Whirlpool's expansive centralpark system gets new upgrades

At this point it's fairly safe to say the whole concept of technology-integrated refrigerators hasn't really caught on, but certainly not because people aren't willing to drop coin on a nice new cooler. Really, it's got more to do with the fact that you simply can't upgrade anything once you've dropped that first chunk of change. Unfortunately for GE, since it was introduced last year, Whirlpool's centralpark hasn't been much more effective at tackling that problem, despite offering up a common -- but not ubiquitous or open -- interface for fridge devices. But there is that single, revealingly-named Whirlpool GD5VVAXT to connect this year's centralpark devices to, including:

• Ceiva digital photo frame - 8-inch display, media reader, $250, looks a bit familiar.
  
• Brandmotion iPod dock - Guess what it does! Price not yet announced.
• Clio Vu - Dock and display mount for your Clio NXT, running Oh yeah, you don't have a Clio NXT, because pretty much no one does.
• Quartet Qnote Message Center - Simple, boring glass note taker with dry-erase markers.

Gallery: Whirlpool's expansive centralpark system gets new upgrades

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[MarkA @ Jan 5th 2008 8:47AM]

This type of technology integration is just stupid, and a waste of money..honestly. I laugh every time I see a refrig with a TV...spare me.

[Senor_Tom @ Jan 5th 2008 9:21AM]

I can see the point of a flip down TV on the worktop but who does all their cooking/working whilst staring at the fridge. For music yeah, but why not just buy a stereo and airtunes?

[Eric @ Jan 5th 2008 9:51AM]

Because magnets and paper are sooooo yesterday.

Besides, I would imagine that most of these companies look at how many fridges are sold/year and figure if they sell 1% of them as "smart," they'll own the market and set the standard protocol. Then they'll rule the world!

Actually, I think they don't really intend to sell any of these, it is just to get foot traffic.

[Durion @ Jan 5th 2008 10:17AM]

Not sure how Whirlpool's pointless feature is bad for GE...

[ScOObyDoo @ Jan 5th 2008 10:51AM]

So, not only is the concept stupid, they even spent time and money on a dock for a machine that hasn't been made for 5 years? Brilliant.

[Alex Padilla @ Jan 5th 2008 11:07AM]

Hmm, this is interesting. Why can't all GE appliances be like the Trivection oven created by Jack Donaghy?

(might get low ranked if no one gets the reference)

[Alex Padilla @ Jan 5th 2008 11:08AM]

correction: "why can't all appliances be like the GE trivection..."

edit button, please?

[Jimbo @ Jan 5th 2008 12:25PM]

I'm not sure what GE has to do with any of this. Whirlpool is a separate company and not owned by GE.

[Mark @ Jan 5th 2008 5:09PM]

I'd love a fridge that I could buy add-ons for like this.