Logitech Harmony: My new favourite toy

Recently I purchased a Philips 37" LCD HD television complete with half a dozen different types of video inputs that range composite video to HDMI. From a quality perspective this is fantastic because I can connect each device (DVD, PVR, cable TV) to the television in a way that will generate the optimum display performance. Unfortunately this complexity when combined with the intricacies of the surround sound system, cable TV decoder and MythTV PVR system becomes a little overwhelming for the technically orientated and down right impossible for those who consider modern toasters too challenging.

Enter the Logitech Harmony range of universal remote controls. Most universal controllers focus on emulating two or more different remotes so that you do not have to juggle each time the channel needs to be changed or sound tweaked. This is fine but the Harmony range takes remotes to the next level by allowing complex processes to be performed with a single click.