionally and have to be completely rebooted, which was a nuisance. And finally, there was a bug where if you'd press down on the volume button too long, the volume would shoot up (or down) at an uncontrollably fast rate. Unfortunately, subsequent firmware updates haven't appeared to fix these issues.
Enter the Harmony 1100. As its name implies, this model is an upgrade to its older brother. On the surface, the biggest differences between the two are that the 1100 is black instead of silver, it has a white instead of blue backlight for illuminating the buttons in the dark, and the volume and channel buttons have swapped places in response to "customer research."
Logitech also added small, tactile guides on the side of the screen to make it easier to find the right button (we're not sure what the point of this move is, since you're dealing with virtual buttons). We generally appreciated those tweaks, but it's underneath the hood where the real changes can be found.
The Acoustic Research XSight Touch AARX18G (with cradle) may give Harmony a run for its money.
(Credit: Acoustic Research)Acoustic Research (a brand of Audiovox) has unveiled two new universal remotes that users can program directly (using a built-in code library) or via a PC. Both new models--dubbed "XSight"--look to be worthwhile contenders to our current favorite universal remote, the Logitech Harmony One.
The XSight Color AARX15G is the ...
Read the full post at CNET's CES 2009 blog.
On Sale Now: $149.99 - $299.00
View the latest prices for Acoustic Research XSight Color AARX15G
On Sale Now: $249.99
View the latest prices for Acoustic Research XSight Touch AARX18G
(Credit:
Logitech)
When Logitech released the Harmony 1000 in 2007, we were disappointed that the tablet-style remote wasn't easily customizable and that the response time of its 3.5-inch LCD touchscreen wasn't quite as zippy as we would've liked. Two years on, it looks like Logitech has finally taken those criticisms to heart. The new Harmony 1100 includes the ability to customize the on-screen buttons, and its ...
Read the full post at CNET's CES 2009 blog.
On Sale Now: $342.95 - $449.99
View the latest prices for Logitech Harmony 1100
One remote to control them all: The Harmony 520.
(Credit: Logitech)I've written many times about my love of Logitech Harmony remotes. And here's one of the best deals I've seen yet: CompUSA has the Harmony 520 (refurbished) for $39.99.
Ground shipping will run you about $8 (unless you spend another $60, in which case you qualify for $1.99 shipping on your entire order).
The Harmony remotes are renowned for offering (relatively) easy programming via desktop software, which is available for both Windows and Mac systems.
Just choose your home-theater hardware from an extensive (and frequently updated) database, then set up your desired activities ("Watch a movie," "Listen to music," and so on).
The remote's built-in help screens walk you through any problems that may crop up (like the TV turns on but the receiver doesn't), great for when grandparents, babysitters, and other non-residents are trying to operate your stuff.
The 520 is definitely an entry-level model, meaning it lacks rechargeable batteries and has a monochrome, not color, display. Even so, it definitely beats juggling all your remotes. CNET liked it well enough at $100, so you can't go wrong at $40.
Oh, and don't worry about this being a refurb: It comes with a full one-year warranty from Logitech--same as new units.
Philips Prestigo SRT9320 universal remote mixes touch screen with hard keys
(Credit:
Philips)
The Philips universal remote line has a new top dog. The Prestigo SRT9320 combines a 2.8-inch color touch screen on the top half with hard buttons on the lower portion. The screen handles both channel favorites (replete with familiar icon logos) and customized commands. The SRT9320 can control up to 20 devices, and it's completely programmable as-is--including learning modes and multidevice macros--without the need to connect ...
Read the full post at CNET's CES 2009 blog.
On Sale Now: $199.99
View the latest prices for Philips Prestigo SRT9320 universal remote control
You could be forgiven for thinking that Logitech's Harmony line has all but taken over the universal remote market. But--just as the iPod isn't the only choice for portable media players--there are still plenty of alternatives out there. One of the latest is the URC Digital R50. (URC is short for "Universal Remote Control," the aptly-named company that also makes remotes under the Home Theater Master brands, as well as many of the "generic" remotes that are packaged with cable boxes and other devices.)
The Digital R50 is a $150 clicker that includes a brilliant color screen and plenty of programmable hard buttons. It eschews Logitech's PC-programming approach and instead includes thousands of built-in codes--all accessible with an on-screen wizard interface--which can be used to control up to 18 separate devices. CNET got an early look at the R50, and put it to the test versus similar offerings from Logitech and Philips. Read the full review--and watch the video--to see how it stacked up.
Read the CNET review of the URC Digital R50.
What do you think: Would you consider the R50 as your primary remote? Do you prefer Logitech's models? Or do you think $150 is just too much to spend on a glorified clicker?
(Credit:
Logitech)
Logitech has stealthily released the Harmony 510, a new entry-level $100 universal remote that slightly reworks the design seen on the company's previous 500-series models. It's almost an exact copy of the Harmony 550, except for a different color scheme and slight reworking of the keypad. There are two fewer keys, and some buttons are relabeled. For instance, the bottom four buttons on the 550 are Sound, Picture, A, and B; on the 510, there are just four unlabeled colors (red, green, yellow, and blue). In fact, those color keys are actually borrowed from the European versions of the Harmony remotes--note the very similar Harmony 525.
To confuse matters further, there's a third remote--not counting the now (presumably) discontinued Harmony 520 and the Europe-only 525--in the line that's also a near-doppelganger: the awkwardly named Logitech Harmony Advanced Universal Remote for Xbox 360 (which we dubbed "AURX360", strictly for expediency's sake). Even for non-Xbox 360 owners, that model may actually be the pick of the litter, because it has a couple of extra buttons over the 550--and controls 12 devices, rather than just the 5 the 510 does. All four U.S. models can be found online for under $85 dollars.
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