Logitech Harmony 768 Advanced Universal Remote Control (Silver)

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Product Details

• Item Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000084VGH
• Item model number: SST768
• Batteries: 4 AAA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: December 30, 2002

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description
Harmony Remote's SST-768 universal remote control uses Smart State Technology, pioneered by Intrigue Technologies, to control your home theater devices through commands focused on activities rather than on the devices themselves. Just scroll through the Harmony's screen and click with the convenient thumb wheel to choose an activity such as "watch television" or "watch a DVD," then let the SST-768 figure out how to configure your entertainment system for your desired activity--you don't have to first program the device with complicated macros. By selecting the activity, the appropriate commands are automatically sent to the entertainment devices, resulting in simple, intuitive control of even the most elaborate entertainment system.

The SST-768's activities are completely Web-configured through Web Wizard questions on member pages created at HarmonyRemote.com. The Smart State database of electronic devices makes set-up a snap. Even if a brand-new device is not already in the database, your remote will learn any command and add any IR-capable device to the database.

Your online system configuration is transferred directly from your personal account to the remote via USB connection (a Windows PC with a USB connection is required for use). The configuration is always safely stored on your Web page so you can make changes any time you want, right through your Web browser.

And, with the SST-768 you'll never have to utter complaints like "I can see a picture, but I can't hear the sound." Simply press the Help button and the Harmony remote poses a few simple questions on its screen, such as: "Is the television on?" or "Is the stereo set to the DVD input?" Just click yes or no to each question and the remote will automatically send the correct commands to get your entertainment system back in sync.

Each button is tailored to a specific activity, but is also customizable. "Seldom used" functions are always available through the backlit LCD.

What's in the Box
Remote control, Harmony Software installation CD, a USB cable, 4 AAA batteries, and a Quick Start Guide.

Product Description
Controls all your components with a single button press / Displays free TV listings via your Windows PC / Easy setup

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not for everybody, May 4, 2003

By	L. Tesler (Menlo Park, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As of 2004, new models are available that address the issues I raised in this review when I first wrote it. Also, Mac OS X and Safari are now very well supported by this and newer models.

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I heard great things about the original Harmony Remote (SST-748). But I wanted to be able to access more functions. So I bought the SST768 as soon as it became available.

The Harmony Remote concept is a unique and clever idea in the world of universal remotes. If you have several A/V components and find yourself operating several remotes just to switch from, say, watching a DVD to listening to FM radio, the Harmony Remote will allow you to switch in an instant, and in a very intuitive way. You program it on your Windows PC or Mac by visiting the harmonyremote web site. If your devices are listed in their data base, it takes a quick hour or so to set up your configuration and download it through a USB connector.

The advantages of the Harmony Remote decline if your needs differ from the scenario just mentioned.

You can download a TV program guide into the remote, and pick shows in the built-in lighted display window. But to refresh the guide, you connect the remote to your PC or Mac and visit the harmonremote web site at least once every two weeks. I do not find the guide to be as useful as the on-screen guides provided by TiVO and some cable companies. Fortunately, you have the option of omitting the guide from your configuration.

If you have a device that is not in their data base, you can teach the Harmony Remote using your old remote. Although they have made this fairly easy to do, the user interface is sometimes confusing. If the device is unlike anything they've seen before, the process can add another hour or more to your setup time.

You scroll through choices in the small display by rotating a wheel on the right side of the remote. You indicate your selection by pressing the wheel into the unit. It is not easy to press the wheel without also turning it. Even after considerable practice, I sometimes make an unintended choice.

But the main reason the Harmony Remote is not for me is that I don't use my remote controls solely for standard functions like switching activities and changing the channel and the volume. I am always fiddling with special functions like change-format/adjust-video/PIP on my wide-screen TV, PVR functions on my TiVO, and dimming on my room-lighting remote. My choices with a Harmony Remote are to assign unused keys to such functions or to choose from menus in the small display. But the user interface for assigning keys is frustrating, and I often forget what key assignments I chose. The alternative, getting to and scrolling through a long menu in the small display, is a ponderous process. It is easier to grab the original remote that came with the device.

The good news is that Harmony is continually improving their software. If basic functions are all you need now, then by the time you crave fancier functions, they might by then have made them easier to access. Alternatively, if you are technically inclined and have days to spare, you can learn TiVO's XML-based programming language, join a message board of like-minded souls, and make this device do almost anything you want. Or do what I do: Keep your original remote controls handy to operate those non-standard functions.

In summary, the Harmony Remote model 768 is an easy-to-use product for a basic user in a hurry, and a powerful product for a power user with time on their hands. For people like me who want the flexibility, but don't have the time, it helps out some, but not enough to replace a gaggle of remotes.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost Perfect, March 15, 2003

By A Customer

I've owned several higher end all in one remotes. The Phillips Pronto being the latest. I've always stayed away from the macro features as they never seemed to function well; leaving some inputs wrong, not turning a component on. Plus I've got an eclectic mix of gear; big screen, projector, Krell, Yamaha, Tivo, Parasound. No remotes in the past seemed to like mixing and matching all these components in a macro event. When I opened up this remote, I was skeptical, actually planning on not liking it and returning it. After the lengthy setup I had it working to about 70% efficiency. Decided to send it back as it really forces you to use macros, in fact there is no real decent way to use it otherwise. But I gave it another try and after some more patient setup and getting used to it's lay out, I say it's a keeper. I'm still amazed that the macro system actually works, and works very well. To watch a DVD on my front projector, I'd have to pick up about 5 remotes and punch a total of about 8 buttons, this remote reduces that to a quick wheel scroll and one push. Amazing. The best all in one I've used. It actually does what it says and I'd give it 5 stars if it weren't from some obvious flaws in working with Tivo (had to go into the internal XML file to get it to change channels correctly). BTW, you can't beat the price on Amazon. Don't know why, but it's [$$] cheaper here than I found anywhere else on the net.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars finally - a universal remote that works!, September 24, 2003

By	Paul Christensen "gadget geek" (West Chester, PA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I've owned my share of universal remotes over the years, and in the end none of them have lived up to their promise. My audio/video configuration is "upper end" - a best-of-breed mixture of components from various manufacturers.

Based on reviews I'd seen on this remote, I purchased it from Amazon. Like another reviewer mentioned here, the Amazon price is amazing - don't know how, but makes it all the better.

Finally, with the Harmony, I have found a remote that is truly universal. I have been able to get rid of all other remotes and replace them with one simple, small device.

Basic setup is extremely simple - register and login to the website, enter the make/model of each component, then define the tasks you want to do (eg. watch television, play a video, watch a dvd...). All is done through a series of "Wizards" that prompt you through the process.

If you don't know your make/model number, you can press a few buttons on your existing remote, and let the Harmony figure out what you have.

What makes this remote different? Several things, in my opinion:
1) Task-based menu structure and context-sensitive buttons

Organizes functions into tasks, which consist of the components required, and the actions that will take place. For example, "Watch a DVD" turns on the TV and selects the proper input, turns on the receiver and sets it to DVD mode, turns on the DVD and optionally starts playing.

Each task also defines button activities (for example, which buttons control which component), as well as contexts (eg. control mode vs. menu mode vs. number entry). All very intuitive *** AS LONG AS YOU DOWNLOAD THE USER MANUAL FROM THE HARMONY WEBSITE ***. (The printed manual is way to brief, and doesn't discuss the button functions for each mode.)

You can easily add additional commands for each/any component to a given action (start/stop). And, you can customize menus and buttons.

2) Internet-based setup wizards and remote control learning
You can easily extend the capabilities of the default tasks by learning any additional remote control functions you might want. In this scenario, the web site prompts you through the process, and the Harmony remote reads the remote control commands, storing them on the web site.

3) Internal state variables
Transparent to the user, this allows the remote to remember the various settings a device was in. For example, what input is the TV currently on? Is the receiver on or off? Was a DVD playing or paused?

This provides a significant measure of intelligence to the remote, way beyond what "macros" do. And, if the components get out of sync there is an interactive context-sensitive "Help" button that prompts you through each item (eg. is the TV on? is it displaying the right input? ...) to get things back correctly.

4) XML-based programming for advanced customization
If you have any programming experience, customizing this remote beyond the wizards is a snap. It uses XML tags to embed commands and logic. The Harmony website has a series of detailed documentation on this, although it's not complete in all areas. Tech support for these features is oustanding however, with very quick turnaround to questions.

Support from the manufacturer is outstanding: toll-free phone support, as well as email. They are constantly upgrading their website functionality (unlike another observation here, you can re-run the setup wizards as often as you want). And, they support both Windows and MacOSX!