So many different ways to control our TVs these days. We can download apps that link up to our cable boxes, or download the Google TV remote app to control our Google TV. But for those of you that do not have the luxury of using any of those apps because you do not own Google TV, or your cable provider does not have the ability to link their boxes to your phone; can get great use out of the Harmony link. Not only can you control your cable box but other entertainment devices as well.

Now some of you might not see the point of getting the Harmony Link, and honestly I do not blame you. This is definitely not one of Logitech’s better devices. We will get to the pros and cons in a bit though.

Package Contents

• Harmony Link
• AC Adaptor
• USB Cable
• Mini-blaster

How it Works

The Harmony Link turns your your Android phone or tablet into your very own touch-screen remote to control your cable box, DVD player, TV, or gaming system. Using WiFi, the Harmony Link connects to your device then sends infrared signals to your entertainment devices to turn them on or off, set their inputs, change volume, and perform any other functions you want.

The Harmony link is fairly small which is nice. It has a pretty sleek design as well, so it is definitely not an eye-sore. The ideal place to place the Harmony Link would be on top of your entertainment center so there is no infrared blockage to your devices. If you want to keep your devices in a closed cabinet, you will probably have to use the IR extenders (called mini–blasters) to the Harmony Link. These mini-blasters relay IR signals to the devices that cannot be accessed by the Harmony Link.

The Good

One of the key things that Logitech is trying to accomplish with this product, is to give the user the ability to control their devices without having to look for their remotes. Most of us are already sitting on the couch or special chair with either our phone or tablet, so no need to search for the remote that always gets swallowed up by the couch. The representative I talked to about this product also let me know that Logitech does not plan to get back into the Google TV game. So for those of you that did not get a Logitech Revue, and wanted the ability to use the Google remote app, could find great use of this product.

The Bad

The absolute worse thing about getting this product is the fact that the app does not support Honeycomb or Ice Cream Sandwich. That is a huge let down and they have not updated the app in quite a while. The rep I spoke to though, assured me that an update will be rolling out to support any device that is Android 3.X, and that they plan on making the user experience much better. Right now the app is kind of bland, and it would be nice if they had a widget that you can place on your homescreen for quick access to the controls.

Conclusion

To me, I do not really think the big Android users will find the Harmony Link to their liking. After messing with it I was not that impressed by it. And the fact that it does not support Android 3.X devices is a very huge let down. The average android user that might have a simple tablet that is running Gingerbread might enjoy it though. Overall, it has potential to be a great device, but Logitech needs to kick it into gear in order for it to make any kind of impact in the market.

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About the Author

David Pena

Been an Android nerd since the G1 days. I believe I hacked and flashed that phone into dust. Since then I jumped onto the G2 and now rocking the totally awesome HTC One S. I also host and produce The ManDroid Show every week and love talking Android to whoever wants to talk about it. Long Live Android!

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