That's just another application of HDMI CEC, just like controlling a DVD/Bluray player with your TV remote.

Is it just me who is bothered how every OEM has some weird and wonderful CEC rebrand? Sony calls theirs Bravia Sync for example.

It's to trick people into thinking they can only buy a Sony Blu-ray player to go along with their Sony TV to go along their Sony soundbar. I'm glad everyone's stuff gets along for the most part but the fake vendor lock-in is lame.

That was no surprise for me, after using XBMC/Kodi for a few years with CEC support through HDMI. It was so natural to just pause/resume from the remote control that now I'm surprised people didn't know about this.

Yeah I use CEC to control our Apple TV. Never understood why everyone was complaining about the new Apple TV touch remote - we just use the TV remote. And our TV is like 8 years old now.

I think any TV with HDMI-CEC should work. it's also how it turns on your TV and switches to the correct input before hand.

as an aside I think Google home users leverage this to turn on their TV, which I think is pretty cool

Yes, that took me far too long to learn.