Logitech Introduces Harmony Smart Keyboard for Apple TV, Other Media Devices

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Posted March 4, 2014 at 5:39pm by iClarified

Today Logitech announced the Logitech Harmony Smart Keyboard, a keyboard and touchpad combination specially designed for controlling streaming media in your living room. This new keyboard simplifies text entry, so you can search for shows, navigate menus and browse the Web on a PC or Mac connected to your TV or Internet-connected media devices, such as Apple TV, Roku or Xbox One.

“Internet-connected and streaming-media devices seem to deliver limitless entertainment options, however their accompanying remotes struggle to keep up with the text entry needed to search for selections,” said Chad Thompson, senior director of worldwide marketing and product management for Logitech’s digital home business group. “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.”

Logitech Introduces Harmony Smart Keyboard for Apple TV, Other Media Devices

The Logitech Harmony Smart Keyboard can work with up to eight devices from a library of more than 225,000 home-entertainment devices and over 5,000 brands through the setup assistant. It includes the Harmony Hub, which turns signals from the keyboard or your smartphone – through the Harmony App – into commands your entertainment devices understand. Both the keyboard and the Harmony App work without pointing, so you don’t have to worry about closed cabinets getting in the way of your signal.

With the keyboard in your living room, there is no need for multiple remotes. As with other Harmony remotes, 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, and integrated DVR and set-top box controls, and playback and volume buttons.

Pricing and Availability
The Logitech Harmony Smart Keyboard is expected to be available in the U.S. and Germany beginning in March 2014, for a suggested retail price of $149.99.

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Too expensive - March 5, 2014 at 7:34am

$150 for keyboard? Why bother? Cheaper using app and ipad or iPhone to control Apple TV.

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gamerscul9870 - March 5, 2014 at 1:12am

Waif if this is for Apple TV, why is their a trackpad, is it for the new one ( and it may come with a built-in cursor)?

Al - March 5, 2014 at 12:27am

I am excited about this one and I wonder if you ney guys used Harmony remote before? Price is a little high but it may be worth it. I'm assuming that it has similar function as the Harmony remotes that you can turn on (and off) multiple devices with one click (or one button). The beauty about the keyboard is for typing. that makes searching and emailing much easier.

ApfelStreudel - March 4, 2014 at 7:27pm

This is a mis-step. I'm not interest in, and I bet other users aren't either, in bringing the PC to the living room. I'm comfortably lodged on the couch. Do I want a keyboard in my lap, even if it does let me enter data. C'mon. I'm surprised Logitech did this. They make a lot of keyboards and figured that this could generate some extra profit by capitalizing on a niche in the market-- heavy media users-- without incurring a lot of development costs. Not like Logitech, really. They are usually better than that. Also, isn't it kind of a no-brainer that voice recognition with autofill is the way to go here? I think everybody agrees that the Apple and Roku clickers are both pretty clunky ways to input text, though, of the two, the Apple is a more handsome piece of kit. Anyone wanna bet the new Apple TV sports Siri?

gamerscul9870 - March 4, 2014 at 9:03pm

This one must, and maybe the scanner on the remote for access to.

bob53366 - March 4, 2014 at 7:21pm

$150??? And people say Apple is expensive? I'd rather get the $60 bucks Apple wireless keyboard then! It's prettier too! This Logitech thing looks ugly as hell!

sH23 - March 4, 2014 at 6:29pm

for only $150??!! where can I buy 2?

gamerscul9870 - March 4, 2014 at 5:41pm

Keyboard for a media player... better than d pad and button by the remote.