How does it work with the Hub?
This hub is necessary for the concept of investment. It receives all the signals from the remote WIRELESS and outputs it as infrared or Bluetooth signals to the terminals on. Therefore, the FB also needs no visual contact with the hub and which is I think the very very big advantage of this concept. In addition, since the lift even the smallest "tentacles" with very long thin cables can be attached can disappear of stroke even in a closet or behind the equipment in the rack. It is important then halt, that one of the small transmitter is positioned so that it can "radiate" to the terminal. Thus, it is therefore no longer if you have, for example, are the coffee table between sofa and Blu-ray player issue. One must not even dislocate but keeps the FB very cool in his hand. Great thing and this comforts me about some inadequacies away loose.
But even if the hub wirelessly communicates with the FB, you can not directly control so eg Funksteckdosen InterTechno. To do bulges still like old Harmonys an infrared / radio converter which converts the infrared signal into a radio signal and thus controls the electrical outlets. I use the InterTechno system concretely not only for lighting but also for the electric screen and for my body Bass Shaker, which is normally off but when I watch a movie is switched (also a InterTechno wireless socket) it rummst also neatly below the bed , LOL
I have here times an example listed for people who can come up with the activities not imagine and you may wonder why you need a thing like that at all:
Activity Example "cinema look":
Projector is turned on, input Wireless HDMI
Receiver is turned on, input Blu-ray Player
Blu-ray player is turned on, the drawer is ejected
Body Bass Shaker is turned on
Screen shuts down
All lights will be switched off
The FB is well in hand, but not on the table. There she swings around at the slightest vibration. That the navigation button for image search, play ect. above the display is not as bad as I had feared it by far. Actually, it's purely a matter of habit. Not more.
When you're used to an iPhone then comes a more sluggish the display before. But who is not so spoiled is it safe to festellen nothing negative. But the resolution is really good. So I've always wanted that.
Now even comes a point of bothers me, as this is an avoidable "problem" that already existed in the old Logitech software: You can not change the order of devices. An employee told me some years ago told on the hotline, 'that would be the most frequently expressed desire of the customer'. It simply was because because the whole concept of FB's designed for the activities. Why you simply do not exist as a simple but useful for some people feature free is beyond me. But since it is a pure software question I do not give up hope that Logitech will be reasonable here.
The new MyHarmony software is a significant improvement. But really it is not perfect. But much faster than the sluggish old software. However, I was quite annoyed when installing. That cost me a whole evening. Neither Internet Explorer nor the Iron (Chrome) the MyHarmony Plugin left open. Well, Windows 7, 64 bit, stop already an exotic operating system ... for hours Googling has not helped me. In the end I had to install the Firefox that I had said goodbye years ago. With it comes now. (EDIT: A year later, it went well with the Iron). Nice was that you were asked when you set up the Harmony Ultimate whether you want to import from another FB actions and devices. This lasted only a few seconds and in fact was the same apparently all there. However, the keys were in principle assigned to the standard buttons and labels and a device was even replaced by another model. Thus, I had to mess around a lot until finally everything was just as I wanted it to me. Depending on what you have at home for an outfit that can already take several evenings to complete. If you're frugal, however, is all done in a few minutes.
Another big plus: If you have changed something in the software does not like it used to connect the remote control with cable to the PC one. This is all about the wireless hub. Unfortunately this will take synchronize every time an eternity (about 3 minutes), even if you have only changed a single command.
The app on the iPhone I use practically never. The iPad app has become after various updates (as of early 2014) quite well but unfortunately still flawed. You can still see no keys labeled and must come to terms with the given names or icons. What's so bad? Example: To my canvas to drive up and down I need exactly two instructions. B4on and B4off. The app I have about 50 orders of A1on to D10off. A nice guessing game if you want to control a radio-controlled socket. Unlike the iPhone app you can control with wiping gestures on iPad yet. A pure gimmick without deeper meaning since only basic functions can be performed. After all, they have the last update in January 2014, finally, the possibility introduced darkening the screen wake up, sleep. This had in fact annoyed me really.
The favorites are a fine and especially chic matter that (my guests who wish sometimes rumklicken to the FB I) provides precisely for guest users for enthusiasm. Unfortunately, you can use these favorites just for a single action. If, like me, has two hard disk receiver, or if someone normally uses the built-in TV receiver and only from time to time the recorder, then you have to stop for a device or an action decision.
The logos that are offered as standard, unfortunately have a poor quality. Are totally pale and sometimes even difficult to read. I recommend the logos to search the net and to tinker (do not worry, it's easier than you'd think). For example, you will find on the page iconharmony most logos and alternatively in really horny quality Lyngsat-logo. In an emergency, you can download the logos for example, on the sender's website or on Wikipedia. But you should be in .png format. Not assume the apps when you synchronize the favorites logos just as little as any other key changes. You have to live with the poor standard selection. So here too there is sooooo much room for improvement.
Price: Yes, 280 are steep. However, one must remember that it is very costly to develop as a hardware and software, for an article that will be a mass product Never. Although Harmony Ultimate would cost only half of it will be never settle like a smartphone (And even though you use it exactly as intense). Already alone therefore because the programming is very complex. I know as well as anyone who wants to indulge in. In this respect, Logitech can not bring in through the mass distribution development costs. So you have to be thankful that you look at Logitech ever makes the effort to develop something. They would be so good to rest exactly on our laurels and be able to sell the old equipment on. I was fortunate that I had a 35% discount by an action. Still a steep price but for me it was the final impetus to strike. It is and remains a genuine premium product.
Conclusion:
NEGATIVE:
Order of the devices can not be changed
On the App, you can not change the key
The battery lasts only three to four days
Very expensive
POSITIVE:
Visually appealing display
Remote Control does not require line of sight to the terminals
Better software to edit the equipment and settings
Synchronize goes without cable
I have not regretted the purchase even though I had prejudices and was quite sure that I only try out the remote control and then I return. But I no longer give her!
EDIT September 4, 2013:
With an update Logitech has once again placed its customers an egg. For me, the equipment keys were returned to their original state and when it changes and synchronizes everything was reset. So a change was not possible permanently. Surely a bug, but embarrassed that something expects of the users. Only two months later, this has been fixed by an update.
EDIT 2014:
Meanwhile, there have been several updates that have improved the FB software side significantly. For example, there is now a screen lock, which is very convenient: Before, it could easily happen that you accidentally touch the display and undesirably a function has been executed (or even an entire activity). Now you need only wipe the lock as we know it from a smartphone.
