There have been a few questions on the Sony tablet S remote control app so I thought I would 'take action', so to speak.
I've been looking at a dump of the Sony tablet S and here are a few things I've found/thoughts that will give you more of an idea of how it works:
First, there are no published API's for the remote control application in the Sony tablet S SDK.
The internal data for the remote control app is stored in an SQLite version 3 database. There are really only two important database tables, one for the registered devices and one for learned IR commands for a given device/key.
The built in support currently contains/handles 3,399 devices from 1,148 'makers' (read loosely, manufacturer's).
It appears that when you register a 'supported' device the tablet 'calls home' to: ‘c o m . s o n y . n f x . a p p . i r r e m o t e s e r v i c e’ to get the IR keys/labels and IR codes for the given device.
Internally anyway, it appears each device can have up to 271 keys/labels.
As IR commands are 'learnt' (Sony's spelling) they are stored into an SQLite table by device and key.
Anyway, that’s it for now, I’ll probably look at it some more but it’s a fairly ‘closed’ system and application so it sure looks like only Sony will be making updates ( hopefully) to the Sony tablet S remote control application.

The new Motorola Xyboard 8.2 has IR also. We might see more Tablets with IR released.

Thanks for that info, I'm trying to find info on their IR, we'll have to see if they publish API's for developers to use. I did see that it has a Dijit app (?), but some of the reviews are badmouthing it (first release so not really a surprise). It's really going to be interesting to see who will be first to 'open' up their IR port for developement. I wonder if there will be a Dijit app for the Sony tablet?

It looks like these companies have a long way to go, I found this in a review:

"With that in mind, Motorola has added an IR transmitter, like the Sony Tablet S. This works in cahoots with the pre-installed Dijit app. Dijit was originally designed for use with the Griffin Beacon, but worked without fault on the Xoom 2.

You can program in your controllers for various devices, but the interface and the process isn't as advanced as Sony's solution, which has a dab more polish and is easier to set-up."

What review was that?

Sorry, I should have put the link in, it's just something I found via google search, it was this one: [Link: pocket-lint.com]

Here is something I didn't realize (I should have known, I guess), the HDMI port can be shutdown by an app if the content is not licensed for 'TV' display:
[Link: developer.motorola.com]

(I sort of assumed that tablet's HDMI out sort of worked the dual monitors on PC's.)

That's interesting. I'd like to experiment with that SQLite database - where is it stored, and can it be accessed without root access?

Thanks.

I found it and dumped it out of system/app/IrRemote.apk, to see what was in that package. So you'll have to dig deeper. I was just trying to get info on how the remote config stuff was stored and to try to find some API's. Not sure about run time access permissions, I was wondering the same thing, but I assume root or some 'elevated' permissions.

I just bought the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 (with IR) and am unhappy with the Peel remote app that comes with it. Anybody know where or if I can download an .apk of the Sony app from the Tablet S?

The TouchSquid remote app works with the Samsung Galaxy Tab2 and Tab plus built in IR blasters. It is available on Google Play. There is a free demo.

You realize that this thread is about the Sony remote app? Stop trying to hijack threads. If you are an example of TouchSquid's support, then I would recommend people stay as far away as possible from them.

There has been released IR API description:

[Link: android.developer.sony.com]

That is REALLY interesting.
What do you take this to mean in the Overview doc, I take it to mean these API's are not supported on the Tablet S:
2 Device compatibility
 XperiaTM Tablet S: COMPATIBLE
 Note that the Over-The-Air firmware update to “Android 4.0.3 (release4)” is required. The announcement is notified on the tablet device.
 Sony Tablet S: NOT COMPATIBLE
 Please stay tuned for further announcement about Sony Tablet S compatibility.

Wow, it looks like the original Sony Tablet S got the new remote control application so I guess that means that those published API's will work on the original Tablet S. At least it seems so to me, we'll see what the application developers say.