Samsung's AddWash washing machine lets you add to the wash mid-cycle

By Jenny McGrath January 5, 2016

We were introduced to the concept of AddWash at IFA 2015, but we didn’t get a real look at a machine with the feature until Samsung showed one off at CES 2015. Because the machine is equipped with an extra door on top, it’s possible to add in more clothes mid-cycle on a front-load machine. Lots of top loaders let you toss in that errant sock, but others (like some of Samsung’s own machines) lock the lid for safety reasons. Machines with the AddWash feature will have a child lock for the same reason.

Pressing the button pauses the machine and opens the extra door. The smaller door on top also lets users drop in some extra detergent or fabric softener to the load if they wish.

And Samsung is adding another feature to its Top Load Washer with Mid Control. This moves the control panel on its machines that have an Activewash sink to the middle of the top panel. So instead of needing to reach for the controls at the back of the machine, or locating them on the front (where, we can attest, it’s easy to accidentally press buttons with your hip), the buttons are now conveniently accessible. The sink itself is also larger, with a flatter bottom. This could help with some of the design issues we found in the original version.

Samsung-VR20J9250UK_001_Front_Black — Image used with permission by copyright holder

When it comes to smartening up appliances, Samsung had a couple other tricks up its sleeve for CES as well. Its four-door fridge with a 21.5-inch screen is definitely eye-catching (you can learn more about it here), and the Flex Duo Dual Door range received some interesting connected capabilities, too. The oven lets chefs switch between a single 5.8-cubic-foot cavity and two differently sized (2.4 cubic feet and 3.3 cubic feet) compartments by sliding in a divider. A big dish can go in the divider-free oven, but cooks can use less energy and save some time baking in the smaller compartments when dishes don’t need as much space. Samsung now lets users preheat the oven remotely and has some microwave-like auto-cook options, like pizza and lasagna.

We’ve never found those preset buttons much help on microwaves, but it will definitely be interesting to see some in action on an oven.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Jenny McGrath is a senior writer at Digital Trends covering the intersection of tech and the arts and the environment. Before…

Smart Home

The best bread machines

best bread machines zoji vir 1

There's no denying the taste of a freshly baked loaf of bread. A big advantage of making your own bread is that you get to choose exactly which ingredients hit the mixing bowl. This is a big win for those of us looking to keep preservatives and allergy-inducing ingredients out of our morning toast. The only cat-sized kitchen tool you'll need to get started is a bread machine.

Many of today's bread machines are compact, are easy to use, and employ the latest thermal tech to quickly bake your favorite cinnamon-raisin recipe. Read on to see our favorite bread makers of the year, and what we love about them.
Zojirushi BB-PAC20 Virtuoso Bread Maker

Smart Home

Wayzn sliding glass door opener can let pets out when you’re not home

open sliding doors remotely with wayzn glass door opener

There are connected accessories for most every entryway in your home. Smart locks unlock both internal and external doors, while smart garage door openers make pulling your car in easier. Until recently, however, sliding glass doors had not connected with the smart home market.
Wayzn used CES 2020 to announce its connected sliding glass door opener, a device that can automatically open and close the sliding glass doors in your home. It’s an ideal solution for letting a pet out to use the bathroom when you're not home or for letting guests in through a back entrance. According to Wayzn, customers will soon be able to purchase a sensor that attaches to their pet's collar. When your four-legged friend approaches the door, it will open automatically to let them take care of business.
The sliding glass door opener has an elegant design that looks significantly better than a pet door. It uses adhesive pads to attach to either side of the frame, and when you aren’t using the sliding glass door opener, the moving arm can be lifted up and out of the way with ease. It’s also totally DIY, so you won’t need to shell out for professional installation. Wayzn says the sliding glass door opener is compatible with all 5-, 6-, and 8-foot, two-panel sliding glass doors.

The sliding glass door opener has built-in resistance detection that triggers the auto-open function. This means there’s no need to worry about a pet or a small child getting wedged in the door while it's closing.
The door can be opened via a motion sensor, through a smart speaker, or through the Wayzn mobile app. Other features are on the way, including a collar-mounted sensor that tells the door to automatically open when your pet walks up to it. Users can also schedule specific times for the Wayzn to activate and control it from anywhere if guests show up.
If you’re interested, you can sign up to reserve the Wayzn sliding glass door opener now. The initial retail price is $400. While not the most affordable smart home device on the market, it’s less expensive than installing a pet door and more secure than using an insert. The initial release will have limited supplies as the company ramps up production. The Wayzn sliding glass door opener received the CES 2020 Smart Home Division Mark of Excellence for its innovative function and attractive design.

Smart Home

How to fix a Yale Assure Lock 2 that won’t connect to Wi-Fi

The Yale Assure Lock 2 Smart Lock Deadbolt keypad being used by someone.

The Yale Assure Lock 2 is one of the best smart locks, as it's available in a variety of formats and makes it easy to keep tabs on your front door when away from home. Much of this functionality is driven by support for Wi-Fi connections on select models, as you can quickly connect the unit to your home network and access all its features via its companion mobile app.

However, some users may notice their Yale Assure Lock 2 appears offline or that it's no longer connected to Wi-Fi. It can be a frustrating issue to deal with, as a lock that's offline won't let you access its best features – meaning you'll want to get it back online as soon as possible.