Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. Features

Why most ‘smart’ devices are actually pretty dumb

Simon Hill
By
smart-oven
Image used with permission by copyright holder
CES 2013 Coverage
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Every year, the International CES show in Las Vegas unleashes a torrent of tech goodies. But for all the amazing TVs, ultra-thin laptops and insanely fast new phones, the show also brings its fair share of duds, bandwagon also-rans, and just plain strange devices that seem to be taking it too far. This year, the ongoing trend toward offering “smart” devices has reached a fever pitch. Except most of these devices are just plain dumb.

In the race to cram Wi-Fi, apps and other widgets into everything, manufacturers seem to be forgetting that we already own smartphones, set-top boxes and other multipurpose gadgets that already do these things, making them completely redundant.

Recommended Videos

Samsung is trying to convince you that you need a fridge with Evernote. Dacor brings us the world’s first Android oven. And one company even thinks you need a smart fork to tell you how to eat. Let’s look at a few of the standout money wasters from CES 2013.

Related

TVs

OLED and 4K technologies are everywhere at this year’s show, but they come at pretty steep price points. Most of us will have to settle for lesser upgrades, which invariably means a TV packaged with “smart” technology.

The majority of smart TVs offer features that you already have, but done worse. A Wi-Fi-enabled TV with streaming support is pretty redundant if you have an HTPC, a set-top box like an Apple TV, or a game console to get Netflix and browse the Web. The smart TV doesn’t just double up on the functionality; it introduces yet another user interface to muddle through – one that’s invariably worse than the already challenging interfaces we have.

Smart TVs also offer you features that you can’t imagine wanting. Panasonic showed off a new TV model that allows you to write on the screen with a special “Touch Pen.” I’ve wasted years persuading the kids not to touch the TV screen, and now Panasonic wants us to draw all over it? Having said that, drawing a mustache on a local news anchor would be hilarious. Once.

The really crazy stuff

Of course there are plenty of devices at CES 2013 that make the latest TVs look sensible and essential. Take the Samsung T9000. Sounds cool right? Well it is … it’s a fridge. Not just any fridge, but a Wi-Fi fridge that has an LCD display and can run apps like Evernote and Epicurious. That way if you notice you need milk and your partner is out shopping, you can update them via Evernote on the fridge door, just in case you can’t be bothered taking the phone out of your pocket. Let me give you another scenario: You’re grabbing a cold beverage from the fridge, but suddenly want to know what the weather is like. Well, in case you can’t be bothered to look out the window or (once again) take the phone out of your pocket, just check the fridge door. It gets even better, because the LCD on your fridge can also display advertisements thanks to a deal with Unilever. That’s definitely what’s missing from my kitchen, and all for just $4,000? Who can resist?

smart-fridge-evernote
Image used with permission by copyright holder

And the smart devices at CES 2013 get even crazier. Listen to these specs: a 7-inch LCD touchscreen, 1GHz Samsung processor, 512MB RAM, a PowerVR SGX 540 VGU, stereo sound, Wi-Fi, and Android 4 (ICS). What’s this, a budget tablet perhaps? No it’s the world’s first Android oven from Dacor. This wall-mounted beauty will only set you back $4,500 for the single-oven version. Just think: You can cook all your food remotely now and use the built-in app for preprogrammed timings. You only need to be there to actually put the food in the oven and then at the end to take it out and eat it, so it’s … well, it’s sort of like a normal oven, come to think of it.

Hapifork
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Finally, would you believe there is such a thing as a “smart” fork? I’m serious. The Hapifork has Bluetooth, a USB connection, and will cost you a cool $100. What does a fork 100 times the cost of a standard fork do for you? It tells you whether you are eating too fast. Seriously. It tracks the number of “fork servings” per meal, and emits irritating vibrations and lights when you eat too fast. You can then upload the results to your computer and get advice on your food schedule. It even claims to help you lose weight.

But I’ve got a tip for overeaters: Just grab bigger forkfuls and you can fool your fork. Not so smart now, are you Hapifork?

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Simon Hill
Simon Hill
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Simon Hill is an experienced technology journalist and editor who loves all things tech. He is currently the Associate Mobile…
Amazon devices and other great gifts with delivery by Christmas
amazon discounts prime membership for us military and veterans

There are just three days until Christmas, but you don't have to restrict your shopping to local stores to buy gifts in time for the holiday. Amazon adds new deals to its Last-Minute Deals campaign daily. If Amazon has full confidence in its ability to deliver to your home in time, the words "Arrive before Christmas" are printed in green letters a few lines below the product price. Whether you're searching for great bargains or looking for perfect presents, Amazon has loads of great gifts ready for shipment to arrive before Christmas. Don't delay long if you decide to buy one of these products, however, because a deal that's available for pre-Christmas arrival when we check early in the day may not be available as the day goes on.

Amazon product pages indicate whether delivery is possible before Christmas. Because Amazon knows your address when you log on to the site, shipping availability will likely vary depending on your location and is proximity to the nearest distribution center that has a specific product in stock. There is no such thing as absolute with delivery services, but the estimates are a big help. If an item is not going to be in stock till a date after Christmas, the pages include that information, which is a big help. When we selected the products listed lower in this article, for example, delivery before  December 25 was a required criterion.

Read more
Learn 14 languages: Get $449 off a lifetime subscription to Babbel
A person using the Babbel app on their smartphone.

Learning a new language no longer requires you to make time for formal classes because there are now several language learning apps that you can tap. One of them is Babbel, and you can currently get a lifetime subscription to the online learning platform for only $150 from StackSocial. That's $449 off its original price of $599, but we don't know how much time is remaining before the offer expires. If you want to take advantage of the 74% discount, it's highly recommended that you complete the transaction immediately.

Why you should buy the Babbel lifetime subscription
A lifetime subscription to Babbel not only unlocks the possibility of learning one or two new languages, as the platform encompasses a total of 14 languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, Turkish, Dutch, Polish, Indonesia, Norwegian, Danish, and Russian. You'll be learning your new language of choice with lessons that only take 10 minutes to 15 minutes each to complete, so unlike classes with a rigid schedule, you can learn at your own pace and at any time you're free through Babbel. The lessons cover real-life topics, and they use speech recognition technology to help you master pronunciation. You'll then test yourself through personalized review sessions that will help make sure that you retain all the information that's being taught to you.

Read more
This one Apple Fitness feature completely changed how I exercise
Someone holding an iPhone with the Apple Fitness app open, showing the Custom Plans feature.

I have a confession to make: I'm not good at sticking to a workout routine. I love running, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), strength training, etc. In the moment of those exercises and in the post-workout euphoria, I feel amazing. But when it comes to waking up early in the morning to do these things before work? Well, that's where I really struggle.

This has been a problem for a while now. I go to bed with the goal of waking up early and going to the gym, but as I groggily open my eyes to snooze the alarm on my iPhone 15 Pro Max, I end up falling back asleep. And I've been repeating this over and over and over again.

Read more