The motivation for this post occurred while I was putting together a cart at Dell for one of my customers and Dell offered a Sony eReader with the order. I felt two emotions sadness and pity. Why does is seem that Sony is always chasing other companies innovation?

I know when it comes to eReaders Sony was only "fashionably late" to the party but never the less Amazon and Barnes & Noble still are at top of mind when you think specifically about eReaders (iPad excluded because it is so many more things than just an eReader).  The most current event at the company is how it is going to innovate TV after the Steve Jobs bio hinted at a televison product that would work seamlessly with one's Apple devices.

If someone at Sony happens to read this let me first say that consumers do not trust you and they do not believe for a second the company is going to come out with something worthwhile. Much-less that will actually work with their current Sony products. Previous attempts at this by Sony had products using proprietary connections and cards, which if they did work together it only meant they would not work with my non-Sony device. This is important because just like 90% of the world I have an iPhone or other iDevice I would like to work with my Sony TV.

Now I know that most Sony TV's, Playstion devices will talk to my Mac or PC without problem today, but the history of having to hack or home brew something remains. Ideally if Sony wanted any success with a TV its going to support open standards and use universal connections just like the only recent success I can think of by them the PS3.

Sony can make use of the xcross menu bar navigation system on the "New" TV but they are going to have to improve upon it by trimming it down and I think the improvements are going to have to be on the remote end aswell. They should take a page out of Apple's book and put as few buttons as possible or develop as App Store application to work on my iDevice. (If you can beat'em, join'em)

At this point in the game Sony has to "woo" me back by saying look how good this is and how well it works. If they try to shove some exclusive this or that to the public it's going to fail. Also, on my last note lets take it back to the eReaders, Sony should just close the book on this subject! (Pun intended)!