I suppose it was bound to happen at some point.
If you're a user of the Logitech Harmony universal remote controllers, take note that most models will lose support as the Harmony Remote Software is about to be decommissioned by May 28th, 2025. The software requires access to your account online where profiles are stored.
Initially released back in 2001 by Canadian company Easy Zapper, bought by Logitech in 2004, they stopped production of the hardware in 2021.
Harmony Remote Discontinuation Notice
After careful consideration and more than 10 years of dedicated support, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue service and support for Logitech Harmony Remote Software. As technology continues to evolve, we recognize the challenges in maintaining our services to the standards we strive for. This change will be implemented on May 28, 2025.
As a result of this decision, the Logitech Harmony Remote Software will no longer support account creation or access to existing accounts for reprogramming, modifying, or making configuration changes to remotes. The remotes listed below will continue to function as they are with their current settings, but no updates or reconfigurations will be possible. We understand this decision affects your experience, and we regret any inconvenience caused.
This discontinuation affects the following remotes:
Harmony 510
Harmony 515
Harmony 520
Harmony 522
Harmony 525
Harmony 550
Harmony 555
Harmony 610
Harmony 620
Harmony 628
Harmony 655
Harmony 659
Harmony 660
Harmony 665
Harmony 670
Harmony 675
Harmony 676
Harmony 680
Harmony 688
Harmony 720
Harmony 745
Harmony 748
Harmony 768
Harmony 785
Harmony 810
Harmony 820
Harmony 850
Harmony 880
Harmony 882
Harmony 885
Harmony 890
Harmony 890 Pro
Harmony 892
Harmony 895
Harmony 897
Harmony 900
Harmony 1000
Harmony 1000i
Harmony 1100
Harmony 1100i
Harmony for Xbox 360All other remotes will continue to be supported through the MyHarmony app or the Harmony mobile application.
Thank you for being a valued Harmony customer. We appreciate your understanding and support.
Sincerely,
The Logitech Harmony Team
Note that if you have one of the newer remotes that can be programmed through MyHarmony or the Harmony mobile app, you should still be good after May 28th.
This means that for my devices like the Harmony 1100 pictured above left which I still use regularly, I should make sure to add any final devices / program final changes ASAP! Whatever final changes programmed will be set for the remainder of the remote's useful life (including those background pictures and slideshow images!). My Harmony 700 (middle) is still OK for now.
Going forward, I might purchase something like the SofaBaton X1S (~US$170) as the higher-end alternative. Or the SofaBaton U2 (~US$60) for more basic needs.
Hej Arch, The Sofabaton is pretty much your only alternative. Universal remotes pretty much died with smart tvs and HDMI-CEC. There is also Caavo. https://shop.caavo.com/pages/control_center_universal_remote if you would like to add to your subscription costs!
ReplyDeleteCheers Mike
Thanks for the note Mike.
DeleteYeah, the SofaBaton seems to be the only universal device with some bells and whistles of the Harmony products. That Caavo looks like it's meant for a totally different older demographic!
Will see... I'm tempted to give the SofaBaton and try and see how I like it.
Ah, that's a little sad, but hardly unexpected. I bought a 555 for myself a long time ago, and another one for my father. But my main amp at the time had no standby, requiring a physical press of a power button to start. So it was always somewhat awkward to use together with the Harmony, and eventually I gave up.
ReplyDeleteHey Freddie,
DeleteFor years I had all kinds of programmable learning remotes until around 2007 or so when I settled on the Harmony ones. While the software's pretty old and clunky by today's standards, at least the Harmony Remote Software works. Most of the time I don't depend on the online profiles and just learn the remote codes with the original controller anyways. Worked well recently for the Topping DX9 DAC.
I think it's a shame that they're "closing shop" since the hardware is still pretty good! Wish there was a simple way to still allow these remotes to be manually programmed.
I have a Harmony 650 which, in anticipation of what has been announced, I tried to replace with a Sofabaton X1S. I could not get it to agree with my equipment, in particular managing a certain order of on/off sequences. Returned it for a refund and I can't seem to find anything adequate. Oh well, the more software is included in our equipment, the less control you have over it as an 'owner'. Even technophiles lose sight of that fact.....
ReplyDeleteYup Bellamacchina,
DeleteThat's the issue especially with "cloud" services. If the Harmony software just installed in our computers from the start and we didn't need to log on to download the profile each time, then all we'd have to worry about would be OS incompatibility over time. Alas, since all profiles are retrieved off the cloud, this unfortunate situation. :-(
Unfortunate with the SofaBaton! Will have to look more into how that system works...
I bought the Sofabaton U2 from Amazon last year, and it didn't work for me at all. I could get it to upload the commands for my NVidia shield, but even my LG C1 proved unworkable (wasn't even in the database). As for being able to copy the commands from a standard Apple TV remote which controls my Octo Research DAC 8 Pro, forget it. Would not do it. And needless to say, would not accept work with the Smyth A16 Realiser, or even the Topping A70 Pro headphone amp. So it proved a total dud and was returned for a refund. Also had problems in that it needed to be pointed directly at the device being controlled. IR beam was just too narrow, so definitely not recommended.
ReplyDeleteI owned the top Harmony remote in the 2000's. It had a charging station, and eventually the led display failed, but it was a teriffic unit that controlled everything I had in the AV rig I had at the time. It was much missed. I think it takes a lot to maintain data codes for all the various components which is probably the chief expense for these companies of offering these units. I find all the phone software to be a complete joke, so I'm stuck with my five remotes for the foreseeable future. Sigh.
My Harmony Remote was pretty much a lifesaver for me in terms of convenience. Unforturnately, my TV provider has switched to an android based box, and there isn’t any remote that properly supports it (proprietary user interface, and it isn’t RF based, it’s remote is IP based, I think).
ReplyDeleteI purchased a Skip remote and USB plug, but it doesn’t have the Harmony like support or the vast database of remote programs that simply are downloaded and just work.
I also sort of cloned the Harmony to the Skip, but it only partially works.The Skip people told me the remote and plug would solve my issues, but they basically expect everyone to be a Geek and program the unit to fit their needs. I tried, but there are some functions I just can’t get to work. If my Harmony 665 really stops working in the future, I won’t have a good solution.
First World problems, for sure.
It's impressive how the Harmony remotes served as a reliable all-in-one solution for home entertainment control over the years. Logitech's long-term support and innovation in the smart home space are truly commendable as yu can use this Adobe with convenience support
ReplyDelete