March 11, 2009 at 01:34Logitech HarmonyOne - Almighty Remote
Honestly, I do not have statistics on the percentage of people who wrap remotes in plastic bags and who do not perform this household ritual. But whatever this ratio is, today I’ll tell you about the remote control, wrap it in a package that ... well, at least indecent :)
Caution! Inside 54 large images with a total volume of 6mb! This is a review!
Not hurt by the living? Maybe then just remember those glorious times when the TV channels could be counted on the fingers of one hand, and switching them was not a task for the lazy? My brother and I often had to watch boring programs just because it was lazy to get up to the buttons on the TV. Later, a mop was adapted for this :)
Or maybe you are familiar with the situation from harsh reality, when it’s easier to find the scandalous Higgs boson without a collider in an apartment than the right remote at the right time? At this time, there is any other remote around, but the one you need is in the folds of blankets and bedspreads, behind and under the sofa, under newspapers and magazines, or anywhere else.
Well, that's nice - you are not alone :) And now imagine that the question of buying batteries in remotes is no longer worth asking. As well as the question of finding the right remote for some device. I was able to visualize this only with the Harmony One remote control from the leader in the production of peripherals, Logitech , which will be discussed today.
So today, on my seen table, the Logitech HarmonyOne universal remote. Let the one in the model name do not bother you - there are rumors that once Harmony was a separate brand for the production of universal remote controls (RC), which was later bought by the Swiss giant. Now the redirect to www.logitech.ru from the site www.harmonyremote.com testifies to this , but this does not change the current situation. Logitech was supplemented by its rich capabilities when Harmony remotes got up on their feet, so there should be universal remotes.
Inside the box were:
- Logitech HarmonyOne;
- Charger and lithium-ion battery;
- AC adapter;
- USB cable (USB type A - USB type B);
- A disk with software;
- A cloth for wiping the remote control;
- Documentation.
Everything is fine with the documentation - I have Russian, I’ll read it when something doesn’t work out :) I didn’t insert the software disc - it’s already possible to argue with someone that there will be more recent drivers on the Internet than on the drives supplied with the devices.
It was necessary to download neither more nor less - 54Mb. But the software review, as usual, is closer to the end of the article.
I connect the adapter to the charger, insert the plug into the outlet. The charging itself is made of matte black plastic, but the place for the remote control is made of gloss.
The thoughtful design of the “bottom” of charging was striking — a small depression where the connector for the “father” of power is located; from this recess there are two grooves for the wire - thus, the wire can be fixed both in front and behind. 4 rubber inserts at the corners of the bottom of the charge reliably hold the device on smooth surfaces. Conveniently.
The remote control is very comfortable in the hand - the relief grip of the remote control and the rubberized coating contribute to a comfortable grip.
The bottom relief consists of two arcuate recesses - one serves for a grip, in which it works with a touch screen, the second - for working with familiar buttons.
The remote control itself is glossy, easily soiled. On the back of the remote control, in its upper part, there are two copper contacts that are built into a plastic cap, behind which the infrared port is hidden.
In the lower part there is a second infrared port for teaching the remote control with other remote controls.
On the front panel at the very top is the button to turn off the remote. Below it is a color touch 2-inch TFT screen, and already below it there are 39 buttons divided into 4 blocks. The lowest, digital, is responsible for switching channels. Above it is a block with player control buttons. Next comes the block with a cross-shaped navigation element, in the center of which there is a selection confirmation button, and on the sides there are volume control and channel switching buttons. The topmost buttons are responsible for the most frequently used functions.
The weight of the device is about 150 grams.
It's time to turn on the device. I open the battery compartment - it is located at the bottom of the remote control and opens only with a sufficiently large effort (the second infrared port is also located there, for training). I wonder if there are such batteries on sale? I would not want to buy a new remote control in 2-3 years :) Okay, I am inserting a battery (950 mA). Chick.
The remote control turns on, a colorful splash screen flashes on the screen. Next is the process of setting the time, date.
The buttons are highlighted in the dark with white backlight of medium, sufficient brightness. The buttons themselves are also made to last - do not slam, are pressed from a little effort.
I accidentally noticed the following feature - as soon as the remote control lays on a horizontal surface, the tilt sensor (or acceleration?) Turns it off. But it’s worth picking it up, as the device immediately wakes up.
Miraculously did not step on a children's rake - he guessed that a miracle would not happen immediately. However, for certainty, I clicked the buttons, pointing at a different technique :)
So, having pressed the buttons on the "vegetable" enough, I put it aside and read the instructions. I don’t know, perhaps this can be considered a minus - the device will not work if it is not configured first. And you can do this ONLY through a computer, which must be connected to the Internet. On the other hand, this is logical ... because the console supports more than 225,000 different devices from more than 5,000manufacturers !!! And where to store information on all remotes, if not on the Internet?
I install the software. 54 megabytes - I usually always wondered - what can be crammed into such a weight? For example, the driver for the scanner I weigh twice as much, but absolutely nothing “heavy” inside! Similarly with some other devices. But in the case of HarmonyOne, I did not ask such a question ...
I launch the program, she immediately suggests creating a user. As I understand it, the console supports several users (each can have its own devices, settings, etc.) and each account can be password protected. To some extent, this is a useful function - for example, you could make a special profile for children so that some functions are not available to them. On the other hand, is this function relevant if it is almost always possible to go to a managed device and press the desired button on it? ;) Okay, not the point.
Having created the profile, the program hints that it would be necessary to connect the remote control to the computer using a USB cable. Done
Further, the program offers to determine the list of devices that the remote will control. By the way, at the same time the device supports no more than 15 devices, but for most users this is enough.
Looking around the room, I find a couple of devices, simultaneously searching for remotes for them. So, the pen test was on:
- HIPER HMC-2K53A-H2 Media Center ( review ), a review of which I recently did;
- DVD player Philips DVP-3010;
- An old JVC TV, the model of which MAYBE was on the back wall;
- External sound card Creative X-Fi Surround;
- Acoustics Microlab H300;
- Acoustics Microlab H500;
In the program window, devices are added as follows - the device category is selected, then the manufacturer. After that, the program asks you to enter the exact name of the model, and if it is in the database, the device is successfully added. If the name is not written exactly - the program will offer options.
I doubted the support of my media center - I chose the company Hiper, after which the program issued: “ Enter the name of the model, for example HMC-2K53A-H2 ” - wow ! :) We figured out the media center. As with a DVD player, speakers and sound card. The problem arose only with the TV, the models of which (and the documentation) I could not find, but I did not want to put forward it - the antenna rests on parole. I decide to try the search for "one without knowing what."
Having the TV remote control at hand, I answer yes to the question of the program “Do you have a remote control from the TV?” At the next stage, I ran into a paragraph of crocodilus (they didn’t appear again), having looked at them a bit, I realized what they wanted from me. I put the remote control from the TV 15 centimeters below the bottom of the HarmonyOne and press the buttons that ask me to press. After a few taps, the program tried to guess the model of my TV (or remote control?).
Something seemed to be guessed right. At the next stage, the wizard clearly showed what devices I have:
And I finally felt that I was getting closer to the final stage of the settings. Now you should select several sets of actions that I can do using devices. They are called " Activities ." I indicate:
Activity settings (you need to specify in what order and with what devices what the console should do). Suppose I want to watch a new disc - press "Watch DVD" - the remote automatically turns on the TV in AV, includes a DVD player and speakers from the TV (Microlab). I am surprised how flexible this process is - any tasks, settings, delays and other sequences!
To be honest, I'm already tired, but ... something tells me that I will be pleasantly surprised. Otherwise, why so meticulous? Yes, and there is no such thing that everything immediately works the way you want. Hard to learn - easy in battle.
The settings program sends data on the wire to the remote control ...
... and then goes to the main menu. Now it looks like this:
All the settings of my profile are in full view - all the "activities" and devices, the parameters of which can be separately viewed and changed.
All really ready.
Taking the remote control in my hands, I press “Activities” - I see the processes that I created.
I press "Watch Video" and ... do not believe it! :) Everything worked! TV, DVD with its “No disc” - of course, I wasn’t ready for it!
I insert the disc and select the “DVD” device on the touch screen. The functions specific to the player appear on the screen, 6 functions per page. Everything works! I just can’t believe it!
I switch to the TV - everything works the same way. Moreover, pressing the buttons of the digital unit switches the channels instantly, although the native remote control does this with a delay of 2-3 seconds.
The sound card also responded with its blue LED and volume control appearing on the monitor screen. Acoustic control units also obediently respond to the remote control.
The only thing that didn’t work for me is the media center. Despite the fact that it is guaranteed to be supported - apparently, it does not have an IR receiver. Be it the older model HIPER HMC-2K53A-A3 , where the remote control is included, everything would work.
I am writing and smiling :) how pleasant it was. Despite the fact that the setup process is very long and tedious, everything worked after it. It would be much worse if there were no settings. Here we have full scope for a fantasy flight - something that should be at the disposal of any advanced user. Literally everything is supported - from conventional equipment, such as TVs and VCRs, to air conditioners, refrigerators with the Internet, and other delights of smart houses.
About a week it took me to hone some settings - them, right, the sea! In the near future I plan to configure all the channels that are caught, assign them icons and fill it all up with the remote control - so as not to remember where everything is on the faceless gray buttons, but to visually select the one you need on the touch screen.
The screen itself is quite sensitive and you get used to it instantly. A good resolution provides a colorful and clear picture, which is rare for devices of this type. After all, either a monochrome display is used, or a huge touch screen, which solidly increases the cost of the device. Here is the golden mean. To the right and bottom of this golden mean are two sensitive elements responsible for turning over pages of functions and so on.
Cons
- Price (due to the bucks gaining momentum, now it is about 7-10 thousand rubles, but it was about 6);
- All settings ONLY through a computer with the Internet;
- Simple but tedious settings (though, it's worth it!);
- Marking surface;
Pros
- Good equipment;
- Excellent build quality, stylish appearance, excellent ergonomics;
- Color touch display;
- The largest database of supported devices;
- Simple but rich remote control settings;
- Programming over the Internet;
- Great software;
Undoubtedly, the ideal does not exist and there is always something to strive for - therefore, I always look forward to new masterpieces from Logitech. This remote control showed itself perfectly and lived up to all the expectations placed on it, which I was more than surprised. Even the pangs of long-term remote control settings ... they simply fade against the background of the resulting benefits, comfort and pleasure from work!
If the problems described at the beginning of the article are an edge for you, if you have a lot of equipment and the number of remotes per unit area exceeds the permissible norm - probably the game is worth the candle - look towards universality.
Read the remote control reviews on other sites and make sure that I didn’t invent anything in the article! :) Therefore ... I’m not afraid to once again advise the device - you will definitely appreciate the top of the vertical of power over electronics! Logitech, +1 in karma, keep it up!
My other recent reviews:
- Logitech MX 5500 Revolution review
- HIPER HMC-2K53A-H2 media center review
- Optimus Maximus keyboard review
- Optimus Mini Three keyboard review
- QNAP QBack 35S drive review
Success!
Caution! Inside 54 large images with a total volume of 6mb! This is a review!
Not hurt by the living? Maybe then just remember those glorious times when the TV channels could be counted on the fingers of one hand, and switching them was not a task for the lazy? My brother and I often had to watch boring programs just because it was lazy to get up to the buttons on the TV. Later, a mop was adapted for this :)
Or maybe you are familiar with the situation from harsh reality, when it’s easier to find the scandalous Higgs boson without a collider in an apartment than the right remote at the right time? At this time, there is any other remote around, but the one you need is in the folds of blankets and bedspreads, behind and under the sofa, under newspapers and magazines, or anywhere else.
Well, that's nice - you are not alone :) And now imagine that the question of buying batteries in remotes is no longer worth asking. As well as the question of finding the right remote for some device. I was able to visualize this only with the Harmony One remote control from the leader in the production of peripherals, Logitech , which will be discussed today.
So today, on my seen table, the Logitech HarmonyOne universal remote. Let the one in the model name do not bother you - there are rumors that once Harmony was a separate brand for the production of universal remote controls (RC), which was later bought by the Swiss giant. Now the redirect to www.logitech.ru from the site www.harmonyremote.com testifies to this , but this does not change the current situation. Logitech was supplemented by its rich capabilities when Harmony remotes got up on their feet, so there should be universal remotes.
Equipment
Inside the box were:
- Logitech HarmonyOne;
- Charger and lithium-ion battery;
- AC adapter;
- USB cable (USB type A - USB type B);
- A disk with software;
- A cloth for wiping the remote control;
- Documentation.
Everything is fine with the documentation - I have Russian, I’ll read it when something doesn’t work out :) I didn’t insert the software disc - it’s already possible to argue with someone that there will be more recent drivers on the Internet than on the drives supplied with the devices.
It was necessary to download neither more nor less - 54Mb. But the software review, as usual, is closer to the end of the article.
I connect the adapter to the charger, insert the plug into the outlet. The charging itself is made of matte black plastic, but the place for the remote control is made of gloss.
The thoughtful design of the “bottom” of charging was striking — a small depression where the connector for the “father” of power is located; from this recess there are two grooves for the wire - thus, the wire can be fixed both in front and behind. 4 rubber inserts at the corners of the bottom of the charge reliably hold the device on smooth surfaces. Conveniently.
The remote control is very comfortable in the hand - the relief grip of the remote control and the rubberized coating contribute to a comfortable grip.
The bottom relief consists of two arcuate recesses - one serves for a grip, in which it works with a touch screen, the second - for working with familiar buttons.
The remote control itself is glossy, easily soiled. On the back of the remote control, in its upper part, there are two copper contacts that are built into a plastic cap, behind which the infrared port is hidden.
In the lower part there is a second infrared port for teaching the remote control with other remote controls.
On the front panel at the very top is the button to turn off the remote. Below it is a color touch 2-inch TFT screen, and already below it there are 39 buttons divided into 4 blocks. The lowest, digital, is responsible for switching channels. Above it is a block with player control buttons. Next comes the block with a cross-shaped navigation element, in the center of which there is a selection confirmation button, and on the sides there are volume control and channel switching buttons. The topmost buttons are responsible for the most frequently used functions.
The weight of the device is about 150 grams.
Turn on!
It's time to turn on the device. I open the battery compartment - it is located at the bottom of the remote control and opens only with a sufficiently large effort (the second infrared port is also located there, for training). I wonder if there are such batteries on sale? I would not want to buy a new remote control in 2-3 years :) Okay, I am inserting a battery (950 mA). Chick.
The remote control turns on, a colorful splash screen flashes on the screen. Next is the process of setting the time, date.
The buttons are highlighted in the dark with white backlight of medium, sufficient brightness. The buttons themselves are also made to last - do not slam, are pressed from a little effort.
I accidentally noticed the following feature - as soon as the remote control lays on a horizontal surface, the tilt sensor (or acceleration?) Turns it off. But it’s worth picking it up, as the device immediately wakes up.
Miraculously did not step on a children's rake - he guessed that a miracle would not happen immediately. However, for certainty, I clicked the buttons, pointing at a different technique :)
So, having pressed the buttons on the "vegetable" enough, I put it aside and read the instructions. I don’t know, perhaps this can be considered a minus - the device will not work if it is not configured first. And you can do this ONLY through a computer, which must be connected to the Internet. On the other hand, this is logical ... because the console supports more than 225,000 different devices from more than 5,000manufacturers !!! And where to store information on all remotes, if not on the Internet?
Software
I install the software. 54 megabytes - I usually always wondered - what can be crammed into such a weight? For example, the driver for the scanner I weigh twice as much, but absolutely nothing “heavy” inside! Similarly with some other devices. But in the case of HarmonyOne, I did not ask such a question ...
I launch the program, she immediately suggests creating a user. As I understand it, the console supports several users (each can have its own devices, settings, etc.) and each account can be password protected. To some extent, this is a useful function - for example, you could make a special profile for children so that some functions are not available to them. On the other hand, is this function relevant if it is almost always possible to go to a managed device and press the desired button on it? ;) Okay, not the point.
Having created the profile, the program hints that it would be necessary to connect the remote control to the computer using a USB cable. Done
Further, the program offers to determine the list of devices that the remote will control. By the way, at the same time the device supports no more than 15 devices, but for most users this is enough.
Casting
Looking around the room, I find a couple of devices, simultaneously searching for remotes for them. So, the pen test was on:
- HIPER HMC-2K53A-H2 Media Center ( review ), a review of which I recently did;
- DVD player Philips DVP-3010;
- An old JVC TV, the model of which MAYBE was on the back wall;
- External sound card Creative X-Fi Surround;
- Acoustics Microlab H300;
- Acoustics Microlab H500;
In the program window, devices are added as follows - the device category is selected, then the manufacturer. After that, the program asks you to enter the exact name of the model, and if it is in the database, the device is successfully added. If the name is not written exactly - the program will offer options.
I doubted the support of my media center - I chose the company Hiper, after which the program issued: “ Enter the name of the model, for example HMC-2K53A-H2 ” - wow ! :) We figured out the media center. As with a DVD player, speakers and sound card. The problem arose only with the TV, the models of which (and the documentation) I could not find, but I did not want to put forward it - the antenna rests on parole. I decide to try the search for "one without knowing what."
Having the TV remote control at hand, I answer yes to the question of the program “Do you have a remote control from the TV?” At the next stage, I ran into a paragraph of crocodilus (they didn’t appear again), having looked at them a bit, I realized what they wanted from me. I put the remote control from the TV 15 centimeters below the bottom of the HarmonyOne and press the buttons that ask me to press. After a few taps, the program tried to guess the model of my TV (or remote control?).
Something seemed to be guessed right. At the next stage, the wizard clearly showed what devices I have:
And I finally felt that I was getting closer to the final stage of the settings. Now you should select several sets of actions that I can do using devices. They are called " Activities ." I indicate:
Activity settings (you need to specify in what order and with what devices what the console should do). Suppose I want to watch a new disc - press "Watch DVD" - the remote automatically turns on the TV in AV, includes a DVD player and speakers from the TV (Microlab). I am surprised how flexible this process is - any tasks, settings, delays and other sequences!
To be honest, I'm already tired, but ... something tells me that I will be pleasantly surprised. Otherwise, why so meticulous? Yes, and there is no such thing that everything immediately works the way you want. Hard to learn - easy in battle.
The settings program sends data on the wire to the remote control ...
... and then goes to the main menu. Now it looks like this:
All the settings of my profile are in full view - all the "activities" and devices, the parameters of which can be separately viewed and changed.
All really ready.
My first time
Taking the remote control in my hands, I press “Activities” - I see the processes that I created.
I press "Watch Video" and ... do not believe it! :) Everything worked! TV, DVD with its “No disc” - of course, I wasn’t ready for it!
I insert the disc and select the “DVD” device on the touch screen. The functions specific to the player appear on the screen, 6 functions per page. Everything works! I just can’t believe it!
I switch to the TV - everything works the same way. Moreover, pressing the buttons of the digital unit switches the channels instantly, although the native remote control does this with a delay of 2-3 seconds.
The sound card also responded with its blue LED and volume control appearing on the monitor screen. Acoustic control units also obediently respond to the remote control.
The only thing that didn’t work for me is the media center. Despite the fact that it is guaranteed to be supported - apparently, it does not have an IR receiver. Be it the older model HIPER HMC-2K53A-A3 , where the remote control is included, everything would work.
I am writing and smiling :) how pleasant it was. Despite the fact that the setup process is very long and tedious, everything worked after it. It would be much worse if there were no settings. Here we have full scope for a fantasy flight - something that should be at the disposal of any advanced user. Literally everything is supported - from conventional equipment, such as TVs and VCRs, to air conditioners, refrigerators with the Internet, and other delights of smart houses.
About a week it took me to hone some settings - them, right, the sea! In the near future I plan to configure all the channels that are caught, assign them icons and fill it all up with the remote control - so as not to remember where everything is on the faceless gray buttons, but to visually select the one you need on the touch screen.
The screen itself is quite sensitive and you get used to it instantly. A good resolution provides a colorful and clear picture, which is rare for devices of this type. After all, either a monochrome display is used, or a huge touch screen, which solidly increases the cost of the device. Here is the golden mean. To the right and bottom of this golden mean are two sensitive elements responsible for turning over pages of functions and so on.
Control weighing
Cons
- Price (due to the bucks gaining momentum, now it is about 7-10 thousand rubles, but it was about 6);
- All settings ONLY through a computer with the Internet;
- Simple but tedious settings (though, it's worth it!);
- Marking surface;
Pros
- Good equipment;
- Excellent build quality, stylish appearance, excellent ergonomics;
- Color touch display;
- The largest database of supported devices;
- Simple but rich remote control settings;
- Programming over the Internet;
- Great software;
Total
Undoubtedly, the ideal does not exist and there is always something to strive for - therefore, I always look forward to new masterpieces from Logitech. This remote control showed itself perfectly and lived up to all the expectations placed on it, which I was more than surprised. Even the pangs of long-term remote control settings ... they simply fade against the background of the resulting benefits, comfort and pleasure from work!
If the problems described at the beginning of the article are an edge for you, if you have a lot of equipment and the number of remotes per unit area exceeds the permissible norm - probably the game is worth the candle - look towards universality.
Read the remote control reviews on other sites and make sure that I didn’t invent anything in the article! :) Therefore ... I’m not afraid to once again advise the device - you will definitely appreciate the top of the vertical of power over electronics! Logitech, +1 in karma, keep it up!
My other recent reviews:
- Logitech MX 5500 Revolution review
- HIPER HMC-2K53A-H2 media center review
- Optimus Maximus keyboard review
- Optimus Mini Three keyboard review
- QNAP QBack 35S drive review
Success!