Logitech's Harmony 1000 Advanced Universal touchscreen remote

If you felt Logitech's Xbox 360 remote was just too focused for your tastes, the Harmony 1000 should provide the depth and breadth you're craving in a universal remote. Upping the ante on its long-standing lineup of home entertainment controllers, its new flagship unit sports a sleek silver and black finish, a 3.5-inch color touchscreen, internet programmability, rechargeable batteries, and a slew of one-touch activity options. Aside from completely pimping out any living room table, you can control nearly every electronic facet of your home via the IR emitter, and if you toss in the RF-enabling Harmony Wireless Extender ($149.99), you can dictate the gadgetry in any room of your crib. Sporting the Smart State Technology also found in the Harmony 890, the 1000 allows for automated control of various systems / activities with a single button press, and with an online stockpile of 175,000 devices at your disposal, setup shouldn't cause too many headaches. If you have enough remotes to supply a small Radio Shack, and you're looking for one ring remote to rule them all, the Harmony 1000 can get your setup(s) under control for $499.99 later this fall.

[Thanks, Gristle]

[Matt @ Sep 12th 2006 10:48AM]

for $500 , it should have wifi and a browser ... i'd buy it then ...

[Alex @ Sep 12th 2006 10:55AM]

As cool as these things are, I can't justify spending $500 on a remote control. Even if it did have WiFi and a browser (that's why I bought a laptop)

[Hello Moto @ Sep 12th 2006 10:56AM]

"for $500 , it should have wifi and a browser ... i'd buy it then ..."

How would a web broser make it useful then? You could keep your current remotes for free, or even get the super-advaned other werid remotes for like $250, I think this is a flat waste of money.

[Jugomugo @ Sep 12th 2006 11:18AM]

My $99 version from Wal-Mart does the same things. Why spend the extra $400?

[PeteL @ Sep 12th 2006 11:19AM]

500.00 is pretty standard pricing for high end remotes. Pronto, marantz etc are all in the 500+ range.

This should sell extremely well in Tweeter Etc and places like that.

[TowerTone @ Sep 12th 2006 11:24AM]

$500.00? No thanks. I'm not so lazy and sorry that I can't make my girlfriend get up and change the channel...

[Ken @ Sep 12th 2006 11:30AM]

Touch screen remotes are a pain in the ass and not worth using let alone paying. A remote should be focused on single handed blind use. Logitech's previous remotes with tangible buttons correlating to an LCD screen were on the right track.

[anonymous @ Sep 12th 2006 11:30AM]

This remote will sell well. But I have had problems with programing these remotes. They are very hard to get discete codes and test during the programming process. The best remote that I have programmed lately is the MX-3000 by universal remote. Its wonderful. BUT, retails at $999.99 and I charge 299.99 to program.

[Riza @ Sep 12th 2006 11:32AM]

I dont understand the fasination with touch screens on remotes... who wants to look down at a screen every time they make a selection??

this this should have a numeric keypad in addition to the screen, that way you can just feel the buttons rather than looking down at the remote to make sure your pressing the right area of the screen.

[Brian @ Sep 12th 2006 11:33AM]

I've got the Harmony 890, and the software they make you use is worthless. Hardware is an 11 out of 10, but the interface app makes me wish I'd never bought the thing. Sad.

[Damage @ Sep 12th 2006 11:34AM]

Hey, I can do that fancy stuff with my Sony Clie. And it only cost me $300 back in the day!

Big whoopdedoo!

Oh yea, my Clie can also do MP3s and do other tasks. Sure it's got a smaller screen, but it was cheaper.

[pedro @ Sep 12th 2006 11:35AM]

This is a shot aimed at the high end, like Crestron. They sell remotes like this, but for significantly more money. Harmony is going for the high end market at a low-end price. These things generally cost in the thousands of dollars. I agree, that the best remote is what Harmony already offers: one that can be used blindly with tactile feedback. However, these remotes are more for the people who desire whole house automation and media. Instead of spending someone thousands of dollars to set up a high- end system, you can go the Harmony route.

[NNTPgrip @ Sep 12th 2006 11:41AM]

The CH and VOL hard buttons should have gone below the rest of the hard buttons. How are you supposed to "channel surf".
I guess they figure these days people don't flip endlessly with guides and DVRs.
Of course, until I hold the thing I won't know for sure if button placement is all good. Could be cool, still weary, tried an 880 over christmas, the thing gets the codes over the net, but also any customization has to be done there too, the codes for my stuff were horrible, and the website kept timing out.

[Rich Facial @ Sep 12th 2006 11:56AM]

I have the 360 remote, and I gotta say its not worth it. Programming simple tasks take so much time its ridiculous. I would hate to see how long it would take to program this thing! And of course, logitech supprot totally blows....

[Tim @ Sep 12th 2006 11:58AM]

It looks similar to the Philips RC9800i (which costs around $399) but includes wifi (no web browser though). I tried the Philips out but returned it, it wasn't as convenient as I thought it would be. I hope (but doubt) this will be better.

[Gio - NYC @ Sep 12th 2006 11:59AM]

It looks to ugly to be $500.

[MARK @ Sep 12th 2006 12:20PM]

I own a logitech remote and I must say this. After owning a high end Pronto (Macro setting hell), using a PDA (Sony Clie, poor IR power)and even theRadio Shack remote (very cool, bad macro support,a battery hog) the Logitech has the absolute best capabilities for beginner all-in-one set up andexperts for complete home automation with exceptional ease. The web setup is by far and away the best way to set up a universal remote. Just select you components from their extensive(read massive) library of brand and off brand components/appliances, set up how you want the macros to act, additional individual component punch throughs, et., click load, and that's it. One of the best IR transmitters, easiest learning curve for a remote with so much depth of capability and ease of use. Nothing comes close. I probably will not opt for this remote though because of the touch screen (I prefer the tactile), but I will have a client buy one, for sure.

[Marty @ Sep 12th 2006 12:31PM]

I currently have a Universal MX-500 and a (at least 4 years old) original pronto 1000. The mx-500 is definitely the best for tactile feedback. The pronto is still going strong and is very useful but just not as friendly for day to day use as the mx-500. I tried a Logitech Harmony remote and couldn't stand it. If you know even a little about what you are doing, you'll find the Harmony completely limiting and quite annoying to program. In addition, it feels rather cheap in your hand (cheap plastic feel). I returned it right away. There was no comparison to the MX-500. I always get the feeling that people that like the Harmony remotes have never tried the Universal mx-500 remote (or the similar remotes in their line).

[Spencer Pablo @ Sep 12th 2006 1:22PM]

What many of you guys are missing is that this one isn't trying to compete with the $100 remotes. It looks to be competing against the Crestron/AMX crowd with the one button push to do multiple tasks. A complete Crestron/AMX solution with a programmer who does the macro scripting can cost businesses (as well as wealthy home theater owners and the like) easily over $20,000 for a solution. In that regard, it's a great deal.

[bill @ Sep 14th 2006 3:47PM]

Do you mean this one ring:

http://www.hillcrestlabs.com/

[Rick Lyon @ Oct 5th 2006 9:15AM]

I wanted to clear some things up reading the comments here. Firstly, Harmony remotes are extremely easy to set up and customize. Secondly, I had a few issues my first remote, and their customer service either walked me thru it, or programmed it on their end and said 'try it now'. I have two of their remotes and got one for my parents and they love it too. This remote is not for casual channel surfing while drinking a beer. This is for multiple devices, home automation, lights, curtains, etc. Not to mention it's RF, not an IR like almost all remotes in the $100 range.

I for one and really looking forward to possibly getting one of these. If I do, I'll then get some RF dimmer switches.

[Jack McKenzie @ Mar 19th 2007 11:49PM]

I am replacing an old AMX VPT-CP with a Harmony 1000. Will the AMX RF receiver transmit the commands from the Harmony.