View Full Version : Logitech: "We hear you"
Stuart Sweet
01-07-08, 04:27 PM
Had a great conversation with the developer of the Logitech Harmony One. I told him that I was disappointed that it didn't have a List Button or Color buttons. While he seemed surprised that these were important, he did admit that he'd heard the complaint about List not being on the remote before.
Bottom line... when I complained to Logitech in 2006 that they didn't have a left-hand capable high end remote, they had one within 9 months. They told me they heard me this time, let's see.
Had a great conversation with the developer of the Logitech Harmony One. I told him that I was disappointed that it didn't have a List Button or Color buttons. While he seemed surprised that these were important, he did admit that he'd heard the complaint about List not being on the remote before.
Bottom line... when I complained to Logitech in 2006 that they didn't have a left-hand capable high end remote, they had one within 9 months. They told me they heard me this time, let's see.Thank you Stuart! If you have a chance to follow-up about color buttons, maybe you could ask why they won't at least sell the European Harmony versions here in the U.S. ... they have dedicated color buttons, and having the choice here (one with color buttons and one without), would be a great choice to make, even if the one with color buttons costs more...
P.S. For anyone interested, there's a thread discussing the new Harmony One in the Computer Gadget and Gizmo forum...
Link: Harmony Introduces new remote at CES 2008: Harmony One (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=114902)
Stuart Sweet
01-07-08, 05:30 PM
Drew, I flat out told the guy that he should stop developing separate Euro and US versions, and where possible discontinue the US versions and sell the Euro versions only. He seemed to think that was a marketing issue but he did listen.
Drew, I flat out told the guy that he should stop developing separate Euro and US versions, and where possible discontinue the US versions and sell the Euro versions only. He seemed to think that was a marketing issue but he did listen.About the only change I'd make from the European versions I have seen is to move the cololr keys up from the bottom, where they are located on many models, and move them to below the D-Pad, right above the transport keys.
I'm glad you asked, though, it was like I was there! :)
BudShark
01-07-08, 08:36 PM
So the color keys - you are referring to variable use color keys like what the RC64 (DirecTV Remote) has correct?
Chris
So the color keys - you are referring to variable use color keys like what the RC64 (DirecTV Remote) has correct?
Chris
Exactly. Check out this thread (http://www.remotecentral.com/cgi-bin/mboard/rc-harmony/thread.cgi?4251) at RemoteCentral.com to see the various existing Harmony remotes, and compare the "foreign" cousins to the U.S. versions. The overseash versions have dedicated hard-buttons with the R, G, B, and Y colors, while the U.S. versios do not. In some cases, Logitech added new buttons to the remotes, in other cases some buttons were repurposed. In most cases, implemented the color buttons badly (see the miniscule color buttons on the 885, for example), and in the best case they had the color buttons near the navigaiton D-pad.
I just noticed that there's some space directly below the LCD panel on the Harmony One ... and there's not much space anywhere else on the remote. I wonder if this is where they'll put the color buttons on the international models? That would work for me.
Ideally, though, I'd prefer they move the top section of hard buttons up closer to the LCD panel and put the color buttons directly above the D-pad.
Kansas Zephyr
01-07-08, 09:26 PM
I use the XBOX 360 version, it has 4 color buttons.
I use the XBOX 360 version, it has 4 color buttons.I had that one and gave it to my sister and brother-in-law, because I didn't like the backlighting affect on the translucent color buttons in a dark room. (I'm very picky.) ;)
Thaedron
01-08-08, 08:20 AM
Drew, please keep up the PR campaign. I'd love to see a US Harmony product with dedicated color buttons in a "good" place on the remote.
Thaedron
01-08-08, 08:21 AM
I had that one and gave it to my sister and brother-in-law, because I didn't like the backlighting affect on the translucent color buttons in a dark room. (I'm very picky.) ;)
Also, it's not as full featured as the 880. I really appreciate the internal re-chargeable batteries.
Stuart, maybe you could just give Logitech a link and/or subscription to this thread... ;)
Sirshagg
01-08-08, 08:23 AM
Drew, please keep up the PR campaign. I'd love to see a US Harmony product with dedicated color buttons in a "good" place on the remote.
Xbox model. Although I would not be opposed to more options too.
Milominderbinder2
01-08-08, 08:28 AM
Will Harmony get beyond 5 step macros?
- Craig
Had a great conversation with the developer of the Logitech Harmony One. I told him that I was disappointed that it didn't have a List Button or Color buttons. While he seemed surprised that these were important, he did admit that he'd heard the complaint about List not being on the remote before.
Bottom line... when I complained to Logitech in 2006 that they didn't have a left-hand capable high end remote, they had one within 9 months. They told me they heard me this time, let's see.Colored and list buttons would be great. Thanks for mentioning it. How is this model supposed to work? Do you touch the lcd for those command, if you set them up? There are no buttons at the lcd at all, correct?
XPLORx4
01-08-08, 01:32 PM
Colored and list buttons would be great. Thanks for mentioning it. How is this model supposed to work? Do you touch the lcd for those command, if you set them up? There are no buttons at the lcd at all, correct?
Did you read the press release (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=114902)?
A key outcome of Logitech’s research is a 2.2-inch color touch screen that uses capacitive technology, which responds to tiny electrical charges from the fingertips. Capacitive touch-screen technology is more durable, compared to touch screens that respond to pressure. The color touch screen provides control of any home entertainment device with an infrared receiver, including digital video recorders, high-definition televisions and many household appliances. The Harmony One remote’s touch screen can also display icons of specified TV stations for quick access to favorite stations.
Inspired, I created some cleaner mock-ups ... so here they are ...
That space directly below the LCD may be where Harmony puts the color buttons for the international customers:
http://www.dbstalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=11797&stc=1&d=1199831332
My preference, though, would be to have the color keys directly above the D-Pad, as shown in the 2nd mock-up:
http://www.dbstalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=11798&stc=1&d=1199831332
I hope Harmony's listening! :)
phat78boy
01-08-08, 03:34 PM
Not sure how many die hard Logitech people are in here, but this guy could be nice competitor.
http://www.ricavision.com/vave100.html
XPLORx4
01-08-08, 05:49 PM
Something I find lacking on the new remote are the "Pic" and "Sound" buttons, which I have on my 680, and I've grown accustomed to. I use the "Pic" mode to access TV-specific function within an activity and the "Sound" mode to access my Receiver-specific functions. The new Harmony One remote is also missing a "Media" button.
I want my Harmony remote to work with my PS3.
Stuart Sweet
01-08-08, 06:27 PM
Drew, they didn't want to tell me if there would be a Euro version of the Harmony One, probably didn't want me to go postal about it. But it did not seem when handling the remote (yes I held one!) that you could fit a full row of buttons between the touchscreen and the hard buttons.
What they did have on the prototype, the color buttons were mapped to three of the 6 soft positions on the screen. They were called A B and C and were shaped like the color buttons on some cable boxes, square round and triangular.
eatswodo
01-08-08, 06:32 PM
I want my Harmony remote to work with my PS3.
Try one of these:
http://www.shopperschoice.com/item_item_2071601_source_froogle.html
Or this setup (if you can find the bits):
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=761809
Drew, they didn't want to tell me if there would be a Euro version of the Harmony One, probably didn't want me to go postal about it. But it did not seem when handling the remote (yes I held one!) that you could fit a full row of buttons between the touchscreen and the hard buttons.
What they did have on the prototype, the color buttons were mapped to three of the 6 soft positions on the screen. They were called A B and C and were shaped like the color buttons on some cable boxes, square round and triangular.I see - they were using the new Harmony One option to assign custom graphics on soft keys in place of the color buttons .... If this is their new approach and there won't be dedicated color buttons for the European market, that does make sense from a business perspective, since they only have to engineer and manufacture one remote for global sales. I just wonder what the reaction of Harmony fans overseas will be ...
I just wonder what the reaction of Harmony fans overseas will be ...
They will probably post mock-ups of what they really want in internet forums. ;) :)
shmengie
01-09-08, 07:52 AM
hey stuart: don't forget to tell him we want a dedicated slo-mo button! (even if it's a soft-key. as long as it's dedicated).
They will probably post mock-ups of what they really want in internet forums. ;) :)Hey ... not bad! :p
Did you read the press release (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=114902)?
Alright, fair enough. I knew about the touch screen, but wondered if you only access the activities there. I confess to not reading all the details. Write me up.
I want my Harmony remote to work with my PS3.
Try one of these:
http://www.shopperschoice.com/item_item_2071601_source_froogle.html
Or this setup (if you can find the bits):
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=761809
There's an innovative solution here as well. http://www.schmartz.com/main.sc
(even supports PWR ON/OFF now)
Stuart Sweet
01-10-08, 09:15 AM
hey stuart: don't forget to tell him we want a dedicated slo-mo button! (even if it's a soft-key. as long as it's dedicated).
I did talk to him at length about how his customer base tend to be DVR and DVD users, and how there were not enough of the common hard buttons. He confessed that there was not enough real estate on the remote for everything, and I told him that I, for one, would rather see List and Slow instead of big arrow (page up/page down) buttons. Of course, he said, you can map whatever to whatever. I said not the point. Especially the List hard button and the color buttons need to be labeled properly. I did mention slow several times but it wasn't the focus of the discussion.
joesigg
01-10-08, 09:19 AM
Drew:
I would buy a Harmony One now if it had the color buttons. But without them, I will "suffer" along with my 676. Keep up the campaign!!
Hot topic in financial circles...Microsoft may be making a bid to buy Logitech. I hope this doesn't happen.
Stuart Sweet
01-10-08, 09:41 AM
I would have thought it was the end of the creativity when Logitech bought Harmony, but the 880 and 890 were developed as Logitech products and they're great. Let's not assume this will happen:
http://www.dbstalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=11910&d=1199983265
afulkerson
01-10-08, 09:47 AM
Drew, I flat out told the guy that he should stop developing separate Euro and US versions, and where possible discontinue the US versions and sell the Euro versions only. He seemed to think that was a marketing issue but he did listen.
Last year DirecTv had a special offer on the Harmony remote. I got one and the model is 885 which does have the colored buttons on it. I have since been told that this is the Euro version. I got this direct from Logitech.
Only problem that I have is the 5 key limit on macro's..
:) :) :) :)
Capmeister
01-10-08, 09:48 AM
I did talk to him at length about how his customer base tend to be DVR and DVD users, and how there were not enough of the common hard buttons. He confessed that there was not enough real estate on the remote for everything, and I told him that I, for one, would rather see List and Slow instead of big arrow (page up/page down) buttons. Of course, he said, you can map whatever to whatever. I said not the point. Especially the List hard button and the color buttons need to be labeled properly. I did mention slow several times but it wasn't the focus of the discussion.
It sounds like Harmony needs to visit DBSTalk like DirecTV does. ;)
I love my Harmony 885 with its colored buttons. I got an 880 for my neice and her husband for Christmas (they're not DirecTV users yet. I'll convert them at some point).
Sirshagg
01-10-08, 09:49 AM
I would have thought it was the end of the creativity when Logitech bought Harmony, but the 880 and 890 were developed as Logitech products and they're great. Let's not assume this will happen:
http://www.dbstalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=11910&d=1199983265
Now THATS funny!
Stuart Sweet
01-10-08, 09:53 AM
It sounds like Harmony needs to visit DBSTalk like DirecTV does. ;)
I love my Harmony 885 with its colored buttons. I got an 880 for my neice and her husband for Christmas (they're not DirecTV users yet. I'll convert them at some point).
Capmeister, I actually mentioned you to the Logitech guy... I said one of the members at the site actually bought an 885 because he really needed the color buttons, and I was sure he wasn't the only one. I told him to come here and read, and to read other sites as well.
Capmeister
01-10-08, 09:57 AM
Capmeister, I actually mentioned you to the Logitech guy... I said one of the members at the site actually bought an 885 because he really needed the color buttons, and I was sure he wasn't the only one. I told him to come here and read, and to read other sites as well.
Nifty! I paid $200 bucks and had to get someone to converse with the seller in German for it! :D
I cannot tell you how proud I am to be a member of this community--to have you good people at CES, representing all of us who cannot go to such things and don't generally get a chance to talk to those who make the products we use.
What began (?) with Earl making our D* connections, DBSTalk seems to be a growing force for consumers in the home entertainment world. I think it's fantastic and I think you guys who do this hard work for all of us are the best.
:)
tekie99
01-10-08, 10:20 AM
I have and still currently use my 880 and love it, yes the hard colored buttons would be great because I like many others are using soft keys for color options. One thing though for the flagship remote of logitech, the i1000... I bought one about 6 months ago and was extremely upset about the lack of a hard enter key, had to reuturn it due to changing channels taking 3 seconds longer due to no hard enter key.. big disappointment
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