Actually the Harmonys can support whatever the device's own remote supports.  My projector has discrete on and off codes, and they were in the Harmony database.  If they weren't, I could tell the Harmony to learn them from the original remote.  Unfortunately many devices seem to use the toggle function rather then discrete codes.

 

Well that's an improvement from when I last looked at their devices. When I looked, the JP1 and Pronto forums had plenty of discrete codes listed but the Harmony didn't have them in their DB at all. Maybe it's the nature of those other places usually being on the forefront of control codes while Logitech was waiting for more official word or going through a QA Cycle on their software.

 

I agree that it's quite unfortunate that not all devices provide for discrete codes. It makes universal control that much more of a pain in the ass.

They are not true macro based remotes. Whilst you can program them in lots of cool ways once you have used a proper high end remote you soon see their limitations. This in itself is not a show stopper.

The showstopper is activities and WAF. If wife, child or guest cycles power on one device or uses any physical button say to change amp source the harmony doesn't know. Then when wife presses the activity button it does something oddbal that requires me to fix. Not that big a deal you would say but in practice it was and resulted in to many fights

 

I can understand your frustration with regards to this problem, but at least with the Harmony One, there is a HELP button.  If, for example:

 

1. I'm listening to music on XBMC, and turn the TV off using the physical power button on the TV. 

2. Then wifey decides to watch TiVo and presses the "Watch TiVo" activity button, then the Harmony assumes the TV is still on, switches the receiver to the TiVo input while the TV remains off. (Cue the expletives)

3. When this happens, pressing the HELP button will turn EVERYTHING that needs to be turned on, on, and switches all the inputs to the correct inputs, based on the current activity (Watch TiVo).

 

So, I can certainly say the Harmony One has high WAF in my household.  Though I don't know if the rest of the Harmony line has a Help button.

 

Also, I definitely can't afford a high-end remote and I do like physical remote buttons vs touchscreen.  For me the Harmony One was perfect.

 

ONE MORE THING (really).  The official XBMC remote app is available in the Android Marketplace.  It works similar to the iPhone app and it's kinda cool.  But one of my big draws for using XBMC is the presentation (skins), so I do like browsing through the shiny GUI.  You won't get that with the mobile app unless you use it as a remote, which brings me back to my "I like physical buttons" argument.  But the app is available and it's free, it's nice to have choices.

I too have an issue with keeping things in synch.  I have so many scenarios where my tv could be on or off, my receiver could be on or off etc, that I could never program my remote the way I want unless I program in various scenarios like Movies 1 and Movies 2.  Movies 1 assumes all devices are off and Movies 2 assumes the tv is only.  But then what if I am watching tv with sound going through my receiver?  It's just a pain.

 

Now I didn't have the H900 but a lower model and not sure if that makes a difference.

if you just want a remote I wouldn't go with anything other than RF...

 

pick up this Monster cable remote on amazon for 1/3 the price harmony is charging

http://www.amazon.com/Monster-MCC-AVL300-S-Lighting-Controller/dp/B000CQP5YS/ref=sr_1_1?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285782796&sr=8-1

 

it can be used as IR or RF using the provided omilink base station. this will also control your lighting switches and wall outlets.

 

it uses the same software as Harmony/Logitech so its fairly easy to configure.

I had a Harmony 880 IR remote and the 2 of the fancy button on the LCD screen crapped out on me and the number 3 stopped working as well. this remote BLOWS the 880 out of the water any day of the week.

 

-=Jason=-

I also have a harmony (some damn model..?) and it does work great. The logitech account where they store your settings is the best feature.

 

As for apple products, after having bought an iPhone, I can't see myself getting another APple product unless I had no damn choice. I hate'em and their proprietary bull$hit.

 

George

I am surprised now one has mentioned the new Boxee remote

 

 

Bluetooth and IMHO elegant with high WAF

I am surprised now one has mentioned the new Boxee remote

 

 

 

Bluetooth and IMHO elegant with high WAF

boxee might be good for htpc only, but for a Home Theater remote its hardly up to the task.

 

I'd take my monster remote plus a  blue-tooth keyboard any day of the week than that boxee remote.

 

 

-=Jason=-

I actually think it looks cool! Will it work with xbmc? Is it available commercially?

I agree that it looks attractive, but it seems to be missing a lot of essential buttons.  'Back,' for example (meaning 'go to the previous menu', not 'rewind').  I use the Back button constantly on my XBMC system...maybe Boxee has something else worked out?  Dunno, I've never used it.  However, I do like the idea of having the simple high-WAF side, then the more complex high-Nerd-cred side.

 

Still, I don't think any of these compete with the full touchscreen iPhone/iTouch/iPad.  Granted, some people like physical buttons.  But for those that don't care (but do care about ease of use and 'slickness') I feel that this is the best option.  I really like the idea of being able to browse my collection through the remote (complete with cover art, fan art, plot outlines, ratings, etc) without taking over whatever is playing on the TV.

 

I mean, just look at the sexiness...

 

 

In case you need the link again:

http://www.collect3.com.au/xbmc-remote/#

I admit, it is sexy 

I agree that it looks attractive, but it seems to be missing a lot of essential buttons.  'Back,' for example (meaning 'go to the previous menu', not 'rewind').  ...

 

remember that most good media players like xbmc and its derivatives allows situation sensitive control. Meaning the same button can do different things dependent on your current viewing situation.

 

I admit it could do with perhaps 2 more buttons but by all accounts its slick to use. I dont know if it is sold separately yet but i cant see dlink missing that trick.

 

The key point for me is that perhaps 1% of the time a keyboard in an media centre is indispensable. But the other 99% of the time a keyboard just gets in the way.

 

Its not perfect but its a good step especially if BT can be made to work right with sleep.

 

iPhone/iTouch/iPad are very cool but i cant buy one for every tv in my house. wish i could but its not a viable scalable solution for anyone other than the uber rich (plus as the months pass i grow to hate apple more and more and they aint getting any more of my money than i can help lol) + touch screen remotes swap usabilty for coolness. some people rate it but ive had a few over the years and i never could get used to having to stare at a remote EVERY time i wanted to do anything. Physical buttons all the way

iPhone/iTouch/iPad are very cool but i cant buy one for every tv in my house. wish i could but its not a viable scalable solution for anyone other than the uber rich (plus as the months pass i grow to hate apple more and more and they aint getting any more of my money than i can help lol) + touch screen remotes swap usabilty for coolness. some people rate it but ive had a few over the years and i never could get used to having to stare at a remote EVERY time i wanted to do anything. Physical buttons all the way

 

A few points on this.  First, the remote software now has gestures, the idea being that you don't have to actually look at the remote.  I haven't tried them personally, so I can't comment on their usefulness.  Second, the same or similar software is now available for the Droid as well, so I imagine it will keep spreading to more and more devices as time passes.  I'm also somewhat biased against Apple products, but the quality of their hardware continues to be very high - they currently make the best touchscreens on the market in terms of resolution and touch sensitivity.

 

The scalability is a good point, and one I often forget as I only have one TV in my house (though that may change over the next year).  I agree that buying an iWhatever for every room is impractical.  One plan that I've had kicking around my head is to purchase an iPad and install several wall mounts around the house for it (something like this that allows you to remove it and carry it around with you).  This single iPad would then be my everything-remote - HPTC/TV, audio, lighting, security system, etc.  There would be sometimes when I wanted the remote and had to walk to another room to get it, but my house isn't that big, so no big deal.  Still, I would like to have it available in the kitchen when I'm cooking, in the living room for media control, etc.  While I think this would work out well with the current model, I'll probably wait for the 2nd generation iPad to come out and hope for some better features (such as USB ports and a camera).

[There would be sometimes when I wanted the remote and had to walk to another room to get it, but my house isn't that big, so no big deal.  Still, I would like to have it available in the kitchen when I'm cooking, in the living room for media control, etc.  While I think this would work out well with the current model, I'll probably wait for the 2nd generation iPad to come out and hope for some better features (such as USB ports and a camera).

 

It's not exactly comparable, but in the house we built with A/V control firmly in mind, we had three TVs. One of them had a 10" touch panel available in a cradle. More often than not, I'd go upstairs to get one of the other two remotes (which looked like a regular remote but was a RF connected device), switch it to that TV room and use that. It was remarkable how irritating it was to have to look down to know where the buttons were. The gesture idea is interesting, but seems like you could get a confused device if you were, I dunno, trying to keep it out of the grip of your 17 month old.

 

There is a homebrew whole house A/V control system that uses your cell phone to as a RFID, basically. If you walked from one room to another, it would switch whatever the active A/V signal was to that room and turn control over to that area. I can't remember what it was, but I found it while researching Control4 a few years ago. I imagine that's only gotten more attention with the iThingie storm that's hit since then.

If I could get the Boxee Remote now, I'd defo get it!  That's sweet!

Back when the Boxee Box was supposed to release in July I think the remote was supposed to be released before the box

 

Now that unless something has changed again the box is supposed to be out in November the remote will be released separately also  at the same time

The Boxee remote is cool. I like Harmonys but for the simplicity crowd Boxee taught Apple how its done.

 

What I dislike is the actual Boxee box. Its hideous. I'm scared the weirdness of the box is gonna kill the whole Boxee company...

 

 

^^ I like it! I think it is a bold move and will definitely stand out, especially with family and friends. It shows their willingness to not conform. I wish I could get it to run XBMC because

 

XBMC >> Boxee 

I dont quite mind it but i def get your point....lol

 

thing is thou that it is so small that it may hide its odd look a bit...lol

 

btw....sup poofy..you helped me out at xbmc and go t me geeked up on unraid..waiting on my mobo-proc-and ps from newegg

still have ram - case and hd's to get still but im on my way...

^^ I like it! I think it is a bold move and will definitely stand out, especially with family and friends. It shows their willingness to not conform. I wish I could get it to run XBMC because

 

XBMC >> Boxee   

 

how about this.... make a fiberglass box and put a zotac mobo inside it.... POOF instant boxee look-a-like box but more fire power

 

-=Jason=-

^^ I like it! I think it is a bold move and will definitely stand out, especially with family and friends. It shows their willingness to not conform.

 

It also shows their willingness to not put out a box that fits in most people's home theater cabinets. Too bold of a move if you ask me (and no one did, so I will shut up).

 

I wish I could get it to run XBMC because

 

XBMC >> Boxee   

 

I think its a guarantee that this thing will run XBMC one day. The question is will it run XBMC better than a ION box (and I personally think it won't).

I still haven't decided what to get......I first came across XBMC and cant tell you how excited I was......for quite a while I have used tversity to stream to my xbox 360....this has worked pretty well for me except running on an old pc tversity has that thing humming with cpu usage at 98-99% the entire time

 

so the first thing i read about are the low priced older revo's and i think great....i can get a lot better experience pretty cheap.....now i also know that next year i will be upgrading my tv also and knowing that money would be going out i was even more excited.....after spending enough time poking around the xbmc forums i run across the name unraid a lot....esp from poofy....lol

 

i start weighing the options of building an unraid box vs serving up stuff from one of my old windows boxes

and with the memory that despite all of the stuff i have built for other people it has been quite a while since i built something for myself....lol

 

so i decided to build an unraid server for myself....even though a lot of the posts around here scare me a bit because i have no idea what the frack you guys are talking about.....lol

 

and from what i can tell the days of doing a xbmc box for less than $300 are over......there are maybe 1 or 2 options that you may be able to do for less after you add a SSD your up to $350 or more

 

So for me considering every thing else I am trying to do at the same time....as much as i would love to build a xbmc rig....despite Boxxee being more closed source...if it can deliver anything near xbmc for an even $200 it will be the way for me......and the remote is cool as hell too....lol

and from what i can tell the days of doing a xbmc box for less than $300 are over...

 

http://shop.revonate.com/Refurbished_Acer_Aspire_Revo_AR1600_U910H_p/c-pt.scl05.004.htm

dang it......every time i check they are out of them....lol

dang it......every time i check they are out of them....lol

 

they have 22 left, better add one to your cart now and get it while the gettin's good

 

-=Jason=-

So if i picked up one of those what would i need to do

 

take out the 1gig of ram and add a 2gig stick in.....add a ssd....buy a remote

 

anything else?