For starters, you'll be able to control the 1700ES from your iPod, iPhone or Android device, using your phone as a controller and secondary display in one.  You'll be able to bring up cover art and more information from the movie or music you've got going.  It's also got built-in Wi-Fi capabilities, which allows for access to the BRAVIA Internet Video platform and the new – though horribly named – Qriosity video service.  

You'll get the benefit of Precision Cinema HD upscaling and decoding of the latest HD audio formats.  The BDP-S1700ES also sports an IR jack on the back, which makes it simple to integrate into an existing system. What may be disappointing to some folks is that the BDP-S1700ES won't be available online.  You can only get it from specialty AV dealers and custom installers when it launches this August at an MSRP of $400.