When your washing machine has a MAC address...

[mikeselectricstuff]

What were these people smoking when they came up with this...

[David_AVD]

Umm.... so you can start a cycle from your phone, but you'd still have to go put the clothes (and detergent presumably) in anyway!

About the only use I can think of is to know when it's finished or has a problem (off balance) and you have a large house.

As an aside, I find instructions for web site account sign-ups amusing; they say "click here to accept the terms and conditions" almost in a way that says "trust me, just tick this box without reading the terms and conditions".

[c4757p]

You know, maybe if we started providing marketing folk with actual, human porn, they'd stop masturbating to ridiculous Internet connectivity ideas.

[c4757p]

About the only use I can think of is to know when it's finished or has a problem (off balance) and you have a large house.

We've finally got a washer that's MCU-driven, instead of the old timer knob, and it appears to solve its own imbalance problems by stopping and shaking the basket back and forth a few times.

As for when it's finished, well, it's finished in about the same time as it always is. Look at a clock.

This is 100% useless marketing wankery.

[lewis]

Came across this the other day - it's a collar for a cat that has a QR code on it so if your cat gets lost the person who finds the cat scans the QR code with their smartphone, goes online, downloads an app, to allow them to send an email to you telling you your cat is lost and to come and get it.

Or just get your telephone number engraved on the collar like we've been doing for thousands of fucking years.

Anyway, whoever designed that washing machine should be shot. Always design any product with the full expectation that the owner will set fire to the manual before even reading it. If it ain't intuitive, it ain't no good.

[c4757p]

scans the QR code with their smartphone, goes online, downloads an app, to allow them to send an email to you telling you your cat is lost and to come and get it.

I don't know if I'm amazed or entirely unsurprised that the dingbat who came up with this idea appears to be entirely unaware that emails can be sent server-side.

[Monkeh]

scans the QR code with their smartphone, goes online, downloads an app, to allow them to send an email to you telling you your cat is lost and to come and get it.

I don't know if I'm amazed or entirely unsurprised that the dingbat who came up with this idea appears to be entirely unaware that emails can be sent server-side.

Easier to push his ads if you have to install the app.

[xrunner]

What were these people smoking when they came up with this...

Powdered Tide?

[c4757p]

Is that what they're calling it now?

[xrunner]

Is that what they're calling it now?

Heh - yea. 

[xrunner]

I wish it would actually listen to your phone call - that's how the next company will up the ante -

"Hello washer? Yea it's me xrunner. Can you do that load for me in about 30 minutes? Thanks bro! Oh and have an extra rinse cycle on me!" 

[NerdCore]

I'd rather have something which will put the stuff from the washer into the dryer. I think it would be cheaper to get a machine without the microcontroller and have an Arduino hooked up to the piezo sensor which can send you an alert when the buzzer goes off. WAY cheaper IMHO

[Harvs]

I'm actually surprised it doesn't link to your FB/twit account and auto post status updates that you're washing your clothes.  Maybe it does and the promo just doesn't show it...

[c4757p]

an Arduino hooked up to the piezo sensor which can send you an alert when the buzzer goes off

An Arduino?



Arduino my ass...

[xrunner]

I'm actually surprised it doesn't link to your FB/twit account and auto post status updates that you're washing your clothes. 

With those ideas you can definitely get a job at that company!

[free_electron]

pff. this one has full blown graphical user interface with touch screen

http://www.samsung.com/us/appliances/washers-dryers/WF457ARGSGR/AA

[AlfBaz]

Dunno whats worse. Products like this or the fact that there are people who'll actually buy it because of thus "feature" and probably brag about it at parties

At any rate I hope they sell heaps of them that way in 12 months time when they reach end of life, curb side pick up day will yield lan enabled motor drivers 

[xrunner]

pff. this one has full blown graphical user interface with touch screen

http://www.samsung.com/us/appliances/washers-dryers/WF457ARGSGR/AA

From that link -

The washer sends your smartphone notifications when laundry is finished – no more running back to check or forgetting to transfer loads to the dryer. The App gives you remote control access of your machine; monitor your laundry’s progress from your upstairs bedroom, while you’re cooking dinner or even while you’re out running errands

Who the f*ck needs to monitor the washing machine while running errands? How did we ever survive without that?

[c4757p]

We spent $400 on our washing machine. Just sayin'. What confuses me is that someone who's efficient enough with their money to accumulate enough to spend nearly $2000 on a washing machine would be loose enough with their money to spend nearly $2000 on a washing machine.

Who the f*ck needs to monitor the washing machine while running errands? How did we ever survive without that?

Trendy iDumbShits with more money than common sense.

[c4757p]

PowerFoam™! SpeedSpray™! PureCycle™! VRT Plus™! JustWashMyGoddamnLaundryPlease™!

[xrunner]

Trendy iDumbShits with more money than common sense.

Can you imagine the conversations out running errands?

"Oh hello Mrs. Smith did you want to pick up your dry cleaning?"

"Yes ... oh wait a minute ... Oh no - I have to run home my washing machine just called!"

"  "

Damn I'm having a blast with this topic.

[c4757p]

More like

"Oh hello Mrs. Smith did you want to pick up your dry cleaning?"

"Look what my Samsung Wash'n'Wank can do!" *shoves Samsung Galaxy S4 in clerk's face*

"Oh wow! I'm going to buy three!"

Or at least, that's how I picture the marketing guys describing it.

[David_AVD]

I can see where integration of some appliances into the home network could be useful (home automation).

Marketing people need to come up with ways to get the public introduced to the concept.

Unfortunately some of those ideas seem to be half baked, with no clearly defined benefit.

[xrunner]

More like

"Oh hello Mrs. Smith did you want to pick up your dry cleaning?"

"Look what my Samsung Wash'n'Wank can do!" *shoves phone in clerk's face*

"Oh wow! I'm going to buy three!"

Or at least, that's how I picture the marketing guys describing it.

Oh I know, and they may be right.

You know it used to be you would say "What is everyone going to do if the power goes out. Everyone will be helpless!"

Now it's ""What is everyone going to do if all the smartphones fail. Everyone will be helpless!"

[David_AVD]

You know it used to be you would say "What is everyone going to do if the power goes out. Everyone will be helpless!"

Now it's ""What is everyone going to do if all the smartphones fail. Everyone will be helpless!"

Adding extra functionality (remote start / monitor) to appliances is fine.  Just don't make it the only way to control it !