Logitech - Harmony Express Remote - Graphite
Model: 915-000321
SKU: 6323168
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Customers recognize the Harmony Express Remote's voice control and ease of use as significant strengths, with many praising its simple setup and convenient size. Positive feedback also highlights the remote's rechargeable battery and sleek design. However, some users experienced compatibility issues with certain devices and limitations with Alexa integration and the lack of a dedicated power button.
You don't even have to call her name when you use this voice remote, but make no mistake, Alexa is doing all the work. And using this device is dead simple. The remote is a diminutive lighted little beauty. My pictures show it in my hand, and also show the remote next to its hub, the larger Harmony Hub, and the Harmony Elite remote. The size is incredibly small for all the Harmony Express does. First, you must install the Harmony Express software on your iPhone or Android device. Plug the hub's power supply into the wall, and the USB connector from the power supply into the hub. There is a separate emitter for attachment in the event the hub cannot have a clear a line of sight to your devices. The software finds the hub, searches Wi-Fi connections for availability, let's you connect, and then downloads and applies any firmware updates that may be available. The hub searches for all the devices connected to your network. In my case, I use an Onkyo AVR to which all my entertainment devices are connected. It acts as an HDMI 4K switcher becuase my monitor only does 4K from one HDMI input. Not all devices were found, but those that were not could be manually added. Each device was then assigned to one of the inputs on the AVR, by dragging and dropping on the software. That easy. You don't have to name or define any tasks like you would with the conventional Harmony Hub remotes. The set-up process is even more simple than this description can convey. Simple and intuitive. The rest is nothing short of magic. And realizing that this device could wind up interfering with all the other Alexa-enabled devices already in place, the designers made sure you did not have to invoke Alexa's name to speak a command. Picture this. I told you what I did to set up the software. All my devices were off. I picked up the remote, pressed and held the OK button, and spoke into it, "Go to NBC". In a moment, the monitor, the AVR, and my TiVo, switched on. The input on the AVR was set to the TiVo. A moment later, the TiVo changed to my local NBC station. "Go to channel 3.1" The TiVo changed to that channel. "Turn on Roku" the AVR and monitor stayed on, the AVR input was switched to my Roku device which turned on. There is a list of commands that the literature with the device lists and which Alexa will understand. Everyone that I tried worked to perfection. "Go to Netflix". The Roku changed to its Netflix app. "Go to Fire TV" The AVR switched to my Fire TV device. "Go to Blu-Ray" The AVR switched to my Blu-Ray player and turned it on. You generally cannot improvise though. If you do not speak the exact phrase that Alexa is programmed to understand, you'll be advised by her that she does not know how to perform the task you have spoken. And, of course, if there is extraneous noise, or you did not speak clearly, she may not understand you. Those kinds of problems were minimal for me. The analogy that I make is to the Harmony Hub activities, if you have ever programmed those devices. Your voice command becomes the activity. Because of the way the devices have been recognized and identified to the software, it knows what needs to be done when you want to do something like "Watch CBS". It turns on all the devices and sets the inputs on the command, whether you are switching from one activity to another or turning everything off. "Turn off the TV" and everything turns off. You do not use your voice at all to control non-switching activities like turning the volume up or down or using the rocker switch to navigate on the device being controlled. The rocker is the lighted circle and the OK button is the middle of the circle. Your voice and those first-named buttons will be doing 99 percent of the work. But the OK, rocker, volume, pause/play, return, and skip search buttons are about all you need. A third function button serves different purposes for different devices, depending on how you have set the remote up. And some of the function buttons can be programmed to serve contrasting functions depending on whether you use a short press or a long press. Again, all the buttons on the remote are lighted. At this juncture, you cannot use the Harmony Express microphone to search within an app, like Netflix. The implication is that a search function may come later. There are no batteries. The remote is charged with a USB cable attached to your computer. I have been playing with this device for a couple of days and I really love it. I love the way it feels in my hand and the way it works. Will it replace my Harmony Elite remote? I can't say that it will do all the things my Elite can do. It can't, and the Express costs just as much if not more unless you can find the Elite on sale. My Elite controls more devices, but it was way more complex to get set up and must be periodically fiddled with to keep it in tip top shape. What the Express does is arguably simpler work, but the tasks are generally performed flawlessly and without any intervention. It is addictive. I promise. I think that for most home theater users, the Express could become their remote of choice. I would be truly amazed if many users of this device would let it go after putting it through the paces. There were a couple of hiccups. My AVR has five identified HDMI inputs and a sixth one that can be assigned. The Express did not find, and I therefore could not use the assigned HDMI input, which I wanted to use for another of my streaming devices. I could still use it by running the device's HDMI to a second input on my monitor, instead of routing it through the AVR. The software saw that route and made it available. And you cannot use the Express in a room where you are already using a Harmony Hub device. Since Alexa can also work with the Harmony Hub remotes, this restriction is totally understandable. In my Livingroom where the Harmony Hub Elite had been used, it was disabled so that the Express functions could be enabled. The magic does have its limitations. If you are in the market for a universal remote, you ought to consider this one. It's perfect for what it was designed to do. Another thing. Even though you don't have to call Alexa's name to summon her, you can still ask her to do anything she's otherwise programmed to do by speaking into the remote, just like you could on any other Alexa- enabled device. What's the temperature? She'll tell you just like she always has. Amazing. Now Logitech has trained Alexa. What in the world could be next?
Posted by mobilelawyer
Setup is quick and easy for Logitech Harmony Express. It came with Remote control (with rechargeable battery), Blaster, IR Mini-blaster, USB Cable, AC adapter and User documentation. I have downloaded iOS Harmony express app from App store and followed the instructions step by step to configure all my home theater devices in less than 10 mins. I have configured Alexa integration as well. The remote is very sleek and unique design and Alexa can be activated by simply pressing the voice button. Using Alexa, all devices can be turned on / off without searching for remotes. Using voice command, many apps can be launched like Netflix or go to the favorite channel. With included Blaster and IR Mini-blaster, harmony express can controls Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and traditional home theater devices even if the devices inside the closed cabinets. Remote finder is a cool option to find the remote quickly. Harmony express can control up to 15 devices. Please note that existing harmony devices and harmony express are completely different products and you have to configure as new setup for all devices instead of migrating from existing setup. Remote is very continent to hold and very light weight as well. The buttons will automatically backlit and sound quality is great for a small remote. Music can be played in remote too. The remote came with rechargeable battery and no need to replace the batteries. I am using this remote more frequently than other remotes as it will turn on all required devices based on one voice command like "Turn on Apple TV". I am using the same remote to control apple tv, receiver and TV. If you are looking for universal remote to control using voice commands, Logitech Harmony express is one of the best option.
Posted by Selva
System is extremely buggy where it constantly doesn’t complete simple sequences. I’m also very skeptical that with Amazon connected this thing is constantly listening to your discussions even when the button is not pressed. I tested this 2 ways. 1. The battery dies very quickly even when remote is not even being used. 2. I deliberately discuss certain items and I see the ads pop up the next time I log into Amazon in a computer. You pay $250 in order to destroy your privacy and have Amazon basically run your life, forget the remote actually sucks and barely follows proper commands. The concept sounds nice but you naturally want to use buttons when using a remote and constantly speaking to your remote is not seamless.
Posted by Nine11
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