refrigerator

Smart televisions I sort of get. But smart refrigerators and washers?

If Samsung Electronics is right, developers may flock to smart appliances as the next opportunity. At the Consumer Electronics Show, the consumer electronic giant unveiled its vision for a wider range of smart appliances. That included music apps such as Pandora on the refrigerator and an app on the washer that can ping you when a load is done.

The move underscores just how pervasive the app world has become, moving beyond PCs and smartphones into all sorts of devices. Samsung has arguably been the most aggressive in pushing … Read more

LAS VEGAS--LG has spilled the beans on several new smart appliances that aim to be the Albert Einsteins of the home world. These are the latest updates to the Smart ThinQ line the company rolled out at last year's CES.

The new LG appliances are designed to hook up to your home network, talk to your mobile devices, and be accessible on your TV. You won't have to tear yourself away from "Star Trek" reruns to see if you're out of milk.

The LG Smart Refrigerator isn't just a big box that keeps things cold. It's a "total food management system" that pretty much does everything except cook your steak for you.… Read more

Food (and wine) storage requires a commitment. The big appliances that house our food and drink often do so with little regard for their surroundings. Considering that these appliances dominate the kitchen landscape, it should be easy to make them act and look like we want them too. The Thermador 2012 Freedom Collection would agree.

The ability to customize the kitchen according to how we see fit is an achievable goal thanks to the modular styling of the collection. The built-in appliances include customizable refrigerators, freezers, and wine-storage units with a host of improvements that have been applied to the … Read more

Leftover wine in the bottle happens. What to do about it has always been question worth asking. Often, the bottle gets replugged with the same cork and then simply left out on the counter. Turning it on its side in the fridge isn't really much of an option, considering that it's an open bottle and all. (Sure, one may think that the cork is in there securely, but this is drinking we are talking about after all.) So, the wine bottle remains on the counter, destined to be finished off at a temperature that is less than ideal.… Read more

Refrigerators are big. That is the way it is supposed to be. Otherwise stocking up after a trip to the grocery store can get kind of dicey. Or gamey if there isn't enough room to store all of the sundries. Luckily, these behemoths of the kitchen are big and ready to accommodate. Of course, bigger being better is only valid up to a point. But for refrigerators, bigger on the inside is always better.

The new LG Electronics LFX31925 Super-Capacity French-Door Refrigerator boasts 31 cubic feet of storage space. All this roomy interior is put to use in real … Read more

In addition to products with the basic Energy Star rating, consumers can now choose to buy even more efficient products with the help of a new rating.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy introduced last week an additional rating it calls Energy Star Most Efficient.

Consumer electronics and appliances with the Energy Star Most Efficient seal will signify those products that have exceptional efficiency within their product category. The seal will only be awarded to the top 5 percent of models. It will initially be introduced in five categories: clothes washers, heating and cooling … Read more

There are a few obvious obstacles to overcome when considering starting a wine collection. First off, of course, is price. But that entry point has been obliterated as good wines can now be bought at almost any price. However, having a collection implies keeping a collection, which would thereby necessitate a place to keep the collection. Luckily, wine fridges are abundant and attainable. That leaves what is perhaps the biggest barrier, and one that is not so easily explained away: space limitations. If you have nowhere to store a collection, you have nowhere to store one. Simple as that, end … Read more

One of the great mysteries in life is knowing what you want out of the fridge before you open it. This is not a food-specific dilemma: the same conundrum can and does occur when contemplating a wine selection. While it may be easy (or not) to decide upon red or white, deciding upon which red or white is another story entirely. It is something that we as a society have learned to live with. And as with other resignations, we try to make up for it by doing the little things.

Since it is apparent that the practice of open-door … Read more

Like planets around a star, the refrigerator is the central focal point in the kitchen. It's hard to escape its influence; massive and enticing, it draws us in with the mysteries it holds. Like what's for dinner. Luckily we can now look beyond for answers. The secrets of the stars may be unreachable for the moment, but as for what to do with that pound of ground beef, we need look no further than the refrigerator door.

Set to be available in early summer, the Samsung LCD Refrigerator RF4289 looks to release us from the limitations of physical … Read more