Logitech has taken the wraps off two new smart remote controls, the Harmony Ultimate and the Smart Control. Both products incorporate Logitech’s Harmony Hub and Harmony Smartphone App to enable closed-cabinet control and one-touch access to game consoles from you’re the remote or a user’s smartphone. The Harmony Ultimate can also program Philips Hue wireless lights for brightness and color.
The Logitech Harmony Ultimate and Logitech Harmony Smart Control are universal and are compatible with over 225,000 home-entertainment devices from over 5,000 brands. The Harmony Ultimate includes a 2.4-inch color touchscreen that enables users to control all of the key functions directly from their remote without having to to look up at their TV. It also features blacklit keys and produces vibration feedback to let users know that their commands have been recognized, while it can also control up to 15 devices. Buttons can also be programmed for short or long presses, doubling the number of assignable functions.
The Harmony Smart Control is a bundles package that includes a much more simplifed remote control, but comes with a complete Logitech smartphone app that turns a smartphone into a full function universal remote control. It is limited to controlling up to 8 devices over a user’s smartphone or the bundled remote. The combination allows users to execute most of the functions of the more expensive Harmony Ultimate, but stop short on features like Philips Hue control.
The Logtitech Harmony Ultimate ($350) and Smart Control ($130) are available for pre-order now, and will ship in late April through early May.
