Well the programming on the new Sony RM-VLZ620 remote is essentially complete for the TiVo Stuff. Works like a charm. The next few days and nights of using it in the real world will be all telling. There are several improvements over the TiVo remote.
1. You can reach more frequently used buttons in less space with only two digits without looking as compared to the TiVo remote.
2. All transport controls are together on the remote.
3. Within the transport controls a fake “stop” was created – TiVo’s left arrow.
4. There is a real “return” key provided that is already programed to “exit” virtually all functions without doing harm. There really is no return/exit key on the TiVo remote so this was a pleasant surprise.
5. The “menu” key is by default the “TiVo” button.
6. The “Live TV” is easily programed to the “options” ch key.
7. This means that “Return, Menu, Options” are in a straight row all grouped together. So fast so simple. Doing all of that without looking.
8. The “List” key is also preprogrammed to “My Shows” from virtually any screen location – no longer have to hit the TiVo button twice as an example, or TiVo plus right arrow. Another time saver.
9. Easily created a real “.” key for the hyphen key. So the decimal point is on the number pad
10. Easily duplicated the A, B, C, and D keys
11. “SloMo” became “Favorites” button, easy to locate directly below transport.
12. “Clear” became “Sleep”. The traditional TiVo clear for clear is no longer needed because “Return” handles that. The “Sleep” is marked between White and Black buttons so it is very easy to see in the dark or by feel. Sleep deletes recordings, when not using the normal “stop” key above.
Page 9 of operating instructions shows the face of the remote:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/p/model-home.pl?mdl=RMVLZ620&template_id=1®ion_id=1&tab=manuals#/manualsTab
I think just having Return/Exit, Stop, and List makes it all worthwhile. Having a centralized transport controls, and Return/Menu/Options controls is another plus.
Now will I be just as impressed two weeks from now?
Is there any significant advantage to the TiVo remote? One advantage is the large pause key in the middle, surround by 3 of the most used transport keys. The pause key was home base, so it was easy to find, but then the other critical buttons were out of the way and hard to find. Conversely, the Sony remote has the “play” key as home base for transport with a “raised tactile point”, and surrounding that key are 9 other transport keys – 6 more transport keys than what was available on the TiVo remote.
Home base on the Sony remote is the “select” key in the middle, with like kind options surrounding it; particularly the “return/menu/options”. Easy and straight forward.
Here is the programming used:
Tivo - Code #20739
Button Assignments
Original
Remote RM-VLZ620
Page 21 set up
*** Input >> Input
Hyphen - >> . Decimal
ABCD >> ABCD
Slo-Mo >> Favorites
Replay >> <-
Replay >> <<--
Advance >> >>--
Left Arrow >> Stop
Clear >> Sleep
Live TV >> Options
TBC ** >> Open BD Tray
NCAT Zoom >> System Control 4
Not Completed At this Time
*** Used TV Remote as original for input; can also use TiVo Remote
Now the real testing begins.
I have a hard time believing every channel requires CCI=0x02
