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Whirlpool's centralpark system reels in iGo charging solution
Though Whirlpool managed to pick up a few new partners to make gizmos that played nice with its life-simplifying centralpark connection system back in January, there still aren't many options out there to make good use of it. Thankfully, the outfit has just lassoed in Mobility Electronics, which is all set to reveal its iGo charging station for centralpark refrigerators; the unit will enable users to juice up cellphones, DAPs, laptops and pretty much any other rechargeable gadget out there from the comfort of their own kitchen. The forthcoming device will obviously be compatible with every last iGo tip, theoretically allowing you to recharge "over 2,700 different gadgets with the simple switch of a tip." No word on pricing / availability, however.[Via CNET, thanks Yossi]
Microsoft and friends team up to study potential connected home applications
Those looking to better unify your lighting, security, HVAC and home theater are in luck, as a new team has just been formed to investigate what you want, what you need and how to deliver it. Whirlpool, Bell Canada, Cisco, Direct Energy, HP, Legrand, Leviton, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, Zensys and the Z-Wave Alliance have all come together to "conduct an in-depth study about the state and future of the smart home." More specifically, the crew will be asking consumers what types of connected home applications could be created or improved upon, with a few examples consisting of TV-based Caller ID screens, remotely controlled temperature / lighting and the ability to crank your home stereo to 11 when a crook breaks in. Yeah, we're totally bluffing on that last one, but you never know.
Whirlpool's green kitchen concept fuels other devices
This whole "turning waste into fuel" idea has certainly gained a lot of traction lately, and it seems that Whirlpool is next in line to show off a concept that could purportedly hack down your energy bill (and give Mother Earth some love, too). Simply hailed as the green kitchen, this futuristic area would reportedly enable "60-percent of the water and heat generated from [kitchen gizmos to be] diverted to fuel other appliances." For instance, the heat created from the refrigerator compressor could be used to heat water for the dishwasher, and while it's hard to say how accurate it is, word on the street pegs energy savings from using said concept at around 24-percent. The real question, however, is will it come equipped with an integrated LCD TV?
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-12644%
Whirlpool Espresso refrigerator brings the coffee to the cream
Today's "Adventure in Laziness" is brought to you by Whirlpool, which has just -- rather cleverly, we must admit -- announced an upcoming refrigerator with built-in espresso maker, saving you several precious steps during your rushed morning routine. No longer will you flutter between fridge and coffee machine like a caffeine-addicted idiot; instead, your milk, creamers, and sweeteners are just inches away from a freshly-brewed cup. Coming in January of next year for what will likely be significantly more than your standard icebox, the "20RI D4 Espresso" bodes well for future fridge-tech, and makes us yearn for the day when our Whirlpool sends us off to work with a warm cup of joe and welcomes us home at night with a frosty, self-brewed lager.[Via The Appliancist]
Whirlpool unveils LCD-equipped centralpark Connection refrigerator
We already you know like to host parties at your pad rather than skirting out to a nearby club, but what good is a Party Dishwasher without a LCD-equipped refrigerator beside it? Enter Whirlpool's centralpark Connection, which boasts an "interchangeable interface (built-in LCD shown) that allows you to plug in an MP3 player, cellphone, digital photo album or a DVD / CD player" to keep your kitchen guests entertained. Aside from all the party luxuries, it also boasts an obligatory brushed aluminum finish, automatic ice / water dispenser, and a vertical freezer compartment. Notably, Whirlpool also states that this unit can keep family members in touch with "an interactive message board, web tablet, or family calendar," yet doesn't give us the slightest clue about how these nifty features are actually pulled off. Nevertheless, for folks looking to add a dash of excitement to an otherwise mundane kitchen mainstay can check out the centralpark Connection when it lands in limited quantites this Fall (mass rollout next Spring), but for now, click on through for a closeup.[Via BornRich]
Laundry alert by TV works better than computer pop-up, SMS
Back in July, we told you about a trio of Atlanta-area families that would take a set of internet-connected washer and dryers, erm, for a spin. For eight weeks, the families lived with Laundry Time, the Internet Home Alliance's trial of washer and driers, which notified families their whites are brighter via television, PC, or cellphone. As much as we'd love to be alerted as to when our spin cycle is done by text message, it turns out that the non-gadget-on-the-brain folks don't really take to it; of the three methods, only alert-by-television seemed to work well, and most found the cellphone messages too confusing. However, one participant, Lisa Gunning of Roswell, Georgia, pretty much summed up what we long for in such a system: "I love the pop-up notifications as I tend to forget everything when I am working . . . even when I'm not watching TV, one of the kids will come and remind me." The trial basically would seem to be pretty much a bust for Whirlpool, HP, Microsoft, Panasonic, Procter & Gamble, who funded the whole operation.
