My, we ARE verbose today, aren't we Mike! ;-)

(I include other posts made by the kindly gentlemen of this date.)

Mike: I was only half serious with what I said (therefor the :-)) I agree, we have become a society of paranoiacs. And that in the most part, anyone looking for information on the web is searching for a needle in a haystack, so we get privacy by inconvenience.

I also agree with you that it is a beta program, and info is what beta programs are all about.

My biggest concern is that they can get a lot of info on the user (address, equipment and, if they log web activity, when you are at home) even if they don't use the information and they don't sell any of it, if someone hacks into their system, it can lead to problems. Plus since you have to log into their site every so often (for the guide) they can create a pretty good profile of you.

Gotcha, Anthony. I saw your Smiley. Consider the soapbox comment my own Smiley... ;-) ... Mike

Larry,

Thanks for the offer. I may take you up on it. First I'll wait for a response from the support team (I e-mailed them this morning with some detailed "big-picture" feedback as a beta tester). Depending on their response, I may not have to bother you over the phone. I would also be interested in the "XML Seminar" being started up by Bob :) It appears to me that in order to really be able to use this remote effectively, you have to learn how to edit XML.

John

Isn'tit funny how rumours get started? This is exactly why I always include an error in my documentation when sending it for review: people see the error and jump on it, and then they let me do my job. But it works backwards here...

So, EasyZapper provided us with an early-adopter method for tweaking our Harmonys: access to the XML code that directs the Activities.

Now the rumour is spreading that you have to know XML to use the Harmony.

Papa John: just not true. You can do pretty much everything without touching the XML. However, at this early stage of the game, you might want to get into the worms a little and add some of your own stuff. That's all.

Maybe EasyZapper should just pull back on the XML-access to prevent just this kind of misconception. Eventually, of course, they plan to offer everything predesigned for you anyway. ... Mike

I'm still awaiting the arrival of my Harmony, but was wondering if anyone is having any luck using it with a Tivo or other Pvr. I understand the codes are there, or could be easily put there, but how is it working out for ease of use? Does anyone have a Pvr up and running with it, and be willing to share some descriptions? I use my Tivo as my main Tuner, controling the cable box thru it, so it's important to me to be able to have full use of it easily.

S_J, I'm trying to beat Larry to the punch ;-)

I have the Philips DirecTIVO, and yesterday was able to detect the language. All functions appear to work fine, but my finger's a little sore from all the scrolling. This thing would be damn near perfect with a (small) directional keypad.

Glen, in case you're peaking in, that's the third time I've mentioned the keypad *lol*

Soop, Thanks for the insight. I was hoping I wasn't going to have to do it all on the scroll wheel, but without a directional pad, I guess there's not much option. I'm sure with time you'll figure out the best method for navigating.

Mike,

At the risk of appearing downright ignorant, I will respond to your comments. Maybe I'm still looking for the little light to go on in my head, but I am struggling with getting this remote set-up. I've been trying to set up the "Watch TV" activity for a few nights now. Although I finally was able to get the remote to turn on all the necessary components and switch them to the correct inputs, that's about all it will do. I can control the volume, the mute, and the power off...that's all. I can't control anything else (channel up/down, directional commands like left/right/up/down, select/enter, etc.). There are menu items under each component in the "Control Menu" selection that appear to be used for some of these functions, but they haven't been working for me. I am guessing that these are default items that I need to digitize, because the ones that appear in my menus simply don't do anything when selected. Maybe part of the problem is that I am using a Dishnetwork dishplayer satellite receiver and the pre-programmed codes just aren't in the system yet. I've tried digitizing buttons from the OEM remote thinking that maybe it was up to me (as a beta tester) to get some of the codes imported, and although I can get them to appear in the component menu of the Harmony after uploading, selecting the commands still won't do anything. This frustration extends to my stereo receiver (Sony STR-DE845) in the activity "Listen to Radio". Again, everything turns on and off, and I have volume control, but that's all.

After reading the "advanced user" section on the website, I found that most of the things I wanted to do were explained, but they ALL required me to modify the XML. For example, the following tasks:

-remove unwanted, inoperable, menu items,
-redistribute or re-sort desired menu items,
-add hard button functionality for transport and direction control,
-add sub-activities like "Watch Pre-Recorded TV Show",

are discussed in the advanced user section, but the solutions provided all require an XML edit.

If, as you say, "You can do pretty much everything without touching the XML", then why did I "stumble" onto the idea that I need to do an XML edit. It seems reasonable to me that the website "guides" the user to the advanced user section more readily than to the section "Harmony set-up for Dummies". If you can point me to that "Dummy" section, I would be grateful (really, sarcasm aside)...I just don't have enough time right now to delve into XML (although I would like to at a later date).

Also, I hope you don't really think the Harmony folks should pull back the XML edit capability. If you do, then I think you're missing the boat and suggesting a "knee-jerk" reaction to my earlier comments. Rather than can the whole XML accessibility thing (which I personally think is a great feature), why not just make it more clear up front how to perform some of these essential tasks easily WITHOUT having to edit the XML? I'm all for a GUI which appears to be in the works. Until it comes out though, I find that the website lacks clear directions on how to set-up without having to know XML. (My opinion as a "Dummy Beta Tester").

Also, although I may not be a computer programmer, I am a scientist/engineer, and I consider myself to be at least slightly more technically proficient than the average Joe. If I am having this much trouble setting-up, you can bet that when the remote is released to the public, there will be more like me.

John

Papa John:

I agree with all your comments, wholeheartedly, and I apologize right now if I seemed a little insensitive.

I was trying to be completely insensitive. Guess I failed. ... Mike

John: OK, OK, I'm kidding! I do apologize... I could have at least added a smiley or something in the appropriate places.

In any case, I do agree with your comments. The only thing I might add is that yes, you're right about being a Beta-Boy; EasyZapper is definitely hoping we can help fill up their database at this stage of the game.

I had to digitize a number of keys for a couple of devices, especially input commands and navigation commands, because they weren't part of the regular "parcel" of infrared that the software knew about. And I do find it frustrating, often. I guess I knew that, though, when I signed on for the trip.

I'm hoping like heck, in fact I'm betting, that Easy Company will have all this stuff worked out by Go-Day... ... Mike

Easy Company,,, now that's funny.

Mike,

No offense was ever taken. If my reply sounded defensive, it's probably because I am getting frustrated with the set-up :{. Particularly when so many others here seem to have perfected it...

Meanwhile, I'll continue to be a good little beta-boy and digitize away :-) (although I still haven't been able to get my digitized keys to do anything on the Harmony, so I don't see any point to digitizing).

John

Alfa, that's okay, it's not a competition. : - )

I have to be brief here, it's supper time.

The four direction buttons on mine DO control the DirecTV menu, only the center button is not working as a select button.

Larry

Larry, Hmmmmmm...What's the Language ID of your DirecTIVO?