Logitech Dropping Harmony this Year (2013)

[Thorin]

Soooo if you had the same interface on your iPhone or Android you'd still reach for the remote?

If I had the same interface on my Android my family would have to reach for the remote while I'm not at home (which is much of the time).  My mother doesn't have an iPhone or Android to have the interface on.

Also, we charge our phones nightly at my house because they burn their batteries pretty quickly.  My Harmony remote sits on a cradle that recharges it when not in use, but can last for a month or longer without getting recharged.  Using the phone as a remote would just drain the battery more (plus imagining having to unlock it every time you want to adjust the volume or change the channel, since most phones auto-lock now).

[Lazybones]

I can control my Roku via my phone or my remote. I only ever use the phone app when I need to type a long title or can't find the remote.

- remote lasts months on batteries
- much more durable
- dedicated buttons are better in the dark
- easier to use.


We had another thread about remotes a while ago, there are others with the same or better function and less dependency on a PC.

[Melbosa]

I kinda like the PC Dependency.  Means you can never screw up the remote with just button pushing...

[Tom]

I kinda like the PC Dependency.  Means you can never screw up the remote with just button pushing...

Some of them support both programming via pc and button pushing. Usually the pc mode lets you do fancier things.