Opinion
Where’s my digital movie? A rant from the digitec Community
by Luca Fontana
Farewell Logitech Harmony – a look back
13.4.2021
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
Harmony no more. The one remote to rule them all will no longer be manufactured. Logitech recently broke the news. I bid it Adieu.
Logitech has finally called it quits. They're done with remote controls. Gone are universal controls. Harmony no more.
No more Mr Nice Brand.
«Saying goodbye without leaving.»
Do you know the saying? Don't look back in anger. Very British. I for one will look back on an eventful, yet not too harmonious past.
The dream of a remote control
It was November 14, 2017. A Tuesday. The day I learned that the world is made up of two kinds of people: those who use Logitech's universal remote control and those who want to use it but are too incapable (article in German).
I belonged in the latter category. This was quickly and kindly pointed out to me by the comments during one of my first ever product tests.
(Translation) This review is proof that even bloggers buy/research products despite them having no idea what they do.
I quickly came to learn how difficult new beginnings can be. I thought I was so smart. So superior. «What, it's just remotes,» I thought. «Who cares about remotes?»
I had to find out that people even have opinions about remote controls the hard way.
Including me, actually. Harmony was troublesome. From the start. Such as the process of connecting it to my home network. Harmony: On. Off. Routers: On. Off. A connection attempt. Connection failed. Dammit. Please make sure that…
Argh!
This begs the question: is it acting this way on purpose or is it just that helpless??? Always selecting devices separately…
Then having to set commands, a precisely defined sequence of inputs. You come home and click «Netflix» on Harmony. It turns on the TV, selects the Netflix app, activates your home theatre system, changes the lights to a dim and cosy tone, orders a pizza and flushes the toilet.
Okay, scratch the pizza.
The process is quite clear. However: my TV takes ten seconds to boot up. This delay must be built into the command chain; otherwise nothing will happen. I hate it when nothing happens and I don't understand why.
Honestly! Instead of buying this thing, why not just buy a roll of tape and combine your three remotes into one?
Haha. Hilarious.
Over before you know it
I admit it: Harmony and I never became friends. Even to this day. For a few weeks now, however, I've been thinking about giving her another go. Properly this time. My colleague Raphael Knecht, smart home pro extraordinaire, swears that Harmony now performs perfectly when controlling Hue lights, Samsung TV, PlayStation 5, Apple TV and Sonos.
I recommend you having a proper look at the software on a PC or in case of emergency, to hire a professional for the setup. Shouldn't be much of an issue either way…
And it seems Logitech sensed a disturbance in the Force. Immediately hitting me with a resounding «Nope.»
I am a bit down. I'd have liked to have had my rematch. My revenge. To restore my honour and pride. Guess that won't happen after all. Never again. Maybe I should've got my act together after all. Maybe not. Who knows… For now, let's leave it at this:
Farewell Harmony.
Luca Fontana
Senior Editor
Luca.Fontana@digitecgalaxus.chI write about technology as if it were cinema, and about films as if they were real life. Between bits and blockbusters, I’m after stories that move people, not just generate clicks. And yes – sometimes I listen to film scores louder than I probably should.
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