In case you’re wondering whether the $5,600 Smart Hub refrigerator from Samsung is something that your family should buy, our colleagues down the hall at Consumer Reports are testing it separately as an electronic gadget and as an appliance. So far, they’ve found that the “smart” features are difficult to set up, the cameras that track what’s on your shelf don’t show everything and can easily be blocked by a tall bottle of orange juice, the speakers are lousy, and you can’t download additional apps. That’s just the electronics: they haven’t tested how it actually works as a refrigerator yet. [Consumer Reports] [More]
smart appliances
Samsung Debuts Fridge With A Larger Screen Than Most Laptops, Washing Machine With Forgotten Sock Door
By 1.5.16
Remember the refrigerators of your youth? Far from sleek, shiny, or Internet-connected, they were at least magnetic, which meant they doubled as the home’s bulletin board for reminders, calendars, and shopping lists. Now that everything is stainless steel, Samsung thinks it has a substitution for those old fridge magnets, by way of a 21.5″ touchscreen on the front of its newest refrigerators. [More]
This Smart Oven Is Smarter Than You Are, Streams Video Of Your Dinner
By 6.9.15
We remain cynical but open-minded about the idea of smart appliances. What we’ve seen so far isn’t all that impressive: from the potential for kitchen appliances to launch cyberattacks to an incredibly stupid WiFi-enabled drip coffeemaker, we aren’t really sold on the idea yet. News of a new oven available for pre-order that is able to sense what you’re cooking and automatically determine how to cook it has us intrigued. [More]
Mr. Coffee Introduces The Stupidest Smart Coffeemaker On The Market
By 1.26.15
I get annoyed when an electronic gadget has functions that you can only access through the remote control, so I am not a candidate to buy the Mr. Coffee Smart Optimal Brew. It’s a very nice new network-connected drip coffee machine that you can program remotely from your smartphone. The problem: you can only program it from your smartphone. [More]
What You Need Is A Smartphone-Controlled Air Conditioner
By 3.19.14
We’ve already introduced you to the smartphone-enabled piggy bank and smartphone-enabled egg tray. What new wonders will the wizards of gadgetry bring us next? How would you like to control your air conditioner from your smartphone? Wait a minute…that one might actually be useful. [More]
“The Internet Of Things” Means Your Smart Refrigerator Could Launch Cyber Attacks
By 1.17.14
If you’re unfamiliar with The Internet Of Things, take a look at your phone. It can get on the Internet, right? So can your TV, maybe. Or that fancy new smart refrigerator, it’s a thing, and it can access the Internet. And because the everyday devices we use are so “smart” now, that means they could be turned against you. [More]
You Could Control Your Oven With Your Smartphone. Should You Want To?
By 1.9.14
Let’s say that you bought a GE wall oven recently. It’s all right, but something is missing from your life. You couldn’t quite articulate what it is, but a recent announcement from GE clarified things. What you needed was the ability to control your oven from anywhere using your smartphone. The good news is that you can fix this grave error on your part after the fact. [More]
Will Smart Appliances Save Me Money While Saving The World?
By 1.7.11
Here at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, companies like GE and LG are showing off appliances that should be able to cut into your electric bill. But before you run out and pick one up, there are some things you’ll need to know first. [More]
