Logitech Harmony 880 Remote Control Review

Over the past couple of years, we have developed a love for harmony web programmable universal remotes. Mark was originally developed by Intrigue Technologies of Canada, which was acquired last year, a giant accessories Logitech. The new parent company ended 2004 with out two models that were already in the funnel of intrigue, but the $ 249 Harmony 880 Harmony remote is the first fully conceived by designers Logitech. Is also the first harmony function color screen and built-in rechargeable battery with docking station.

Although little more than its predecessors, the 880 retains a similar dumbbell shape, measuring 8.1 inches in length and 2.3 cm wide, 1.3 inches deep and weighing 5.8 ounces. Nevertheless, several significant differences separate it from previous models. In addition to the color display capabilities (previous models were limited to black and white), the LCD more. Increased screen real estate provides enough space for a total of eight contextual icons, corresponding to adjacent hard buttons. This compared with six previous models of harmony.

Buy Logitech Harmony 880 Remote Control and Save $99.95

128×160 pixel color display is very low resolution (read: early Palm color screen), but it’s a big step forward compared to a monochrome screen found on such models as the Harmony 688 and 676. The one thing we do not like that activity-based icons could have been a little cleaner look and easier to read, I hope Logitech will set them in due time.

Previous Harmony remotes featured soft, rubber buttons, which are sometimes not as responsive as we would have liked. For this model, Logitech went with all hard plastic buttons – generally a good thing, though buttons such as video transport buttons (record, play, rewind, fast forward, pause, stop) and a 12-digit keypad are still located very close to each friend, so it is difficult to operate on feel alone. However, it is worth noting that the context of a specific side keys – volume and channel up / down – are raised nicely in just the right places. In general, we felt the buttons were very well thought out, it should not cause too many irritations and seems friendly enough to the digital set-top boxes, DVRs, and even the PC Media Center, although you have to map / Setting certain buttons manually to perform certain tasks.

As already noted, 880 includes a docking station for juicing up the batteries included, you simply lie the remote in its cradle. It is not only a pleasure to be able to charge to keep the dough on batteries, but if you’re good about leaving the remote in its cradle, you’ll always know where he is when you need it. Another nice feature that the 880 offers a motion sensor: when you take the remote, it automatically. You can also easily add their own digital images as backgrounds and screensavers – there is a slide-show feature – though we found that we had to crop our images into vertical shots or they appear hideously stretched on the screen. And it really was not a good idea to have an image as the background, because it made the icons difficult to read, stick on the default blue background.

In addition, 880 works the same way that other consoles Harmony do. As we noted in our earlier reviews, programming a universal remote can be frustrating and time-consuming process, involving punching a series of multi-valued codes for each component in the audio / video system. In contrast to the harmony remote is programmed by connecting them to your Internet-connected Windows PC or Mac using the supplied USB, install drivers and answers to a fairly simple online questionnaire on the website of the company. You simply choose your home theater components from the list to explain how they relate, and to determine their role in the basis of features such as watch TV, watch DVD and listen to music. For each function, you can specify which devices and materials should allow the remote. You can also choose which keypad functions “break”, in which specific devices – always with the control buttons cable channel or volume on the TV, for example. Once you have completed the questionnaire, the software uploads all the relevant control codes to 880. You can also periodically upload channel listings and call them on the LCD, but this service is free, only the first two months of use.

Buy Logitech Harmony 880 Remote Control and Save $99.95

The process still involves some trial and error. You should make sure that teams are working with the equipment as intended, then modify them as needed. Fortunately, the Web site provides advanced, macro-style options for delay times, multistep commands, and other functions. Even better, the remote control key Troubleshooter AIDS, asking natural language questions on the LCD. For example, the display may read “is a digital set-top boxes On?” Harmony and e-mail based customer support is excellent, the problem is assigned to help the ticket number and follow up to their completion.

Harmony 880 in the same way as previous Harmony remotes we’ve tested, and a couple of settings, we were a team of six components: HDTV, A / V receiver, DVD player, CD-Jukebox, Xbox, HD, and top box. Logitech says that you should be able to go several weeks without recharging, but obviously that if you leave the unit in its cradle, the battery will remain fully juice. It is also worth noting that the battery can be replaced, so when they eventually wear out – and they will – you’ll have a new swap in.

Ultimately, the Harmony 880 is a nice step forward for Logitech. Although it has some elements of the High-End remote (color screen, motion sensor, docking station), $ 250 price is quite reasonable. In fact, the only real Non-Logitech competition in this price range for home cinema Master MX-700, but it lacks a color screen and battery, and PC-programmable macros require more hands massage. In the future we would like to see the RF version (unlike IR transmits RF signals through walls and cabinets), which would appeal to people with Multiroom settings or hidden components. But for those who have one room set with all their components exposed, 880, of course, makes an excellent choice.

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