Harmony Ultimate Remote Now Supports Nest Thermostat

Logitech's Harmony line of remotes has long allowed users to control every device in their living room, and now, a new update will bring in wider support for even more connected devices.

Logitech is issuing a software update to its Harmony Ultimate remote, which will offer support for the Nest Learning Thermostat. In addition to controlling the temperature from the Harmony's 2.4-inch color screen, Logitech says you can change settings on the Nest, including switching from cool to heat, or turning off the system altogether.

Nest support joins Philips Hue light support on the Harmony Ultimate. This means the Harmony is getting one step closer to being a total home remote control.

In a statement, Joerg Tewes, vice-president of Logitech's digital home business group said, "With one touch of the remote or the Harmony app on your tablet or smartphone, you can dim your Philips Hue lights, turn on your TV, start a movie and now set the temperature on your Nest thermostat."

Support for the Nest comes by way of the Nest Developer Program. The integration also enables Logitech's Harmony Ultimate to work with Nest's Auto-Away function. The remote and the Nest are both connected to your home network, and picking up the remote will notify the Nest that you're home, so it can adjust the temperature accordingly.

It's very useful, especially if you have family members who don't use one of Nest's smartphone apps to activate the feature.
Extending the remote's value

I've been a Harmony customer since 2003, and have zero qualms abut paying a few hundred dollars for a solid, universal remote control. Why? Because life is too short to deal with multiple remotes.

Previously, the Harmony line was hampered by a lack of of built-in connection for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices. However, that changed with the release of the Harmony Ultimate and the Harmony Smart Control smartphone apps. (Owners of the Harmony Touch or Harmony Ultimate One can get those features by adding the Harmony Ultimate Hub to their existing device.) This is fantastic because it makes the value proposition for a $350 remote control that much better.

These days, an increasing number of my connected devices speak through something other than infrared (IR), a wireless mobile technology. And when it comes to connected-home devices, such as thermostats, lights and even cameras, the fewer controls required, the better.

Logitech has a real opportunity to turn its existing product into an Internet of Things hub that can work today. Harmony owners don't need to wait for the next all-in-one connected-home ecosystem — they can look at using their existing remote now.

It would be even better if the process of adding new devices to the Harmony ecosystem was as simple as tapping a button to pair an object. (A girl can dream, can't she?)

Harmony Ultimate users will get a free update with Nest support, starting June 24. For more information, check out Logitech's Nest site.

Posted by : Gizmeon