Remote Control Software

[Nixreg]

Is there no way around the one account per remote, STILL? This has to be the most asinine system ever dreamed up. Is anyone at Logitech actually considering innovating this software, which has essentially been the same for 5 years? Great remote hardware, but software worse than a first year college software student could write. 

[CvD]

This bothers me so much too. 

I wrote an email to the customer support asking why their software is so badly designed. Usability is such a joke; I love the remotes themselves but configuring them is such a pain:

I would like to complain about the Harmony Remote software. I cannot believe how bad the interface is! Did you actually have this tested by anyone at all before this software was shipped?!?

Things that really bother me:

- Why does the interface not adjust to the current screen resolution? It is 2011 and this silly program is still asking me to adjust my screen resolution to suit its needs?! It's not a game, it's an *utterly* simple interface with some buttons. This is unacceptable. I refuse to adjust my resolution setting just to run your program.

- Why are there radio-buttons in the interface for everything, requiring me to first click the radio-button of what i want, and then move the mouse all the way to the bottom right of the screen to click 'Next'. THIS IS STUPID! Why not make the radio-buttons buttons that you click to select something and also take you to the next screen??? If you were to make a mistake you can easily use the already present 'Previous' button. Configuring a complex with many devices takes a long time and is giving me RSI (carpal tunnel syndrome) from all the mousing I have to do.

- Why do I need a login for each remote I want to manage? Why can't I log in once with 1 login and select which remote I want to manage?

- Why do I need ANOTHER login for opening troubleshooting tickets here on the Logitech website???


I have been using this software for a couple years now and it hasn't improved at all in usability. It can't be possible I'm the only one bothered by this. 

Also, I'm a computer engineer and well used to working with computers, and I find it cumbersome and irritating to use. How do you expect someone who doesn't have formal training to have to work with your software? 

Please please please make future versions easier to use!

[Nixreg]

Yeah, I have wondered about the radio buttons spaced all the way across the screen from next many times. In general I find the software to be completely irrational and very cumbersome. I'm not surprised to not hear anything from Logitech regarding this question as they have basically turned a blind-eye to the request to have 1:M (accounts to remotes) for years. If they are not willing to do that, then why not give a "pro" version of software that is divorced from the stupid online account and doesn't require a "wizard" for every change. There are so many ways to design this software to be user friendly, it's a shame that what came out is such crap. If it was v1 I might understand, but what exactly has changed in the past 7.7 versions?

OR, how about an API to let us come up with a better way to program these remotes?

[sjrx0213]

I've been using the Harmony 670 for years, but this thread prompted me to sign up for the forum.

This is truly a terrible management system.  All accounts should be tied to users, not devices.  A user should only need a single account in order to manage multiple devices.  I've got a pair of 670s and it's just plain silly that I need to maintain two separate accounts to manage them. 

I like my 670s so much that I recommended my mother (not tech saavy) get a pair of 880s for her home.  Naturally, I'm the one doing the programming, so now I'm up to 4 accounts.  It's just not convenient.  I'd also add that as a user, I would like to be able to create profiles virtually, save the settings as a file, then email them to my mother so she can load them for her remotes.  There's really no good reason why that shouldn't be possible.

Logitech, you guys make great hardware (I've got a couple of track balls and a wireless keyboard/mouse combo too), but it's long past time to step up the game on the software. 

[towboy123 Logi Legend]

First off you would have to label the remote something in the software like its location so make that your login ID this amounts to the exact same thing only you have to switch between logins instead of remotes.  You can use the same password.  I have 67 accounts all labelled by house number and room location so no thought is involved. 

Second you can update your mothers profile online.  She can then login into that account and plug in the remote and update it.  I do this for my parents all the time

[sjrx0213]

Second you can update your mothers profile online.  She can then login into that account and plug in the remote and update it.  I do this for my parents all the time.

Good suggestion.  I'll have to try it.

First off you would have to label the remote something in the software like its location so make that your login ID this amounts to the exact same thing only you have to switch between logins instead of remotes.  You can use the same password.  I have 67 accounts all labeled by house number and room location so no thought is involved.

That's what I've done as well.   With all due respect, though, it's a workaround for a poor (or at least outdated) implementation.  An account should be associated with a user, not a device.  The device is just an attribute of the user.  As an analogy, it's like expecting one to create a new user account for every reply one posts on this forum.

I'm a software QA guy by profession, so I fully understand what goes into a development cycle.  It's hard work to design, code, and test complex yet reliable applications.  But seriously, we're talking about how many years of this device management model?  It's really in Logitech's best interest to re-design this system a) to improve the customer experience, b) extend it to other devices they sell, and c) to tie in to their registration database for both sales and support.

As I said previously, I own several other Logitech products (which I think is a testament to my feelings about the quality of their hardware).  As a user/customer, I'd like to have a single user account -- tied to me, not a device -- that contains a database of my registered Logitech products, their warranty status, links to any software or firmware updates for those devices, and links to any management UI for the devices (such as the Harmony remotes).

I'm not anti-Logitech by any stretch of the imagination, I just know enough about software to know the Harmony management implementation could be 1000% better. 

[hhatkin]

Of course it could be better, for us. We've been saying so for years. There's no reason why Logitech should do anything about it though. We're in a small minority and the vast majority don't have problems. It's the simplicity, that we find ridiculous, that actually makes it easier for most people. If Harmonys were complex devices used only by computer experts like us (!) it would be a different matter. The problems wouldn't have arisen in the first place,

[rip59]

How about two version, a standard and advanced, or a "Advanced" button in the normal version.

The Advanced view or version don't have to be that "fancy" too look at, just make it effective, I am looking for some possibilities that I don't think exist today.

[towboy123 Logi Legend]

What are you looking for the software can do alot let us know what you need so that we can help.

[rip59]

I have another message about it "How to select a "command" from another device?"

Simply, how to select a command from another devices commandlist?

When editing buttons for a device, in the top of the commandlist, make a dropdownlist to pickup an other devices commandlist.

Best Regards