Video Effects on the Logitech Orbit Camera/ Web Cam

Have you heard about the latest Logitech Web Cam? Its called the Logitech QuickCam Orbit MP, and it looks like a blast! The camera is Logitech's high end (i.e. retail price $129.99) model, and features some pretty cool technologies including the ability to follow the user around as they move --not literally, but by rotating on its axis for pan and tilt motions. It also has the ability to do some "simple motion capture" as demonstrated on this cool little video. The software for the video-effects is included for free by Logitech.

After watching the video, I am now certain that I want one.

See the Video

Review: Logitech Harmony 880 Universal Remote

So! I got the Harmony 880 yesterday. Widely considered one of the best universal remotes available for home users; I wanted to share my initial thoughts on this little remote.

Premise
After roughly 24 hours of initial testing & configuring I can honestly say it's an impressive remote. I've had my share of experiences with bad universal remotes. In my (few) years I have configured a variety of universal remotes. All of those have required either having pre-programmed remote codes, and being able to find them -or- utilizing the "learning" capabilities of the remotes to teach them various functions of my already existing equipment. Smarter remotes can be programmed to follow macros in order to do a group of tasks at once-like turning on the tv, dvd player, and home theater receiver all at the same time. Of all my techie experiences, programming remotes has been the least pleasant, and the least satisfying. In a complex system the task is arduous at best, and simply impossible for some, but a true techie master will not quit until he has mastered every command and function with his remote.

Easy Configuration process
This is where the Logitech Harmony 880 comes in. It is simple to program, and thanks to it's absolutely incredible list of devices, actions, and functions, it can truly replace all of the remotes in your system, and in some cases- do a better job than your original remote. The remote is programmed by visiting the Harmony Remote website, configuring the remote, and then uploading the configuration to your remote through USB. The online programming wizard is customizable for novice, medium, and expert users. For basic systems, the remote will be a breeze to program and for expert users with complex systems it may be time consuming, but it will never be dissatisfying or overly difficult.

Basic Operations
Programming the remote on my first day with it was a long task, but thats only because of the detailed configurations I wanted. The remote easily found the complete code set for my Sony TV, Xbox 360 System, and Sony Upconverting DVD Player. When I say "complete", I mean it too... I can even enter and manipulate menus on all the systems (an impossibility for some remotes). As said before, these basic electronics were easy to find and configure on the remote, however I do have 2 devices I consider slightly more specialized.

The Proverbial "Wrench in the works"
The more specialized devices in my system are the Creative Soundblaster Extigy external sound card for my PC, and my Aiwa 5 disc CD changer. Ok, well maybe the Aiwa isn't specialized but it wasn't in Harmony's unbelievably large database of pre-programmed devices (at least that I could find). As a result the Aiwa CD player isn't operated by my remote, but that will be easily fixed once I find the Aiwa's original remote (and "teach" the Harmony a lesson.) The Creative Soundblaster Extigy was a surprise actually, because it is actually listed in Harmony's website under "Computer Device". All the functions are there, including PC surround sound settings, mute, and media player control functions.

A True Test
The PC setup is by far the most complicated of the macro setups in my remote. When I want to use my PC for watching a downloaded episode of The West Wing... I simply press the custom "Use PC" activity I designed on my remote, and voila!, My TV powers on and switches to the S-Video input (my PC Video Card), the Sound Blaster Sound Card switches on with Optical out into my receiver, and my Technics receiver turns on, with the correct input selected. From there I can control the picture settings on the TV (colors/ aspect ratios), the media player controls (pause, play, stop, next, previous) of Windows Media Player 10 on the PC, and adjust the volume on my surround sound receiver. All this without reaching for another remote, or my mouse!

Conclusion
This is it people! Thanks to the Logitech Harmony 880 Remote, I have mastered my home theater... I have stared death in the face and spit on him! Wielding my Harmony as a knight wields his broadsword... a samurai his katana... a viking his axe, I have defeated this monstrosity of a home theater and wrapped it in a rechargeable, ergonomic, and customizable leash of submission.

Overall rating: 9 out of 10 Stars.
(The truth is I would never pay retail ($249) for this remote, so dont run out and get it just because I said so. I paid under a hundred dollars for the remote, including coupons and a rebate, I recommend you try and do the same..but at least don't pay more than 150 for it. It's just a remote control after all.)