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Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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The company behind the popular Twine Kickstarter project has launched a new iOS-enabled food thermometer project called 'Range'.

RangeThermometer.png
Range comes in two flavors, one for meat and the other for high-temperature projects like candy-making. The team have not used a wireless solution like the Bluetooth used in the iGrill -- instead, the designers chose to connect the Range directly to the headphone jack of the iPhone or iPad. As a result, the thermometer can be used in the oven to monitor the temperature of roasts and the like.
Clip it on or stick it in and set an alert for the desired temperature with the Range app for iOS (we include presets for common uses). While you do the dishes or sip a well-deserved glass of wine, Range graphs the temperature over time so you can learn and improve from each experiment. Once the roast has reached temperature and achieved perfection, Range tells you.
Range is available for preorder/backing on Kickstarter for $49 for one, or $89 for both variants.

Article Link: Team Behind 'Twine' Introduces the 'Range' iOS Food Thermometer
 

Lord Hamsa

macrumors 6502a
Jul 16, 2013
698
675
Like the idea, not sure I want to leave my phone outside next to the grill

Yeah, I'd like this better if the terminal end of the cable went to a Bluetooth module so I could connect to it wirelessly. I like the idea of this device, but I don't my iOS device physically tethered to to stove/grill.
 

curmudgeon32

macrumors regular
Aug 28, 2012
240
1
I'm I'm understanding this right, the thermometer is attached via a cord to your phone, so you have to either leave your phone inside the oven, or have a cord keeping your oven from closing correctly?
 

Lord Hamsa

macrumors 6502a
Jul 16, 2013
698
675
I'm I'm understanding this right, the thermometer is attached via a cord to your phone, so you have to either leave your phone inside the oven, or have a cord keeping your oven from closing correctly?

There are already loads of digital thermometers with probes that feed into the oven. The cable basically squishes into the seal around the door - the door closes just fine.
 

Sky Blue

Guest
Jan 8, 2005
6,856
11
I'm I'm understanding this right, the thermometer is attached via a cord to your phone, so you have to either leave your phone inside the oven, or have a cord keeping your oven from closing correctly?

I have a thermometer that has it's open display on the end. The cord is usually pretty long and heat proof.
 

Doctor Q

Administrator
Staff member
Sep 19, 2002
39,764
7,478
Los Angeles
The 4' cord might not be enough to reach the counter, depending on the kitchen layout, but I suppose you can use an audio extension cord if you have to.

An alternative would have been a design with a small cord that connects the thermometer in the oven to a small blue booth transmitter outside the oven, which would let you put your iOS device anywhere in the vicinity.
 

Klae17

macrumors 65816
Jul 15, 2011
1,225
1,573
I like that these accessories are coming out for ios. However, you have to question the need for something like this when a regular thermometer will do the job better.
 

MarCow

macrumors newbie
Jul 24, 2013
2
2
I have a thermometer that has it's open display on the end. The cord is usually pretty long and heat proof.

Right - there's no "as a result, the thermometer can be used in the oven" here. I have an iGrill, and the main unit sits outside the oven with the probe inside. The same would be true of the Range, apart from the fact that it's my iPhone/iPad at the other end of the wire, instead of an iGrill unit which then transmits to the iPhone via Bluetooth. This would mean my iPhone is tethered to my oven for as long as I'm cooking, and that wouldn't be great if I'm using it outside with my grill (which is what I normally do with the iGrill). Shame, as the app looks very nice in comparison to the iGrill app.

Why not allow this to be plugged into a Twine, as well as directly into an iPhone? I already have two Twines, and the Range app ought to be able to be made to work with it I would think.
 

HiRez

macrumors 603
Jan 6, 2004
6,250
2,576
Western US
If the inside of the cord is metal, how does it avoid having heat travel up the cord over time to fry your iPhone/iPad?
 

trainwrecka

macrumors 6502a
Apr 24, 2007
515
709
Earth
Yeah, I'd like this better if the terminal end of the cable went to a Bluetooth module so I could connect to it wirelessly. I like the idea of this device, but I don't my iOS device physically tethered to to stove/grill.

The iGrill came out a couple years ago and does just that: http://www.igrillinc.com

The early reviews showed great promise, but some of the current ones on Amazon are 1 star reviews. They do sell this in the Apple Store as well.

I would have jumped all over backing this if it had bluetooth, but not with leaving my phone outside.
 

sundog925

macrumors 6502a
Dec 19, 2011
948
971
Hasn't the novelty wore off on you guys complaining about leaving the phone outside?

jesus. its a PHONE. i was uber uptight about mine too, then after a month, it gets tossed around like everything else

GET OUTTA YOUR BUBBLES!!

and those who say "blah blah $600 device noise noise", u most likely paid $200 so just do me a favor and leave your snarky comment at the door.

/end
 

HitchHykr

macrumors 6502a
Jun 13, 2007
542
1
Virginia
Hasn't the novelty wore off on you guys complaining about leaving the phone outside?

jesus. its a PHONE. i was uber uptight about mine too, then after a month, it gets tossed around like everything else

GET OUTTA YOUR BUBBLES!!

and those who say "blah blah $600 device noise noise", u most likely paid $200 so just do me a favor and leave your snarky comment at the door.

/end

I think it's time for a Snickers bar....
 

dazed

macrumors 6502a
Jun 23, 2007
911
211
Nice idea, terrible video. Very unprofessionally shot and sounds like the sound was recorded inside a tin.

Doesn't exactly inspire quality.

----------

I think it's time for a Snickers bar....

You win best quote of the day :)
 

jkestner

macrumors newbie
Jul 24, 2013
13
5
Hi - Range creator (and longtime MacRumors reader) here. Thanks for the interest. We went with wired instead of wireless for reasons of reliability/cost/battery anxiety/reliability. Also, we did design it for more than just outdoor grilling. :) Put your phone under a bowl and/or repurpose your old 3GS, maybe. I'm most excited about our plans for the app - we didn't want to just do some skeuomorphic temperature dial. I'm going to get to be scientific with my complex experiments using the recipe graphing!

We're conscious of the shortcomings of some other things out there, and we wanted to provide a well-designed alternative - hope you like it enough to back us, or like us enough to support our ongoing development of cool new objects you'll want in the future.

Sorry the Kickstarter video was the impression you took away of the product - the audio bugs me too.
 

friedmud

macrumors 65816
Jul 11, 2008
1,415
1,265
For everyone that wants bluetooth - look into iGrill (also referenced in this story). It looks _much_ better than this...
 

thefourthpope

Contributor
Sep 8, 2007
1,391
738
DelMarVa
Like the concept. I expect to phase my ipad2 out as a recipe / kitchen media center, and hadn't thought about it as a temperature gauge, too.
But like others have said, tethering it right next to 400+ degrees....I dunno
 

japasneezemonk

macrumors 6502
Jun 13, 2005
491
139
Nomad
Having worked in a commercial kitchen for a about 10 years, I can tell you that this thermometer looks cool, but in a fast paced kitchen where your firing meals for multiple covers faster than you can plate any dishes, this would be utterly useless (and fragile). We use some super fast Thermapen Thermometers that do need to be used with care, but won't break if you drop them or melt if you leave too close to a range spitting out 20,000 BTU's.
 

mrgraff

macrumors 65816
Apr 18, 2010
1,087
837
Albuquerque
The video is not that great, but I'm kind of glad actually. Sometimes I watch those slick overproduced kickstarter videos and wonder what they need my money for.
 

dantastic

macrumors 6502a
Jan 21, 2011
572
678
A digital thermometer with alarm and all funky features cost what, up to $20 or so. It can also withstand a lot more abuse than an iDevice ever could.

I have an old iPad assigned to kitchen duties already. Great for recipes and the like but I can't see myself spending $50 on this thing over a conventional digital thermometer.
 

roadbloc

macrumors G3
Aug 24, 2009
8,784
215
UK
As an ex-chef, I can't see an iPhone going through the abuse the Kitchen equipment gets unfairly dealt. Neat idea though.
 
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