Harmony Remote - Xbox One / PS4

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Jaxson

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Topic # 182551 20-Oct-2015 18:56

Hi, Anyone have a harmony remote working with an Xbox One?

Do you have enough control through it?
ie is the integration complete, or is there important functionality that's missing?
(big X button for example)

The PS4 doesn't seem to allow you to turn the unit on via the remote, so that seems rubbish unfortunately, right from the start.

Thoughts/feeling appreciated.

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Reply # 1410055 20-Oct-2015 19:07

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I do.
The 'X' button works well for me - I use it to control Netflix and Hulu Plus... that's about it really...
It's a Harmony Ultimate.

Jaxson

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Reply # 1410283 21-Oct-2015 06:57

Any issue with reception of the IR signals?

I've seen diagrams with an external IR receiver being placed in front of the Xbox One unit...

reven

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Reply # 1410289 21-Oct-2015 07:22

with the harmony ultimate, xbox one works better than ps4. I can control everything on the xbox one, on the PS4 it can't turn it on, but other than that I think it does everything (havent played enough with the PS4 side, only had the remote for a week).

chiefie

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Reply # 1410294 21-Oct-2015 07:54

I know PS4 support HDMI-CEC control, so you should be able to control the PS4 functions through your normal TV's control - at least on my Sony Bravia TV I can control it - perhaps try that approach first?

Sony is bringing out PS4 Remote Control that can control both TV and PS4 via BlueTooth (through PS4).

Edit: Seems like there is a support for Harmony to control PS4: https://www.google.co.nz/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=harmony%20remote%20ps4

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Jaxson

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Reply # 1410296 21-Oct-2015 08:09

chiefie: I know PS4 support HDMI-CEC control, so you should be able to control the PS4 functions through your normal TV's control - at least on my Sony Bravia TV I can control it - perhaps try that approach first?

Sony is bringing out PS4 Remote Control that can control both TV and PS4 via BlueTooth (through PS4).

Edit: Seems like there is a support for Harmony to control PS4: https://www.google.co.nz/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=harmony%20remote%20ps4

Thanks,

The HDMI-CEC usually gets disabled on a Harmony setup, as then the remote doesn't know what's on or off. Automation wise that gets harder for it, especially if the devices don't have discrete on/off/got to input x commands etc.

Logitech had an IR to Bluetooth adapter previously, but it appears as though Sony have locked anything else from turning on the PS4, and with no separate official 'DVD' remote yet for the PS4, that's always going to be an issue. Maybe when Sony release such a remote for the PS4, we'll get the opportunity to integrate it more.

That said, maybe I'm going about this all wrong, and I should get a separate Bluray player again for the entertainment hub side of things. That's what I used my PS3 for really, and in some ways I'm stuggling to see what functionality I'm going to gain by upgrading to a PS4 or Xbox one, given how I use it.

Anyhow, bit of a rant there. Xbox One looks fully integrated, and more of a multimedia hub. PS4 with some harmony models (needs Bluetooth capability at some point in the system) and no ability to remote turn on or off.
Xbox One also getting the Windows 10 OS revamp too...

reven

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Reply # 1410299 21-Oct-2015 08:12

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I have an xbox one/360, ps3/ps4 my favourite is xbox one. the windows 10 stuff really is cool, and could really change things. my ps4 hardly ever gets used (most of my gaming is done on a steam box, connected to tv).

for bluray playback I tend to use either my ps3 or my xbox one.

edit: I also disable CEC, i find it mostly a PITA and too limiting. I had some issues with it when I was splitting the HDMI output to multiple tvs throughout the house, each tv would try to control the device, or the device would turn on every tv :) Completely expected when you stop and think about it :P

chiefie

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Reply # 1410302 21-Oct-2015 08:17

Jaxson:
chiefie: I know PS4 support HDMI-CEC control, so you should be able to control the PS4 functions through your normal TV's control - at least on my Sony Bravia TV I can control it - perhaps try that approach first?

Sony is bringing out PS4 Remote Control that can control both TV and PS4 via BlueTooth (through PS4).

Edit: Seems like there is a support for Harmony to control PS4: https://www.google.co.nz/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=harmony%20remote%20ps4

Thanks,

The HDMI-CEC usually gets disabled on a Harmony setup, as then the remote doesn't know what's on or off. Automation wise that gets harder for it, especially if the devices don't have discrete on/off/got to input x commands etc.

Logitech had an IR to Bluetooth adapter previously, but it appears as though Sony have locked anything else from turning on the PS4, and with no separate official 'DVD' remote yet for the PS4, that's always going to be an issue. Maybe when Sony release such a remote for the PS4, we'll get the opportunity to integrate it more.

That said, maybe I'm going about this all wrong, and I should get a separate Bluray player again for the entertainment hub side of things. That's what I used my PS3 for really, and in some ways I'm stuggling to see what functionality I'm going to gain by upgrading to a PS4 or Xbox one, given how I use it.

Anyhow, bit of a rant there. Xbox One looks fully integrated, and more of a multimedia hub. PS4 with some harmony models (needs Bluetooth capability at some point in the system) and no ability to remote turn on or off.
Xbox One also getting the Windows 10 OS revamp too...

Hmm.. Try with your TV's remote for HDMI-CEC control first, then mimic that on Harmony? The Sony's PS4 Remote Control is coming. Regarding turning on PS4, Sony does not allow the PS4 to be powered on via BlueTooth other than from their controller - hence try and see if the HDMI-CEC approach can be mimicked via TV to send "power on" signal on HDMI. You need to enable HDMI-CEC in PS4 though - typically the send signal from TV is by switching to the right HDMI input.

Good luck.

I have taken an alternative approach and just use BD player for its intend purpose and PS4/PS3 for gaming, hehe.

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geoffwnz

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Reply # 1410380 21-Oct-2015 10:35

I've got the Harmony Touch and it doesn't appear to know what to do with a PS4. Even once it's on. But then I believe the Touch is IR, not BlueTooth. And the BlueTooth adapter for the PS3 wasn't recognised by the PS4.
The resulting setup was to turn on the PS4 using the controller and then hit the "Play PS4" activity on the remote to turn on the other required bits of hardware in the appropriate order.
Disabled the ability for the remote to attempt to turn on the PS4.

I'm still running both the PS3 and the PS4 though with the PS3 remaining on Media and BluRay duty for the foreseeable future, along with the games I'm still playing on it.

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Jaxson

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Reply # 1410433 21-Oct-2015 11:41

geoffwnz: the BlueTooth adapter for the PS3 wasn't recognised by the PS4.

Yes from what I can gather the lack of the official PS4 home theatre remote is the missing piece.
Once Sony release this they'll have to provide the ability for something else to turn the unit on.

geoffwnz: The resulting setup was to turn on the PS4 using the controller and then hit the "Play PS4" activity on the remote to turn on the other required bits of hardware in the appropriate order.

Yeah that seems to be the best/only way around it, if you've disabled the HDMI controls especially.

If it's a gaming box only, which the PS4 does seem to be very focussed on, then I can get it.
Strange though really.

Incorporating a 50c IR receiver does put the Xbox One ahead.

Can't believe these things (PS4/Xbox One) are 2 years old now by the way. Still fairly highly priced for gear that's that old.
On sale at the Warehouse for $485 and $525 roughly this long weekend.

bazzer

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Reply # 1410447 21-Oct-2015 12:25

Jaxson:
geoffwnz: the BlueTooth adapter for the PS3 wasn't recognised by the PS4.

Yes from what I can gather the lack of the official PS4 home theatre remote is the missing piece.
Once Sony release this they'll have to provide the ability for something else to turn the unit on.

I don't think that's a given. You can already turn it on with something (i.e. controller) so if you can turn it on with their remote, that doesn't necessarily mean you'll be able to use the Logitech hub (or anything else for that matter). I'm sure they won't want to piss too many people off though.

Jaxson

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Reply # 1410456 21-Oct-2015 12:42

bazzer:
Jaxson:
geoffwnz: the BlueTooth adapter for the PS3 wasn't recognised by the PS4.

Yes from what I can gather the lack of the official PS4 home theatre remote is the missing piece.
Once Sony release this they'll have to provide the ability for something else to turn the unit on.

I don't think that's a given. You can already turn it on with something (i.e. controller) so if you can turn it on with their remote, that doesn't necessarily mean you'll be able to use the Logitech hub (or anything else for that matter). I'm sure they won't want to piss too many people off though.

Fair call bazzer, agreed, the remote may not specifically be able to turn the unit on.

The main call for it last time, on the PS3, was that people found using a hand controller unintuitive for DVD control. I expect that hasn't gone away.

Sony are weirdly controlling over this stuff.

bazzer

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Reply # 1410464 21-Oct-2015 12:49

Jaxson:
bazzer:
Jaxson:
geoffwnz: the BlueTooth adapter for the PS3 wasn't recognised by the PS4.

Yes from what I can gather the lack of the official PS4 home theatre remote is the missing piece.
Once Sony release this they'll have to provide the ability for something else to turn the unit on.

I don't think that's a given. You can already turn it on with something (i.e. controller) so if you can turn it on with their remote, that doesn't necessarily mean you'll be able to use the Logitech hub (or anything else for that matter). I'm sure they won't want to piss too many people off though.

Fair call bazzer, agreed, the remote may not specifically be able to turn the unit on.

The main call for it last time, on the PS3, was that people found using a hand controller unintuitive for DVD control. I expect that hasn't gone away.

Sony are weirdly controlling over this stuff.

Don't get me wrong. I'm sure the Sony remote will turn the PS4 on, I just don't think it immediately follows that that will open up that ability for other manufacturers.

D.W

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Reply # 1410466 21-Oct-2015 12:51

I've got an Xbox One, PS4 and Logitech Smart Control.

I've spent a fair amount of time playing with/researching remote control (particularly PS4 and the Harmony). XB1 is definitely the better option. As already stated PS4 cannot be turned on, but another key issue is how the apps are written and what inputs they respond to (an example would be the NBA GameTime App on PS4, which uses the L1 and R1 shoulder buttons to switch between days of the week, which remotes cannot map to).

Having read a review of someone who got their hands on the Official PS4 remote, that still can't control Hulu.

XB1 I haven't encountered any issues and can control everything.

Jaxson

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Reply # 1410493 21-Oct-2015 14:01

D.W: I've got an Xbox One, PS4 and Logitech Smart Control.

XB1 I haven't encountered any issues and can control everything.

Thanks for the feedback.

Jaxson

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Reply # 1410519 21-Oct-2015 14:50

Side note, does the HDD size matter on an Xbox one?

With the move to more content being streamed than downloaded, (thinking youtube/spotify), does the HDD matter as much anymore?

point being $500GB versions are cheaper

eg
the Warehouse is listing a basic 500GB xbox console at $484 over the long weekend
http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msnz/en_NZ/pdp/Xbox-One-Assassin39s-Creed-Unity-Bundle/productID.307232400
http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msnz/en_NZ/pdp/Xbox-One-+-Kinect/productID.287640800

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