universal remote

Top 5 home theater essentials (2012)

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It's easy to go over the top when it comes to outfitting your dream home theater system. One minute you're checking out HD projectors, and the next minute you're trying to figure out how to convert your entire basement into a giant subwoofer.

But it never hurts to start with the basics. In this CNET Top 5, I asked CNET Associate Editor Matthew Moskovciak for the essential ingredients in today's modern home theater system.

Multi-deal Monday: 5GB of free cloud storage, a Harmony remote for $29.99, and more!

Happy Monday! OK, Mondays aren't typically a happy time, especially if yours involves waking before the sun, fighting commuter traffic, and/or long lines at Starbucks. (First-world problems, am I right?)

Hopefully I can make your day a little brighter by offering not one, not two, but four sweet buys. That's right: it's a multi-deal Monday. You're feeling better already, I bet.

1. First up, Daily Steals has the refurbished Logitech Harmony 650 universal remote for $29.99, plus $4.99 for shipping. The Harmony series is quite popular around these parts, offering a user-friendly replacement … Read more

Get a refurbished Logitech Harmony 650 remote for $29.99

This is an update of a post from way back in January.

Tired of juggling two, three, even five remotes? There's salvation to be found in the form of Logitech's Harmony series of universal clickers, which not only take the place of multiple 'remotes but also let you set up crazy-handy macro functions.

One of the color-LCD models, the 650, usually sells for around $80. But if you don't mind going the refurbished route, you can get one for a lot less. While supplies last, TigerDirect has open-box Logitech Harmony 650 remotes for $29.99 shipped. That'… Read more

Get a Logitech Harmony One remote for $109.99

This is an update of a deal I posted earlier this year.

My Logitech Harmony One remote control has outlasted two TVs and one DVR. After a good three years of use, I can say without a doubt that it's my favorite clicker ever.

CNET agrees with me, calling it "arguably the best consumer remote control currently available" in its review.

Unfortunately, Logitech still sells it for $200, which is not much less than when it first debuted years ago. But for a limited time, and while supplies last, Radio Shack will set you up with a … Read more

Get a refurbished Logitech Harmony 700 universal remote for $59.99

Regular Cheapskate readers know of my fondness for Logitech's Harmony series of universal remotes. One of the better models, the 700, has a list price of $119.99. Ouch.

For a limited time, Logitech has the refurbished Harmony 700 universal remote for $59.99 shipped. That's after applying coupon code logi_h700_61212 at checkout.

What's so great about the Harmony series? Thanks to Logitech's wizard-driven software, they're significantly easier to program than most universal remotes. Just choose your gear from a mammoth database and presto: you're good to go. They're also blissfully user-friendly, with … Read more

Harmony universal remotes: What's the best one for you?

Longtime CNET readers know that we've always liked Harmony remotes (even in the days before the original Canadian company, Intrigue Technologies, was purchased by Logitech). Harmony models pioneered the idea of "Web-programmable" consumer electronics: tell the software which products you own and how they're connected, and the software uploads all of the codes to the remote, preprogrammed into task-based activities such as "Watch TV," "Watch a movie," "Listen to music," and so forth.

As of now, however, the lineup of Harmony remotes is arguably as good -- and as affordable -- as it's ever been. But with eight current models (and several more older ones that are still available through various retailers), distinguishing among them can be a bit confusing. So we decided to create this cheat sheet to make choosing as easy as possible:… Read more

Get a Logitech Harmony One remote for $99.99

This is an update of a deal I posted last year.

My Logitech Harmony One remote control has outlasted two TVs and one DVR. After a good three years of use, I can say without a doubt that it's my favorite clicker ever. CNET agrees with me, calling it "arguably the best consumer remote control currently available" in its review.

Unfortunately, Logitech still sells it for $200, which is not much less than when it first debuted years ago. However, if you don't mind going the refurb route, Logitech will set you up with a Harmony One remote for $99.99 shipped. … Read more

Apple's universal remote patent idea goes beyond TV

Another patent application has surfaced showing Apple's interest in changing the way people entertain themselves in their living rooms.

It may not be the much-anticipated Apple TV set, but it does provide a hint or two about a control system for such a device.

Chronicled by Apple Insider this morning, the patent filing details plans for a universal remote control system that uses a touchscreen to let users control multiple devices around their house. That includes the TV, stereo, and even the MP3 player on a user's computer.

The patent application, which Apple filed for in September … Read more

Get a refurbished Logitech Harmony 650 remote for $39.99

This is an update of a post from many moons ago.

Mo' gadgets often means mo' problems--or, at least, mo' remotes. That's why I continue to champion Logitech's Harmony series of universal remotes, which not only take the place of multiple clickers but also let you set up crazy-handy macro functions.

One of the better models, the 650, usually sells for around $80. But if you don't mind going the refurbished route, you can get one for half the price. While supplies last, Ice Monkey has the refurbished Logitech Harmony 650 remote for $39.99 shipped.

In … Read more