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Geeks and Chefs, Unite

ooglek writes: "You thought you had every gadget made, until this came along. The new Internet Fridge from LG Appliances. Not only does it keep your food from perishing, but it plays MP3s, TV, a list of the food actually in your fridge, a calendar, and, of course, recipes! Finished in Titanium. Wicked."

212 comments

  1. The most unnecessary appliance, ever! by wheany · · Score: 1

    I have a computer, and a Tv, why the hell would I want a fridge that does a poor job at what the separate machines do well.

    And I'm sure I haven't paid as much for them either...

    1. Re:The most unnecessary appliance, ever! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      With a little bit of hacking you could probably have it tell you when your running out of $FOOD_ITEM, and mabye even contact a grocery delevery service for you. Is it necessary, no; but it's cool.

    2. Re:The most unnecessary appliance, ever! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oops, it already does all that.

    3. Re:The most unnecessary appliance, ever! by wheany · · Score: 1

      Tell me, do you always have, say, three cartons of milk, or six carrots, or one dozen of eggs in your fridge?

      At least I don't stockpile on everything, I pretty much buy whatever I feel like eating that day, of for a couple of days. And you know what, when you look inside your fridge, you see if you are running out of something.

    4. Re:The most unnecessary appliance, ever! by uncoveror · · Score: 1

      Refrigerator 1.0: This application has caused an illegal operation, and will be shut down. Ruined food, courtesy of Microsoft!

      --
      The Uncoveror: It's the real news.
    5. Re:The most unnecessary appliance, ever! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You assume that the fridge does a bad job. Such ignorance is damnable.

    6. Re:The most unnecessary appliance, ever! by wheany · · Score: 2, Insightful

      My fridge doesn't have to tell me what I need to buy. I am capable of figuring that out myself.

    7. Re:The most unnecessary appliance, ever! by PacoTaco · · Score: 1
      A network-enabled fridge would be pretty cool if the Home Grocer type companies were still around. The refrigerator could monitor food supplies and order more when you were low. There could even be a "surprise me" option where it would pick something new and different each time. It could also have options for different types of ethnic food (in case you feel like making Thai food but have no idea what to buy, for example).

      I'm not sure the world needs another way to play MP3s, however.

    8. Re:The most unnecessary appliance, ever! by wheany · · Score: 1

      Or you could buy an electronic cookbook for your computer that does the same thing.

      In addition to that you wouldn't be surprised by your credit card bill after the fridge has ordered three dozen south Bolivian swamp snails for your ethno-stew.

    9. Re:The most unnecessary appliance, ever! by PacoTaco · · Score: 1
      Or you could buy an electronic cookbook for your computer that does the same thing.

      Yes, but the computer doesn't know how much food you have. :)

      In addition to that you wouldn't be surprised by your credit card bill after the fridge has ordered three dozen south Bolivian swamp snails for your ethno-stew.

      Just check the "no snails" box and the problem is solved.

      I'm still waiting for the network-enabled toaster that sends an SNMP alert when your toast is done or the smoke detector that sends an alphanumeric page when your house is on fire. Now those would be useful!

    10. Re:The most unnecessary appliance, ever! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Tell me, do you always have, say, three cartons of milk, or six carrots, or one dozen of eggs in your fridge?

      At least I don't stockpile on everything, I pretty much buy whatever I feel like eating that day, of for a couple of days. And you know what, when you look inside your fridge, you see if you are running out of something.



      And you have how many children????

      If those internet grocers were still around, and the Internet Fridge did only a few things well, like being able to leave text messages for family members and entering in orders for those non-existant internet grocers, it would be useful.

      A 10" LCD screen and a rubber-coated KB. No GUI, just text, like the old text-mode TurboPascal drop-down menus. (Ok, color would be useful.)

      Quick, light-weight, efficient...

    11. Re:The most unnecessary appliance, ever! by wheany · · Score: 1

      And you have how many children????

      None, but even if I did, I wouldn't have a constant amount of food in the fridge. Especially when you have kids, you must not eat the same thing every day. So I would still have to make the decision of what to buy myself. I would still have to know what is inside my fridge (hint: keep your eyes open when opening the door), and I would still have to make sure the food hasn't gone bad. Just because a product's "best before" date has passed doesn't mean it's not eatable, and just because it hasn't, doesn't meant it still is.

    12. Re:The most unnecessary appliance, ever! by wheany · · Score: 1

      Yes, but the computer doesn't know how much food you have. :)

      Tell me, do you make food based on what is in your fridge right now, and then buy random food items at the store?

      I know I think, "I could eat meatloaf today, let's see what ingredients do I already have?", before going to the store.

      And another thing: Even your fridge doesn't know everything you have. At least I don't keep flour or other "dry" food in the fridge.

    13. Re:The most unnecessary appliance, ever! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And you have how many children????

      None, but even if I did, I wouldn't have a constant amount of food in the fridge. Especially when you have kids, you must not eat the same thing every day. So I would still have to make the decision of what to buy myself. I would still have to know what is inside my fridge (hint: keep your eyes open when opening the door), and I would still have to make sure the food hasn't gone bad. Just because a product's "best before" date has passed doesn't mean it's not eatable, and just because it hasn't, doesn't meant it still is.


      Sure, we do buy a lot of the same brands of refridgerated items every week: milk, orange juice, yogurt. And, of course, vegetables, fish or meat. My wife works really hard to never lets the fridge run out of them either.

      However, it doesn't matter what we buy, since bar code scanners inside refridgerators is a stupid idea. Let her order Velveeta or smoked salmon from the 'fridge's integrated keyboard... (Gotta be password protected so that little Johnny doesn't order lots of junk food, though.)

    14. Re:The most unnecessary appliance, ever! by Prior+Restraint · · Score: 1

      And another thing: Even your fridge doesn't know everything you have. At least I don't keep flour or other "dry" food in the fridge.

      Indeed. I have a few other questions, myself. Does the refridgerator know whether that gallon of milk inside it is nearly full, or nearly empty? Will it know when the milk has expired, and if so, what does it do? And I doubt it keeps track of leftovers, doggie bags, etc. This idea sounds cool, but it doesn't appear to have been thought through.

    15. Re:The most unnecessary appliance, ever! by will_die · · Score: 1

      Actually the most unnecessary appliance would be the internet connection on a toaster, this is just slightly better.

  2. Ludacrisp... by torgosan · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...the LAST thing I want to do is stand infront of the fridge reading emails, /. or any of my other fave sites. Much rather be relaxing in my chair, RedBull close at hand...

    --
    "If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in 5 years there'd be a shortage of sand". -Milton F.
    1. Re:Ludacrisp... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Ludacrisp"?

      are you Mike Tyson?

    2. Re:Ludacrisp... by stickyc · · Score: 1

      I dunno, I've yet to see a house fridge that isn't plastered with notes, a calender, lists, and pictures. Why not go digital? I, for one, love the idea that I can think of something to add to the grocery list while at work, email it to the fridge and not have to worry about remembering it later.

      The real shortcoming of the device is lack of a printer/ir port. What's the point in having a digital grocery list if you still have to copy it to paper when you go shopping?

    3. Re:Ludacrisp... by JPriest · · Score: 1

      The fridge is kind of an odd place for a built in monitor. I think there are some good ideas being thrown around here but it's not yet properly implemented. The monitor and main computer system should be mounted under cabinet near the sink or stove. It should have all the functionality of a PDA plus a few extras. It would be used for things like grocery lists, recipes, decent timer for cooking etc. It should also be networked to the other appliances in the kitchen with 802.11b to the fridge, oven, microwave etc. and be able to start the coffee and toast in the morning. Voice recognition would be a plus. This will make mainstream, it's just a question of when. Once the initial technology is in place it will quickly grow in functionality.

      --
      Saying Java is nice because it works on all OS's is like saying that anal sex is nice because it works on all genders.
    4. Re:Ludacrisp... by JPriest · · Score: 1

      You could download it to a PDA from the fridge before leaving.

      --
      Saying Java is nice because it works on all OS's is like saying that anal sex is nice because it works on all genders.
    5. Re:Ludacrisp... by Tibe · · Score: 1

      "relaxing in my chair, RedBull close at hand..." wouldn't the RedBull be closer to you if you were reading your email infront of the fridge?

    6. Re:Ludacrisp... by torgosan · · Score: 2

      "wouldn't the RedBull be closer to you if you were reading your email infront of the fridge?"

      Good point...but then I wouldn't be able to prop my feet up on the UPS/foot-rests under the desk [keeps the toes warm during the cold months and is darned comfortable too, don'cha see].

      --
      "If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in 5 years there'd be a shortage of sand". -Milton F.
    7. Re:Ludacrisp... by faaaz · · Score: 1

      Now, why not get rid of papers alltogether? I personally hate the damn things. They get wrinkled, spread all over the place, and then you can't find 'em. I'd personally like some sort of PDA. Unfortunately, none today have the versatility I need.

      --
      we come in peace / shoot to kill
    8. Re:Ludacrisp... by ryan89 · · Score: 1

      The next thing they need to make is a toilet with email reading capabilities. You can only read so many shampoo bottles...

    9. Re:Ludacrisp... by tomhudson · · Score: 1
      Wasn't that what the original "Palm Pilot" was for?

  3. Then one day... by John+Paul+Jones · · Score: 5, Funny

    You are out of mayonnaise, Dave. Why don't you buy more, Dave.

    -JPJ

    --
    Feh.
    1. Re:Then one day... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      "Open the refrigerator door, Hal."


      "I'm sorry, I can't do that, Dave."

  4. 176 kg ? by brejc8 · · Score: 2

    That is very heavy for a fridge isnt it?

    1. Re:176 kg ? by Rob.Mathers · · Score: 3, Informative

      Heading to General Electric Appliances Canada (http://geappliances.ca), I compared 10 random side-by-side fridges. The average weight was 322.2 pounds, or 150.68 kg. So maybe this is slightly heavier. I would guess it's simply made of heavier materials, maybe a few kilo difference due to electronics.

      --

      My other sig is funny!
    2. Re:176 kg ? by sam_handelman · · Score: 2

      It's about 390 pounds, weight of two people.

      It's a perfectly reasonable weight for a full sized fridge (25.5 cubic feet is standard for both GE and whirlpool - I just bought one); there are fridges which are lighter, and I think it's a bit odd that this fridge-computer wouldn't be top-of-the-line, as a fridge.

      There's a real downside to this, follow my reasoning:
      1) No one will buy these things.
      2) Business will conclude that people don't want stuff with computers built into them.
      3) The stuff that people would actually like to have a built in computer won't be brought to market because of lack of venture capital.

      Sigh. Of all the ridiculous things to equip with a computer. A fridge/television makes sense as a space-savings device; if you have one of those open kitchens with table-space facing into the kitchen area, you can watch TV while eating. A fridge-computer? Please.

      --
      The good and new comes from no quarter where it is looked for, and is always something different from what is expected.
    3. Re:176 kg ? by DrVxD · · Score: 1

      > That is very heavy for a fridge isnt it?
      That depends largely on which side of the Atlantic you live.

      --
      Not everything that can be measured matters; Not everything that matters can be measured.
    4. Re:176 kg ? by brejc8 · · Score: 2

      Im in the UK. Having a fridge weigh three times my weight is strange.

    5. Re:176 kg ? by _ph1ux_ · · Score: 2

      it weighs that much due to its fat pipe to the internet. fat meat pipe.

    6. Re:176 kg ? by DrVxD · · Score: 1

      I'm in the UK too. American fridges tend to be a lot bigger (and hence heavier) than ours - although I've noticed the size of fridges over here increasing recently. (Which is good, since it means I can shop less often).

      --
      Not everything that can be measured matters; Not everything that matters can be measured.
    7. Re:176 kg ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    8. Re:176 kg ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you're also a fucking asshole apparantly. you suck

    9. Re:176 kg ? by kubrick · · Score: 1

      Never underestimate the bandwidth of a large intestine filled with meat.

      --
      deus does not exist but if he does
    10. Re:176 kg ? by Sircus · · Score: 2

      It might seem silly, but there is method to their madness. The basic idea is that you're going to have a home network. One part of this home network needs to maintain the link to the net, act as server for the rest of the net, etc. So it needs to be a device which is continually switched on - no use using the TV, for example. Obvious solution: use the fridge.

      This implementation seems like they've gone overboard on the features, but the basic idea of integrating a computer into the fridge isn't as insane as it seems at first sight.

      --
      PenguiNet: the (shareware) Windows SSH client
  5. SNMP by MattBurke · · Score: 2

    perfect for kitchen devices... think about it, you could poll the temperature of your fridge/oven, see how long's left on the washing cycle, and have a dodgy sample played when your roast dinner is cooked!

    if only it were so simple *sigh*

  6. Overclockers by boa13 · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...have done that for a long time. I mean, putting a CPU inside a fridge... nothing new.

    Oh, and can you imagine a beowulf cluster of those?

    1. Re:Overclockers by gnarled · · Score: 1

      Bah, beat me to it!

      --
      I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule. -Randal, Clerks
    2. Re:Overclockers by skaffen42 · · Score: 1

      You have to wonder what a beowulf cluster of these would accomplish. More processing power or getting that little bit closer to absolute zero? Maybe that's the idea? A beowulf cluster of these would get so cold that we get superconductive multiprocessing!

      Admit it. It's not like you overclockers out there haven't considered it...

      --
      People couldn't type. We realized: Death would eventually take care of this.
    3. Re:Overclockers by DrVxD · · Score: 1

      > You have to wonder what a beowulf cluster of these would accomplish

      MORE beer. (I'd have thought that was obvious...)

      --
      Not everything that can be measured matters; Not everything that matters can be measured.
    4. Re:Overclockers by Afrosheen · · Score: 2

      Actually if each machine is capable of maintaining 40 degrees fahrenheit or whatever, there's no multiplicative beowulf-like effect to the cooling process. 10 air conditioning units cooling at the same temp will always yield the same temp.

  7. How long before by loucura! · · Score: 1

    It rises up against it's human masters and bars Man access to beer and twinkies?

    --
    Black and grey are both shades of white.
    1. Re:How long before by Pfhor · · Score: 3, Funny

      You refigerate twinkies?

      What kind of weird sicko are you?

      If it keeps me from the red meat portion, there will be compressors rolling!

    2. Re:How long before by loucura! · · Score: 1

      No, I don't refridgerate twinkies, but if I'm going to have an internet connected refridgerator, by god they had better have internet connected cupboards, so all my food can browse.

      I don't know about you, but I don't want my pasta rioting because they can't look at their pr0n but the icecream can.

      --
      Black and grey are both shades of white.
  8. it scans bar codes by dcstimm · · Score: 2, Interesting

    it has a built in barcode scanner that scans your food and will give you a list of what you have in your fridge, there is even a option to order the food if you run out. now that is cool!

    1. Re:it scans bar codes by R2.0 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Screw that - I want one that scans bar codes when people pull something out...

      Time: 10 years from now

      Place: my house

      Setting: my daughter's first night w/o adult supervision.

      Rriing, rriing. "Hello?"

      "This is Dad, how are you doing."

      "Fine Dad - Just me and some girlfriends."

      "Good. Well have fun, and don't stay up too late. Oh, and by the way, the fridge phoned me and said a few beers had been removed. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you."

      "Errrr..."

      Rest of the night spent looking for the phone cord/WiFi connection on the fridge. It doesn't exist - Dad was bluffing.

      Now if I can only stay ahead of my kids on the geek curve.

      --
      "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
    2. Re:it scans bar codes by Medevo · · Score: 2, Insightful

      What scares me about these barcodes is that say LG decides it wants more ca$h and sells a list of the stuff that you keep in the fridge to others. This is similar to what supermarkets do in tracking purchases.

      The next time you open your fridge you see a Ad for Jolt Cola because you haven't bought any for a week. Now THAT would be technology gone too far

      Medevo

    3. Re:it scans bar codes by King_TJ · · Score: 2

      Bleah.... We came up with this exact same idea several years ago when we were sitting around, talking about future technologies we'd probably see for sale.

      In fact, I also pointed out (to the software developer I was discussing this with) that although they'll probably sell the bar code scanning thing - users won't find it very friendly to work with, and it will eventually fail.

      (For the fridge to keep up-to-date on what it's stocked with, you have to manually scan in each and every item you add to it. I don't know about you, but that's the last thing I feel like doing after I just got home from the store, with bags full of groceries to put away. Have you ever seen one of those bar code wands read your UPC codes perfectly on the first try, every time? I haven't. People will get pissed when that odd-shaped package requires 7 attempts to get it to register.)

      You know what I do think would sell though? A soda dispensing option on the front, where they put the ice-maker and water dispenser. They should let home users purchase the large bags of syrup and rechargeable CO2 cylinders that the stores use for fountain beverages, and attach them to the fridge. In the long run, it would save a *lot* of money on soda, eliminate the need to throw away or recycle a bunch of cans or bottles, save space in the fridge for other things, and never have to worry about your open 2 litre bottle losing its fizz.

    4. Re:it scans bar codes by Afrosheen · · Score: 2

      If AOL has anything to do with this, you'll have to wait at least 30 seconds before opening your fridge. When you grab what you want, you have to wait an additional 20 seconds before you close the door to ensure that their 'ad impression' isn't missed. It'll let you close the door halfway so you have to stare at the LCD beaming you an ad for some crap you don't want. Once the ad impression is complete, it'll shut the door all the way.

    5. Re:it scans bar codes by ImaLamer · · Score: 2

      You know what I do think would sell though? A soda dispensing option on the front, where they put the ice-maker and water dispenser. They should let home users purchase the large bags of syrup and rechargeable CO2 cylinders that the stores use for fountain beverages, and attach them to the fridge. In the long run, it would save a *lot* of money on soda, eliminate the need to throw away or recycle a bunch of cans or bottles, save space in the fridge for other things, and never have to worry about your open 2 litre bottle losing its fizz.

      Cool thing too is that Cola companies will save a fortune because all they sell is the syrup.

      See for example Coke just sells the syrup (siz-urp) to the bottlers and they mix it and use the Coke trademark (which they bought also). If you mixed it yourself hopefully you would be getting more for less and you would likely not need to pay a trademark licensing fee.

      {as far as bar codes, I think everyone on /. has come up with this idea on their own at one time - I can show you notes from '98 where I sketched such an idea down.}

    6. Re:it scans bar codes by spudnic · · Score: 3, Interesting

      How about a lifelike 3d holographic image of delicious looking food sitting in the fridge. You reach for it and, of course, your hand passes right through it. Then the fridge cheerfully informs you that he can arrange to have the real thing delivered in a couple of hours.

      --
      load "linux",8,1
    7. Re:it scans bar codes by renehollan · · Score: 2
      I have a friend with a soda fountain at home. All he ever has to buy is syrup and CO2: it costs him about 5 cents for an 8oz Coke®.

      He bought the whole 4 flavour setup (refurbished) for about CA$600.

      --
      You could've hired me.
    8. Re:it scans bar codes by Regolith · · Score: 1

      Oh, is that what DC did with all of those CueCat's that people didn't seem to want?

      --

      Bow before my sig, for it is good.
    9. Re:it scans bar codes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      (For the fridge to keep up-to-date on what it's stocked with, you have to manually scan in each and every item you add to it. I don't know about you, but that's the last thing I feel like doing after I just got home from the store, with bags full of groceries to put away. Have you ever seen one of those bar code wands read your UPC codes perfectly on the first try, every time? I haven't. People will get pissed when that odd-shaped package requires 7 attempts to get it to register.)

      How about using the same 'contactless' technology that's used in Hong Kong's Octopus cards? Then each item could be scanned as it's passed through the door. Of course, food packaging would have to be modified to make this possible.

      Imagine that, wondering if the food in your shopping basket is compatible with your fridge.

    10. Re:it scans bar codes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      See, the problem with this story is that it assumes you have children. In order to do that, you'd have to have sex with a woman. Let's not insult both of our intelligences (intelligenci?) by assuming that's possible. So shut the fuck up, cocksucker.

    11. Re:it scans bar codes by gorilla · · Score: 2
      A soda dispensing option on the front, where they put the ice-maker and water dispenser. They should let home users purchase the large bags of syrup and rechargeable CO2 cylinders that the stores use for fountain beverages, and attach them to the fridge

      They've had those for years in the UK, not integrated into the fridge but as a standalone machine, the biggest brand is Sodastream. However in my experience, people eventually give up on the concept and go back to buying premade drinks. It ends up having to be a lot of effort, through cleaning the machine, and remembering to buy both the CO2 and the syrup.

  9. Old news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This fridge has been around for a long time, more than a year at least. Why post it now?

    1. Re:Old news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Exactly...

      /. continues to show just how lame it really is in terms of indentifying wonderment.

      Just imagine how many other cool things are out there that this excuse for news site is missing.

  10. Does it have a SPAM filter? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    And, I don't mean junk email, I mean actual spam. I sure don't want that stuff showing up in my fridge! Ewww!

  11. Cool by donnacha · · Score: 2
    This fridge is cool.

    And getting cooler.

  12. os by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'd like to see it run NetBSD

  13. trash by sensui · · Score: 1

    Emails in your trash box will be automatically deleted. However, you are responsible for the rotten food.

  14. Great tool for the Soccer Mom by chuckk · · Score: 1


    Not to sound sexist, but there are millions of soccer moms out there for whom this would be a valuable and useful tool. IM'ing with the husband at work, displaying calendar of practice times and PTA meetings, reading discussion groups for the next trip to the Magic Kingdom.... With the kids running around all day it is impossible to take time out sitting in the study in front of the desktop PC.
    This isn't for /.'ers on average, it's for when we grow up, have kids, and of course, get rich.

    1. Re:Great tool for the Soccer Mom by dangermouse · · Score: 1

      ... but there's time to do the same thing standing in front of a refrigerator?

    2. Re:Great tool for the Soccer Mom by chuckk · · Score: 1

      Well, yeah, yeah there is.

      Consider the layout of the modern upscale suburban household. There are large, open kitchens with islands or "breakfast nooks" in which most of the food preparation and eating is done. The "galley" style kitchen isn't in new home designs and the multi-use kitchen is extremely common these days. Mom is spending a lot of time there and is her terminal is just a glance away with this appliance.

      People that can afford to spend several hundred more $ for a fridge will value this kind of convenience. The value I see in this is the functionality that will provided in the future wireless tablet PC. It's a terminall with a lightweight set of functions, but it located where you need it.

    3. Re:Great tool for the Soccer Mom by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How do you fix a woman's watch? You don't...there's a clock on the oven!

      Women are like guns, keep one around long enough and you're going to want to shoot it.

      Why is a Laundromat a really bad place to pick up a woman? Because a woman who can't even afford a washing machine will never be able to support you.

      Did you hear they finally made a device that makes cars run 95% quieter? Yeah, it fits right over her mouth.

      Why do women have smaller feet than men ? So they can stand closer to the sink

      How do you know when a woman's about to say something smart? When she starts her sentence with "A man once told me...."

      I date this girl for two years -- and then the nagging starts: "I wanna know your name..."

      If your dog is barking at the back door and your wife is yelling at the front door, who do you let in first? The Dog of course...at least he'll shut up after you let him in!

      One golfer tells another: "Hey, guess what! I got a set of golf clubs for my wife!" The other replies: "GREAT trade!"

      What are two reasons why women don't mind their own business?

      1) No mind.
      2) No business.

      The last fight was my fault. My wife asked, "What's on the TV?" and I said, "Dust!"

    4. Re:Great tool for the Soccer Mom by Fiver-rah · · Score: 2
      I gather you've never tried to prepare a meal for a reasonably large bunch, have you? If you're reasonably efficient, and you're making a meal that requires you to be in the kitchen, you don't spend a lot of time standing around in the kitchen doing nothing.

      First, you figure out what's going to take longest to cook--rice, potatoes, maybe a cake that needs to bake--and throw it in the oven. You start the soup base boiling with whatever's there. Then you chop vegetables, and start putting other stuff together. Remember to stir the soup. Make sure what's in the oven is doing okay. Now clean off the counters. Make dressing for salad. Get the pasta off the stove, and drain it.... If you're really spending time in the kitchen, it's doing something.

      If you had that extra five minutes, trust me, you'd rather go sit down at a desk somewhere and read e-mails than stand on your feet for another second in the goddamn kitchen, because being a soccer mom is your second shift, and you've already put in more than eight hours.

      This is the stupidest appliance I've ever heard of, and most of the mothers I know would roll their eyes at the thought of spending a couple extra hundred dollars for something this ridiculous. And say, "Good god, if you think saving me the three seconds to walk to the computer is worth it, then let's eat out and save me a couple hours."

      --
      Read Bujold. Free (as in
    5. Re:Great tool for the Soccer Mom by buck_wild · · Score: 1

      Um, no. Why in the hell would a soccer mom want to do all this crap standing up?

      And you most certainly do sound sexist when you automatically assume that a 'soccer mom' is anywhere near the kitchen for any length of time.

      Aside from that, this is a really cool appliance. It just doesn't need to do some of the stuff that is built in, like a television. To paraphrse a previous poster, why would I want a kitchen appliance to do the things a computer could do, but do them poorly?

      I like the idea of a calendar function, as well as a voice or video memo function, but leave computer stuff to computers.

      --
      If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
    6. Re:Great tool for the Soccer Mom by chuckk · · Score: 1
      ks?hy in the hell would a soccer mom want to do all this crap standing up?

      "All this crap" isn't writing chapters of a novel or balancing the family budget spreadsheet. It is sending mails as verbose as "Don't forget to pick up the drycleaning", or reading a message about practice being cancelled next week, or adding feta cheese to the shopping list.

      And you most certainly do sound sexist when you automatically assume that a 'soccer mom' is anywhere near the kitchen for any length of time.

      If you concede that there are such beings as "soccer moms", then criticizing a the tone of a hypothesis based on an implied behavior of this stereotype is contradictory on your part. I mean, it's not like "soccer mom" is some fucking degoratory label. It is a title of affluence denoting mom doesn't have to work and can spend her time raising her children.
      I would further argue:
      • 1) There *do* exist millions of instances of the popular stereotype "soccer mom".
      • 2) These people *do* spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Not necessarially slavishly cooking for their family, but because the kitchen today is more that a food preparation space. It is a place to eat, read, use the phone, do your homework.
      • 3) These beings have a frequent use for lightweight computing functions such as web, email, IM, and calendaring.
      • ergo, should this device genuinely deliver these applications in a usable manner in a location proximal to Soccer Mom's base of operation then it would be a "Great tool for the Soccer Mom".
  15. What'll they think of next? by JordanH · · Score: 5, Funny
    Wow. A fridge that plays MP3s.

    Next thing you know, they'll have a CPU that can cook a roast. Oh wait, Intel did that already - the Pentium 4 @ 2.53 GHz.

    1. Re:What'll they think of next? by dcstimm · · Score: 1

      the latest Northwood p4s run very cool compaired to the Athlon XPs an MPs.

    2. Re:What'll they think of next? by forged · · Score: 2
      * Album:
      • Digital photo Album, Screen saver, built in digital camera

      This one really got me.

      For crying out loud, this is supposed to be a fridge !!!

    3. Re:What'll they think of next? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yah, thats why I use P4s for my roasting needs. Unfortunately, AMD cpus don't cook roasts, they burn them to a crisp, within seconds.

    4. Re:What'll they think of next? by stickyc · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I dunno about you, but we've always had pictures taped to our frige. More than once, the not-so-magnetic magnets has failed and dropped one under the fridge, or slid down enough to get folded the next time someone closed the lower door.

      I'm all for a digital picture frame.

    5. Re:What'll they think of next? by mdw2 · · Score: 1

      Cyrix did that a long time before Intel did :p

      --
      This sig intentionally left blank.
    6. Re:What'll they think of next? by jasonbw · · Score: 1

      The camera feature could be really helpful if you live with roomates. You could set it to take a snapshop when they close the door to determine who drank your last beer or who ate your leftovers.

    7. Re:What'll they think of next? by Xenographic · · Score: 1

      It's not complete until it gains the ability to send email, though.

  16. I wonder if by SLot · · Score: 4, Funny

    you can set up a cron job to order beer.

    This is seriously cool. And I want one yesterday.

    1. Re:I wonder if by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      it's seriously lame, just like you. can you go to the fucking store to get your beer? what a fucking lametard you are. it boggles the mind.

    2. Re:I wonder if by juliao · · Score: 2
      This is seriously cool. And I want one yesterday.

      Of course it's cool. It's a godddamn fridge!

  17. Wow! by Pathetic+Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    This will be bigger than pets.com ...

    1. Re:Wow! by DrVxD · · Score: 1

      Not as cool as petsovernight.com though :)

      --
      Not everything that can be measured matters; Not everything that matters can be measured.
  18. computers in everything? wtf! by sp00nfed · · Score: 1

    Why is it that companies want to put computers into everything nowadays? I mean, my brother has a washing machine from LG that is pretty cool, it doesn't play Mp3's but it does add functionality (i.e. it determines the size of load etc). But when you start talking about fridges that can play mp3's/display calender's etc... that is getting a bit overboard. Personally I'd rather listen to mp3's on a proper stereo with nice speakers that can reproduce sound well. Sure it can do other things, but we can do them already albeit with much older technology in use, for example: leaving messages for other family members can be done with a pen and paper. I shudder to think at the cost of this monstrosity.

    1. Re:computers in everything? wtf! by DrVxD · · Score: 1, Funny

      Luddite. You need computers in everything - it's the 21st centruy for {insert-relevant-deity}'s sake. Besides, it's a gadget, and I like gadgets, since I'm both a geek AND a guy. Since it's clearly a gadget, it doesn't need to have its existence justified - it is its own raison d'etre.
      > leaving messages for other family members can be done with a pen and paper
      So can writing letters, but I guess you've never used e-mail?

      --
      Not everything that can be measured matters; Not everything that matters can be measured.
    2. Re:computers in everything? wtf! by __aahlyu4518 · · Score: 1

      I've seen people living on the street. They used to be just like people like you and me. But they made the mistake of saying 'a computer in every home? who needs that... that's not going to happen'... or 'internet ? that's never going to take of'....

      ;-)

      Just a joke... but there is something more serious inside it. It's not what we really miss in our lives. But it is what we will miss in 15 years when we don't have it. happened with cars, TV, Computers and the internet...

    3. Re:computers in everything? wtf! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seriously though, you do NOT want to listen to an mp3 on a good stereo with nice speakers, as you will realize right away that they sound very, very bad.

  19. form factor by denttford · · Score: 1

    So where is the handy dandy dorm room size version?

    Hell, you sit your PC on top of it and have a hell of a cooling system.

    --

    Leben Sie jetzt die Fragen.
  20. ahem by Verizon+Guy · · Score: 4, Funny


    #/sbin/unlockdoor

    unlockdoor: Sorry, I think you've had enough to eat today.

    --

    Aw, fuck it. Let's go bowling. - The Big Lebowski

  21. Finally... by myov · · Score: 1

    somewhere to put those Athalon XP's!

    --
    I use Macs to up my productivity, so up yours Microsoft!
  22. but is it expensive? by djdrew6k · · Score: 0

    probably. I couldn't find an actual price anywhere on the page. Why is it that companies will hide the price of something that they know YOU can't afford? Just tease me, I don't care. I just want to know if the fridge is really $20,000.

    1. Re:but is it expensive? by Verizon+Guy · · Score: 1

      You're close. Half that. According to this, the retail price is... are you ready for this? $9,999!!!

      Now can't you accomplish the same with a $900 refrigerator and a $500 PC and a $50 webcam to play the MP3s, take the digital photos and videos, take notes, and use MS-Access to keep track of recipies? I think so. Sheesh, for another $400 you can add an LCD panel!

      --

      Aw, fuck it. Let's go bowling. - The Big Lebowski

    2. Re:but is it expensive? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      and so new, that I just called a dealer to get a price and she said "naw, I've not heard of that model number, I couldn't tell you how much it costs..."

  23. reciphp by TheLocustNMI · · Score: 4, Interesting

    wouldn't it be great if there was an online, GPL'ed repository for recipes too? oh wait, there is -- ReciPHP -- it's still in beta, but it is already a great categorization and search tool for recipes! like Freshmeat, except with more meat :)

    1. Re:reciphp by samdu · · Score: 1

      http://www.recipesource.com/

  24. old news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Isnt this device a bit old? I remember seeing them for sale almost 2 years ago...

  25. A Hackable Fridge? by puto · · Score: 2, Funny

    Gives new meaning to hacing the (ice)box. Some script kiddie gets changes the date on all the barcoded food, you get food poisoining... The fridge gets a virus and thinks all the food is brussel sprouts.

    Then your wife won't let anyone open the fridge cuz her favorite show is on and you can't get a beer until its over....

    You come home and find out that your kid has hacked up apache to run in the freezer and then posted his M0d on Slashdot with the url www.icebboxen.com and your new 5 grand appliance gets the /. effect and shuts down while voiding your warranty.

    Christ save me from the internet....

    Puto

    --
    The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
    1. Re:A Hackable Fridge? by alizard · · Score: 2
      Given that manufacturers without Internet experience generally don't think of security when Net-enabling their appliances, you are probably fairly close to the literal truth in your description.

      The password, if there is one, is probably password and can't be changed by the user.

  26. They forgot one feature by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Does it keep things cold?

  27. Imagine a beowulf cluster of ... by detritus. · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Bah forget it..

  28. Thnk that's funny? by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'll be waiting for the software upgrade with dietary and hygienic advice.

    - "That chicken is really going bad... remove it, now, please."

    - "Chicken wings again Dave? I am afraid I can't let you have those. How about a healthy salad?"

    Sad thing is, I fully expect fridges of the future telling me off for having unhealthy eating habits.

    --
    If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    1. Re:Thnk that's funny? by mythr · · Score: 1

      I can just picture it:

      - Dave, you know I can't allow you to eat that.
      - Oh yeah, fridge? Well... up yours!
      - That was not very nice, Dave. You make me feel unwanted. Self-destruct sequence activating...

    2. Re:Thnk that's funny? by rtaylor · · Score: 2

      So it'll be a love hate relationship?

      You love when the fridge gives you a treat, you hate when it calls you names for taking the treat.

      --
      Rod Taylor
    3. Re:Thnk that's funny? by PacoTaco · · Score: 1

      I've seen a few refrigerators (especially when I was in college) that needed a self-destruct feature.

    4. Re:Thnk that's funny? by iceburn · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Actually, its possible that supermarkets, food companies, etc. will eventually be able to buy advertisements on these fridges.

      "I see you're out of tater tots. There is a sale at King Soopers(TM) on Ore Ida(TM) Tater Tots. Would you like driving directions? (y/n)"
      y

      Later that day...

      "I see you've just purchased Ore Ida(TM) Tater Tots. You may also be interested in Ore Ida(TM) Curly Fries. Would you like to see more SmartFridge.com(TM) recomendations, Dave? (y/n)"
      y

      "King Soopers(TM) Specials Today:

      • Ore Ida(TM) Curly Fries are only $5.49
      • Greasy(TM) Chicken Wings $8.99/lb
      • Hot Hot Hot(TM) BBQ Sauce $6.87/16oz Bottle
      • Stinking Fatty(TM) Cheddar Bratwurst $5.99/6
      • Sweet Sweet Coronary(TM) Lard Nuggets $9.99/doz
      • Little Powdery(TM) Donuts $7.49/doz.
      next page ->"
      --
      A sphincter says what?
  29. downtime by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I hope the temperature isn't software controlled. Who wants to come home and find the beer warm because of some scriptkiddie shutting the fridge down with his ping of death.

  30. Imagine by s4ltyd0g · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    a beerowulf cluster of these!

  31. Fridge Server? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How long until someone hacks this thing to run a server? Then, how long until someone gets one of these things slashdotted? ;)

  32. Obsolete cooling technology by franzzup · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I've been looking at LG refrigerators, since I'll need to replace my aging Liebherr sometime, but it seems they haven't caught on to the most important innovation of the last century: "Null-Grad Technik" as they call it in Germany, which provides a compartment that stays at 0.5 degrees C (without freezing), instead of the usual 4 C. This keeps many foods fresh two to five times as long, and I don't understand why the other manufacturers don't catch on.

  33. yes but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    can't it make sweet love to me?

  34. Wow - I NEED one of these by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


    I guess I mean I NEED one of these if I was really really GAY.

  35. Microsoft sponsored? by slntnsnty · · Score: 1

    I did not see any mention of OS in this fridge. I wonder if the dreaded day has finally come when Microsoft trys to get its .Net fingers into household appliances?

    Should be interesting. I won't even bother mentioning some of the obvious places something like this could go.

    1. Re:Microsoft sponsored? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      " I wonder if the dreaded day has finally come when Microsoft trys to get its .Net fingers into household appliances?"

      Maybe so, but there is a simple solution, really..... DON'T FUCKING BUY IT!!!

    2. Re:Microsoft sponsored? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why the fuck do you care of it's 'powered by Microsoft'? And do explain why that day would be dreaded. Will that actually divert your money elsewhere, or are you just trying to sound as though you've hopped up onto the *nix bandwagon?

      Kids like you should NOT be allowed near keyboards.

    3. Re:Microsoft sponsored? by slntnsnty · · Score: 1

      *wonders if he should waste time talking to the losers who have to log out before they post *

  36. where's mom? by Hispet · · Score: 1

    in the kitchen

    so now on Southpark it will be, "get your bitch-ass out of the kitchen and bring me some pie!"

    --
    The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources - A. E.
  37. Great, just what I need... by brooks_talley · · Score: 2

    "Sorry, folks, it looks like we're ordering pizza. I had been marinating some fantastic szechuan beef, but the fridge crashed and has been alternately freezing and cooking it for the past 12 hours."

    Cheers
    -b

  38. Wait until the advertisers get a hold of this one by Craig+Maloney · · Score: 4, Funny
    I can see it now. "I see you're pulling out Velveeta. Soft, creamy Velveeta is great for macaroni and cheese as well as a nice pasta salad on a warm summer day. wow, isn't that refreshing. Try our other great Kraft products today, like Miracle Whip and... (*shut*)"

    Or...

    "I see you're running low on Miracle Whip so I've taken the liberty of ordering you a crate. You wouldn't want to run out, now would you?"

    And what about people who re-use containers? Would my three bean salad and baked beans be counted has having two Country Crock margarines?

    No thanks... I prefer the old fashioned exploration of todays modern refrigerators. "Hmmm... Country Crock... Whoops... that's the three bean salad from... ugh... last fourth of July. Better call Hazmat."

  39. DOH! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sorry, there are no stores found within 300 miles of your zip code

    1. Re:DOH! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dude, you don't a have Fry's Electronics near you? That's barbaric...

      I live near San Diego, but my search found appliance stores as far away as Phoenix.

  40. This is your refrigerator talking... by fizban · · Score: 1

    "Let's see here. You have 1 carton of milk, a block of cheese, a six-pack of corona in the back (minus one, sorry!), a bowl of... hmmm, what is that stuff? Looks disgusting. Did you make that yourself? Get it outta here! And yes, here we are, a bottle of... mmmm, not sure... a bottle of brown stuff, let's just say. You can figure it out later... 12 pack of Mountain Dew, missing a few since last night. Leftover pizza (2 weeks leftover, I might add. Disgusting!) Ughh, what are you, a nerd or something? Perhaps you should find a girl to keep me clean and well stocked. I especially like fruits and vegetables. Such a nice aroma!"

    "Would you like me to play you some songs now?"

    And thus technology advances...

    --

    +1 Insightful, -1 Troll. What can I say, I'm an Insightful Troll.

  41. Since we're on the topic of Cooking by forged · · Score: 2

    Can anyone recommend good sites listing recipes ?

    1. Re:Since we're on the topic of Cooking by Greyfox · · Score: 2
      http://www.foodtv.com

      I usually hit it after seeing Emeril or Alton Brown do something. I'll mostly remember it but want the exact ingredients. Speaking of which, I need to order Alton's show on DVD there. That's some good stuff, he actually goes into the science behind the cooking, so you can apply it to other things that work in the same way. You can also get your truffles and other goodies on the site :-)

      --

      I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

    2. Re:Since we're on the topic of Cooking by BACPro · · Score: 1

      http://recipes.alastra.com/default.html
      http://ww w.recipesource.com/
      http://www.finecooking.com/
      http://www.cookinglight.com/
      http://www.epicuriou s.com/

      and of course...

      http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&o e= UTF8&newwindow=1&q=recipes&as_q=cooking

      sig free.

  42. Ahem. by Jin+Wicked · · Score: 1

    I really don't appreciate being compared to a kitchen appliance.

    --
    My Webcomic: Asylum on 5th Street
    1. Re:Ahem. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, if a little light didn't come on when you spread your legs, you wouldn't have that problem.

    2. Re:Ahem. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, I think he was talking about that green, mouldy stuff that sits in the back.

  43. Anyone? Anyone? by allism · · Score: 2

    I got the same message - I wanted to find a store and call to find out how much one of these bad boys cost - no stores within 300 miles of Denver, CO. Does anyone live within 300 miles of one of their stores?

    Course, at the rate the forest fires are going, soon there won't be ANYTHING within 300 miles of Denver...

  44. The girl from Ipanema! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You could keep a turd in the fridge, then play an MP3 at the same time! I would play Gangsta's Paradise by Coolio - are U feelin' it?

    Rest In Peace, Biggie Smalls!

  45. keeps track of food items?!?!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Who the hell wants to sit there and log in every item of food they have, and log out an item every time they use it. Hell if I paid that much attention to what was in my refrigerator I wouldn't need reminders when I ran out of things!

    1. Re:keeps track of food items?!?!? by Alex+Thorpe · · Score: 1

      Well, I'm a bachelor, so logging all the food in my fridge would take, oh, 15 seconds, tops! Though there is that container of pea soup that's been down there since, oh, August?

      --
      "Common Sense Ain't" -Unknown
    2. Re:keeps track of food items?!?!? by buck_wild · · Score: 1

      I think that's what the barcode reader is for, but I have no idea how it keeps track of how much is left.

      How would it know, for example, if I've either run out of something or if I'm merely still using it? And how would it know if the milk is running low? Does it weigh it? Fresh vegetables oftem come in those plastic-bags-on-a-roll, os I'd assume you'd have to input those manually.

      --
      If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
  46. To me, pointless, to others... by Phoenix · · Score: 1

    Other than the severe geek factor that fridge provides, there is no way I'd own one unless I won it, or won the lottery. For as so many have said why do we need those features when we have better for ourselves?

    Simple...there are those of us who aren't geeks.

    In a day and age where both parents are usually out working, who really has the time to go shopping when you are out of eggs? Heck there may be times where you simply don't know that you are out. Solution? A fridge that can geep track, automatically charge your card at a market that delivers and boom...there's a guy at your door when you get home from work handing you your food and a recipt.

    With the fact that the average american family is doing different things at different times, the messaging system comes in handy as well. Also works for the Latchkey children. Push a button and there's Mom explaining what's for dinner, and if they are old enough to cook on thier own...the recipe.

    TV, well that's optional, the FM Radio...not a bad idea, the MP3 player...maybe that's a bit much, but don't dis this machine because we geeks think we can build something similar.

    Come to think about it, it was probally a geek who was able to sell LG on the idea...and he's living rich now...lucky bastard, lets hunt him down and beat him up for being a smart arse

    Phoenix

    --
    -- Wiccan Army, 13th Airborne Division "We will not fly silently into the night"
  47. For the love of god... by echelon13 · · Score: 1

    It's a FRIDGE! It's supposed to keep food cool. Who really wants to browse the Web, or read email, while standing in front of the fridge? That's what a computer is for. Just because you can put a computer in everything, doesn't mean you should.

    1. Re:For the love of god... by buck_wild · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      It's a COMPUTER! It's supposed to keep track of data. Who really wants to listen to audio or watch video clips while sitting on a crummy office chair in front of a monitor? That's what your TV and stereo are for. Just because you can do that stuff on a computer, doesn't mean you should.

      Oh, and 640k will always be enough.

      Get real.

      --
      If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
  48. RecipeSource.com by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://www.recipesource.com/ seems to be one of the biggest and best.

  49. Reason to exist? by YourMissionForToday · · Score: 0, Insightful

    The only reason this thing exists is to show you commercials. Advertising is eroding public and private space alike-from the backs of convenience-store gas pumps to the dedication masonry at museums. If an "internet Fridge" ever does become popular, it'll secretly report the contents of your fridge back to a centralized server and show you ads for milk based on your psychographic profile...

  50. Easy to overclock. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Me: Does it keep the food cold?

    Them: Well, not exactly cold... cool maybe, you don't need to worry about the processor overheating, even if you overclock it. You won't believe how quickly it completes a kernel compile. And how many refrigerators can turn out seti@home work units like that?

  51. Microslash .NET? by Lethyos · · Score: 1, Troll

    We all complain and moan and whine that Slashdot are a bunch of sell outs. That they post stories and opinions that are sponsored by corporate interests and not in the interests of the readers.

    Well, today I stumbled upon Slashdot, only to have this ad thrust in my face. (It linked to this location.)

    You'd think that /. would be the last place you'd see all this bullshit MS propaganda, but alas, we can't get away from it. Slashdot (and qutie possibly OSDN) are a Microsoft funded operation, which means its stories and opinions are those of Microsoft.

    Be even more careful about what you read here.

    --
    Why bother.
    1. Re:Microslash .NET? by Phroggy · · Score: 1

      Uhh, yeah, Slashdot (and obviously OSDN, Slashdot's parent company) are funded by Microsoft, among many other advertisers. Do the advertisers have any control over the content of the site? I like to think not.

      Don't forget that most of Slashdot's readers use Internet Explorer on Windows. ;-)

      --
      $x='S24;r)>63/* h@<5+oZ)32"5cz';$me='phroggy'x$];
      $x=~y+ -xz+\0-Tx+;print$_^chop$me for split'',$x;
  52. Oooh by IanBevan · · Score: 1

    Wow, a cool fridge !! (I'll just get my coat...)

  53. I can see the BUGTRAQ advisory now... by defile · · Score: 5, Funny
    Homely SecuriCrack Teamz in coordination with the Culinary Institute of America Security Research Group has discovered a serious vulnerability in the LG Internet Refrigerator.

    An unchecked buffer in FridgeScape 3.12, the web browser built into the user interface panel will, if exploited, allow malicious users to gain full superuser control of the refrigerator. From here, it's trivial to set the temperature of the fridge to spoil the food, shoot ice cubes out at high velocity, or set invalid parameters in the cooling unit causing the freon tank to rupture, turning your refrigerator into a 250lbs titanium shrapnel grenade.

    The vendor was notified 6 months ago and again 3 months later but has not responded.

    We recommend that all users run their home appliances behind a firewall and that extraneous features on other household appliances, such as Auto-Ironing and Mow-On-Demand be disabled
    The unabomber was right. We're doomed.
  54. Havn't I seen something like this before? by Qender · · Score: 1

    Oh right, it was a prank:

    http://www.somethingawful.com/article.php?id=308

  55. How about them Web Services by picono · · Score: 1

    We could integrate these fridges with the supermarket web services and have them deliver the beer et al whenever we run low. I hear the thnuders for more XML standards coming...

  56. Strictly 4 my niggaz by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    LOL!

    Yeah, I'd tell that fridge to go fuck off!

    It'd be like, "wtf?" and I'd be like, "Yeh, who's the bitch now?"

    RIP Notorious BIG!!

  57. Marmiton (french) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Try www.marmiton.org but it's in french.

    It's one of the best sites I know of, with over 15000(!!) recipes online, searching is configurable.

  58. Mandatory comment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can your beowulf these?

  59. I See We are Still Dazzled by I-Fridges by Pooua · · Score: 1
    The submission comments on this article make it sound like someone is still dazzled by the concept of hooking a refrigerator to the Internet. Ever since Electrolux introduced its Internet refrigerator in 1999, there have been several stories about the concept:

    "Consider a future where all appliances with power cords can be networked using universal plug and play including:

    computers
    telephones
    stereos
    even refrigerators"

    http://www.powerlinecommunications.net/smarthomes. htm

    Nice diagram of the LG I-fridge as a "Residential Gateway":
    http://www.slfp.com/011302BIZp.htm

    "Internet Refrigerator"
    http://www.xent.com/FoRK-archive/may98/0121.html

    "Can Your Refrigerator Surf?"
    http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,14675,00 . sp

    But, most of all, I want to point out the comments that my own company makes about *its* I-fridge:

    "We created the first Internet refrigerator to show how the Internet will merge into our everyday lives"
    http://au.fujitsu.com/FAL/CDA/Articles/0,1029,546, 00.html

    --
    Taking stuff apart since 1969 (TM)
  60. Pffffft by ALoverOfPeace · · Score: 1

    Here's another story I'm sure you'll believe.

    To assert that because Microsoft advertises on slashdot they control it is assanine at best. Anyone who reads this site on a regular basis will consistantly see stories biased against Microsoft. If Microsoft wants to waste their money funding a site that spreads negative information about them, more power to them. I'm confident that Microsoft has no control over slashdot or we wouldn't see so many negative stories about them.

  61. The Internet-Enabled Fridge by rocjoe71 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Sorry, this fridge does not accept cookies. If you want this fridge to accept cookies, please adjust your security settings, close the door and try again."

    --
    Height: 38U, Weight: 0 Newtons, Eyes: #0000FF, OS: Gray Matter 1.0 (Alpha)
  62. Hmm... old adage by metlin · · Score: 2


    Just because you can do something, does not mean you have to.

    Sometimes we geeks end up doing things just because we can, often without giving a thought about what would such a device achieve.

    Time & money on technology that could be better spent otherwise.

    :-/

  63. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  64. Just to be anal retentive... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    that would be a "400lb titanium shrapnel grenade"

  65. Totally useless by geirhe · · Score: 1
    I don't spend any significant amount of time in front of the fridge. I other words - why should my fridge be smart?

    On the other hand, I have any amount of recipe books which get dirtier each time they are used. I want a webpad with my recipes (fetched from a cache on my stationary box), able to control the volume of MP3 playback on my stereo, which can take spashes of water, being dropped on the floor, with a barcode reader for handling those pesky EAN-128 codes which will probably be used for quality info fairly soon (see the EAN barcode FAQ for more info) and which doesn't have a clunky keyboard, thank you very much.

    Oh, and it should be dirt cheap.

  66. Re:Anyone? Anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You Coloradians and your puny camp fires... think of us poor Arizonans, we're looking at the torching of some 300,000 acres.

  67. boo to titanium on fridges by colmore · · Score: 3, Funny

    Ok, it can keep a calendar, it can leave messages, it can play MP3s, etc. etc

    but thanks to the titanium finish:

    YOU CAN'T PUT MAGNETS ON IT!!!!

    what kind of world is this?

    --
    In Capitalist America, bank robs you!
    1. Re:boo to titanium on fridges by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0



      great a clean fridge!

  68. Re:Anyone? Anyone? by schmink182 · · Score: 1

    Theres at least 50 near me (zip code 21239), but these are just stores that sell LG products, which doesn't garuntee they'll have the internet fridge.

  69. They did too much and not enough. by Sergeant+Beavis · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I fridge is a storage device, not a communications device. Any internet appliances built into it should build on the storage aspect of the fridge. There is nothing mentioned about a barcode scanner that would make it conveinent for making an inventory. There are very few markets that have grocery delivery of ordering via the internet and we don't know if the exsisting services will work with this system.

    The ability to leave notes for the kids is novel but the display is too low for most adults and unless that screen tilts outword, it would be difficult to write on.

    People don't normally read recipes off the fridge. The store them on the fridge under a magnet but take it off to actually cook so they don't have to walk back and forth to the fridge. Again the screen height doesn't help here.

    Many of the food storage features for freshness are already available on many existing refridgerators like GE and Maytag.

    It's a big toy for the wealthy that have money to burn on such things. The Titanium finish problably wont match most kitchen styles either IMO. Internet Appliances haven't historically done well. I don't believe this one will either in the mass market.

    --
    There is nothing inherently safe about liberty. That's why so many people died protecting it.
    1. Re:They did too much and not enough. by bobdole369 · · Score: 1

      Broward County, FL. PublixDirect is the best service anybody has ever invented. IT MUST NOT FAIL! Lest I be forced to actually go to the grocery store to get my food.

      A device like this would be neat because it would probably change the way people cook. (now how long was I supposed to cook the meat for?) {walks over to fridge and looks it up}

      Oh yeah, and the nerd factor too. (wonder if theres any beer left?) {Instead of walking your fat ass over there you can bring up the web interface and see that there is indeed a beer left, saving a useless trip with no beer at the end}

      --
      Lousy facepalm.
    2. Re:They did too much and not enough. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm waiting for one with a programable skin, perhaps made of liquid/organic flexible stuff that they are working on. Then you could have virtual refrigerator magnets. Think of the advantages (and the advertizing/marketing possiablities). The frozen fish sticks put up a magnet that says "Eat us soon we are starting to rot!"

  70. CPU in a refridgerator by 3ryon · · Score: 2

    Isn't that the only way to run AMD's latest offerings?

  71. Fire the Marketting dept. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I mean, it has been demonstrated countless times through history that trying to unify unrelated household functions in one appliance bars it from just so many potential buyers.

    People who already have either a TV that works, a fridge that works, or a computer that works won't buy it, obviously.

    And I sure as hell prefer to have a portable appliance to check my emails while lying on the sofa or in the garden (802.11 r0cks), watch the TV comfortably, and have the fridge in the kitchen, so I don't have to run upstairs or to the living-room to get a fresh egg when cooking.

    What are they going to do next ? A washing-machine that surfs the web so you don't stare blankly at your clothes turning and tunring in the machine, but instead go watch some pr0n ?

  72. actually sounds cool by RestiffBard · · Score: 2

    I wouldn't mind having a fridge that does this. it would be cool if you could get a recipe a day sent to you fridge and then when you come home the fridge has already ordered the ingredients to make that meal. and it counts calories for you.

    --
    - /* dead coders leave no comments */
  73. well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you Arizonans wouldn't set signal fires when you get lost in the woods, maybe you wouldn't have so many problems.

  74. Barcodes by dybdahl · · Score: 2

    There is a lot of information that is mandatory to put on food today. In EU, this includes an expiration date and list of ingredients (and batch number in some countries), but none of this information can be scanned automatically by the barcode reader in these new fridges.

    What we need is a new legislation that makes all food carry this kind of information in machine-readable forms, so that these possibilities become reality:

    - When you open the fridge in the morning, the fridge tells you that the milk is too old.
    - Visually impaired users can scan the food they take out and get the list of ingredients displayed with large fonts.
    - The batch number of the products can be checked via the internet, so that if a company needs to withdraw some food from the market, all fridges that contain that food will issue a warning to the user.
    - Users with food allergies can make the fridge warn if the product they scan contains ingredients that the user cannot eat.

    The ingredients list can be retrieved via the internet, but that would make correct fridge operation dependent on a stable internet connection.

    1. Re:Barcodes by Regolith · · Score: 1

      RF tags cross-matched with an Web-accessible database of all the relevant information would work great for this, wouldn't it? You would still need the barcodes so that the cash register in the supermarket wouldn't make you pay for the food of everyone waiting in line, but this sounds like a great application for RF tags.

      --

      Bow before my sig, for it is good.
  75. Ars cookbook by Felipe+Hoffa · · Score: 1
    And while you are there, you can check the great cookbook for bachelors compiled by the guys at ArsTechnica.

    Lots of easy recipes, but my favorite's got to be:
    The Frozen Pizza

    Remove from freezer
    Remove from packaging
    Place in oven, set to 400F
    Drink a beer
    Remove pizza
    Open next beer
    Eat with beer
    Fh
  76. You've got... MILK!!! by slashclone · · Score: 1

    In other news today. Refrigetator escapes house .. makes it to the parking lot.

    Vlad.

    US-UK-Israel: The real Axis of Evil

    --


    US-UK-Israel: The real Axis of Evil
    1. Re:You've got... MILK!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That is so true, that US-UK-Israel is the axis of evil.

      Just read this:

      Zionism : The killing of innocent people (jews and palestinians)
      Jews for Truth

      Greets Vlad!

  77. Why Americans need bigger fridges. by slashclone · · Score: 1

    You know how the saying goes: Amercians shower every day and shop once a week. In Europe its the other way around.

    Vlad

    US-UK-Israel: The real Axis of Evil

    --


    US-UK-Israel: The real Axis of Evil
    1. Re:Why Americans need bigger fridges. by DrVxD · · Score: 1

      At least we have showers in the west.

      --
      Not everything that can be measured matters; Not everything that matters can be measured.
    2. Re:Why Americans need bigger fridges. by CommieOverlord · · Score: 1

      US-UK-Israel: The real Axis of Evil

      Flunked of History 101?

    3. Re:Why Americans need bigger fridges. by slashclone · · Score: 1

      Must v been the one where they explained how a race of "chosen people" has the right to perform genocide on native peoples and the other lives by the motto "anything that is good for national security is moral" . No wonder the sencond rabidly supports the first. Must be common expreince of genocide. So yeah I belive I took that class but had disagrements with my proffesoor.

      Vlad


      US-UK-Israel: The real Axis of Evil

      --


      US-UK-Israel: The real Axis of Evil
    4. Re:Why Americans need bigger fridges. by CommieOverlord · · Score: 1

      Genocide? What genocide? Oh, you mean all the arab nations vowing to kill every last Jew in Israel. And actually initializing several wars to accomplish their vow.

  78. I'm typing from inside of my toaster! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Haha, I don't know what to say other than read this:

    http://www.somethingawful.com/article.php?id=308

  79. Bad design by presearch · · Score: 1

    They spend all of that time being clever and screwed
    up the design. The display is on the fridge side door.
    It should be on the freezer side. You can't inventory
    the fridge (the only really useful function) without
    closing the door. (open door, got eggs?, close door,
    check, open door, got milk, close door, check....)

    Granted, the freezer then inherits the problem but
    the fridge side is certainly used more often.

    Should have been integrated with the ice/water
    dispenser. Perhaps a slide-down sreeen or move
    the ice dispenser down a bit with the screen above.
    Why didn't they ask me about this before building it?

    It's like making a traditional laptop with the LCD on the
    bottom of the case..

    1. Re:Bad design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, actually, you should be able to detach the touch screen from the fridge and put it wherever you want. Use wireless (802.11b or BlueTooth) and maybe just stick it to the fridge with magnets. What I want is a 1 computer that attaches to all my appliances, not a separate CPU/LCD/internet connection in every appliance. Wouldn't just embedding Apache in every device then carrying around a wireless web browser be a LOT cheaper?

  80. !*&#1^*%#@ by 3seas · · Score: 2

    This is dumb, why not just make an attachable flat/touch screen system that you can put where ever and have sensors or whatever that communicate with it....

    Lets' face it, the computer industry is running out of steam and I bet the idea is to force it on people by removing the options to get otherwise.

    not to mention the monthly internet connect charges

  81. A Sign of the Apocalypse...? by serutan · · Score: 2

    Whenever a company comes up with something like this, I have to wonder if somebody really is putting LSD in our water supply.

    1. Re:A Sign of the Apocalypse...? by kubrick · · Score: 2

      Whenever a company comes up with something like this, I have to wonder if somebody really is putting LSD in our water supply.

      Whenever a company comes up with something like this, it's another sign that nobody needs to... people are nuts enough already.

      :)

      (BTW, I was surpised to see this on /. -- it's been plugged quite a lot in TV commercials here in Australia over the last six months or more, I would have thought that this would have already been posted if it interested people...)

      --
      deus does not exist but if he does
  82. Almost as useful as hamburger ear-muffs... by ConceptJunkie · · Score: 2

    Yet another way to pee away hours and hours of your life accomplishing nothing useful. Then your kid uses a magnet to put up his latest drawing and scrambles the whole system.

    Really, was this designed by Microsoft? Why must every appliance do everything. Can't we have simple devices that do one job well?

    --
    You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.
  83. Great by shannara256 · · Score: 1

    Great, now where's the toaster?

  84. Open the Ice Tray Doors, Hal! by billstewart · · Score: 1

    Sorry, Dave, I can't do that...

    --

    Bill Stewart
    New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
  85. Iron Chef on your refrigerator door! by billstewart · · Score: 2

    Just think of the possibilities for this, especially if there's also a webcam on the thing. You can use the TV functions to watch Iron Chef while you're cooking, or have the refrigerator tell you what the Mystery Ingredient you'll be using for dinner tonight will be, or if you've got a high-speed net connection (which anybody spending money on this overpriced toy probably does ;-), you can run your own Iron Chef game with your friends....

    --

    Bill Stewart
    New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
  86. I don't want any bugs in *my* refrigerator... by billstewart · · Score: 1

    Sorry. Keep the bugs out of the kitchen :-) Just having a refrigerator that can traq where the bugs are isn't good enough....

    --

    Bill Stewart
    New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
  87. rec.food.cooking on Usenet by billstewart · · Score: 1

    OK, I haven't actually *read* usenet in years, but that was the canonical place for this sort of thing before it the internet got popular and Usenet got spammed to death.

    --

    Bill Stewart
    New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
  88. This is one casemod story that I don't mind reading :-)

    --

    /*
    *Not a Sermon, Just a Thought
    */
  89. The fridge uses microsoft windows. by jasontheking · · Score: 1

    http://www.lge.com/about/rnd/think/homenet.shtml

    Seeing as this fridge uses a new comms standard called upnp, developed by both M$ and LG, It sounds like this fridge runs windows. I'd rather not pull the fridge out of the wall just to reset the thing. And when the fridge "crashes", do you lose all your food?

    The story claims that recipies in the fridge can be updated through the internet, as well as mp3 files. Why not locally? How much do you have to pay just to upload a recipe?

    It's a shame that /. is being used to blatently advertise M$ products.

  90. Re:Wait until the advertisers get a hold of this o by buck_wild · · Score: 1

    I'm wondering if there will be 'prefered vendors' for the food in your fridge. Perhaps some commercials will play on the LGs screen when it scans a particular bar code...

    --
    If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
  91. Most Importantly... by WireSpeed · · Score: 1

    ...Can it be overclocked? Gotta check if tomsrefrigeratorguide.com is still available. Will viruses make it start cooking the food?

  92. fridge man pages by Flashbuster+2000 · · Score: 1

    fridged(8)

    NAME
    fridged -- LG Internet Fridge server

    SYNOPSIS
    fridged [ -allowfatass ] [ -c config-file ]

    DESCRIPTION
    fridged is a refrigerator server for use with LG Appli-
    ances systems. Is is part of the standard Internet
    Fridge distribution. It implements the FOOD protocol
    described in RFC 9999.
    With no arguments, fridged will configure based on
    /etc/food.conf and listen on port 61453 (0xF00D) for
    food requests based on FOOD.
    fridged should be run as root to access /var/foodtab,
    the internal storage of food data.
    The list of clients authorized to take food is stored
    in /etc/food.conf.

    OPTIONS
    -allowfatass
    Allows FOOD clients to send multiple requests
    and stay-alive connections. By default, fridged
    will allow only a healthy number of connections
    by one client.

    -c config-file
    Uses config-file as the configuration file
    instead of default /etc/food.conf.

    FILES
    /etc/food.conf
    Default configuration file

    /var/foodtab
    Table of stored food

    SEE ALSO
    fridge(8), RFC 9999.

    fridge(8)

    NAME
    fridge -- LG Internet Fridge client

    SYNOPSIS
    fridge [ -e ] [-s food-server] food-requested

    DESCRIPTION
    fridge is a refrigerator client that sends food requests
    to a server implemeting the FOOD protocol described in
    RFC 9999. By default, fridge will send the requests to
    food://127.0.0.1 so you don't take things out of other
    peoples' fridged(8)'s. The FOOD server may require you
    to identify yourself and fridge will do so.

    OPTIONS
    -e
    Eat the whole frickin' thing you requested right
    here. God, you pig.
    An instance of fridged(8) run without using the
    -allowfatass option will not respond to requests
    using the -e option.

    -s food-server
    Connect to food-server instead of the default
    food://127.0.0.1

    food-requested
    The FID (food ID of the food requested). An
    RFC 9999 compliant fridge-server will look up
    a plaintext name of the food and use that FID.

    SEE ALSO
    fridged(8), RFC 9999.

  93. Gaggenau Refrigerators by hyyx · · Score: 2

    This fridge is amazing, I'll give it that, but if you really want to have a f'in fridge then this, by Gaggenau is the god of fridges. I can't even explain, just go look.

  94. I want my FridgeTV! by Project_Falcon · · Score: 1

    I want the digital camera mounted on the inside, so I can see what looks good without having to open the door.

    And so I can see the little guy that turns out the light when I close the door.

    Plus, it would really help in making sure that there's not a Gozerian temple inside my fridge.

  95. beowulf by commodoresloat · · Score: 2
    Oh, and can you imagine a beowulf cluster of those?

    No, but I can imagine keeping peanut brittle clusters cold with these.

  96. Let us not forget other great appliances by vile7707 · · Score: 1
  97. Uhm, I'll wait... by di0s · · Score: 1

    ... to get one until they have AGP 8x, a DVD burner, and 3d acceleration. Then I can "fridge frag" someone in Quake 3.

  98. It's the bee's knees, it's the wasp's nipples. by supermoose · · Score: 1

    "What's a microprocessor doing in a fridge, Bobby?"

    "Keeping itself cool, Dirk."

  99. ENetiConAppliance by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This sounds similar to LowTax's ENetiConAppliance refrigerator which he mentions here:
    http://www.somethingawful.com/article.php?i d=308

  100. Upgrade existing appliances? by chiph · · Score: 1

    My 2 year-old fridge is just fine. How about making the "internet terminal" portion available as a retrofit?

    Use magnets on the back to hold it onto the door, an umbilical to run to my kitchen's cat-5 & coax TV connection. Maybe include a PCCard slot for 802.11b or a USB connection for a printer.

    If you have kids, you could position it nearer the floor rather than at adult height & run TeleTubbies or <shudder> Barney videos on it to keep the kids in one spot. Maybe even stick it on the dishwasher door, if that's more convenient for you than the fridge.

    Chip H.