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Logitech's Harmony Adapter for PS3 arriving soon

Harmony remotes will shortly be able to control the PlayStation 3 thanks to a $59.99 Logitech accessory that converts IR commands to Bluetooth commands.

David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews

Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.

Expertise Mobile accessories and portable audio, including headphones, earbuds and speakers Credentials

Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer

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David Carnoy

May 12, 2009 10:51 a.m. PT

The Harmony Adapter for PS3 will retail for $59.99. Logitech

A few months ago, we reported that Logitech was getting ready to launch an accessory that would allow its IR-based Harmony remotes to control the PS3, which only has a Bluetooth wireless interface. Well, according to Logitech, the Harmony Adapter for PlayStation 3 is a couple of weeks away from hitting stores in North America. Europe will see a July launch, while Australia will get it any day.

Logitech has a blog post up that offers a full FAQ on the $59.99 adapter, but the long and short of it is the accessory simply converts your Harmony's IR commands to Bluetooth signals. For better or worse, unlike some PS3 IR dongles already on the market, the adapter requires an AC adapter. But Logitech explains that it not only didn't want the adapter to use up one of "your valuable USB ports," and without an external power source, you wouldn't be able to power on your PS3 using the adapter because the PS3's USB ports are dead when the unit is powered off.

While we still think it's tragic and outrageous that Sony failed to include IR, Logitech's entry into the PS3 adapter arena is good news for home-theater fans and Harmony owners. In case you're wondering, no, it doesn't work with non-Harmony remotes--and no, it isn't compatible with the Wii either.