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Smart coffee maker brews your next cup right when you get home
Sure, you can get connected coffee makers, but they tend to brew whole pots (or multiple cups). What if you just want a hot cup o' joe when you get home? That's where Smarter's new WiFi Coffee Machine comes into play. The device lets you remotely brew individual cups through an Android or iOS app, complete with scheduling. You can have it wake you up when your coffee's ready, and it'll offer to grind and pour that beverage when you step in the door.
This robot bakes the world's most expensive flatbread
You wouldn't expect robots to be into baking, but we've seen more than a few examples of the two coming together. Rotimatic is the latest smart kitchen appliance that wants to take the effort out of making Roti -- hot flatbreads. It was invented by Pranoti Nagarkar, who found making Roti by hand so tiresome, that she built the device to save her having to do it herself. It works by pulling together flour, oil and water from three hoppers, mixing them into a dough and baking it into bread in under two minutes.
Home Lohas brings hydroponic gardening into your room, rabbit guard not included
While running between booths at Computex earlier this month, we were momentarily distracted by these vegetable boxes (maybe it was lunch time as well). As it turned out, this product was launched by Taiwan-based Home Lohas around the same time as when the expo started. The company pitches its hydroponic gardening appliance -- so the vegetables rely on nutritious water instead of soil -- as a hassle-free, low-power solution for growing your own greens, plus it's apparently the only solution in the market that doesn't need water circulation. With its full spectrum LED light, air pump and timers, harvest time can apparently be reduced by about 30 percent. It's simply a matter of filling up the water tank, adding the necessary nutrients and placing the seeded sponge on the tray (the package includes three types of organic fertilizers and some seeds). The only downside is that this system costs NT$15,800 (about US$530) in Taiwan, and for some reason, it'll eventually be priced at US$680 in other markets. If that's too much, then stay tuned for a half-size model that's due Q4 this year. %Gallery-191544%
Apple secures multitouch-related patent from 1995
According to Network World, Apple recently obtained several patents and patent applications from Canadian inventor Timothy R. Pryor that cover the touch-based control of machines including appliances, vehicles and computers. The most interesting of the bunch is one that describes a "method for providing human input to a computer." Originally filed in July 2009, this patent describes a data entry device that responds to multitouch input. The data entry device can be used in a variety of applications including video games, aircraft cockpits, or medical analysis. Another one, Control of Appliances, Kitchen, and Home, describes a home automation system that's part iPad, part Kinect. It uses both a touch-screen interface and a video-sensing component that can detect your presence and respond to your gestures. Best of all, the system "can ease kitchen and house work, while allowing the user to share time for home functions with Internet shopping, social networking and the like." Of course, ownership of these patents doesn't mean Apple is going to start making a touchscreen-enabled refrigerator-toaster hybrid anytime soon, but it's still fun to think about the possibilities. [Via Engadget] #next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; }
Hands-on with the Electric Imp at Maker Faire (video)
Yesterday at Maker Faire Bay Area 2012 we visited the Electric Imp booth to chat with the startup's founders and get some hands-on time with the tiny wireless computer. What is the Electric Imp? It's a module containing an ARM Cortex M3 SoC with embedded WiFi that's built into an SD card form factor. While the device looks just like and SD card, it's not pin-compatible with the standard -- the idea is to leverage a reliable and affordable connector for the Electric Imp. The module is not very useful on its own -- it only comes to life when inserted into one of several boards, which provide the Electric Imp with power and access to the real world. In turn the device gives these boards a brain and an Internet connection. Eventually the company hopes that appliance manufacturers will incorporate Electric Imp slots into products to make them network aware. We talked with CEO Hugo Fiennes (formerly with Apple) about the past, present and future of the Electric Imp so hit the break to read more and to watch our hands-on video.%Gallery-155789%
Gmail and iPhone alums create Electric Imp, connect your toaster to the web
Have you ever wanted to preheat your oven while on the way home from work, or start your sprinklers while vacationing, only to remember you don't have the spare loot lying around for a network of smart appliances? A recent startup (that somehow eluded Kickstarter) called Electric Imp is about to make your wireless control / monitoring fantasies a reality with its soon-to-be-released, $25 web interface. It works much like an Eye-Fi card, and communicates with cloud services as well as other connected devices like your Android or iPhone via WiFi. The company is working hard to get the slots that work with the cards into many of the machines that we usually don't link up to the good ol' www -- but have often wanted to -- and it hopes to have everything in place later this year. This all sounds like a great deal right now, but just wait until your washing machine gets hacked and starts using scalding water on all your darks and delicates. More info at the source.
Microsoft Research wants to automate your house, introduces HomeOS
Ever wondered if you could control your house's climate, security, and appliances -- along with your PCs and peripherals -- using Microsoft software? That day may soon dawn, as its Research arm has started testing its home automation software, called HomeOS, in twelve domiciles over the past few months. The budding system views smartphones, printers and air conditioners as network peripherals, controlled by a dedicated gateway computer. The project even has a handful of apps in play, which perform functions like energy monitoring, remote surveillance and face-recognition. This growing list of applications, available through a portal called "HomeStore", will allow users to easily expand their system's capabilities. So how does it all work out in the real world? Head past the break, and let Redmond's research team give you the skinny.
Samsung Zipel oven takes instructions from your Android phone
Smart ovens have long been a promise of appliance-makers, but they haven't exactly caught on with the general public just yet. Samsung's now making another push to change that, however, rolling out its new Zipel oven in Korea. In addition to some decidedly modern styling, that standout feature here is some built-in WiFi that lets the oven communicate with your Android-based smartphone, which can be used to dial the oven in just right for 160 different dishes. The oven itself is also an infrared oven, which promises more versatility than a conventional oven, and it packs a number of "smart" features into the oven itself, including the ability to display the number of calories of a particular dish. Unfortunately, there's no indication of a price just yet, or a release outside of Korea.
LG announces upgraded Smart ThinQ appliances, average refrigerator IQ set to rise in 2012
Were last year's ThinQ appliances from LG just not quite... sophisticated enough for you? Well, noble reader, screw that monocle a little tighter into your eye and get a load of this year's crop, which LG has dubbed Smart ThinQ. This includes a whole range of appliances like washing machines, ovens and even the company's robotic vacuum cleaners. Most promising to us is the refrigerator, which sports an LCD that indicates what food is in the refrigerator, where it's located and when it expires -- information that you can access from your similarly smart phone as well. That sounds fascinating, but it also sounds just like last year's more remedial ThinQ models, so we're not sure how much new functionality is included in this update. We'll endeavor to go find out once these hit the CES show floor next week.
Scanomat TopBrewer brings iPhone control, elegant design to single-cup coffee makers (video)
There's no question that we love our coffee, but we're often far less intrigued by the brewing process than we are the result. With its incredibly sleek design and simple iPhone or iPad control, Scanomat's faucet-like TopBrewer could easily become one of the few exceptions, however. This fully automatic coffee machine grinds your beans, measures out ingredients and foams milk, before dishing out the perfect cup. But iOS control is the keystone of this elegant solution, letting you make your beverage selection from a wireless device, leaving nothing but the stainless steel tap exposed. Craving a cappuccino? Simply toss your cup under the spigot and tap an icon. You can also dispense cold milk or water, hot chocolate and even carbonated water -- all from the same head. Scanomat has yet to hint at a release date or price, but if you have to ask... Jump past the break for a quick taste, courtesy of some lucky folks at a hospitality industry expo in Milan. [Thanks, Fredrik]
Electrolux kitchen laptop concept disregards grease, common sense
Nothing about this Electrolux concept screams practicality. It's basically an induction powered hotplate attached to a laptop, with a removable cutting board sandwiched between the screen and burner. Designer Dragan Trenchevski envisions this portable cook top as a boon to travelers and campers who can pull up recipes while whipping up meals miles from home, thanks to its 3G connection and battery pack. Of course, grease splatters, CPUs overheat, and an induction cook top will chew threw a battery in no time. But, like we said, the Mobile Kitchen Concept is all about flash -- not feasibility. We've got one more pic after the break, but you'll find tons more at the source.
Siemens shows off iPad-controlled homeConnect appliances
You use your mobile device for pretty much everything these days, right? So why not the kitchen? That was part of Siemens' pitch today at IFA -- the ability to control your cooking and dish washing from afar. The company debuted homeConnect, a "networked kitchen," which lets homeowners check on their energy consumption, shut down appliances remotely, receive notifications when the washing is done and view the contents of their fridges in real time -- with the help of internal cameras trained at the food. By downloading recipes from the internet, users can also import temperature and cooking times. This isn't the first time we've seen some kitchen-based connectivity, of course -- LG debuted the similar smartphone-based Thinq line at CES earlier this year. %Gallery-132133%
Gorenje iChef oven brings the touchscreen paradigm to all your baking needs
We've no doubt that Gorenje's iChef oven can bake, and bake well -- but as you've probably guessed, we're more interested in the appliance's finger-friendly controls. Kitchens of the future often come complete with touchscreen panels and home automation settings, but you aren't just keying in the time and temperature here -- it's got sixty-five preset dishes it can cook autonomously, 150 slots for you to program your own, and a option that lets you bake in three separate stages for perfection (or bitter disappointment, depending on your choices) inside and out. It's all controlled through a colorful filled with pictures of loving-prepared food, and though we're afraid we can't find a video of it in action, you'll find screencaps and descriptions at our source link below. The oven launches in Europe this spring and if you have to ask how much it costs, you probably won't have enough left over to afford a robotic manservant anyhow.
Control4, Sub-Zero get in on the home automation game
While brands like LG, Samsung, and Kenmore all showed off their own special brand of Jetsonian appliances at CES this year, Sub-Zero was close by touting a stable of 30 automation-ready products and a partnership with Control4 that could make them a contender for home automation domination. Sub-Zero's ZigBee-based system uses preexisting serial ports (initially installed for diagnostic purposes) to connect users to appliances via touchscreens, smart phones, and other enabled devices. The system lacks full control of potentially dangerous appliances like the oven, instead acting as an alert system when, say, your turkey is done roasting, but it does grant complete access to things like your refrigerator or freezer. Other systems might sport increased functionality, like LG's Thinq, which allows users to set oven temperatures remotely, and Samsung's fridge, which lets you tweet from a built-in touchscreen, but Sub-Zero is hoping a second-quarter release will put them at the head of the pack. We'll see if a head start makes a difference in the glacial appliance market, when Samsung rolls out its smart refrigerator this May and Kenmore's system comes to fruition in 2012.
Samsung WiFi-enabled RF4289 fridge cools, eats and tweets; we go hands-on
Other brands may view networked fridges as the key to going green, but it seems Samsung is more interested in letting users access Pandora or tweet while grabbing a snack. At least that's the impression we got from its staff while playing with the RF4289 fridge at CES, which the brand touts is the first of its kind to feature integrated WiFi. To be fair the unit provides a few pragmatic features too like the ability to view Google calendars, check the weather, download recipes from Epicurious, or leave digital notes -- though we'd have been more impressed by functions such as remote temperature adjustment or food spoilage alerts. We also found that the stainless steel exterior made reading the 8-inch LCD touchscreen screen difficult from more than a few feet away. Otherwise, further details on the software and definite pricing are nonexistent at this point, but we do know the appliance will be available to cutting-edge Canadians sometime in May. For more details check out shots of the UI in the gallery below, and hit up Samsung's vague press release after the break. %Gallery-113980%
LG's CES 2011 booth tour
If there is one booth at CES this year that is going all out, it's arguably LG's. The massive, supermarket-sized chunk of show floor real estate showcases everything from the manufacturer's latest phones -- like the Revolution, Optimus Black and Optimus 2X -- to SmartTV devices, network Blu-ray players and HDTVs. You'll also find smart appliances linked with WiFi and smartphone apps using LG Thinq, and even a scanner mouse -- not to mention a mesmerizing display wall. Sample the insanity in the gallery below, and in the video after the break. %Gallery-113532%
Kenmore shows off smartphone / tablet-connected appliances at CES (hands-on)
We've already seen some smartphone-connected appliances in LG's Thinq lineup, and it looks like Kenmore is now getting ready to join it in a big way with some fairly impressive "enhanced" appliances of its own -- which we managed to get an early look at here at CES. Those will include things like washers, dryers, stoves and refrigerators, all of which will be able to be controlled via a "smartphone or smart tablet" (Apple and Android devices were specifically mentioned as getting a free app), or via a large touchscreen on the device itself (not removable as a tablet, unfortunately). What's more, the appliances all boast Kenmore Connect, which allows for remote diagnostics that can be used to prepare technicians for in-home repairs, and they pack an array of energy management features that will let you conserve energy and keep watch on how much you're using. Unfortunately, you'll still have a bit of a wait before you can actually buy one -- Kenmore says they'll start rolling out in 2012. Hit up the gallery below for a closer look. %Gallery-113454%
LG debuts washer and dryer that play 'tunes' for problem diagnosis
LG's just outed an updated washer-dryer combo that might get us interested in learning how to do our own laundry yet. Equipped with a new tech called SmartDiagnosis, the appliance (when not functioning properly) prompts the user to punch in a specific combination sequence on the device. The washer or dryer then plays aloud a series of tones, which a technician can use over the phone to determine what the problem is. This method, it would seem, trumps having to describe what's going on to someone over the phone, and can help troubleshoot any issues that might be solvable sans housecall. They're not the cheapest laundry machines we've ever seen -- about $2,000 each -- but we'll take two, please.
Auto-Lift iron won't char your threads unless you tell it to
Watch out, Earthlings -- Ariete's 2,400 watt Auto-Lift iron is just a Stateside-release away from being Anthony Sullivan's next big hit. The concept here is pretty simple (and pretty genius): users have to physically press down on the iron to make it touch whatever piece of wrinkled clothing is beneath, and as soon as they release pressure, the iron pops up to prevent accidental charring. It'll set you back €65 ($92), but considering that one toasted dress shirt is probably far more expensive than that to replace, the forgetful among us should probably make the investment.
IZONA CoolDrawer refrigerator chills with your pots and pans
You know, it seems that bigger is always thought to be better when it comes to refrigerators. Each year, we see these already goliath boxes growing even larger, though you won't catch us kvetching about making room for integrated LCDs. To that end, Fisher & Paykel is looking out for those of us cooped up in tiny apartments with the introduction of its IZONA CoolDrawer. As you can see, the unit looks more like a standard cabinet than a real deal fridge, and it reportedly does an outstanding job of preserving the few essentials that bachelors and space-constrained citizens keep on hand. Your guess is as good as ours when it comes to price, but let's just say you'll probably end up paying more for less, sadly.[Via core77]
