Rant: Logitech for ruining harmony remotes.

[wirednuts]

can i just get this out of my system real fast?


FUCK. YOU. LOGITECH.

feel a little better.

i dont even feel like going into details. anyone that knew harmony remotes before the logitech buyout would get it.

the latest thing that pissed me off? i just wanted to add a command. one button for my stereo. thats it! so, i go to web page, login, select my remote, login again because it asked me to, click downloads, login again because it asked me to, select remote, login again because it asked me to, click downloads, login again because it asked me to, select remote, login again because it asked me to, click downloads, login again because it asked me to, select remote, login again because it asked me to, click downloads, login again because it asked me to, select remote, login again because it asked me to, click downloads, login again because it asked me to, select remote

yes. i am insane. because there is no way logitech could utterly destroy a brand this bad. last time i updated my 680 remote it updated the firmware and PERMANENTLY disabled the green start button. permanently. no way back. logitechs solution? buy a newer model. it was only an $80 remote at the time. no big deal.

this time i have the 300, and i cant even log into the god damn home page to download the shitty software to update this shitty remote. fuck you logitech, for everything you did to harmony remotes. it was a grand idea that took off with a flying start, and you destroyed it. PEOPLE ACTUALLY WANT MACROS, YOU SHIT FUCKS.

 

[RossMAN]

umadbro?

 

[quakefiend420]

sounds like your browser isn't accepting cookies or something

the firmware update sounds like a legit gripe however

 

[MaxPayne63]

Logitech's market segment is above cheap crap but still well within crap.

 

[wirednuts]

sounds like your browser isn't accepting cookies or something

the firmware update sounds like a legit gripe however

tried both ie9 and chrome. same results.

the firmware was a known issue. when i first went to do it, there was some sort of warning about in the forums. i was lucky to see that, and let it be for about 2 years. then, of course i went to change setting on the remote and it said "NEW FIRMWARE AVAILABLE" and i was like YEAH! totally forgetting about the green button extinction.

did the update, lost the green button. logitech said there was no possible way for me to get it back. i swore up and down i would never buy another harmony, but the 300 was $19... i figured 'how can i go wrong?'.

well, this is how. cant even log into my account page. god this shit just fuckin pisses me off. i know its meaningless in the grand scheme, but i have witness logitech bring down harmony slowly over time, and they just keep making it worse and worse. there was a time you could do macros with harmonys too!

 

[wirednuts]

Logitech's market segment is above cheap crap but still well within crap.

if they just froze all r and d when they bought harmony, and did absolutely nothing to the remotes they would still be better then todays models. sure, they have fancy color touchscreens and accelerometers that help save battery life, but they took out so many features in the software it just kills all the reasons you actually buy a harmony in the first place.

these were internet based remotes with development led by the user community. now theyre just stupid gimmick remotes that have less features then android apps that can do almost the same things

 

[ImpulsE69]

I really never understood the whole having to log into an account to program your remote. I actually avoid doing that.

 

[wirednuts]

in case some outsider finds this thread and has the same problem,

download page direct link- http://www.logitech.com/en-us/support/3806?crid=492&osid=14&bit=64

thank you, google, for doing someone elses job for them. again.

oh, i almost forgot. fuck you logitech.

 

[BoomerD]

I think this firmly falls into the "1% problems" category...

 

[wirednuts]

I think this firmly falls into the "1% problems" category...

i know thats why i disclaimed it. you dont have to point out the obvious, i just wanted a place to bitch and do my part to bring down a greedy company.

 

[wirednuts]

i do understand logging into an account to program my remote. i mean yeah, you would think the software could just pull the data from the remote, but instead they just save it to the cloud under your account. that way everything is saved so if anything goes wrong you never have to redo all of your settings.

except, when youre me and you login as i just did to find the 680 still activated?!!? WTF? how is that possible? i havent used the 680 in years! all my 300 settings are gone! now if i want to redo that one stupid button i have to redo everything! i already spent an hour getting this far.

no more. no more logitech harmony, and no more recommending them either. they absolutely shit the bed on this brand. there hasnt even been a cosmetic change to the software in over half a decade.

these remotes are toast. harmony people should buy their executed brand back and regain the market. no wonder why people dont recommend these things anymore... holy shit...

 

[Aikouka]

You're sort of getting your wish...

Logitech to unload Harmony line after 'disappointing' quarter

 

[wirednuts]

You're sort of getting your wish...

Logitech to unload Harmony line after 'disappointing' quarter

hahahahaha! like thats surprising!

The electronics company blames continued weakness in the global PC market for strategy shift away from remote controls, speaker docks, and console gaming peripherals.

are you fucking kidding me? i personally watched, slowly, over years how YOU, YOU LOGITECH, ruined harmony remotes. you took out features from a product that was designed to have features. you did nothing to make the software better, all you did was make the remote look flashy and took out as much as you could under the hood. YOU ruined harmony. dont blame the world on YOUR fuckups.

and really- pc sales, remotes, speaker docks and gaming peripherals are going away? is the ceo of logitech just delusional?

 

[Mixolydian]

is the ceo of logitech just delusional?

All CEOs are delusional.

 

[deadlyapp]

I still use my logitech 720 but the buttons for some reason don't all respond well anymore. I haven't taken it apart and cleaned it yet.

Next go around I'll probably code something in android so I can use a tablet to do everything.

 

[mcveigh]

I hate them also. My $100 remote lasted like 6 months.

but I can't find an alternative

 

[kranky]

and really- pc sales, remotes, speaker docks and gaming peripherals are going away? is the ceo of logitech just delusional?

Well, you didn't expect the company to say "we totally screwed up this product line, so it's no wonder sales have plummeted," did you? It can't be their fault.

 

[Cuda1447]

So... who makes good remotes then?

 

[dabuddha]

I do have to say the whole programming interface is so non-intuitive that I could not imagine trying to walk my dad through it over the phone.

But logitech as a company has been one of the best ones I've ever dealt with.

My experiences.

Had a 5.1 system from them, the console part went bad. Called them up, they asked for the serial number, and within a day, had a brand new system being shipped. They just asked me to cut off the console doo hickey and mail that back to them

Have had numerous mice replaced by them after being used for many years (when they went bad).

I've had 2 harmony remotes eventually go bad on me after many years. They sent out a replacement remote (higher model too) and didn't even require me to send the old ones back.

 

[Number1]

I am not crazy about those harmony remotes. I find they don't last and are fairly hard to program. There is no competition yet they are not making money? This tells you a lot.

Apple should get in the market

 

[Anubis]

I am not crazy about those harmony remotes. I find they don't last and are fairly hard to program. There is no competition yet they are not making money? This tells you a lot.

using 2/3 remotes is easier and cheaper then buying 1 to program to take their place. i imagin the general public feels the same way

 

[dabuddha]

using 2/3 remotes is easier and cheaper then buying 1 to program to take their place. i imagin the general public feels the same way

Pretty much this. I use mine for 2 TVs personally. Downstairs, with a single button, it does the following:
Turns on my projector
lowers my projector screen
turns on my receiver
turns on my PS3
makes sure the receiver is on the right input setting.

Turning it off turns everything off and raises up my screen.


Upstairs, one button:
turns on my tv
turns on my fios STB
turns on my soundbar
makes sure everything is at the right setting.

Those are just two examples. If I didn't use the harmony remote, for downstairs, I'd have 4 different remotes. Upstairs, I'd have 3 different remotes.

 

[Uppsala9496]

I agree, programming the harmony remotes is a pain in the ass. The software is anything but intuitive and the web interface is a joke.

I do however love my harmony one. Haven't had an issue with it in the 3+ years I've owned it.

 

[Anubis]

i programmed the time warner remote to turn on the cable box and the TV and the Soundbar downstairs
upstairs i use 3 different ones (TV, AVR & Cable box) and i have to switch on one of my amps manually because it does not have a remote at all. it does not bother me

 

[Uppsala9496]

For my upstairs tv, I use the comcast remote to turn on the tv and cable box.
Downstairs though, the harmony one controls the tv, soundbar, cable box and access to my HTPC. Simple one button commands.

I do use my phone to change channels on my wife though just to be annoying.