A remote control of your dreams

By Chris Ricci

Logitech Harmony Remote

This is an all-in-one and one-in-all remote. If you get one of these, you can put all of your other remotes into cold storage.

One sleek remote turns on the TV, the DVD player, and selects the TV video source input for the DVD. It controls all of its functions with one button. It will even power off equipment you’re not using.

The top of the gadget has several quick navigation buttons, similar to PC multimedia keyboard buttons. Your choices include Watch Movie, Watch TV, Music, and Other Activities. These buttons will power on as many devices as needed to perform each task, and are fully customizable.

Logitech maintains a web-based remote control-code database. This means you can buy new equipment as it will work with this remote, too.

There are four Duracell batteries included. Much better than using a manufacturer’s own brand battery. There is a USB cable, a software installation CD, a product guide and catalog. Installing the batteries is a piece of cake. The cover is solid and firmly fits back on. It won’t fall off. Once the batteries are in, the remote comes to life. The LCD screen lights up and the buttons light up, too.

The remote prompts you to select a language and offers you a guided tour. Take it. Put the software CD in the drive and begin the installation. You will be prompted to install the Harmony Remote software and the Logitech Desktop Messenger Application. Do it, even though you should know you would be removing it later on. You don’t need anything sitting in the computer system tray wasting resources.

The instructions are easy to follow. They take you on a simple five-step process. Install the batteries . Write down the devices you will be operating using this remote by make, model and brand. There is even space reserved for this information. Review the optional tutorial on the Harmony Remote itself; plug in the USB and last, install the software. And here’s where reading the instructions comes handy: you won’t be installing the software without having plugged the remote in first. The software installation is not your average click-next-click-next-click-ok routine. You have to follow this process to understand what this gadget can do.

During the installation process, the software connects to the Harmony Remote via USB cable. You are prompted to create a user profile on Logitech’s website.

Now, you will need the information you had written down. You are prompted to fill in the fields that correspond to the types of devices you want to harmonize with this remote. Once you have entered your information, the site verifies it behind the scenes against a manufacturer database. Once the verification succeeds, it’s time to set each device groupings up.

That’s where headaches come in. Attempts to install on a desktop PC brought about a crash with a huge exceptions list. (a what?) The crash comes back even after uninstall, reboot, Java update and reinstall. There is an online support service, but it’s 24 hours for a reply. Strangely though, a similar install on a laptop was a breeze.

Still, even with these misgivings in mind, Logitech's Harmony Remote is an almost must-have gadget for those who like to live simpler lives.

• Price: (US) $129 - $499

• More info: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/features/harmony/US/EN,CRID=2078 Toll-free # 1-866-291-1505

• Bottom line: If you like technology and don’t mind tweaking and fine-tuning, this is the remote for you. If you want an out-of-the-box solution, this isn’t it.

• Rating: 4 out of 5

  Available online here:

  • Amazon.ca
  • Amazon.com