Logitech has officially integrated its Harmony Hub with Amazon Alexa virtual assistant skills. Now, users can voice-command the smart home gadgets that works with existing Harmony Hub.
Logitech has officially integrated its Harmony Hub with Amazon Alexa virtual assistant skills. Now, users can voice-command the smart home gadgets that works with existing Harmony Hub.
For example, users now can say “Alexa, turn on the TV” or “Alexa, turn on Netflix” to activate Harmony activities. Before, Harmony users can only do these through clicking buttons on the remote controls.
After releasing the new Alexa support, every devices registered with the Harmony Hub can be controlled over voice commands. Harmony Hub now supports video streaming stick Roku, connected home devices such as Philips Hue, LIFX, August, Nest, and Honeywell, entertainment devices like Apple TV and Sonos, and game consoles like Xbox and PlayStation. Logitech also announced that the Harmony Hub can now link with Alexa-enabled devices, such as Amazon Echo and Echo Dot.
This update brings more powerful control capabilities to users. Originally, Harmony Hub is able to launch multiple devices or control various device activities with single touch gesture. With the support of Alexa voice commands, users now can control multiple device with just one sentence.
For example, if a set of actions to adjust different connected home device have been programmed ahead, the user can just say “Alexa, turn on my home coming activity,” and the control hub will brighten the lights, turn on Netflix and activate air conditioner to adjust the temperature all at the same time.
Above skills will only happen when the user has a Logitech hub-based remote at home, such as Logitech Harmony Elite or Logitech Harmony Companion. The new Alexa skills will be released in the U.S. this week. Other regions will get the update, according to Logitech, in the coming months.
To use Alexa with the Harmony Hub, the user need to launch the Alexa app on the mobile device, select Smart Home from the menu, click Get More Smart Home Skills and search for Harmony.
Logitech's Harmony Hub also works with other smart home platforms, including SmartThings, INSTEON and IFTTT.