Logitech 966193-0403 Harmony 890 User Guide - Page 6

Harmony 890 Advanced Universal Remote Reviewer's Guide - Page 6 3.3 The Logitech Family of Harmony Advanced Universal Remote Controls The first Harmony advanced universal remote was brought to market in 2003, and Logitech has since introduced a complete line of these remotes. Each solves many problems with its easy setup and use, its one-touch activity-based control, and its complete control of the most complex and unusual entertainment systems. Simple One-Touch, Activity-Based Control All Harmony remote controls feature buttons that, when pressed, send a sequence of infrared commands to set up the entire entertainment system for an activity. For example, to watch high-definition TV on a cable system with a digital video recorder (DVR), the TV, high-definition receiver, cable receiver, and DVR box may all have to be powered and set to the appropriate inputs - which could require pressing 10 or more buttons on several remote controls. With the Harmony remote, one button - Watch HDTV - launches all of the correct components with the correct input settings in the correct sequence. After starting an activity, the remote knows how to control any of the components used during that activity. If the volume for watching television is controlled through a home-theater receiver rather than through the television, the Harmony remote knows to send infrared commands to the receiver when the Up or Down volume buttons are pressed. By using activity-based control, Harmony remotes work the way people think. Nobody sits down to switch on the TV, change the input, turn on the DVD player and A/V receiver, switch the input and sound field setting and adjust the volume. They simply want to sit down to watch a movie. With the Harmony remote, they need to press only one button to do so. Smart State Technology Logitech's patented Smart State Technology® powers every Harmony remote control. This technology allows the remote to recognize all the current states and settings of the entertainment components it has been programmed to control. For example, at any given time, a Harmony remote knows whether the television's power is on or off, and which video input it is currently set to, based on the activities that were entered by the user. This capability is the backbone for a Harmony remote's ability to deliver complete, simplified control of an entire entertainment system. For a complete description of how Smart State Technology works, see Logitech's Smart State Technology Innovation Brief. Easy Setup Wizard The Logitech Harmony remote is configured through an intuitive online setup wizard. People create a profile as they go through the setup, answering simple questions about the equipment they own and how they prefer to use it. Once all the questions about the system have been completed, data is downloaded from the online Logitech database to the remote. When the update is complete, the Harmony remote is now a customized controller that has been tailored precisely for the person and his or her equipment. Because there are intricacies with everyone's setup, Logitech maintains a toll-free tech support line, available seven days a week, and a quick-response e-mail support system.