Let the battle of the smart refrigerators commence: LG has a new entry in the smart fridge space, introducing the world to its Instaview Door-in-Door Fridge at IFA 2016. Like the Instaview that came before, this latest iteration has a panel in the door that allows users to look inside without having to open the fridge up, but that panel has a lot more functionality this time around.
Dyson wants to solve the drunken vacuum cleaner problem, and the British appliance company believes a big ball is the way to do it. The new Dyson Cinetic Big Ball promises, like a Weeble, to self-right if your over-enthusiastic cleaning ministrations make it topple over in the line of duty.
Do you dream of owning a Roomba but can’t bring yourself to spend that much on a vacuum? iRobot has launched a new cheaper model called the Roomba 960; it starts at $699 USD (the 980 model is $900, for comparison) and is the second model in the 900 series product line. The Roomba 960 features 5x the air power of the Roomba 600 and 700 series AeroVac systems, and according to iRobot, it has many of the ‘premium features’ you’ll find in the higher-end Roomba 800 and 900 series products.
Forget toiling away with kindling, fire starters, mini cooking dishes, and hot coals -- a microwave is more convenient, and soon it will be possible to carry one with you wherever you go. Called the Wayv Adventurer, this portable gadget is small and rugged, and it heats foods and liquids the same way as an ordinary microwave. Because the unit is powered by swappable batteries, anyone can stuff it in a backpack and use it on the go.
Belkin’s Wemo now works with Nest, with the company announcing Works with Nest integration this morning. What’s this mean for you? If you have the Nest thermostat and one or more Wemo switches, such as a Wemo Insight Switch or Light Switch, they’ll now work together, making for a more integrated (and thusly capable and efficient) home.
It might sound like a tablet, a cylinder, or even a touch-enabled table, but if you saw Samsung's big reveal at CES early this year, you probably already know that the Samsung Family Hub is, in fact, a glorified refrigerator with a gigantic touch screen. To some, it might have sounded too futuristic to be true, but the Korean manufacturer has just proven them wrong by making the Samsung Family Hub available in the market at long last. Now you won't have to worry about forgetting if you need to buy eggs or not, or about the kitchen being only about food.
Xiaomi is often cited as the Apple of China, at least in terms of magical sales numbers. But whereas Apple keeps its device types to a minimum, Xiaomi is diversifying its products to who knows where. Beyond the usual culprits of smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and power banks, Xiaomi also has a smart air purifier and, soon, even a smart bicycle. But before the latter takes flesh, Xiaomi first announced something a bit more down to earth, more homely, in the form of a Smart Induction Heating Pressure Rice Cooker.
We've already seen a bevy of smart home appliances, part of the Internet of Things invasion, that cover a range of functionality, from cleaning, to environmental control, to security. But few, or none at all, focus on one aspect that needs an infusion of smartness, health. To that extent, HERO might be the first of its kind. A smart appliance, HERO's sole purpose is to make sure that never again will you, your loved ones, or your charge forget to take that critical medication on time.
Some people can create art from their breakfast foods -- pancakes in the shape of popular cartoon characters, for example. Most of us lack those creative skills but wouldn't mind having a themed breakfast. Enter the Death Star Waffle Maker, a waffle maker that, as the name suggests, creates waffles in the shape and with the details of the Death Star from Star Wars.
With CES 2016 officially kicking off today, Samsung hasn't wasted any time to release official images of one of its new products: the "Family Hub" smart refrigerator. Details are still slim at this point — although we'll surely hear more once we hit the show floor — but we do know the fridge comes sporting a touchscreen display larger than most tablets, along with several cameras on the inside. What could a huge screen and cameras do to improve a refrigerator? Well, for starters, users don't need to open the door to see what's inside.
Home appliance maker Whirlpool has just announced a new smart washer and dryer set that can connect with Amazon's Dash Replenishment Service, allowing automatic orders of detergent and fabric softener to be a painless process. Amazon announced Dash Replenishment Service last October as an extension of its physical, WiFi-connected Dash Buttons, which let customers order a specific product, like dish soap, coffee, and pet food, with a single press. Now appliance makers can implement the service directly into products, so users are notified when supplies run low, and orders can be placed with a single tap.
Korean manufacturer LG puts dozens of consumer electronics products every year to the point that it might be hard to decide which one to buy or even save up for. This coming CES 2016, LG will be trying to make that decision a bit easier, though probably also more expensive. It will be revealing a new lineup of premium home entertainment and appliance products that will bear its new LG SIGNATURE brand. And from the tone and looks of things, it will be a set that will flaunt some luxury design elements and perhaps price tags to match their class.