Wishing you could use your iPad , iPhone , or iPod touch as a universal remote control in the sustenance elbow room ? On Tuesday Logitech announced theHarmony Link , a $ 100 gadget that sits next to your goggle box , communicates with your iOS gadget via Wi - Fi , and can control up to eight objet d’art of ironware — TVs , DVRs , Blu - ray of light players , Ab liquidator , media streamer , and so on — using a customs duty app .
With itsHarmony outback line of products , Logitech has made it relatively easy to set up ( using your Mac and an all-encompassing database of devices ) and use a single remote control to see all of your media devices . The ship’s company is looking to reach out the same functionality it offers in those standalone remotes to users of iOS devices .
The Harmony Link connects to your wireless web so as to interact with your iOS machine , and takes what you choose on your iPad or iPhone and translate it to IR commands to curb your various entertainment machine . ( There ’s also a disjoined IR blaster in the box that you’re able to practice if your twist are inside a media cabinet , say . ) Logitech boasts more than 5000 brands and 225,000 devices in its database , ca-ca it very belike your hardware is supported .
As with the standalone Harmony remote control , the Harmony Link and iOS app supportactivities , or macro that carry out multiple command with a single pat . For example , a ‘ Watch telly ’ activity could become on your TV , set it to the right input , plough on your DVR , power up your Ab receiver and set it to the proper input , and then leave you with mastery of the functions you ’ve selected for those various devices .
In addition to the remote restraint features , when run on an iPad the app provide a personalized schedule of favourite appearance , channel , and genres . Metadata such as show synopses , film overview , and images are provided by digital entertainment engineering companyRovi . On the iPhone and iPod touch , the TV discovery and seafaring experience is less usable due to the smaller screen door size .
There are many other add - ons for iOS equipment toturn them into universal outside controlsfor your dwelling house amusement organization , and even standalone hardware for the same function . But they all have restriction and can be unmanageable to configure . Logitech hopes to make the experience easier and more pleasurable with the Harmony Link .
Logitech expects to transport the $ 100 Harmony Link in October . The spare Harmony Link App supports the iPad , iPhone , and iPod touch will be usable for download from the iTunes Store ( there ’ll be an Android app as well . )
