It seems like only a year ago that Logitech was trying to dump the Harmony brand. Oh wait a minute; that was last year. The company not only decided to keep the brand, but now they are branching it out into home automation with the newly announced Harmony Living Home line.
The lineup will launch with a brand-new Harmony Hub, two new remotes, and a very interesting adapter.
The Logitech Harmony Home Hub is really the backbone of the entire line. It features support for RF, IR, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and uses those wireless technologies to relay commands to devices from either of the new Harmony remotes or the Harmony Mobile App. Logitech is packaging the Hub with both of the new remotes, but it can also be purchased separately for $99.99.
The first (and most expensive) of the two package options is the Logitech Harmony Ultimate Home, which as an MSRP of $349.99. Available in black or white, this setup includes the Harmony Home Hub and a remote with a 2.4-inch color touchscreen. Featuring control for up to 15 home entertainment devices, this allows you to tap and swipe for controls, device status, volume control, and much more. Users can also opt to use a smartphone or tablet with the setup, which does support the Harmony Mobile App.
Logitech’s Harmony Home Control package is a bit simpler, with the Home Hub and a button-only remote for control of up to eight home entertainment devices. This setup is available in black or white and also works with the Harmony Mobile App. It has an MSRP of $149.99.
The last and possibly most interesting of the new Harmony Living Home announcements is the Logitech Harmony Hub Extender. This adapter is what makes home automation possible, adding both ZigBee and Z-Wave support to the Harmony Home Hub. That means you can use the Harmony to control lights, locks, sensors, garage doors and much more.
Of course, Logitech will also expand its library of Harmony-compatible devices. Besides the 270,000 products currently listed in the lineup, Logitech is adding support for Honeywell, Kwikset, Lutron, the Nest Learning Thermostat, PEQ, Philips hue, Schlage, SmartThings, Sylvania, Yale and Zuli.
The Logitech Harmony Living Home lineup will start shipping this month, with the Harmony Hub Extender coming sometime in December 2014.
