Whirlpool touts smarts with connected appliances that talk to Google Home, Alexa

During the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Whirlpool announced it was going (almost) all-in on smart appliances by adding Wi-Fi and voice integration with Amazon’s Alexa to 20 models. For CES 2018, the manufacturer is highlighting some of these connected machines, as well as adding Google Home integration to some additional appliances. Fridges with touchscreens will also have Amazon Virtual Dash Buttons built in, so owners can reorder certain products without having to use their phones. One such machine is the new version of the Whirlpool Smart Over the Range Microwave with Scan-to-Cook Technology. Expected this spring, the microwave will receive cooking instructions from an accompanying app when the user scans a UPC code on a frozen meal. If you’re the type to ignore the Hot Pocket instructions about setting your microwave to 80 percent power, this feature is for you. The microwave will adjust it for you and set the zapping time. Its touchscreen also adapts to your family over time, learning which presets you use the most. This model will also benefit from Whirlpool’s integration with recipe app Yummly. The app can communicate with the microwave when it’s cooking in True Convection Bake Mode, letting it know exactly what you’re making and how it should handle the recipe. If microwaving isn’t your thing, you can get a lot of the same benefits out of the Whirlpool Smart Front Control Range, which also works with Yummly, has Scan-to-Cook technology, syncs with Google Home and Alexa, and has an adaptive LCD touchscreen. If you have a recipe that calls for multiple temperature changes, you can either set up the changes with voice control, or the oven will adjust itself if it’s getting the input from Yummly. Whirlpool also brought back its Smart All-in-One Care Washer and Dryer combo unit, which debuted last year at CES. It hasn’t hit the market yet, but it’s a single machine with one drum that turns from washer to dryer without the user needing to switch the clothes from one machine to another. It has voice-control and an automatic detergent dispenser, and users can download new cycles via its Wi-Fi connection. Pricing and availability aren’t yet available. While many users access Google Home on their smartphone or smart display, the platform is also available via web browser. The web-based Google Home experience wasn’t exactly the best way to access your smart devices, but that’s rapidly changing as Google rolls out new updates to the client — the latest of which adds a ton of new ways to access your Nest Cams. Google began rolling out the update late last week, and most users should now have access to the improved Google Home for web experience. The big draw is access to your Nest Cam history and the option to download clips. Prior to this update, it was impossible to view recorded clips via Google Home for web, forcing you to instead jump into the official Google Home app. Google Home is one of the best smart platforms on the market. With support for thousands of devices, easy setup, and a powerful mobile app to run the show, it’s an intuitive option for most shoppers. But what if you don’t want to use your smartphone to operate your smart home network? What if you prefer using your PC? While Google Home does not yet have dedicated PC software, it does offer a Google Home web application. It’s a bit limited in scope, but it can handle most of the basic tasks with ease. Interested in checking out Google Home on PC? Here’s a look at how it works, along with some of its limitations and other workarounds.
Can you use the Google Home app on a PC?
Google Home doesn’t have a PC app, but it does have a website. Unfortunately, Google notes that Google Home for web is in Public Preview, meaning not all features are available, and you may encounter glitches during use. The website is seeing constant updates, so there’s a good chance it’ll work just as well as the mobile apps in the future. Be sure to check it out regularly to see what’s been added. The Echo Hub and Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) are two of the newest products to join the Amazon catalog. Both are designed with large touchscreens and make it easy to access the Alexa voice assistant, connected smart gadgets, and your favorite apps. But while the two share a few similarities, there are big differences between the Echo Hub and Echo Show 8. Here’s a closer look at the Echo Hub and Echo Show 8 to help you decide which is best for your smart home.
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