Slashdot Mirror


An Oven That Runs Android

Google85 writes "Dacor is exhibiting an oven that runs Android at CES 2013: it pulls together a 1GHz processor, 512MB of DDR2 RAM and Android 4.0.3. It also cooks food. At the front of the Discovery Wall Oven, there's a 7-inch LCD touch panel. From the article: '...The oven-maker's Discovery IQ controller cooking app will offer up interactive cooking guides, recipes and all other things cooking, although you'll still be able to install more standard apps from Google Play. The built-in cooking app offers preprogrammed dishes and adjustable timings for several dishes, while you can even program the oven to cook food remotely from any Android device.'"

81 of 123 comments (clear)

  1. finally! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    intel beats ARM! (at excessive heat production)

    1. Re:finally! by bigtrike · · Score: 3, Funny

      The oven uses dual P4 chips for heating elements.

    2. Re:finally! by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

      At 2,4 GHz, the P4 CPUs even have the right wavelength for RF heating of water molecules!

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    3. Re: finally! by DewDude · · Score: 1

      I believe they have an oven that has an integrated refrigerant system to keep food cold. I mean, if you're throwing a tablet in the mix, why not a refrigerator. Next thing you know the stove will be streaming videos across the house.

  2. Compromised system by Dexter+Herbivore · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's all I need, to have someone compromise my oven with malware and burn my roast.

    1. Re:Compromised system by tokencode · · Score: 4, Funny

      Or "overclock" your oven and burn your house down....

    2. Re:Compromised system by icebike · · Score: 1

      That's all I need, to have someone compromise my oven with malware and burn my roast.

      Ha Ha Ha Ha How else are we going to Ma Ma Ma Make the world safe for Ma Ma Ma Max Headroom?

      --
      Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
    3. Re:Compromised system by Cryacin · · Score: 3, Funny

      Don't be ridiculous. A vertical oven interface can't possibly work! Human's aren't built that way for touch technology and will suffer from Gorilla Arm when cooking dinner. The classic tablet surface interface of the hotplate is the only real solution and why the iPlate technology exists. - Tim Cook

      --
      Science advances one funeral at a time- Max Planck
    4. Re:Compromised system by FatdogHaiku · · Score: 1

      They should call this: An oven with a tablet instead of a door. But then, maybe nobody would buy it?

      Well, touch screen blisters are hard to put a good spin on... but there are countless hot porn jokes in the offing!

      --
      You have the right to remain sentient. If you give up the right to remain sentient, you will be elected to public office
    5. Re:Compromised system by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      It'll be okay, we'll just send in MegaMan.EXE.

    6. Re:Compromised system by alostpacket · · Score: 2

      I'm pretty sure you could hard-wire safety mechanisms that prevented this.

      Similar concept here: http://hackaday.com/2012/10/13/open-source-android-thermostat/#more-87901

      A post by the creator in his forums:

      As a few people have pointed out, there is some risk that your heater may get stuck in the on state or off state if the app or your phone was to lock up. I've added a few safeguards against this already in the code and am going to add a few more, but I'd like to also find an all mechanical solution to this to ensure the thermostat fails safely if it does fail.

      The best solution I know of is to use three bimetal switches to:

      Break the circuit on the heater to turn it off if the temperature gets above 100F
      Connect the circuit to turn on the heater if the temperature gets below 45F
      Connect the circuit to turn on the air conditioner if the temperature gets above 100F

      The problem is most of the major manufacturers of these switches do not sell directly to the public. You have to place bulk orders. The few I have found such as these ( 1, 2, 3) are large, heavy, overkill and somewhat expensive. It would be hard to fit three of these in the case, and more may be needed when multi-stage support is added.

      There are several cheap thermal fuses, but these only appear to be available for higher temperature ranges. The only reasonable solution I have been able to find so far are these switches from Amico. (104F NC, 104F NO). The only problem with these is they are Chinese made and have not been UL certified. I think an uncertified mechanical fail safe is a whole lot better than no mechanical fail safe at all, so unless someone knows of a better option I plan on including these in the next design. I really hope someone can provide a better option though.

      http://androidthermostat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5

      --
      PocketPermissions Android Permission Guide
    7. Re:Compromised system by mysidia · · Score: 1

      Break the circuit on the heater to turn it off if the temperature gets above 100F Connect the circuit to turn on the heater if the temperature gets below 45F Connect the circuit to turn on the air conditioner if the temperature gets above 100F

      The article is about ovens, and you seem to be referring to thermostats. There's not much you would normally cook without exceeding 100F.

      Ovens under automatic software control may be a bit more dangerous than heaters. Ovens are in living spaces, and may be dangerous even at normal operating oven temperatures. Depending on what's in them, or if the homeowner intends the oven to be on or not. Some people stow things in their ovens, when the oven is not being used, such as plastic things, which could release toxic fumes if a software controller makes a mistake and flips it on.

    8. Re:Compromised system by Golddess · · Score: 1

      There's not much you would normally cook without exceeding 100F.

      So pick a metal that breaks at 500F instead, or whatever would be a good upper range.

      --
      "I'm not sure I like the fugnutish tone you used in your post!" -RogL (608926)-
  3. Does it run ntpd? by 6ULDV8 · · Score: 1

    If it'll just set its own clock... You can get Android now or wait for iOS. I think for the price, I'll stick with my $1k LG oven and set my own clock though.

    --
    Pull my finger for my public key.
  4. The iOS oven by Andy+Prough · · Score: 5, Funny

    will only cook recipes previously approved by Steve Jobs. Fanboys will quickly realize that all other food was crap anyways. It will cost $5,000 more than the Android oven.

    1. Re:The iOS oven by tokencode · · Score: 5, Funny

      But I bet it would make some great Apple pie....

    2. Re:The iOS oven by Andy+Prough · · Score: 2

      Well, since Apple's already got the patent on "method for mixing things and then heating them", it will be the ONLY oven that can LEGALLY make you a pie. Of course, if you want a pirated pie...

    3. Re:The iOS oven by slashmydots · · Score: 1

      Also, they now own a patent AND copyright on anything you cook, including the family cookie recipe.

    4. Re:The iOS oven by Andy+Prough · · Score: 3, Funny

      Your family recipes will no longer belong to you. But, for $0.99 each, you will be able to use them on up to 5 different iOven devices. Your recipes will not work on Android ovens.

    5. Re:The iOS oven by Cryacin · · Score: 1

      Too much like cannibalism.

      --
      Science advances one funeral at a time- Max Planck
    6. Re:The iOS oven by Andy+Prough · · Score: 4, Funny

      What about the Fandroids who'll lash out at anything that isn't from the hand of Google? Where do they fit into your sad little world?

      Eating badly cooked food and marveling over how "free" it is while trying to ignore a non-stop stream of advertisements screaming at them from their ovens.

    7. Re:The iOS oven by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I would prefer Raspberry Pi!
      (ba-dum-tish!)

  5. Reversificationism -W by Tablizer · · Score: 1

    Way over-clock it, then you get "Android that Runs Ovens".

  6. Bend over, rover by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

    It makes sense to put one on the fridge, but don't most of us have an oven below the range? If you use your oven a whole lot you might want it up higher, but in that case you'll probably want a more serious oven, too...

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  7. How will they prevent it from overheating? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Maybe it's a feature, it'll use some surplus Pentium 4s hooked up to a convection loop heatsink to cook the food.

    1. Re:How will they prevent it from overheating? by ArchieBunker · · Score: 2

      Now I know you're trying to be funny (and failing because the K7 cpu smokes when the heatsink is removed) but you raise a valid point. Most stoves with the fancy displays eventually burn out or fade after a few years due to the oven heat. So now my oven is totally useless because the display quit or a solder joint on the pcb failed.

      --
      Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
    2. Re:How will they prevent it from overheating? by Cerium · · Score: 1

      Planned obsolescence?

  8. An excess of computers, wasting energy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Better to have a $1 low-power embedded CPU with an API, an external interface (Ethernet, USB, WiFi, ...) and no display, so the oven can be integrated into a home network and controlled by a widget running on the user's own computer. Every appliance independently trying to do everything simply adds complication, with no benefit.

    1. Re:An excess of computers, wasting energy by dindi · · Score: 1

      Actually, an atmega368 can comfortably run a serial 20x4 character lcd, a keypad, a serial (xbee) or ethernet, cost lest than $100 ... and you can put it on a motion sensor, so if the oven is off it turns on only when you are nearby.

      But being an electric oven it is a watt-hog anyway. I prefer an electric oven, but the top has to be gas. I would be a little worried to have my gas appliance on the net. Maybe even without the net it can silently kill you with a leak.

      But I agree with you and I don't get why they cannot put a microcontroller breakout. Then you could buy an ethernet, a USB or a serial module, or connect your own to the optoisolated ttl serial. Would make the devices maybe a few bucks more expensive...

       

  9. When's Thanksgiving? by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

    "I'm just gonna have a piece of that cake you just made. You have to! -- The licenses on derivative works, and all that..."

    --
    (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
  10. The new generation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Finally, I can upgrade from my NetBSD running toaster!

  11. "Apple pulp cookies" using Android by jkrise · · Score: 3, Funny

    should be the first recipe on the free book that comes with the oven.

    "Apples think too much of themselves. When beaten to pulp however, they are delicious to consume. Apple pulp ideally needs to be roasted slowly to a crisp, using our special Android program. Although this app is free, and we have not applied for any patents, it is unlikely you will get this on an Apple iPhone anytiime soon. So enjoy your daily dose of "Apple pulp cookies" to keep the doctors and lawyers away."

    --
    If you keep throwing chairs, one day you'll break windows....
  12. Can you make circuits with it by Zerth · · Score: 1

    If it has custom profiles suitable for doing solder reflow, I could see getting one.

  13. 5 years from now by Kryptonian+Jor-El · · Score: 4, Insightful

    When android 4.0 is completely obsolete, and so is the hardware in the oven, what are you going to do? No apps will be compatible. This stuff needs to be modular, so you can remove it and upgrade it; the electronics will be outdated loooooong before the oven needs to be replaced

    --
    All your 09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0 are belong to us
    1. Re:5 years from now by NIK282000 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      If it's going to be a "smart" device I would expect it to be about the same build quality as phones and MP3 players. In 5 years the batteries wont hold a charge, the door wont stay shut and you'll have to put a rubber band on it to keep the on button pushed in. Then you can justify getting a new one!

      --
      Dear aunt, let's set so double the killer delete select all
    2. Re:5 years from now by Kryptonian+Jor-El · · Score: 1

      This is why an all-purpose tablet would be great. Put a long-term wireless standard in these appliances, and sync that up to a tablet. 1 smart device for all appliances, that can be used outside of the kitchen, and can be upgraded as tech improves

      --
      All your 09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0 are belong to us
    3. Re:5 years from now by melchoir55 · · Score: 2

      I have apps on my android phone from about 5 years ago. They work fine. All you are going to want on the thing, presumably, are apps related to cooking or the oven itself.

      You won't need to upgrade the hardware, because you aren't going to upgrade the software. You're going to leave the OS on it as-is for 15 years and use it to run super-simple apps which you could probably run on a computer built in 1999.

      If I were designing this thing in hobbyist mode I probably wouldn't even have bothered making something with specs as high as the manufacturer is supplying.

    4. Re:5 years from now by ikaruga · · Score: 2

      This device is so niche that I'm pretty sure the only people developing apps for it are the maker itself and a small community of fans, both of which know the specs and limitations of the device they are targeting. It's not like there is a standard oven control protocol either so no need for compatibility between other similar devices either. And I'm definitely not running an oven app on my phone either(might consider it for my gaming PC though). Having Android in this oven is like having some form of linux on some washing machines or dvd players. It's there just because the maker though it would be easier to use an open source OS than to build one from scratch.
      Also, Android apps tend to be very backwards compatible, and you definitely won't be running anything intensive on an oven either.

    5. Re:5 years from now by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      With many of the top downloaded Android apps being written for Eclair (2.0 not 2.1) and those which don't actually supporting the even older Donut (1.6) somehow I don't think this is a major problem.

      Also why do you suddenly think that the existence of future apps renders the old ones obsolete? Quite the opposite is true. The Android Market or Play Store or whatever the hell they call it will actively block incompatible updates and prevent them from being installed on the device.

      At that point all there is to worry about is a security hole in the old app, but then looking at the changelogs I've never seen an app updated due to a security issue, and I've also not heard of an Android device being compromised as a result of a security bug in a 3rd party app, usually just some 3rd party app was written specifically to be the malware.

    6. Re:5 years from now by Anonym0us+Cow+Herd · · Score: 1

      > When android 4.0 is completely obsolete, and so is the hardware in the oven, what are you going to do?

      You mean like an iMac that integrates a quickly obsolete computer with an expensive monitor that would normally have economic value over multiple generations of computer? That kind of obsolete? Or did you mean something different?

      --
      The price of freedom is eternal litigation.
    7. Re:5 years from now by bigtrike · · Score: 1

      I do agree with you, but most people that buy Dacor appliances seem to be the type to be remodeling their kitchens every 5 years anyways.

  14. And pacing isn't wasting energy? by tepples · · Score: 1

    Better to have a $1 low-power embedded CPU with an API, an external interface (Ethernet, USB, WiFi, ...) and no display, so the oven can be integrated into a home network and controlled by a widget running on the user's own computer.

    Which would require the user to pace back and forth between the room with "the user's own computer" and the kitchen with the oven.

    1. Re: And pacing isn't wasting energy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Why pace? My tablet is portable.

    2. Re: And pacing isn't wasting energy? by rikkards · · Score: 1

      Which means you have to remember to always have your tablet handy if you are about to cook something.
      Point still stands

  15. Awesome! by GODISNOWHERE · · Score: 2

    Now all it needs is some hot new apps!


    *Ducks*

  16. 5 years from now? Not a problem. by Andy+Prough · · Score: 4, Funny

    Windows 12 EB (EasyBake version) will be out of beta by then.

  17. Next thing by viperidaenz · · Score: 1

    Android powered kitchen sink

    1. Re:Next thing by webmistressrachel · · Score: 2

      Will it have arms and hands to do the dishes?? I'm in... OH wait, if it gets hacked it could attack me while I'm using "manual mode"...

      --
      This tagline was transcoded to result in at least one smirk. If you experience failure to smirk, please consult your Gen
  18. Finally! by istartedi · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Finally! Appliances that last less than two years. Regular shoddy merchandise cut the replacement time to about 5 years, but that wasn't good enough. We need appliances on a two year update cycle. This is especially true for the refrigerator. The damned things last for decades. Decades, I tell you! That lousy refrigerant that also lubricates the pump. Awful stuff. Finally we can get those on a two-year upgrade cycle too.

    Oh, BTW, "we" are the manufacturers. Customers? I think we heard of those one time. We turned them into "consumers". They WILL comply.

    --
    For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
  19. Could be useful by steveha · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I know the consensus on /. is going to be that this idea is totally silly.

    But, I can think of a few features I wouldn't mind having on a smart oven:

    * It joins my home network, and I can put a widget on my desktop showing current oven temperature and the value of any countdown timers running.

    * It has optional temperature probes, so if you want to do your meat right, instead of cooking by time you cook until the meat hits the correct temperature. And the current temperature appears on the desktop widget I mentioned above, and an alert fires when the temperature hits a certain value.

    I have a meat temperature probe that came complete with a remote display/alarm. (The worst thing about it: if you take it out of range, it never goes off. It really should have a "watchdog" feature where it says "hey, I haven't received a heartbeat in a while, I must be out of range or something" and the alarm goes off.) I would love having the oven on my home network, using open protocols; let's face it, if I'm waiting for a pie to cook or something I'm going to be at my computer.

    I can think of sillier ideas.

    * Lots of fancy cook cycles. I looked at TFA and it seems they already have this one covered.

    * QR codes on foods you cook in the oven, and you wave them past a cheap camera on the oven and it sets up the cook cycle!

    * Multiple, convenient, named timers. The "Pie0" timer is almost done, but the "Pie1" timer has another ten minutes on it. I wouldn't buy one just for this, but I'd use it if I had it.

    * Voice input for things like setting timer names?

    This isn't the hottest idea I've ever heard, but it's not completely half-baked.

    --
    lf(1): it's like ls(1) but sorts filenames by extension, tersely
    1. Re:Could be useful by RCSInfo · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I like where you are going. The idea of an oven with Android isn't bad, but it should do a lot more than the oven in the article. I'd definitely add one thing to the wish list - a camera. At the very least it could give me a video feed of what is cooking that I could stream to my desktop or phone.

      After the technology takes off, I then would like to get some photo recognition software going. My ideal oven will indicate when food is done by using color and pattern recognition that it downloaded from the Internet along with the recipe.

    2. Re:Could be useful by ClosedEyesSeeing · · Score: 3, Funny

      This isn't the hottest idea I've ever heard, but it's not completely half-baked.

      Yeah, I'm starting to warm up to the idea.

    3. Re:Could be useful by grumpy_old_grandpa · · Score: 1

      > Voice input for things like setting timer names?

      Yes, I can see how that goes:
      - nineteen minutes, please

      Starting ninety minute program...
      OTA update started. Please to not shut down the own while this is in progress

  20. What next??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    A gun, an oven, what next? The toilet will run Android to help me aim...

  21. Other apps = Angry Birds? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    How do you prepare Angry Birds in an Android oven? 450 degrees for an hour per every 4 lbs?

    I assume they taste like chicken...

  22. Great for Jokesters... & even arsonists...? by ivi · · Score: 1

    So, expect someone to cook your breakfast on your Birthday, etc (a nice enough event).

    But, on Apr Fool's Day, someone could set-off smoke detectors (worse if they also open
    fire-sprinklers, that could damage furnishings, etc.)

    And, arsonists could set a fire remotely... from many Km's ago (creating a bullet-proof
    alibi). ...otherwise, a cool toy / tool.

  23. Re:DIY by dindi · · Score: 1

    The cost of an ESC(kind of)/dimmer device that can be safely controlled without burning themselves to ashes. If the oven already has some kind of timer (chances are good if it is an electric oven, especially if it has microwave) then probably it hasmind-bending proprietary crap running in it you would have to cut in half to interface to it.

    But yes, a simple electric oven could be controlled with a few relays and a dimmer. I would be scared to automate my gas oven/burners though. It is OK that sometimes my lights turn on/off (crap X10 and some custom arduino code), but if my oven starts leaking gas .. well .. that is just creepy and bad :)

  24. Processor running a bit hot... by jrumney · · Score: 1

    I'm glad someone has finally found a use for Intel's Android port.

  25. Batteries? by DarwinSurvivor · · Score: 1

    Am I the only one seeing a battery status incon in the bottom-right corner in that first big screenshot. Why in world would an electric appliance have a battery powered interface?!? Also, next to it appears to be a cell phone reception indicator. I can understand wifi (which is also there), but why does your OVEN need a MOBILE networking interface?!?

  26. That settles it. BSD has lost, and will die. by wvmarle · · Score: 1

    Of course, it's a troll: BSD is dying. But this one settles it once and for all.

    After all, BSD can only run on a lowly toaster, now Android totally eclipses them by running on an oven! I don't think BSD can ever recover from such a smack in the face.

  27. Apps by MatrixCubed · · Score: 1

    I'm sure there will appear an app which auto-orders delivery pizza in the event your dinner burns to a crisp....

  28. Android is for Wimps by RudyHartmann · · Score: 1

    I control my oven using DOS and DESQview with the command line. Weasels!

    --
    Oh, yeah! Wise guy, huh? Woob woob woob woob! Nyuk! Nyuk!
  29. The people who design these things by kilodelta · · Score: 3, Informative

    Should be forced to read "The Toaster Story". http://ronald.naweb.com/funnies/tech02-toast.html

  30. Perfect! I want (the buggy) one! by freaker_TuC · · Score: 1

    No more christmas dinners to cook anymore, with the help from Google calendar :p

    --
    --- I am known for the ones who want to find me on the net. Is that a privacy risk or a privilege? One might wonder..
  31. Re:FU google by Andy+Prough · · Score: 1

    Oh, you are WAY behind on the times, aren't you? Android toilet will be released in February: http://techland.time.com/2012/12/17/android-controlled-toilet-makes-your-non-android-toilet-seem-like-a-throne-of-spikes-sandpaper-and-lameness/. Don't you have your pre-order in yet??

  32. I feel like such a loser. by Andy+Prough · · Score: 1

    I just have my gas grill in the backyard. Can't even play Angry Birds on it, or Pandora, or send a Tweet from it. It just sits there like a dumb hunk of metal.

  33. ... you must like your meat really rare by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 1

    Look, if you stick a probe into a piece of meat, and it then wanders out of the closed oven, your meat is to rare! Either kill it more or don't leave it outside the fridge for so long.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

  34. blast from the past by plaut · · Score: 3, Interesting

    "In the future, the proof of a person's technical skill will be based on their
    ability to boot linux on random objects. Those who are able to get a bash
    prompt on a toaster oven will be gods that walk among us, constantly harping
    on our choice of distribution."

                                    --deathbyzen (slashdot.org 14-Dec-05)

  35. Re:DIY by vlm · · Score: 1

    The cost of an ESC(kind of)/dimmer device that can be safely controlled without burning themselves to ashes

    Cheapie cheapie. You should see what the CNC and PLC guys do cheap. At these "thermal mass" "thermal inertia" you don't do high rate PWM (well, actually thats pretty much what an induction cooktop is, but I digress). An opto isolated SSR is not much higher cost than a physical switch of similar quality / reliability / power level, crazy as that sounds to old timers.

    My stove already has nice controls. Give me something new and useful.

    I think controlling the oven is nearly useless to me. What I would like is 1980s era computation levels like "convert from C to F in a chart or whatever", the infinitely complicated sugar cooking temp level chart, and ESPECIALLY a nice GUI timer with individual timers for EACH burner and shelf of the oven. Also may as well install decent speakers so I can stream music. Basically this is all stuff I do while in the kitchen with my current array of tablets/phones, except this would cost a lot more money and theoretically be easier to clean and more food-proof.

    --
    "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
  36. Re:Oh dearie, dearie me... by vlm · · Score: 1

    Soon there'lll be no device left which doesn't feature some

    Its a fad thing. About a generation. In the 80s/90s you couldn't buy a kitchen appliance without a shitty two button clock that would never be set and was completely useless for everyone, although it meet the "checkbox" requirement for all appliances to have a shitty digital clock. Stove, microwave, breadmaker, stand mixer, coffee maker, old fashioned cord phone, fridge, heck I bet there were hand miixers and blenders with shitty digital clocks.

    That is mostly dead and if you want a modern kitchen you only get a clock in the stove, or you buy one and hang it up. Thats it.

    This will be the same way. Soon you'll have to wait 5 minutes for android to boot on your hand mixer and apply all recent app updates before you can mix some cake batter. Then next time it'll complain that you didn't properly spend 2 minutes shutting down before pulling the plug. Don't worry this all makes it convenient and "better". And a generation beyond that, people will be doing something equally stupid, yet different, and be all "WTF were you thinking?"

    --
    "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
  37. Excessive heat and electrocis? by SGDarkKnight · · Score: 1

    I'm just curious how the electronics would handle the excessive heat over the course of time.

    --

    ...A no smoking section in a restaurant is like having a no peeing section in a swimming pool...
    1. Re:Excessive heat and electrocis? by P-niiice · · Score: 1

      Insulation, the same as any other electronic range I'd imagine.

  38. Quit trying to make computerized kitchens happen! by RevWaldo · · Score: 2

    It's never going to happen!

    OK, maybe not never, but they've been pushing the idea of computers making life in the kitchen for Suzie Homemaker a breeze since practically the days of Bletchley Park and its never completely taken off. "It can keep an inventory of ingredients you have on hand! A full database of recipes! Develop nutritionally complete meal plans! Automatic shopping lists! Step-by-step cooking instructions with automated temperature controls!"

    And the people saw these innovations, and thought....meh.

    Probably everyone here has a microwave that let's you put in the time/power for dozens of food items with the mere push of a couple of buttons - "press Potato once for one potato, twice for two potatoes" - and we can barely be bothered to even use that. (I used the Water button on mine for my morning cuppa tea, but that's it.) We just go "eeeeehhh, three minutes sounds about right." Cooking is still a realm where people are perfectly comfortable with winging it.

    .

  39. Brilliant!! by JestersGrind · · Score: 1

    Now I can play Angry Birds on my oven while I roast an angry bird!!

  40. Angry Birds while baking Turkey by mcspoo · · Score: 1

    or Bad Piggies while cooking a ham...
    Perhaps there's a limit to the devices that actually need Android on them? I mean, I'm sure I don't need a toothpick with Android installed...

  41. Re:DIY by Anonym0us+Cow+Herd · · Score: 1

    > What's to keep a resourceful person from rewiring their current oven to a spare phone in order to accomplish the same thing at a fraction of the price?

    Your insurance company.

    --
    The price of freedom is eternal litigation.
  42. QR codes by bigtrike · · Score: 1

    They could be printed with food safe UV ink on the foods themselves. I've wondered why microwaves don't do this. I realize that cook times vary, but you could store the kWh to cook the food along with power levels and timing in the QR code.

  43. Integrate this with.... by roc97007 · · Score: 1

    ...pink slime, and a 3D printer, and you'll really have something.

    "Cornish game hen? Yeah, I can do that. Let me call up the template..."

    --
    Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
  44. Phone integration... by Gibgezr · · Score: 1

    If this thing lets me check the status of my oven on my phone, and does things like ring me when the roast is cooked, I'm interested.

  45. Just wait by IronDragon · · Score: 1

    First there will be QR codes on food packages to set the oven's temperature and cooking time.

    Then there will be people starving, because they threw out the package before scanning it.