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

Why most ‘smart’ devices are actually pretty dumb

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
How to fix iMessage activation errors on your iPhone
Close-up photo of the Messages app on an iPhone.

If you have an iPhone, you probably use iMessage as your primary messaging app. This is especially true if you also have other Apple devices, like a Mac and an iPad. Typically, iMessage should work without much effort on your part.

But sometimes you may come across a problem with iMessage, whether it’s just Apple’s servers being down or even getting some activation errors. While you can’t control whether Apple’s servers are working or not, there's a fix if you happen to get some activation errors.

Read more
Fitbit Sense 2, Fitbit Charge 6 just got handsome price cuts
The Fitbit Sense 2 in moss.

If you're thinking about getting a fitness tracker or a health-focused smartwatch, you should be looking for Fitbit deals. Fitbit's wearable devices will help you keep an eye on your overall well-being, and you can get a couple of them with discounts from Best Buy. The Fitbit Charge 6 is $20 off, lowering its price to just $140 from $160, and the Fitbit Sense 2 is on sale at $50 off for a more affordable $200 from $250. You're going to have to act fast if you want to take advantage of either of these offers though, because there's no telling when they expire. If you want the Fitbit Charge 6 or the Fitbit Sense 2 on your wrist for cheaper than usual, make your purchase right now.
Fitbit Charge 6 -- $140, was $160

Fitbit Sense 2 -- $200, was $250

Read more