Logitech Harmony Adapter for Playstation 3
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Oct 9th, 2009 |
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- Works with Harmony Remotes
- Supports all 51 PS3 commands
- BlueTooth wireless link
- Simple guided on line set-up
- Always-On AC power
Product Description
Works with any Harmony Remote for one-touch control of DVD’s, Blu-Ray Disc movies and more on PS3. Supports all 51 PS3 commands to allow you to control XrossMediaBar (XMB), DVD and Blu-Ray Disc movies and all other console functions, including power on and off. Bluetooth wireless link keeps valuable PS3 ports available for other controllers. Simple guided online set-up walks you through the process of configuring the remote for your PS3. Always-On AC power. The ada… More >>
Logitech Harmony Adapter for Playstation 3
Listen, I LOVE logitech products…I have dozens of them! I’m a loyal customer. But this thing is bloated hardware and (at its cynical worst) an excuse to make TONS of money. The other reviewers say it works better than the Nyko Blu-wave infrared remote, which I’m sure it does. But other than some OCCASIONAL jittery D-pad navigation on the XMB, I’ve been using the Nyko USB receiver with my Harmony perfectly for the last year. And the “valuable” front USB ports? Don’t you guys already have a mini USB hub for your Rock Band instruments anyway? (I know the new PS3′s only have 2 on the front, which sucks, but get a hub for $5 and make the point moot!). The Nyko product works great, is 1/3rd the cost, and doesn’t require a power outlet. It’s a no-brainer (just remember to continue being eco-conscious and take the useless Nyko remote back to Best Buy for free e-waste recycling!).
Rating: 1 / 5
This product sounds like a good idea – but only because there’s nothing better for Harmony. And that’s pretty sad because Bluetooth isn’t new technology. It’s over 10 years old!
Yeah! You can now use your Harmony with the PS3. But this product totally defeats the purpose of Bluetooth.
Yeah! It frees up one USB port (vs. other USB based PS3 remote adapters). But it takes an AC outlet on your power strip – possibly more than one since it uses a brick style AC adapter (albeit smaller than others).
Yeah! It uses Bluetooth! So what. The point of Bluetooth isn’t to transmit a signal a few centimeters. It’s to free you up to transmit a signal several meters without having to worry about being blocked by cabinet doors, chairs, and other obstructions that might be in your living room. It doesn’t do that since the adapter only receives infrared out of the box. Sure, Harmony does use a proprietary RF signal (on some models), but the adapter doesn’t even act as a Harmony RF receiver (For $60 it can’t do that? WTF?). You’ll have to attach a separate RF adapter into this adapter.
How could this have been a better product?:
1) It could have been a battery operated device that attaches to a Harmony remote. (Think Nintendo’s Wii Motion Wiimote add on.) Of course, the varying designs of the Harmony product line make that impossible.
2) Just frakking put Bluetooth into the Harmony remote.
Bluetooth is great. Sony was trying to make the PS3 better by using obstruction-proof Bluetooth instead of the line-of-sight requiring IR. More electronics makers should use Bluetooth. And if more CE makers used Bluetooth, a Bluetooth compatible Harmony remote would work with them without any problems. This adapter is explicitly for the PS3.
For $[...] from Amazon ([...]) vs. $[...] for this thing, I’m sticking with Sony’s Bluetooth native PS3 remote control. I suggest you save $40 and do the same. Wait until Bluetooth is built in to the Harmony remote before upgrading.
FAIL.
2009-11-20 Update: Why I was right:
So now Sony isn’t the only one using Bluetooth for remote controls. Check out the upcoming (2010/January) Vizio VF552XVT TV with Bluetooth remote control and integrated QWERTY keyboard [...]. This PS3 BT adapter won’t work with the Vizio since it’s designed specifically for the PS3. Yet another reason Logitech shouldn’t have wasted their time with this product and should have concentrating their efforts on just putting Bluetooth into the handset.
Rating: 2 / 5
The specs don’t mention that you can’t use this adapter and a Sony’s Blu-ray remote at the same time. Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Disc Remote
Registering the Harmony unregisters the BD remote. So, if you want to use both, you’re out of luck. I confirmed this on the Logitech Forum.
Personally, I like to use the Logitech remote for starting up my system, but use custom remotes once the device is started. The Sony Bluetooth BD remote is more responsive than the Logitech so it’s better for Blu-ray/DVD watching. I was disappointed that I couldn’t do both.
Rating: 3 / 5
After buying, I was dissapointed to learn that the PlayStation 3 will accept/ pair with only one bluetooth remote- once you pair the Harmony PS3 Adapter, if you already own a bluetooth remote (as I do), it will not work (or vice versa). It would be nice if Harmony pointed that out before you spend $60. Also, there may be an issue powering off the PlayStation3 with your Harmony remote and PS3 adapter. I am able to power off the PS3 within the DEVICE mode (using more than one command), but within an ACTIVITY (macro)the PS3 will not power off. I am moderately tech/gadget/gizmo savvy, but have yet to get a satisfactory solution from Logitech, and see in their Forum that this is a common problem! (And I can’t power it off with the old remote-as already mentioned). If it can’t perform the multi-device macro as touted, it aint worth [...] bucks to me!
Rating: 1 / 5
PS3 80GB 399 US$ + PlayStation 3 Dualshock 3 Wireless Controller 43 US$
Logitech Harmony One (Best Cost/Benefits Ratio of all Logitech Remotes) 180 US$: Total: 622 US$
If you want to finally solve your remote controls population you need to invest another 60US
If you are looking for a Blu-Ray player maybe PS3 is not your best choice.
If you are looking for a Media Center PS3 is the best choice and you are a REMOTE CONTROL FREAK. Buy this gadget now!
Finally, logitech quality rocks but you can do the same basic operation with your PS3 controllers.
A Final question: Why logitech doesn’t include bluetooth tecnology in thier remotes? At the end, us (consumers) don’t need to buy another gadget for our enterteiments centers, less cables!!!!!
Rating: 4 / 5