Sony aims to save the day with smarter remote control. Which is great -- as long as you genuinely adore Bravia TVs.
Sony would really, really, really like you to have lots of Sony equipment. That might go without saying -- any given vendor would prefer that you had lots of their stuff (and that they had lots of your money) -- but in Sony's case, they're somewhat sweetening the pot, by pitching new products that offer full interoperability "best" with other Sony gear. To be specific, Bravia Sync, Sony's name for allowing compatible (read: Sony) devices connected via HDMI to a Bravia panel to be controlled from a single remote control.
For example, if you're switching from TV to watch a DVD, you could mute the TV volume and activate your surround sound system's settings - all from the TV remote.
Bravia Sync only works over HDMI connections, and relies on the small channel of two-way communication provided by HDMI-CEC. Sony tell us it's the same standard found in other HDMI products from other brands like Sony.
Crucially, while Sync has been available for some time, you'll want the same generation of TV and sound system if you're to get all the same functions. Sony also tell us the feature works across different brands (eg. a Panasonic TV, with a Sony sound system), but again, it may be limited in function if the hardware is of a different generation.
The new products announced today that come Bravia Sync compatible include the almost impossibly small Full HD capable Handycam HDR-TG1. It's palm-sized, and includes face detection technology that Sony representatives claim utilise less compression on faces than other areas of the shot.
The Bravia Sync angle comes about if you connect the TG1 via HDMI, at which point the TV remote can be used to browse the camera contents. Being a Sony product, Memory Stick storage is the recording medium, and a 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo is provided. It's available, according to Sony representatives, "tomorrow" for $1,599.
On the audio side of the spectrum, Sony unveiled the HTIS100, a 5.1 surround sound speaker system with a 200W subwoofer and five very, very tiny surround sound speakers. Connected via HDMI to a Bravia panel, and you'll be able to power up and correctly select the right outputs. Connected to a competitor product -- not so much. It'll set you back $1,199, but you'll have to wait until July to actually give Sony your money.
Also - Walkman vs iPod
It's not all about complimentary-but-proprietary technology, though, with Sony also showing off a number of new Walkman Video Mp3 players between 4 to 16GB ($199-$389. It's a sign of the times that they were showing them off just to the left of a $349 iPod-compatible micro system, but presumably someone at Sony still sees value in the battle, not to mention the aging Walkman brand.
There's also a limited edition 4GB player, the impossibly consonantal NWZ-A826KB, which costs $289 (compared to the vanilla 4GB model, $199) but features A2DP Bluetooth support, and a pair of bluetooth stereo headphones.