Manage updates with the Download AppLogitech Harmony 900
Manufacturer: Logitech Part number: 915-000030
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Logitech Harmony 900 is, hands down, the best universal remote control we've ever tested.
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Where to buy
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CNET editors' review
Logitech Harmony 900 price range: $399.99
- Reviewed by: David Carnoy
- Edited by: John Falcone
- Reviewed on: 08/11/2009
The good: Sleek design, in terms of cosmetics and ergonomics; PC programmable; excellent button layout and design that now includes new Blu-ray-centric buttons; high-resolution LCD that offers a touch-screen interface and touch-sensitive buttons for navigation of onscreen menus; rechargeable lithium ion battery and docking station; RF option included--and it's very easy to set up.
The bad: Price will scare off some buyers; PS3 control requires add-on dongle; dearth of user-programmable multi-device macros will frustrate advanced users.
The bottom line: The Logitech Harmony 900 is, hands down, the best universal remote control we've ever tested.
User reviews
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Don't rush to buy the new high-end Logitech remotes....
by AtreidesModi on October 27, 2009
Pros: - Ergonomic design
- Qualty and responsive touch screen display
- Good IR performance from main unit and RF extenderCons: - NO SEQUENCES (in Logitech parlance, otherwise known as key macros)
- RF control refers to RF control of an IR extender, not control of RF devicesSummary: This is probably my most troubling purchase in a number of years. As your typical techno-junkie, I stumbled onto some marketing materials for the latest line of Harmony remotes; namely ...
Summary: This is probably my most troubling purchase in a number of years. As your typical techno-junkie, I stumbled onto some marketing materials for the latest line of Harmony remotes; namely the 900 and 1100. Already owning the 880, which I liked but found to bet somewhat uncomfortable in it's ergonomic design and subsequently fell into disuse, I was already set to purchse the next generation of Harmony remotes.
As I ran out of space, I wanted to add...
TRAP 1 - The marketing gimmick was to promote these remotes with a higher model number than the prior - namely, I had an 880 - one would assume that the 900 and 1100 are at least a STEP UP. Specifically, I MADE THE ERROR thinking that the new remotes would retain functionality existent within my 880 -- PLUS some extra features like the better LCD, touch screen, ergonomic design, RF (more an upgrade from the 890), etc. NO SO!
There is a key feature which I personally have relied on in all of my previous remotes (Harmony 880, Sony's, Philips Pronto's, etc). Namely the inability to assign a series of buttons to one button. It's rather interesting to note that the Logitech Harmony Product Manager (?!) would actually write a review for his own product here (5 stars of course) and completely substantiate this lacking capability.
Well, interesting in a cynical way. My trust of the Logitech product line was betrayed in this case, because I didn't conduct the normal pre-purchase diligence which I conduct in practically every other purchase. In this case, I looked at the price point ($399!) and find few items at this price point - it's either much less or much more. Since my prior 880 model was about $200+, I figured this new model (900) must be better. Well, mud in my face on this count.
So, back to the Product Manager's statement. After spending hours dredging the forums for information about how to get a sequence on my 900, I came to the sad reality that it didn't exist. Ok, I am still a loyal Logitech customer (3 Dinovo Edges, Z5500 speakrs, Z10 speakrs, Harmony 880, and so on) and will give them the benefit of the doubt to remedy this in some upcoming firmware update. As I dug further in the forums, including a petition on Logitech's own website, it became evident that there was rush for Logitech to remedy this deficit. A call to customer support and finally reading the Product Managers comments sealed this remotes fate.
Unfortunately, to suggest that removing sequences is a design improvement and/or superseded in functionality by "Activities" is ludicrous. Activities as a concept is a basic staple of all good universal remotes. Nothing new and innovative here. It's essentially a complex sequence of steps with an awareness of device state - tracking if a device is already on / off. For example, "Watch TV', "Watch DVD", "Play Games", etc. An activity - simple.
Sequences on the other hand serve a different purpose than Activities. These are like mini-Activities which can be performed within an Activity. Let's say that your Cable Box has 4 fast forward speeds, whereby with each press of the Fast Forward Button (FF) the speed increases x1, x2, x3, and x4 respectively. Who want's to sit there pressing FF 4 times every commercial break?
Of course not, we are willing to dish out $399 for a top-end Logitech remote to simplify these tasks! No problem, go into the remote configuration and program a "new button", we can call it FFx4 which will simulate the pressing of Cable Box remote FF button 4 times. Easy. Go into the Activty, such as "Watch TV" and assign the Next Track (>>|) button to our new FFx4 sequence! Woot! Most all prior Logitech Harmony remotes, at much lower price points, have this basic and fundamental ability.
Back to our Product Manager's comments, essentially dismissing the value of the above capability of remotes in the sub-$100 range. More specifically, he noted that this feature "very few people actually used it". As I read more and more about this remote (and the 1100), it seems the "very few people" are making quite a ruckus about this discarded capability.
Sadly, I suspect this discarded capability might be indicative of a more serious issue in Logitech's business strategy. Being dismissive of the Harmony user base, those who have vocalized great concern about this missing capability, leads me to believe that there are either serious design flaws with these devices or there is a market strategy to offer these capabilities with more expensive models to be released. In either case, this is indeed cause for concern.
Hopefully I will save someone else from this grief. In my case, I have to return not only this Harmony 900; but also the Harmony 1100, 2 PS3 Adapters, and an RF Extender. For those interested, the Harmony 1100 has the exact same problem (removed sequence functionality) as the 900 model. What a huge disappointment, waste of time, and money. For several hundred dollars I expect intelligent devices, not kludges and excuses.
Updated on Oct 27, 2009
TRAP 2 - "RF controls out-of-sight devices" (from box cover, similar language elsewhere) gives the impression that remote controls RF devices - at least it gave me that impression. The reality is that this only controls an RF module, which in turn sends IR signals to devices "out of sight". Really not much different than buying those IR extenders which send an RF signal from transmitter to receiver for in-cabinet systems.
To put this in perspective, had Sequences been available I would have given this remote a 4.5 star rating. I would have dinged it for the misleading RF. Yes, a 1 star rating is all this gets due to Sequences. Because a fundamental need of mine, which I've relied on in the past and continue to, is not available in the remote. Another vendor will get my business for remote needs.
Updated on Aug 24, 2010Unfortunately, I got stuck with the remotes and accessories as my hesitancy passed the return period. After many months giving up on them, I thought I would follow up and see if by some chance with enough time passed they would have an update. Nope. The petition is still running on the Logitech site. So, if you are thinking maybe a "firmware update" will come at some point, you are likely "wishful thinking". Logitech has no intent to resolve this. Lesson learned : Think long and heard with community feedback to support future Logitech purchases. Hope other vendors see this opportunity to fill a major gap in the marketplace. Till then, caveot emptor!49 out of 57 users found this user opinion helpful.
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No Sequences or Macros! Shame on this CNET review
by Rwilliams223 on August 15, 2009
Pros: Great Form Factor
Great touch screen
Great button layoutCons: NO MACROS OR SEQUENCES!!!
This totally cripples the remote. $400 for a remote without macros? INSANE!Summary: Shame on CNET for not mentioning the removal of macros on this remote. Even their cheapest offering has macro capabilities (Sequences in Harmony-speak). This is NOT a successor to the ...
Summary: Shame on CNET for not mentioning the removal of macros on this remote. Even their cheapest offering has macro capabilities (Sequences in Harmony-speak). This is NOT a successor to the Harmony One. Looks are deceiving. It uses the same codeset as the Harmony 1100, not the Harmony One. Such a shame. Besides the Harmony 1100, this has to be the most expensive remote on the market which lacks basic macro capability.
18 out of 22 users found this user opinion helpful.
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This is a fantastic remote. It won't sell.
by PACoug on August 17, 2009
Pros: Simplicity and user friendliness. Once you get it set up, your 5 year old can use your system.
Love being able to control zone 2 upstairs with no extra remote sensor installation.Cons: If you want to go deep into menu functions or button functions of complex pieces of gear like a $3000 receiver, the process is a pain. User friendly usually means poweruser-unfriendly--and that is the case here. But everyday use is still a joy.
Summary: This thing is too expensive for the kind of consumer who will love it.
For the consumer who will spend this much for a remote, it's too locked down....Summary: This thing is too expensive for the kind of consumer who will love it.
For the consumer who will spend this much for a remote, it's too locked down.
Once you get above about $300 I encourage you to explore custom remote systems properly set up for your home. You'll have much more control, operation will be even more simple, and the frustration level of a 'one-size-fits-most' product that doesn't quite fit will go away.
Speaking as somebody who had (and liked) the H1 but needed RF control, this remote mostly works well for me, and I've now got it set up so it's mostly perfect for both zones it controls. So I'm one of the few who considers this item a good buy.
The Wal-Mart shoppers squawking about price here aren't the target market for this thing. For Logitech's sake, I hope there are enough consumers like me who are willing to deal with the shortcomings of their approach to save a few hundred on a custom control system.14 out of 17 users found this user opinion helpful.
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No sequences (macros)! What were you thinking Logitech?
by tekn0guy on August 14, 2009
Pros: Nice screen
Cons: No sequences. Logitech has inexplicably remove sequence (macro) capabilities from this and the new 1100.
Summary: I can't believe the cnet review didn't even mention the most glaring omission in this product. Removing core features like sequences is a very disturbing trend. Even a $...
Summary: I can't believe the cnet review didn't even mention the most glaring omission in this product. Removing core features like sequences is a very disturbing trend. Even a $20 remote has macros. Even most of logitech's other remotes have sequences, albeit only 5 steps. It's truly shocking that one of their flagship models and probably all new models in the future won't have them. This product is certainly worthy of a boycott to send a strong message that destroying such a great product is unacceptable to consumers.
We had to beg and plead for years to get sequences. Then they finally relented and gave us 5 steps. Pathetic, but better than nothing. I'm flabbergasted by this latest move to take them away.
Imagine paying $400 for a remote, getting it home and trying to program a simple macro only to discover it can't be done.13 out of 18 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Comment on sequences from Harmony Product Manager
by iancrowe on September 10, 2009
Pros: Controls hidden devices
Works without pointing
Easy RF setupCons: Confusion over sequences
Summary: Regarding sequences, or macros...
The most relevent use of 'sequences' are Activities, which is the core feature of every Harmony remote. When you want to watch a DVD for example, ...Summary: Regarding sequences, or macros...
The most relevent use of 'sequences' are Activities, which is the core feature of every Harmony remote. When you want to watch a DVD for example, you push a single button to turn on your TV, your DVD player and your AV receiver and switch each device to the correct input. If you desire extra functions as part of an activity, such as switching to a certain sound or picture mode, or enabling closed captions you can include those commands right in the activity. Another common use of sequences are favorite channels, where a single button press will send the 1-2-3 commands in order to tune to channel 123. Favorite channels are fully supported. It is also possible to assign individual commands to a hard button within an activity. For example, I use my Clear and Enter buttons to control my picture-in-picture functions.
At Harmony, our preference is to automate the creation of sequences by baking them in to other features based on how people actually use their remotes. Above are a few examples of sequences but with different names. Where we have offered the ability to program full command sequences as a unique feature in other remotes, very few people actually used it.
Hope this helps,
Ian Crowe, Product Manager, Harmony Remotes21 out of 40 users found this user opinion helpful.
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MISLEAD BY CNET REVIEW! very bad review from cnet!
by theddygrumo on October 10, 2009
Pros: the pros with this one is the review from the editor. the only advantage with this one over the harmony one is the RF. the old 890 is better than this.
Cons: cnet please update your rating. dont you read customers reviews? look at customers rating who actually use it in real world. we are frustrated with the lack of sequences and macros that even the cheapest remote has. how did you review this product.
Summary: very bad review from cnet editor for not mentioning the lack of sequences and macros. i could not understand how they rate this just because of the RF functionality. i ...
Summary: very bad review from cnet editor for not mentioning the lack of sequences and macros. i could not understand how they rate this just because of the RF functionality. i agree with there review with the harmony one but this review is so misleading. it made me buy this because i trust cnet review but they mislead with this one. please please update your rating. didn't you check the macros and sequences? how did you review this product?
7 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Pipe Dream - Abysmal Execution
by pjyannone on January 17, 2011
Pros: The advertizing played on our hopes and dreams of unifed theory of remote technology. It lured like the sirens of Crete.
Cons: Reality hit like a pallet of bricks, when wrangling with the amature software. What a rat's nest. The edit process required the awkward java form upload and then a download to update the remote, and then many repeats to fix the unexpected results.
Summary: The two levels of tech support commiserated with me. They were as tired of the topic as I was. They read their scripts per their job descriptions nonetheless. The upload ...
Summary: The two levels of tech support commiserated with me. They were as tired of the topic as I was. They read their scripts per their job descriptions nonetheless. The upload dialog software requested an ancient 1024x768 resolution screen. The 1920x1080 HD on my 8-month old Dell XPS laptop was not good enough. I tried the low-res but the results were worse. Even with HD I had to scroll the screen down to access the next or done buttons, for each input. The Java choice menus malfunctioned and vanished upon any clicking. I constructed a crippling workaround involving a mix of mouse and keyboard maneuvers but I averaged about one hour for each of my many updates to the remote, each producing unexpected results. The software is convoluted and ignores every ancient law of a reasonable hierarchy. The remote hardware is the same. The promise of a full version of every remote was broken immediately upon reading the requirements for adding just one custom function to one device.
My customer could afford the remote but the full time programmer would be a little pricey. The tweaker who may like the challenge of conquering this beast, is not likely in the income bracket to buy one. The first thing I found was that the RF claim on the box did not mean that its "universality" actually encompassed the RF controlled Bose system. So the reduction to one remote became two, within the first five minutes, and the outlook became clear that for a dozen reasons a dozen remotes would need to be kept on hand.
As the reader can likely tell, the shock and disappointment affects my writing. I would sooner not be having to write this review, but I would feel irresponsible if I did not do my part to discourage the perpetuation of such poor engineering, if it could even be called that. Harmony has made a dog (no offence intended to canine kind) and Logitech should dump this product before it bites them back.5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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$400 remote is no problem - lack of sequences is...
by mikeak_01 on August 27, 2009
Pros: I love the upgraded RF. It is significantly improved and works like a charm. I love the additional icons (wish you could custom make some more).
Cons: How is it possible in 2009 to release an advanced remote without macros / sequences. If anything logitech should have improved on previous limit of 5-6 commands, not remove it. CNET failed to point this out so I bought and returned it within 48hrs.
Summary: One issue makes this remote worthless. Add macros / sequences and I am buying it
Summary: One issue makes this remote worthless. Add macros / sequences and I am buying it
5 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Save some time & money and do your homework
by g_fisher on September 15, 2009
Pros: Intuitive desktop software
Cons: Proven history of design flaws with the Harmony remote product line (especially the chargers).
Customer supportSummary: Google "harmony remote design flaw" and see all the comments about the faulty chargers on the harmony remote line. If you're looking to buy a 900, I suggest waiting ...
Summary: Google "harmony remote design flaw" and see all the comments about the faulty chargers on the harmony remote line. If you're looking to buy a 900, I suggest waiting until the bugs are worked out. I'm stuck with two harmony remotes 880 & 890 that don't charge. Harmony wont exchange them. I've wasted countless hours on the phone with Harmony customer support. It's appalling in this day and age when companies don't stand behind their products...especially when the actual replacement cost can't be that high.
My two ($600) remotes are 100%, completely, and utterly useless.3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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As a Harmony ONE user .. This was a Huge Improvement
by JonThomasDesigns on September 10, 2009
Pros: Everything is much quicker, Fav Channel is instantaneous, The screen is a higher resolution LCD, The Help button is much better, and the new backlit Blu-ray controls are awesome ..RF is incredible easy to set up .. great range of the mini IR blasters
Cons: $400 .. but oh well ... if you dont have $400 to spend on a remote , don't buy it .. If you do its well worth it
Summary: Let me be clear i was in Love with the Harmony ONE remote,For my setup it was perfect and a joy to use ..
Even the non tech Fiancee loved ...Summary: Let me be clear i was in Love with the Harmony ONE remote,For my setup it was perfect and a joy to use ..
Even the non tech Fiancee loved it .. But the one issue we had was IR in general the components sat below the 60" tv and the coffee table reflected the IR Signal so i bought a pair of the X10 PowerMid RF to IR receivers.. They were Fine but not a perfect solution .. Slow response time and missed signals .. and mind you i still give the Harmony ONE a 10/10 rating ..
Well last weekend after a night of drinking and Playing Rock band 2 someone stepped on my Harmony ONE and broke the screen making it useless .. I was thinking about getting a replacement ONE but i knew the 900 was just released so i scooped it up ...
Now on the the Harmony 900 .. Set up was SOOO EASY ! yes you have to redo the online set up because it does not carry over but it only took me 15-20 mins to get it perfect even adding all the Channel Icons to my fav channels ..
The RF/IR blaster was incredibility easy to set up i just place it on top of my DVR and the 2 Mini IR blasters i placed on each side of the lower components .. Amazingly it hit everything on the first try each as each blaster has 4 IR nodes in it so it has amazing coverage .. RF is a HUGE difference ! I can control everything for almost any room in the house and unlike the Harmony ONE the was almost No delay at all ..
Fav channel buttons change almost instantaneous , Everything is much quicker, The screen is a higher resolution LCD, The Help button is much better, and the new backlit Blu-ray controls are awesome .. I Paid $400 which is a little crazy for a Remote but in the end it was well worth it ..
So if the Harmony ONE is a 10/10 .. Then this has to be 11/10 .. Bonus Pt for RF : )3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Logitech
- Part number: 915-000030
- Description: Logitech Harmony 900 controls your home-entertainment devices - even when they're out of sight (up to 100 feet away). When it's show time at your house, you won't see a jumble of remotes. You won't see a list of instructions. With RF technology, you won't even need to aim your remote or see your components or cables. It's easy to extend your reach and turn RF signals into IR commands your devices can understand. Just place the simple-to-install IR blaster and mini blasters near the equipment you want to control. No more complicated lists of what to turn on or which button to select. Everyone can select what they want to do - such as "Watch TV" - and your Harmony remote does the rest. You get easy, one-touch access to your entertainment activities - such as watching a DVD, watching TV, listening to music - as well as your favorite channels. Your rechargeable remote can go a week between charges. Just set it in the base station and it charges up. You won't be looking for batteries when you want to be watching TV.
General
- Remote type Universal remote control
- Remote control technology Infrared
Overview
- Features Rechargeable ,
Back-lit buttons ,
Easy online set up ,
Supports 5000+ brands ,
One-click activity buttons - Number of supported devices 15
- Supported devices TV ,
DVR ,
Blu-ray player ,
Cable box ,
DVD player ,
AV receiver - Input device Touch screen
- Display LCD display - 3.5 in - Color
- Color display Yes
Connections
- Type 1 x USB
System Requirements
- Operating System Apple Mac OS X 10.3 or later,
MS Windows 2000,
MS Windows XP,
MS Windows Vista,
MS Windows 7
Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories AC power adapter,
Remote control charging stand - Cables Included 1 x USB cable - External
Power
- Battery 1 x Remote control unit battery - Rechargeable - Lithium ion
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Logitech products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:Logitech
- Address:
6505 Kaiser Dr., Fremont, CA 94555
