Hi!
I'm a new user of this forum...GREAT! I wish I'd found it much earlier. Anyway, I've been in search of "the ultimate remote", and I think I've found it in the Navitus. however, there are several potential improvements that are required in order to push this thing "over the top". Hardware wise, it's already much more ergonomic than the Pronto NG 7000 (coincidence that the model numbers are similar? I think not!); however, the software could use somoe tweaking in the next iteration.

Here are my suggestions. All of us who use it please add on, and let's figure out who to forward this stuff to at Sony to get them implemented...

1) Add Mac support. I HATE having to fire up my ol' Compaq JUST to program my Navitus. I'm an Apple guy thru and thru...I know it's a "small" population, but c'mon, Sony, have a heart!

2) Need to have PROJECTORS as a component selection from the getgo. I had to make a custom component using a TV as a template (Are there other possible, better ways of doing this?)...not a big deal, but projectors are becoming so popular it'd be nice to have this built in, or AT LEAST downloadable from the Navitus site...

3) How about updating the Navitus site? This thing's been out since what, April, and there are absolutely NO new component codesets, keys, etc. on the website as was promised by the manual and in reading the website before I purchased...

4) PLEASE PlEASE make this thing transfer faster!!! I cannot believe how long it takes to upload/download. Also, how about allowing an incremental update/synchronization, so we only upload/download the changed items so as to make it not take so long...

5) PLEASE put some sort of indicator on the thing that tells when it is charging. I thought I had it on the cradle, and the thing discharged instead of charging. A little tiny light on either the charger or the Navitus that blinks or lights when the contact is made between the cradle and the Navitus would prevent this...

6) How about a published Navitus software guide along with the printed manual? I know the program has the PDF, but I'd really like to have something to thumb through...


7) How 'bout a battery charge status indicator? I never know when I'm running close to the end of my charge until it's too late...

that's it from me so far, but I've only had it 2 days. I'll add more as they come up...

Please, ya'll add on as well...

Oh, I left out:

8) The light only turns on automatically after picking it up off of the cradle. O/w, there is NO "light" key, and it's too easy to press an inappropriate key by touching the screen to turn it on that way...

You've hit upon most of my concerns - of course they can't easily change it from USB 1.1 to 2.0 - BTW have you figured out how to change the battery, I haven't given it much thought yet since it will probably take a year before the battery half-life decreases.

The biggest question - how to get Sony to actually read our requests. They have a frequently asked question section but since there is no way to get them to respond to questions about these units unless the answer is already posted in their FAQ (note the catch22). I'm guessing the questions were frequently asked by pointy haired bosses who refuse to receive user input.

Good catch on the projector - I don't have one but people who spend this much on a remote are more likely to have one. I would also like a premade button for a PC / HTPC should have been in the button skin list. (I ended up making my own)

I haven't figured a way of making a button for my home page that just turns on my system power but leaves the home page up. The buttons you can make for the home page only allow you to open a remote folder, but not activate a control on your TV/Preamp/contolled device. I would imagine I'm not alone in the desire to have a button on the home page that activates something without having to go to a subscreen.

I haven't figured out how to customize the hard buttons on the home page - it only seems to want to do this for subcomponents.

A nice bonus they could include is an easy way to input your Sony Device - e.g. TAE-9000es and a good customized control would be available perhaps from the web page.

PS Sorry to hear about your mac issue - try going to happynowhere.net and view the prep video for mac users if you haven't already seen it. The exact link is [Link: thehoucks.com]


This message was edited by boe_d on 07/13/04 01:47.

As far as finding a way of contacting Sony, unless a reader here gets units from Sony to review, our chances are slim. They have thoroughly isolated themselves. About the closest I get to ever speaking to someone who cares is at CES.

The remote control folks from Sony DO observe this forum.

SWEET!!! Thanks for the info Daniel - we appreciate it.

If any of the remote hardware people from Sony are reading this -

My strongests requests are programming the hard keys for all pages including the home pages (e.g. volume up and down) and creating buttons for the home page that can do anything a button on a component page can do - e.g. preamp on/off without having to go to a component page. A battery remaining charge status would be next. If you need beta testers, just let me know.

And if you know anyone in the other divisions, I want a new preamp for living room so I can put my current 5 year old preamp in my bedroom - I currently have the Sony TA-E9000es preamp(which is still a pretty good preamp I got 5 years ago for $1,000!). Any word on the Sony TAE10es? I'd love a nice black preamp to match my other equipment with DTS neo, thx ultra and plenty of other formats at a reasonable price. Please don't let them tell you about their $2,500 integrated digital receiver, I don't think I've read a decent review on it yet (They are having a thank you party for the 7 people in the US who bought them). Their 5 year old preamp still gets better comments than the new STR-DA9000ES receiver does. I have all the amps I need, I just need a good but affordable preamp. The Rotel is close to what I want but it got several dings on the quality of the construction and it is a tiny bit pricey.

This message was edited by boe_d on 07/20/04 10:39.

I may have a suggestion to Sony on decreasing the transfer time. I realize it is too late to change the unit to USB 2.0 but you might check the code to make sure it only does an incremental/differential update as opposed to transferring all of the component info. The other possibility is to compress the data before transmitting and have the navitus decompress it. The OS on the Navitus should easily be able to handle the decompression. While the decompressing will add time to the unit implementing the new code, it will decrease the amount of time it has to be tied to your computer as you have to unplug your power cord for it and bring it to your computer to do these updates.

This message was edited by boe_d on 07/20/04 10:37.

I love my Navitus remote but some of the technical design should be rethought. I believe if the USB is implemented correctly there should be adequate power coming from the USB cable to make the updates to the Navitus without having to have the power plugged in as well - I consider this an unnecessary inconvenience since it only comes with one charger which most of us will have in our living room, not at our computer.