![]() ![]() Since "Watch Cable" had gone so well, I decided to press on, so to speak. I let it know that everything was okay and that I thought I might be falling in love with it. The Harmony comes with a "Remote Assistant" (which you can turn off, of course) which asks you if the activities performed correctly. I was so stunned, I didn't even notice the message on the remote's display saying "Is everything okay?" Seriously, it said that. ![]() My receiver clicked on, the cable box lit up, that faint whirring sound was the projector's fan coming to life, the Impact switched to input one and the receiver jumped to V1. I unplugged the 890 from its USB cable, pointed it at my system and hit "Watch Cable." Before I knew it, those little audible clicks that bring joy to the heart of any videophile started popping all around me. First, I wanted to see how it worked by default. Of all that, only the Mvix and the lighting control had to be taught to the 890. I even put in the old Sharp VCR (tapes, how quaint!), the X10 controls for my curtains, the Mvix multimedia player and the aforementioned lighting controls. I configured the remote for the Sanyo projector, the Onkyo receiver and DVD player, the Motorola Hi-Def/DVR Cable box and the Impact component video switcher. I wanted to see if the database of commands matched up to my components. This system was much easier to use than the old macro programming from my Pronto and Kameleon days (make sure you hit every button in the proper order or you need to start from scratch! Ugh).įor starters, I decided to test out the Harmony defaults for all my devices. Based on these settings, the Harmony's "Smart State" technology allows the 890 to determine what components are on or off and control your devices accordingly. This refers to standard combinations of remote events, such as "Watch DVD" or "Listen to the Radio." The software runs you through a wizard-like interface to select the different commands necessary to perform these activities. I entered the product numbers for my devices and configured what the Harmony calls "Activities". Amazingly, not only did the software have each of my devices in its list (even my obscure Automation Systems lighting control), but in its example screen, the sample product numbers that it gave were only a few removed from mine. The Harmony's wizard-based configuration utility walks you through adding every conceivable device to your remote. I've written down all my components on the handy space provided in the user's manual (nerd alert!), I've popped the CD in my PC (the Harmony's config software installed in scant seconds) and, after a quick firmware upgrade, I'm ready to go. Like the 880, the 890 comes with a USB cable and setup disc so you can program the components of your remote right from the comfort of your computer. Plus, those IR emitters allow you to lock your components behind cabinets and use the RF Extender for line-of-sight.īut more on that later, let's get back to the setup of the 890. Now, in a small Manhattan apartment, you might say, what's the point of an RF Extender? True, I only have about 12 feet of throw distance between my couch and my components, but hey, sometimes I might want to control the volume from the kitchen or, ahem, on the way to the bathroom. But unlike the 880, this one comes with an RF Wireless Extender and a bunch of very cool little IR emitters. The 890 itself is a dead ringer for the 880, except in silver. Still, the 890 is well worth the wait, as we'll soon see. But, as with most rechargeable devices, there's that delayed gratification as you realize there's not an ounce of power to be had fresh out of the box. Don't get me wrong, I couldn't be happier that the 890 comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and a very slick docking cradle to boot, complete with a glowing blue light in the middle. Why am I wasting time with this prologue? Well, right now I'm waiting for the remote's battery to charge. "OK", you might say, "enough about you, get to the 890!" And you'd have a point.
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