Logitech Harmony 628 Advanced Universal Remote (Blue/Silver)
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The Logitech Harmony 628 Advanced Universal Remote with Interactive Display and Software CD Control enables you to control your entire system with the press of just one button. Simply select an activity and your remote will evaluate the state of all your audio/video components, then send the correct commands to make your system do exactly what you want. The intuitive layout and one-touch Activity Buttons of the Logitech Harmony 628 makes it the ideal choice for controlling your entire entertainment system.
The Harmony 628 integrates all your device remotes with no macro programming. Setting up the remote is easy using the Web Wizard. Just tell the wizard the make and model of your devices, and Logitech's patented Smart State Technology does the rest. After completing the Web Wizard set-up, program the remote by simply connecting the Harmony Remote to your computer with the supplied USB cable. One-touch activity buttons allow you to watch TV, listen to music and more with ease. Lastly, the easy-to-read interactive display keeps you in control and informed of what's going on, and backlighting makes the buttons and interactive display glow brightly for easy use in the dark.
What's in the Box
Harmony 628 remote control, Harmony software installation CD, USB cable, 4 AAA batteries, and quick start guide.
 Perfect - and now, available for even less |
| Review Date: June 24, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Robert S. Tobias, Arlington, VA USA |
| I bought one of these a few weeks ago because I was tired of juggling three remotes. I had tried several other "universal" devices, only to find it impossible to get all the functions included in any reasonable fashion.
The harmony remotes, rather than being programmed using code numbers, are set up through a USB cable and a web site. That means there is a little extra time at the front end, involving loading the PC-based software (more later), the firmware update to the remote, and then the config information. The benefit is that you get almost limitless flexability in defining how the remote works. Another wonderful feature is that it understands operating modes. If you push the "Watch TV" button it will turn on, for example, your TV, your set top box, and your TIVO. The button labled "FF" will control your TIVO. If you push "Watch a Movie", again the appropriate devices will be turned on (and the inappropriate ones off if you choose to set it that way) and the same "FF" button will now control your DVD player. The result is far fewer buttons and a better interface. About the software, when you get your remote (and you should), don't install the CD that comes with it. Go directly to the web site where you can install the latest version. If you install from CD you'll probably have to uninstall before the update will load. After seeing how well the first remote worked, I bought a second remote for my upstairs TV. Now I see they are about $10 less than I paid; an even better value. |
| changed my mind |
| Review Date: January 1, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Eric Williams, Richmond, CA USA |
| I've got a pile of "universal" remotes in my home, all of which failed to run at least one of the components in my entertainment system. When I saw the 628 in the store and took a chance on paying it's relatively high purchase price, I was fully prepared to take it back if it didn't do EVERYTHING I wanted to do with my system.
And I'm keeping it. Yeah, the web interface is a bit of a pain, and I'm worried what will happen when their server goes down or Logitech decides to end support. But darned if this thing didn't already know about every one of my (rather odd) components, with just a few buttons missing, and those it learned without any trouble. The state-concious macros allow you to switch entertainment activities without getting out of sync or having to cycle through OFF, and the ergonomic shape lets you run things one-handed. The biggest time-waster is whittling down the kitchen-sink functions that clutter up the soft key menu pages, and I had to lie and tell it my computer was a cassette recorder, but once I got it tweaked it's been very handy. Save the receipt if you must, but give this one a try if you've been disapointed by the others. You may just keep it. |
| How great is this? |
| Review Date: March 30, 2006 |
| Reviewer: V. Cummings, Saginaw, MI |
| This remote is great, it controls everything I need it to with ZERO probelms, and if you did have a problem it can help you fix it! This remote is a little on the pricy side but well worth it when you can control your
TV VCR DVD Player TIVO Cable -or- Dish System Stero System Surround Sound X-BOX BOSE AND MORE.... I love this remote I took all the other ones, and placed the in the drawer. The software for this is really simple to use, and follow it really walks you through the setup process really well. The best part is you can program it to do certain things for example: If you want to watch a DVD, it will turn on the TV, DVD Player, and Audio System all at the same time - how cool is that! This is worth the money - the dog even got ahold of the remote and did a number on it, and it still works! The screen could be a little bit larger though, not by much! |
| amazing remote...especially for the money |
| Review Date: July 1, 2006 |
| Reviewer: irish-george, |
| Just got this remote in an effort to make life simpler for my wife and kids and it really delivers! Here is what sets this remote apart from others that I've used:
1) the whole remote responds to one-button macros, i.e., pressing the "watch tv" button on the remote not only turns on the appropriate components and puts them in the appropriate modes but makes the buttons on the remote control the appropriate component...for instance, in my situation, pressing the channel up/down or numeric buttons will then affect the tv while pressing volume will affect the receiver (no switching the remote to control different components when it is in this mode of operation)...the downside is that not all functions are accessible (as far as I can tell) from this mode of operations, so you can: 2) press the device button and select from the list of devices you told it you have and the remote actually becomes a SUPERSET of what you could do on the OEM remote that shipped with your component! I have a Sony 400 disk DVD changer and THIS remote allows me more control than the Sony RM-DX500 remote...the downside is poor documentation on HOW you access everything but you can figure it out from the website and once you know, there is nothing that you have to refer back to (it's just part of your learning curve on how the remote operates) 3) all the programming is stored in flash memory so you never have to beat the clock when changing batteries 4) it is easy to clone the remote into other Logitech remotes if you wish to have more of them (you might miss seeing all those remotes laying around) This is really a well-thought-out, impressive remote. |
| 100% Compatible, Even With Obscure Equipment |
| Review Date: May 2, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Matt Koz, |
| I came across this product searching for a universal remote to control my rather unique setup. I have two devices (D-Link Media Lounge and Creative Labs Audio Decoder) which pretty much all universals aren't compatable with. All of Logitech's promises for compatability were 100% delivered.
The function keys such as "Watch TV" work perfectly turning on necessary devices and changing to correct inputs. This was vital because my girlfriend was clueless with the stack of 4 remotes this replaced. The setup wizard was extremely user friendly and made the initial setup a breeze. This brings me to my only (minor) complaint. The wizard was a little too user friendly in my opinion. I had to customize a couple of the delays between signals to allow time for the television to power up. The software is so user friendly it actually makes editing for the advanced user a nightmare. But with a little work I figured it out, put all my other remotes in the cabinet and haven't used them since. Also, there are much more expensive Harmony models out there, but as far as I can tell, they have the same functionality and compatability as this one. The only difference that I can tell is a flashier casing and color LCD. If that isn't a concern of yours, then this is the remote for you. |
- USB Plug n' Play enables programming by connecting Harmony Remote to computer with provided USB cable
- Sleek design is easy to hold and features intuitive layout and one-touch activity buttons
- Software compatible with PCs and Macs; includes 2 MB non-volatile flash memory
- Measures 8.1 x 2.3 x 1.3 inches (WxHxD); weighs 5.8 ounces
Tagged with: advanced • bluesilver • harmony • Logitech • remote • universal
Filed under: Logitech
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