1) Help button doesn't appear to work easily - noticed others with similar issues on other buttons.

2) Does it always take about 20 minutes (so far) to "update"?

3) Someone please tell me there's another way to do this other than through that gawd-awful web site that times out WAY too soon. In fact, the web site timed out on me while it was updating. Last I saw, it was at 85%. When I got logged back on, I see my activities tab on the web page, and the button in the upper-right corner of the page that reads "Update Remote" has a green light on it. Does that mean I *can* update it, or does that mean it is still in the process of updating?

You should have gotten local software - if not you can download it. It still uses the database back end over the internet but at least the screens are local.

Sounds like it didn't finish updating. I'd try again to be safe.

Does this mean you can fully program the remote without going to the Logitech website ? The page refreshes become somewhat annoying.

In addition, can the remotes configuration be uploaded to the website - so that you have a permanent backup of your setup ?

You can avoid the browser interface, but behind the scenes it still uses the centralized database for the remote codes and your configuration. It should be less prone to network or browser/server problems but it still needs the internet connection for programming.

Yeah, it doesn't look like it finished. I have no "Watch TV" activity. The time-out thing is REALLY annoying.

Is it possible to setup custom activities without using their "wizard"?

Under "Add Activity > Manually", when it list the Activity type, select "Utility" (at the end of the list) then "Generic". A "Generic" activity type still uses the wizard but the devices are not assigned a predefined function and the activity keys are not auto-mapped.