- Replaces up to 5 other remotes, reducing complexity and clutter in your living room
- Supports 5000+ brands, including devices you own today and add tomorrow
- Simple online setup using your PC, live customer support available
- Bright color screen shows your favorite-channel icons plus commands for easy navigation
- One-click activity buttons like "Watch a DVD" automatically switch the right devices to the right settings
The Harmony 650 remote seems to be a scaled back version of the Harmony One. The main differences are no touchscreen , no rechargeable battery and the 650 can only hold 5 devices in memory. If this isn't too limiting, then read on. Also, if you consider yourself even mildly computer illiterate, perhaps another type of universal remote would serve your needs better. Most of the complaints about Logitech remotes revolve around people's difficulty getting their software to work. (it works, you just need to learn it)
With this remote you can control 5 different devices in any combination you need. You set up 'Activities' based on what you want the remote to control, such as "Watch TV" and the Harmony 650 will control all the functions for your TV, Cable Box or DVR , Amp, etc. (or CD player, or Blu Ray, or... well, you get the idea)
What's in the box? You get the remote of course, plus a quick start guide, two AA batteries and the included micro 'B' USB cable you connect to your computer to program and update the remote settings using software you must download first from Harmony's website.
You DO require a computer and reasonable internet connection to initially set up and use this remote. Once it is set up you are good to go, but over time you will find other things you will wish to customize and then another trip to your computer will become necessary. Also, if you at first have trouble getting things to work the way you want, you will be making quite a few trips to your computer to sort it all out. Do not worry, mastering the software does take a bit of time, more for some, less for others. The point is, it DOES work and once you crack it, it is a piece of cake to operate.
You can customize all of the buttons' functions for each device and each activity so your most needed commands are a quick button press away and exactly where YOU want them to be. Once you wrap your head around the concept you will see all the possibilities this system offers and just how cool it actually is.
Also, not relying on a rechargeable battery can actually be a good thing. My Harmony One requires a very expensive battery and a functioning charging cradle and adapter to keep working. I have had all 3 go out on me over time and these items are not easily had without some wait time, rendering the remote useless. The 650 however runs on just two everyday AA batteries and that really makes all the difference. I do not know if it retains the programming when you change them but it is easy enough to just re synch it with the software settings you made on your computer so that shouldn't be an issue. I bought a Harmony 550 for a backup (it uses AAA) and now wish I could have got the 650 instead as I prefer it.
The build quality seems pretty good, but not near as good as the the Harmony One. It's a bit on the 'plasticky' side, but the keys themselves are a vast improvement over the ones on the 550, at least in layout. The keys are laid out almost exactly the same as the 'One' which is nice and I had no trouble using it immediately after programming. In particular, the layout lends itself to easy DVR use and DVD/Blu Ray transport controls. Everything is right where I think it should be. Good going Logitech!
The Color screen is nice enough to look at, but a 1 color display could stuff have done the job for me. Apparently you can load in favorite channel icons for customized channel selection and they display nicely on the screen. For me that is just a gimmick I don't need. I took the time to program all of them on my Harmony One and I never use them at all. Still, if you want to impress your friends , the color screen is very nice to look at.
The 650 has a few buttons that even the Harmony One does not include. Four color coded buttons are located right under up/down toggle and can be programmed for any function and match up nicely with my Oppo Blu Ray player who's own remote includes just such buttons. Speaking of buttons they are nicely back lit. The only downside to the back lighting is the possible effect on battery life. I have not used the remote long enough to know how long the AA's will last with regular use. It does make them very easy to see and it's a nice touch. Speaking of touch, the buttons themselves feel sturdy and with a semi rubbery feel that is a vast improvement over some of their earlier remotes. They work well and are very responsive and I really wish my Harmony One had these particular buttons as they feel superior to the hard plastic you get with the 'One'. I should also mention they are back lit and that really helps while watching is darkened rooms or at night. Unfortunately the only buttons that are NOT back lit are the help and activities buttons and that is a shame. I also found the remote was set to display the back lighting and display screen for 20 seconds and I went and changed it to stay on for only 10 seconds to preserve my battery life. You can go as low as 5 seconds if that is enough time for you.
I have been using my Harmony One for almost 2 years and everything on it works like the day I bought it. (battery and charger adapter notwithstanding) I see no reason why this remote should be any different, although your mileage may vary. I do feel the 650 is a bit on the pricey side, considering it only has enough flash memory in it to remember 5 devices. I regularly control up to 8 devices in my setup so this would not be a viable choice for my first call remote. However, if your have no more than 5 units to control you could do a lot worse than this one. It is versatile, functional, feels good in the hand and so far works perfectly, at least for me. I plan to keep it on hand for the next time my Harmony One Battery refuses to take a charge.
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This is a bit of a unique review 2 parts, from the viewpoints of the non-techie nursing student wife and also the techie husband.Wife's review:
My husband was excited to get this remote control. It is fancy looking with a metallic pewter finish on top (black on bottom). The buttons are well marked and the screen is just the right brightness good enough in bright light but doesn't blind you if all the lights are out. Our TV and movie watching setup is complicated or at least it was. There were all sorts of buttons to push and settings to change before the movie would play and all the home theater speakers would kick in. Now, I just push one button and that's all it takes.
When I say one button, I mean it. There are some deep maroon colored buttons toward the very front/top of the remote that are the key features. The ones we've put to use are 1) watch TV, 2) watch a movie, and 3) listen to music. How do these work? You have to go on the internet to Logitech's website and program this remote control (it comes with a USB cord that you can use). On the website, you pick your models of TV, DVD, tuner, etc. There are over 5000 in their library, so they claim everyone should be able to find a match to their equipment. The Logitech site prompts you to answer any questions about settings that may need to be turned on or changed in order to watch TV or movies. You don't have to figure it out just answer the questions. From that initial programming, the remote knows what to do. The quick start guide (which my husband usually skips) was short and helpful so maybe people will actually use it. Dimensions: 9"x 2.5", with an ergonomic rounding at the base.
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Husband's review:
I love gadgets (cameras, computers, blackberry, etc.) so getting an opportunity to own and review a high-tech remote control was a real treat. The Harmony 650 is an advanced, sleek, easy-to-use remote control that lives up to its premium price tag. Are there cheaper products on the market that can consolidate the 5 remote controls sitting on your coffee table? Yes, but not with the technological sophistication of the Harmony 650. In short, I am a fan and would recommend to both geeks and techno-phoebes
What I like:
*Light weight.
*Ergonomic. The device is heavier/thicker in the back and thinner in the front.
*Easy to set up and program. Once the device is connected to the computer, Logitech's device software takes you to a virtual homepage where you can adjust any setting.
*Updates via USB computer connection (firmware, programming).
*One-touch operation (called Activity). For example, if I press "Watch a Movie" the TV and DVD player turn on and play (it even changes from TV to HDMI) automatically.
*You can program custom Activities.
*Motion activated. The device's color screen turns on when I move it and goes to sleep when I set it down.
Conclusion:
I am upset with myself for not acquiring a high-tech remote control a long time ago. I used to have 5 remotes on my ottoman but now there is only the Harmony 650. I will never go back to having more than one remote control. If you are in the market for a "smart" remote then stop hesitating and buy this one because you will love it.
Read Best Reviews of Logitech Harmony 650 Remote Control (Silver) Here
I have remote controls floating all over my room. Three separate ones: TV, VCR and DVD. And in the den, yet another remote for the stereo. I was glad to receive this item for review from the Amazon Vine program, because it was time to consolidate!Logitech packed everything you need to get going with this remote. The remote, two vacuum-sealed batteries, USB cord & user manual. To get started, here was my experience:
1. Went to the Logitech website at the URL recommended in order to download a simple, free software package to my computer.
2. I plugged into my computer the now battery-filled remote, using the enclosed USB cord.
3. I ran the Logitech software, which took me through the setup process step by step. Before long I was off and running with my multiple-use remote ready to go. All of my equipment was working, even the separate stereo, which isn't connected to my TV/VCR/DVD players.
As this isn't a cheap remote that you'd buy at the grocery store checkout counter, you really do need to allot the 45 minutes that the user guide recommends for setup time. I could have taken less time, but I wanted to get as many devices engaged as I could.
A few tips: Make sure you have the Manufacturer & Model # ready for each piece of equipment you're programming into the remote. Also, while I had no problem getting this set up, this remote is not for those who are seriously technology-shy. The software was easy to follow and laid out really well, but I could easily see my 65 year-old mother having trouble (or at least taking alot of time) to get it programmed. You need to know some techie terms-for example, is your VCR hooked up via a Line 1 outlet?
And while this is a wonderful product, I felt the $100 price tag (as of March 2010) was a little high. If it could do my dishes and fold my laundry, maybe-but $100 seems a bit much.
Overall I give this product high marks, and I'm looking forward to enjoying the absence of so many remotes in my room!
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I read owner reviews on this remote that complained of a constant reset issue (touching the remote or remote turning over bumps it out of the current mode eg Watch TV resulting in it being unusable for that mode) but figured they just received a dud and mine would be fine (4 out of 5 stars is not bad).About 30 days into ownership (and therefore too late to return), the problem started. If batteries are not 100% fresh or battery contacts haven't been adjusted recently (see note below), the problem happens constantly.
The up arrow button "sticks" as well need to press it at least 2x before action registers.
I'm still awaiting word from Logitech but my guess is I'll have to pay to ship it in and this may not be the only warranty replacement incidence needed on this baby.
So... moral of the story is stay away from this model even if the price is attractive.
An aside Logitech forums and other reviews indicate the reset problem arises from momentary loss of contact in the battery compartment. That makes sense to me. I've very gently bent out the battery contact prongs, which makes the problem occur less often but it still occurs. If you're stuck with this remote, try adjusting the prongs every time the reset issue occurs. Ugh.
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I loved this remote when I first got it. It was easy to set up and I really liked how you can do it all through the Logitech website.However, within a couple of months, it started to lose its connectivity with some or all of the devices. Usually it was the receiver and sometimes it was also the digital box. This would happen within a few minutes of turning everything on. The only way to get it working again was to turn everything off and back on again.
When I started researching the problem, I saw that a lot of people have the same issue. It is not a battery connection issue like some suggest. There is a design flaw with the remote itself. It should be recalled.
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