In April of last year, Logitech introduced the Harmony Express, the latest in its lineup of controllers for smart home and entertainment devices. It replaced the traditional touch interface of Harmony remote controllers with Alexa voice commands, which was supposed to be more convenient for users.
However, it looks like the $250 remote didn"t strike a chord with Logitech customers, and the company has announced that it"s not only discontinuing the product, it will shut down the Alexa service that powers its capabilities (via The Verge). The shutdown will happen on September 30, less than a year and a half after the remote was originally released.
Naturally, that may be disheartening news for those that did buy the remote, especially considering its high price. Logitech is compensating users, though, so you can either get a refund for your purchase or a free upgrade to the Harmony Elite, the company"s most expensive controller, which usually goes for $349.99. Harmony controllers still work with Amazon Alexa, you just won"t have the same quick access to voice commands in the remote itself.
To claim your refund or upgrade, you"ll need to use the Harmony Express app on your phone, tap the menu icon, and choose "Upgrade or Refund", then follow the steps to register for either one. You"ll need to do this before December 31.