Logitech Intros Harmony Keyboard with Built-In Touchpad

Logitech launched on Tuesday the latest entry to its "Harmony" intelligent remote control lineup, the Harmony Smart Keyboard. This new product includes a keyboard with a built-in touchpad, and the Harmony Hub, which turns signals from the keyboard or a smartphone (via the Harmony App for iOS, Android) into commands entertainment devices will understand.

Ideal for both the living room and home office, the Harmony Hub can work with up to eight devices simultaneously via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and IR from a collection of "more than 225,000 home-entertainment devices and over 5,000 brands." The Harmony Keyboard can also connect directly to a PC, Mac, Apple TV, Roku 3, Xbox 360/One and PlayStation 3/4 using one of the two provided USB receivers.

"Our goal with the Logitech Harmony Smart Keyboard is to unite Logitech's expertise in both universal remotes and keyboards to provide a fast and simple way to search for and navigate through the vast content options available through the living room's entertainment devices," said Chad Thompson, senior director of worldwide marketing and product management for Logitech's digital home business group.

The keyboard/hub combo eliminates the need to have multiple remotes thanks to the keyboard's integrated DVR and set-top box controls, and playback and volume buttons. The keyboard should also make entering usernames, passwords and other text a breeze on Smart TVs that support mouse and keyboard input. Three programmable activity buttons also line the top left-hand corner.

The bundle includes the keyboard, the Harmony Hub, an IR blaster, a USB extender and the two USB receivers. The keyboard connects via Wi-Fi and IR, the latter of which allows the keyboard to serve as a traditional remote. However, when connecting to the PS3, users will need one of the USB receivers plugged in to enter text on the screen, and a Bluetooth connection to navigate through the console's XMB interface.

"One touch of an Activity button – such as "Watch a Movie" – turns on just the right entertainment devices and automatically switches each one to the right settings and inputs. Plus, the keyboard features an easy Internet-based setup," states the company's announcement.

The Logitech Harmony Smart Keyboard is expected to be available in the U.S. and Germany beginning this month for $149.99.

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  • outlw6669
    Wow.
    I sure hope they improved build quality and the feel of the keys from the K400 to match that price!
    Reply
  • clefranc
    Is it the same crappy software over the Net like the rest of the Harmony family?
    Reply
  • sykozis
    The K400 was already overpriced garbage. If this is the same quality, there will be some pissed off users. Hope this thing has some range to it as well. My K400 loses connection if it moves more than 5ft from it's dongle, which defeats the purpose of the keyboard.
    Reply
  • thundervore
    Logitech is loosing their touch with the more and more products they put out. When my Harmony 550 that controlled 15 devices failed i went to a Harmony 700 which can only control 7 but costs twice as much.When my Performance Mouse Mx developed double left click issues, they offered to repalce it for free. 3 repalcement mice later and it was discovered all Logitech had to to to fix the issue was to use better quality micro switches but instead the offered to switch users to a $20 M705 model for free for users that had issues with their $99 Performance Mouse MX.
    Reply
  • johnsaar2005
    sykozis it sounds like you bought a defective keyboard because my k400 gets pretty good range and i have had no issues with it what so ever. I use it with my HTPC have for a few months now and its way better than others I've had.
    Reply
  • sykozis
    Everything I've bought from Logitech in the last couple years has been defective. Their QC has gone down the crapper. I've had 4 defective mice and 2 defective keyboards. After my K400 and M500 I've given up on Logitech.
    Reply
  • johnsaar2005
    12820070 said:
    Everything I've bought from Logitech in the last couple years has been defective. Their QC has gone down the crapper. I've had 4 defective mice and 2 defective keyboards. After my K400 and M500 I've given up on Logitech.

    I totally understand your frustration and it sucks when that happens I've had bad luck with certain companies to but not Logitech. my G930 still running strong my z2300's still rockin and the k400 is working well. I have a similar issue with Apple products and refuse to buy them anymore or ever again I haven't bought an apple product since the 2nd gen iPod and i wont. I understand though what your saying I'm sorry you had such bad luck because i know how frustrating that can be. Hope you have better luck with your purchases in the future man!

    Reply
  • lp231
    They also have this non harmony version for like $30 bucks or so. Perfect for using it on the couch.
    Reply
  • hoofhearted
    I sure hope they don't have tap-to-click hardwired into their touchpad (or even defaulted). This has to be the stupidest standard that exists. I bought their DiNovo Edge keyboard and there is no way to disable this on that particular keyboard and they have yet to produce a firmware update to address this. I also have their K400 and even though you can disable it, whenever you update the driver or various other system tasks (which I can't remember atm), it reverts to its default state of tap-to-click.
    Reply
  • ubercake
    I got a K400 for $25 on Amazon that does this same thing.
    Reply