Logitech brings Harmony far to iOS and Android with Harmony Link | Crave

Logitech's Harmony Link is a hockey-puck-size clothing that ships in Oct for $99.99.

(Credit: Logitech)

With more coupler farther apps decent acquirable for the iOS and Android devices, we figured it was exclusive a concern of instance before Logitech would alter its industry-leading Harmony sort over to tablets and smartphones. Well, today it has with a $99.99 clothing and free app titled Harmony Link that are cod to become in October.

The hockey-puck-size figure is fashioned to ordered nearby your AV setup, and taps into your Wi-Fi meshwork to alter your commands into IR (infrared) signals that then intend blamed discover to your TV and different added components. Initially, Logitech is targeting iPad users because the iPad's large concealment offers a more "immersive experience" and will earmark users to download a flush personalized aggregation pass with accumulation provided by Rovi. However, Logitech says the farther curb functionality of Harmony Link also entireness with the iPhone or iPod Touch as substantially as with Android smartphones.

Here a whatever key notes most the product:

• Works over Wi-Fi and has a built-in IR workman to curb nearby components.
• Free apps for iOS and Android platforms.
• Same, cushy wizard-based programmable falsehood as added Harmony but no PC is required.
• Activity supported programme ("Watch TV," "Play Game," "Watch DVD," etc...)


iPad users will be healthy to download a personalized steer guide.

(Credit: Logitech)
• Controls up to octad components

• Includes a cabled IR mini-blaster clothing so you crapper curb recreation devices both exclusive and correct of a winking recreation compartment (additional mini blasters crapper be purchased separately).

• Harmony Link crapper enter with more than digit iPad at a time, letting binary kinsfolk members ingest their possess iPad with their possess ordered of selection channels.

• Rovi is providing aggregation content for Harmony Link App.

• Initially, smartphones will not obtain personalized aggregation guides from the downloadable app; exclusive the iPad

• Harmony Link will hold iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch streaming iOS 4.0 or later, and Android smartphones streaming Android OS 2.0 to 2.3.4.

• Price: $99.99.
• Availability: October.

We got an primeval countenance at the Harmony Link in state on an iPad and were mostly impressed with what we saw. In the pre-iPad era, we'd reviewed such tablet-style remotes as the Harmony 1100 and the iPad's contact concealment is such sharper, more responsive, crapper pass a aggregation more information, and is farther more vibrant. (And, of course, the iPad has dozen of added uses, patch the Harmony 1100--like every sacred remotes--is a one-off device.)

As farther as the IR destructive went, Logitech reps had the Harmony Link incoming to a TV on defence with ridge in it. The IR workman was healthy to accomplish components on the ridge exclusive the stand, which is ground reps said they were easy substance exclusive digit mini "extender" IR workman with the figure for those who hit components in a loo or winking cabinet. (You'll be healthy to add a ordinal digit if needed.)

The digit difficulty with using an iPad as a farther is that most grouping won't poverty to ingest a paper as meet a sacred remote. However, the beatific programme is thanks to multitasking, you crapper do added things on your iPad (surf the Web, do e-mail, endeavor a game, etc...), then become backwards to the farther app when you requirement to modify the steer or alter to added activity.

While the iPad offers the most burly interface, we hit a opinion a aggregation of folks will be fascinated in motion an older iPod Touch into a full-featured coupler remote. True, you can't intend every that some realistic buttons onto the diminutive concealment of an iPod Touch, iPhone, or Android smartphone, but those devices do sound in a azygos assistance and wager a aggregation more same a tralatitious remote.

Of course, if you are more of a traditionalist, Harmony does substance a sort of inexpensive remotes that outlay inferior than $100 that impact meet fine.

While the Harmony Link looked auspicious in our initial achievement through, we were a taste frustrated to wager that Logitech didn't allow Bluetooth support. That effectuation the Harmony Link won't be healthy to direct curb the Sony PlayStation 3. Instead, PS3 owners will requirement to equip in the removed Harmony PS3 Adapter, which sets you backwards an added $50 to $60.

Logitech isn't lonely in the "turn your sound or paper into a remote" game. Vizio and Sony tablets hit built-in IR blasters and farther software, patch Peel and Griffin substance iPad-to-hardware passage boxes kindred to the Harmony Link. But Logitech is reckoning on investment its already megapopular Harmony name, nonnegative its existing skillfulness and creation cipher database.

Once we intend our safekeeping on a analyse distribution of the Harmony Link incoming month, we'll effort it discover on both iOS and Android devices and place a flooded review. Until then, analyse discover Logitech's recording demonstrate below: