Is it really correct that the Beosound 5 connects to the main unit with a cable? So if I bought one and decided to situate it on my coffee table I would have to put up with a cable across the floor?

Surely this cannot be true?

In the seventies I bought a Panasonic VCR which had a long cable to the remote which really got on my nerves. A few months later they brought out a wireless remote and special infra-red receiver box which connected to the VCR giving me the luxury of wireless remote!  

I now have Apple TV connected to my B&O system and control everything from the comfort of my chair with an iPod Touch. Any new media added to iTunes is transmitted wirelessly to the ATV. So simple and efficient.

I really believed that the new Beosound 5 would leapfrog my Apple set-up making me really envious.

It hasn't! 

No it is not true, you do not need a cable, you need 3!

 More seriously... The Beosound 5 is not a remote, it is a Beosound, like the Beosound 4. You would not put the Beosound 4 on your coffee table.

The Beosound 5 can be operated from a distance with either the Beo4 or the Beo5.

But I agree that the Beosound 5 only makes sense when operated locally. That sucks! It is like having to stand up to change the TV channel.

p.

I saw an ad for a new Sony TV today, that the screen itself don't need any cables but a power cable. The control box sends the signal wirelessly to the TV.

This is SONY!

Wake up B&O.

Make a "Beolab5" TV and Music system. 

I was quite surprised about the need for a cable myself ... not the digital revolution I as hoping for ;-) 

Wireless display should have been the way forward along with WiFi that would have easily done the deal 

bayerische:

I saw an ad for a new Sony TV today, that the screen itself don't need any cables but a power cable. The control box sends the signal wirelessly to the TV.

This is SONY!

Wake up B&O.

Make a "Beolab5" TV and Music system. 

Off topic, but yes, there is Panasonic TV out which does the same thing. A main box, separate from the screen where all cables go, the the picture & sound are sent wirelessly to the screen. If it works, then this is fabulous. All they need now is a way of transmitting the power to the screen without a cable.

Back to B&O, the Beosound 5 is but one example of how difficult or even impossible it is becoming for the 'independents' to compete.      

mor:

I was quite surprised about the need for a cable myself ..

Cables! I'm surprised how many cables and 'socket boxes' are required by new B&O kit. My BS4 is a cable mess with the DAB and other cables out of the back.

The usb cable is also a problem i think, max length is 5 meters for a normal usb cable.

the two units have to stand very close together  

I am not so sure about the challenge to compete successfully ... we (just about) all see what B&O can do when we look at the speakers. 

By the way, coming back to the topic of this thread: even Samsung's latest TVs use embedded Linux as OS. I remain sceptic whether MS was the correct choise.

Talking about the wires: That's one reason I was an am still VERY happy about the Beocenter 2. All neatly tucked away and with the 10m central wire carrying all info very easy to integrate / hide. With the Beosound 5 they could have at least invested into a similar approach. 

I would be very insterested: Who's gonna buy one?