Has a date been given when this device will be sold to the public and for how much? It sounds to good to be true. To the testers: Does this device do everything that has been said? Does it solve a lot of the problems that other remotes have?

Thanks for any responces. I am new and would like to purchase the best unit for me.

P.S. I have read the reviews.

A revised version of the Harmony Client software has added a number of features to the remote. Included is a whole whack of new Menu items for most Devices (more Devices to be added, I'm sure).

For one example, I can now access the special functions of my Receiver just by using the scroll wheel, like Surround Speaker levels. This adds a whole new dimension to the Harmony that shows me it's on the road to answering all wish-lists. -HH-

After reading all of the above, sounds promising but "not ready for prime time."

The web site is very sparse and gives you no idea how it works or what features there are, just generic descriptions. Although Mike's posts are helpful, there are just too many questions to buy on blind faith and hope that all are answered when I go to program, especially when the state of the unit appears to be in serious flux. Maybe down the road...

OK, in the futile hope that I won't be misconstrued as shilling for EasyZapper, let me say this: this is a BETA program. Beta, beta, beta. Now,maybe they should have named it a "Development" program, and maybe the word Beta is often used incorrectly, but the word does sort of captures everybody's attention.

The hardware, for the initial release, is rock solid. The design of the Harmony that you see on the website is what the product is going to look like. As a Beta tester, I've asked for other things hardware-wise, but the hardware stands for now.

The software is also rock solid: it's just not finished yet. It is "finished" from the point of view that, even though I've run this sucker through a dry-wringer, I cannot get the firmware to crash on the remote, and any bugs I've encountered (very few) on the client software have been more than corrected.

Waht I'm working with is not the "release", and I'm having a lot of fun, just like I did with Uli and the Ucommand, because these guys at EasyZapper listen to every word. Most of my suggestions and comments have been discussed long before I brought them up, and the ones that catch them by surprise make them very happy. So, every little while, they add some more functionality. No flux here: just a growth pattern for a product under development.

They won't be charging for TV listings; the boss has answered pretty positively that even if things went seriously sour down the road, the users would not be left out in the cold; and they are giving everyone a half-price deal right now to deal with the situation, to me says a poop-load. :-) ... Mike

Well, gang, i just took the plunge, too. I've applied for a pre-release, under-developement, beta-model, 'not-ready-for-prime-time', I-expect-to-help-get-this-thing-working-right-for-the-mutual-benefit-of-all-parties-concerned Harmony remote. I will definitely post my opinions here, before, during, and after any necessary adjustments.

Larry

Welcome aboard, Larry!

Love those adjectives!!! ROFL!!!

Yeah, nice job Larry :-)

Apparently (I'm in the office) I received my Beta remote at home today. I have to say that so far all of my questions posed to the Beta Team have been answered within 24 hours (probably within 12 hours).

I too was a little wary of the lack of info on the web site, but having been involved in Beta programs (on the other end) over the past 18 years, the web stuff is the last to come along. You usually find engineers who want you to find "stuff." My only hope is that recommendations are answered honestly, and bugs resolved quickly.

I'm looking forward to using the remote on both WIM ME and WIN 2K platforms. I intend on putting it through it's paces.

alfabetsoop,

How long did it take for you to receive the remote after you placed the order online? I understand that a NDA is sent that you first have to execute and send back before the unit is actually shipped. All in, about how long did it take?

Thanks.

MD, if I may, I applied from the site, and got the NDA attached to an email this morning, and I filled it out (easy, equipment list also) and faxed it in. So, the application takes minutes. I imagine the unit will be sent tomorrow (?), and should take 3 days via UPS ground.

Your turn, alfa.

Larry

Larry,

So you received an email with the NDA attached on the same day as when you filled out the application on the website?

MD, actually, I applied on Saturday, so I'm saying that I got the return email the first business day following. Good first impression.

Larry

Hey guys and gals. I don't remember exactly, but I believe that I received the email with the NDA last Tuesday, wich was the day after I signed up for the Beta (last Monday I believe). My harmony was sent out last Wednesday, and I received it yesterday.

I hope to have an update later today about my experiences last night.

Mr. Fine, you have a stinging way with words. :-) I expect EasyZapper is going to be surprised and pleased when they hear your comments... ... Mike

I've been following the comments on the Harmony, and wanted to add my 2 cents. I'm new on the beta test, and have done a bit of work with the Harmony guys on the launch. This is my first universal, and just I've tossed all my other remotes. The risk for me was there are 3 other remote users in my house, including young kids. I was stunned at how much the Harmony could do (including the channel listings). I was more stunned to walk into the family room the other day to find my youngest child using it without any training. I know this remote has massive horsepower, but it's also simple to use....it has a fraction of the buttons of my other manufaturer remotes, and it's intuitive in its design. I'm thinking that its appeal could be much broader than other universals.

Other than that, I would echo comments made by others that if you run into issues on set-up, etc. the Harmony guys are onto it in a flash.

My update after spending a few hours with it last night:

1.) The Beta Support Team seems very engaged; questions are answered very quickly.
2.) Web site is not very intuitive when initially setting up all of your components. It's a bit confusing when going from initial component setup, to characterization to activity definition. I figured it out on the fly.
3.) This is a new paradigm in terms of remote control. This will lead to added confusion since there essentially is no user manual at this time (or have I missed it??)
4.) Web site is slow, and data download to remote took me at least 10 minutes.
5.) My Panasonic TV, VCR and DVD components were recognized quite easily. The whole concept of "language" will be great once all of the manufacturer's components are characterized. From what I can tell, no problems with the TV.
6.) No luck recognizing the language for my Denon 3300, Pioneer CD Jukebox, and Philips DirecTIVO. So unfortunately I really can't use the Harmony yet to do anything other than control components separately.
7.) Very impressed with the channel and program download to the Harmony.
8.) I have defined the "Watch Videotape" activity and it appears on my Home page, but it isn't downloaded to the Harmony.
9.) When initially setting up the Harmony, I defined the TV first, and that component appeared as a model number on the Harmony. No subsequent components appeared on the remote. Did anyone else notice this as they were characterizing their components?
10.) The hardware is absolutely rock solid.

This message was edited by alfabetsoop on 10/16/01 10:14.26.