The new Harmony Hub, which combines the old IR blaster and PS3 Bluetooth adapter and enhances the Bluetooth functionality in addition to the Nintendo Wii (U). Technically the Harmony Ultimate can also, as before, be operated without the stroke - but it plays its full potential only in combination with the hub.
And at the same already overcome a fundamental, regularly emerging confusion: In conjunction with the Harmony Hub, the devices can be controlled through quasi "radio" - the Ultimate is but - just as it did the 900 and other Harmonys before - far away eg. directly. Funksteckdosen control. In the case of the Ultimate will eventually sparked over WLAN. Who wants to control radio outlets, must rely on an additional device such as the Light Manager of JBMedia here.
Compared to proprietary radio solution the 900 has the spark wlan the advantage that the Harmony Hub now an iOS or Andriod Smartphone device can be controlled if the appropriate app is loaded from the jeweilgen App Store. The different smartphones, the Hub and the Ultimate synchronize it. Thus, for. Example, already in the stairwell via smartphone the activity to start listening to the radio and then changed to the Ultimate, the radio station, as well as the remote control knows that the activity of radio listening is active. Link is always the Harmony Hub.
At least for Apple, there is so far only an iPhone version - on an iPad it must be so ultimately scaled. However, the smartphone display is sufficient also completely. Incidentally, the Harmony does just smart to use this functionality - after all, the Smart can virtually no smartphone and nothing is more easy (emergency) UFB.
The operation of the app works as far as faultlessly, you can thus make the same settings in the main and do things as they also are with the Ultimate FB even possible. If the App is fully closed (ie, not running in the background), the app has the Hub looking only and connect to it - that lasted a few seconds. Is the app but active in the background and will be displayed again, you can see the app in max. half a second serve. But this is ultimately legitimate, because the synchronization is carried out with the stroke. Crashes the app I had not have, in the entire establishment of Ultimate I was able to record 1 crash. However, the technique was also used the 900 before already.
Now the Ultimate itself. Now you have a rough, non-slip plastic surface on the back - similar to it can be found in other new Logitech products. That it is more compact than the 900, it's also a little easier and a whole is well in hand. The battery is built, which is certainly unnecessary. A replaceable battery as in the 900 would have been desirable.
For most keys (whether hard keys or touch keys) is not a serious reaching round is required. Only the transport keys (Play, Stop, ...) are a bit inconvenient in my eyes. Personally, I find that but essentially actually not really that bad. When I look a Bluray, I use rather frequently and the cursor keys and the pop-up menu and do not coil constantly through the area.
When it comes to coil falls on already symbolically that the keys have a secondary function. By default coils to pressed briefly pressed to skip long. This possibility is not limited to the skip buttons, but works with any hard key and is fully configurable.
The display is easy to read and dissolves well - is anything but pixilated. When pressed, the Harmony deliver an adjustable vibration feedback. The touch function operates in a manner perfectly and requires no artificial pressure to the touch screen, so it is capacitive. Also swipe gestures are supportive.
Certain commands such as calling the menu (the Ultimate itself) or switch the screens needed about half a second - I did so but also seen on various smartphones. The term "page" corresponds to the switch between screens activities, favorites, gestures, commands and numeric keypad. The commands and activities are now housed in a scrollable list.
It is now possible - various settings are made directly on the Ultimate - as well as about the app. So can be changed to already created activities diverse settings within an activity more commands can be added without a PC directly on the FB, ...
There are even (again) sequences! However, only activities and not for devices. One has in a particular device, that in a number of activities used need for a sequence, there is this not only a 1x, but in every activity again. And so we come to as much quite positive to the more negative points that explain the point deduction and unfortunately this is mainly as in the past, also due to the software.
The initial setup is now over myharmon.com, a Web site with Safari next Silverlight still requires a plugin Harmony at least under Mac OS. The software itself is unfortunately still very sluggish compared to previous command lists can not currently be searched "fast" by key input. Under myharony.com (MHC) several Harmonys can be managed together at last - it Wist therefore no longer necessary to have x accounts. During the initial setup, I was asked about the presence of an existing configuration of 900 or One - as the previous devices and activities can be largely taken. But again, the devil is in the details.
I had, in principle, the key assignments of each acquired adjust activity and subsequently maintain various commands, because the previous commands are _not_ completely taken over. When you copy this also apparently assumed in certain constellations commands so that it can be used to create artificial double _not_ without them. Specifically, I had the clear button Entertain my receiver on the E (Clear) set the keypad button on my 900. On the Ultimate me only the numeric keypad without these two additional buttons appears now, however, in the command list for the hardware and screen buttons but does not appear on this command. In the list of commands under the command finds MHC however.
A similar problem I have with my subwoofer whose power button has a dual function. In old, copied actions I could easily install the necessary for Additional Services Power command. The MHC will pop me this but when you create a new action, but consistently. Again, I had to intervene again with an artificial power command.
On the Ultimate itself can determine the activity icons from a list of symbols, under MHC will not do. For this you can upload there own symbol. Also can be used for individual commands on the display put no more symbols - these are the MHC Software before himself. Here there are still some recorded at smaller setbacks.
Overall, the software may have become better (compared to the old remote control software), but even here there is definitely still some potential. What remains is the hope that Logitech is still stoking.
Conclusion: The new Ultimate is certainly no worse than the 900, but not much better. She is different. Just with the stroke and he smartphone option makes a timely step forward, but just plugged in the software (both the Ultimate itself and under myharmony.com) still enough room for improvement. For this slight weakening in the ergonomics and the non-replaceable battery verhageln New Harmony perfect score. However, I personally know of no better overall concept UFB. It remains here so interesting to see how Logitech will establish the future at the Harmony's ...
Not significantly incorporated into the rating is the packaging and the remaining small parts. Compared to previously, there is finally no more those annoying blister packs, but a quality cardboard box. For this purpose a simple brief is received and no CD - why, it must be set up so online.
