iPad merges with kitchen cabinet, sacrificing portability for utility
From the moment we saw the so-called "magical device," we knew the lucrative digital cookbook market would never be quite the same, but it's one thing to imagine an iPad as the centerpiece of one's kitchen, and something else entirely to see to see it in the flesh. TUAW reader Alan Daly built his directly into the side of a kitchen cabinet, and set it to work doling out Epicurious recipes, streaming Jamie Oliver, and surfing some of the world's best websites (in our oh-so-humble opinion) well out of the way of troublesome meat splatter. In lieu of flying toasters, his screen displays a virtual aquarium when it's not in use, and the whole assembly seems to be a simple matter of cutting a hole and affixing a pair of wooden strips for support. It's not clear, however, how he keeps it charged. Maybe that's the magic Steve keeps talking about. Video after the break.
























thats actually pretty damn neat.....
@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
Neat? That is sexy as all hell!
@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
Neat although not entirely practical. Heavy grease layer can build up on it within a few days. Not something I'd want to happen to any of my gadgets.
Rather keep it mobile moving from room to room. That way it can serve many different functions without getting greasy.
And Mr Sean Hollister! This device, do you deny it is powered by Unicorn Souls??
@ounkeo heavy grease layer? don't they make screen protectors for iPads too? I would think someone would wash their hands before touching it. or do you mean from grease in the air?
@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
I'm sorry, this is just nonsense... who would do that? Welcome to 1999, when there were $3000 fridges with these in them... whhooopee.. just another person with more money than brains.
Talk about making something useless almost... sigh.
the iphone is good, but this is just dumb! and obviously an ad by Apple on this AOL blog site.... sigh
@Peter Church Sexy as hell? I'm sorry if it was sleek I would say so... this is pretty home-made looking (not sexy at all)
@loox42
I'm sorry, but it is sexy. My wife would have sex with me for every night for a month if I built an iPad into her kitchen cabinet.
@Peter Church
It's totally sweet. I would love to have to stand and read the news or have to walk over to the thing every time I wanted to check how much oil to use.
It's too small to be of any use in less you are standing right in front of it. Viewing a 9" screen from 5' away is brutal.
For what it's worth Engadget this has been done many times already with LCD screens connected to a PC. Nothing revolutionary other than the fact that this is an Apple product.
@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
It's kind of silly, but in the same way that that massive home cinema is totally ridiculous yet everyone wants it.
Kind of a waste just sitting there, I hope he can take it out.
@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
Agreed. It is a really interesting idea. Watch TV, movies, or podcasts while preparing dinner or entertaining. However, the only really USEFUL thing I saw was recipes and cooking videos (for that placement).
@Singular Trap For recipes you would badly need it to accept a voice command like "next page" so that you didn't touch it, and the iPad can't do that. Still neato though.
@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
Bag of fail @ 2:30
@David Bailey the iPad doesn't have a mic built in? I wasn't aware of that....but it would work for recipies but would work better with voice command like the DS Cooking games
@bjsguess
The revolutionary part is its UI. Show me a screen that has been built into a cabinet or a refrigerator that has a UI that is that responsive and intuitive. I think that's sick as hell, and I bet we will see even more like this...
@Peter Church
Odd i get it for from her nothing! ZING!!
@Peter Church Your wife would have sex with ME if I installed one...
@Chris DPSN
HP Touchsmart makes a FAR more functional multi-use kitchen computer.
http://www.hemagazine.com/files/HP%20Touchsmart%20-%20kitchen%201.jpg
I've seen one install where they actually used a spring hinge system to rotate the device down from underneath a cabinet.
@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
The iPad is a must have device for every kitchen.
@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
this mofo must be the size of a blimp if he spends THAT much time in the kitchen.. lol
Or maybe he's a chef... ???
@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
What would be cooler is if some can buy 2 ipads (wifi and 3G, slap them into one of those fake book covers and...
call it a courier.
@Ducman69 yea my Aunt & Uncle actually have a TouchSmart in their kitchen....and when I get the house I want I will do the same....
Now if only Apple will get current with remote sync....
@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
Neat?
It's pretty damn meat.
@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
Dare I say it, this is the first time I've seen the iPad being functional. The whole ergonomics issue is mitigated and the developed UI of iPhone OS is highly exemplified here.
@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
I've actually considered a touchscreen pc for the kitchen before, so this is the first time that the iPad has actually looked interesting to me.
@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
It does have a built-iin mic.
@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
The oil will eventually build up on it. When you fry something the oil will disperse throughout the kitchen. That is why it is so hard to get some smells out. It's freaking caked in to the cabinets everywhere in the kitchen.
@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
Yup, this is what this thing is meant for - brilliant, although I'll probably plump for a Touchsmart when the time comes to invest.
I'm not sure about the statement that portability has been sacrificed though, for two reasons.
Firstly, when he opens the cupboard door, it looks like you could unplug the headphone/speaker cable and slide the iPad out/up.
Secondly, he says he hasn't added a power supply, so he's probably removing it to charge it.
better there than in my backpack
SMFH ... PLEASE STOP!!
@Tuan X Atleast when his house gets toppled by a Tornado, the screen will rotate.
@Regula Oblique
You sir have made my day.
ok, seriously?
a 600 dollar cabinet?
i mean i guess it's cool, but i would have put it somewhere a little more central, like something that's not a cabinet... like the fridge.. or the dining room table.. or something..
but a cabinet?
@BrianH people buy the Refrigerators with computers and TVs built in for a $400+ premium....this isn't THAT bad of an idea really...especially if you want to use the recipe apps and dont want your iPad on the counter where it could possibly get ingredients on it....
@BrianH IMHO, sony dash kind of product might fit this purpose better
@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi then you should print out a recipe or have a cook book, while I like the creativity this is just a waste of money and unpractical, it'll get greasy unless you clean it all the Time.
@patp print out the recipe!?!? thats wasting paper!!! as are cook books....you can buy cookbooks on iBooks or on the Kindle....or hell, on the internet....sure its not practical for some people....but others it just may be...especially when these get down in price to around $300...hell I would be tempted to get one at that price if it had at least 64GBs and a camera on it...
@patp
Yep, because things get greasy you should never leave them in your kitchen, especially things with a screen, right? Maybe books too? I've seen some people who keep their laptops etc in their kitchens. Look fine as hell. My laptop gets dirty enough without doing anything special.
@htd Agree, don't want to spend $600 on this. Sony dash definitely have less feature than this but those are enough for cooking app and music plus clock, IMO
Not bad at all!!
They should buy 12 of them, put them in different parts of the house, and have them all linked up. That would be pretty bad-ass.
@N900
What would they do linked up?
And I do find it moderately interesting (and extremely cool), though I would think anything past quick recipe look-ups and your arm would get tired.
Could you imagine hooking something like this up in other rooms? Like you put one in a recessed part of the wall, and hook it up to a speaker system for music selection and such. That would be cool. To me anyway.
@N900 Yes, now that would be kind of sweet... this is just kind of useless and screams desperate for attention and publicity
Hrrrm...we like! Especially if you like to cook like myself and alot of other ppl. A cabinet door is what? 10-20 bucks at the most at Lowe's(coupon or hookup)? So buy a dummy to cut/test, and one for show.
Kind of reminds me of that LG refrigerator a few yrs back, just more useful..
A Practical use you say?
I'm not sure what to think of this
@Slick If you see a knob on it, they failed.
@fingers
No no no!!! It's.. If you see a knob, "they blew it!"
:D
This guy is single or divorced, I guarantee it.
@jakeZ
i swear i thought the same thing
Step 1: Insert iPad into unconventional space.
Step 2: ???
Step 3: BLOG POST!