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Whatever happened to simply walking up to your crockpot and setting the timer ? Do we really need WiFi in a stupid crockpot ?

That's my reaction - the great thing about a crock pot is that you set it, walk away (go to sleep or work) and leave it without touching it during cooking. You don't adjust the temperature, you don't take the lid off, you leave it. Seems a strange kitchen appliance to support in this way.

I don't get it.
 
what is belkin thinking? no thunderbolt? not even usb3? At the very least I'd expect a modern crock pot to have some SD memory options…

a camera on the inside would be funny.......

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CES is a dream come true for MacRumors....

.....they can finally post articles about useless products all day long.....
 
Belkin-- my go to source of kitchen accessories...

Is it just me or would having access to the controls make more sense for a fast cooker? Do I need to instantly know when my 10 hour stew switched from 'cook' to 'keep warm'?
 
I like the WeMo product line a lot. I have three wall light switches installed. They are nice to have.

This on the other hand, I don't think I will have a use for it. Heck we don't do much crock pot cooking to begin with so I will pass. Interested to see what else they come up with though and if other companies are going to join in!
 
It needs to have an internal camera so that photos of your meal are automatically shared on Facebook, Instagram, or SnapChat while its cooking.

The app needs to monitor the dishes you create in it and gather feedback from you regarding taste, fulfillment, digestibility, etc. This would be presented to you in a series of graphs.

Future enhancements include integration with the toilet to monitor your digestive health and expected plumbing needs.
 
The pot said to the iKettle

This seems like just another one of those "Pot calling the iKettle Space Grey" sort of situations if you ask me.
 
[url=http://cdn.macrumors.com/im/macrumorsthreadlogodarkd.png]Image[/url]


Belkin has introduced a new Crock-Pot-brand slow cooker integrated with the company's WeMo home automation technology. According to Belkin, this will be the first of a number of WeMo enabled small appliances, including items like space heaters.

The Wi-Fi-enabled cooker looks nearly identical to other similar slow cookers, with controls on the front for toggling warm, low and high settings -- but chefs can use the WeMo iOS app to adjust temperatures and set automated on/off timers.

The "Crock-Pot Smart Slow Cooker enabled with WeMo" will be available for $99.99 this spring.

Belkin also announced new LED light bulbs that work with the WeMo system, similar to Philips' Hue bulbs.

Article Link: Belkin Introduces iPhone-Enabled WeMo Crock-Pot Slow Cooker

But do they have an internet refrigerator-toaster? ;p
 
[url=http://cdn.macrumors.com/im/macrumorsthreadlogodarkd.png]Image[/url]


Belkin has introduced a new Crock-Pot-brand slow cooker integrated with the company's WeMo home automation technology. According to Belkin, this will be the first of a number of WeMo enabled small appliances, including items like space heaters.

The Wi-Fi-enabled cooker looks nearly identical to other similar slow cookers, with controls on the front for toggling warm, low and high settings -- but chefs can use the WeMo iOS app to adjust temperatures and set automated on/off timers.

The "Crock-Pot Smart Slow Cooker enabled with WeMo" will be available for $99.99 this spring.

Belkin also announced new LED light bulbs that work with the WeMo system, similar to Philips' Hue bulbs.

Article Link: Belkin Introduces iPhone-Enabled WeMo Crock-Pot Slow Cooker

In all seriousness, the programmability could be good, and the "internet", even if only feeding the local network could be a great way to do this. As a materials science guy, I've programmed numerous furnaces with simple/complicated temperature ramps. I'd like to do that with a slow cooker. The options are way too limited. A good interface would help. Currently, I own two slow cookers (along with lots of examples of duplicity in my life), one allows me to sear in the pan and put the pan in the cooker for the "stew" process (it's a metal pan). The other is way cheaper, a ceramic pan (not for stove use), but perfect for service at the office party (Thanksgiving and Christmas). There is some legitimate potential for the programmability, though.
 
I could see this as a first-time crock pot buyer...or if you need a new one but no real reason to run out and get one if yours is perfectly fine.

A few years back I had an Indian Chicken dish (or maybe Moroccan, i cannot remember now) in the crockpot...halfway through the day my wife's father went to the ER and we ran to the hospital to see him, stayed there for hours and grabbed dinner on the way home since it was so late. our dinner was overcooked just sitting on the warm setting. this would have been nice.

Or when a recipe says to turn it up or down heat/time setting halfway through...though I usually skip those recipes since what's the point...i don't want to be near it that's why it is in the slow-cooker.


I can almost see it if it has an attached thermometer for the meat/dish and when it hit a certain point you could shut it off...or set it to come back on if it falls below "x" temp.

Nope, if you're a lousy cook, you're a lousy cook and no amount of gadget wizardry is ever going to help you cook a decent meal.

Food is one of those things which should never be tampered with tech. Look at the microwave and see where that has led us.
 
Nope, if you're a lousy cook, you're a lousy cook and no amount of gadget wizardry is ever going to help you cook a decent meal.

Food is one of those things which should never be tampered with tech. Look at the microwave and see where that has led us.

Now that's just silly. The microwave may not be a 100% revelation in cooking, but it's not all that bad.

But to claim that "tech" should not tamper with cooking?

Tech and science (*very* fine line) enable *vast* improvements in cooking.
 
Now that's just silly. The microwave may not be a 100% revelation in cooking, but it's not all that bad.

But to claim that "tech" should not tamper with cooking?

Tech and science (*very* fine line) enable *vast* improvements in cooking.

Ok, perhaps I might have been a little extreme with suggestions. Some tech does have uses in the kitchen like the food processor. Tech to speed up preparation and cooking is always welcome. But tech for making a lousy cook churn out Michelin-quality food is clearly not going to happen. But thats the assumption people are going to make better with this slow cooker because it can monitor every step of the process something that novice cooks will lap up easily.

I've used a fair share of "tech" cooking equipment like air fryers, automated bread makers and sous vide machines to know they come out subpar most of the time and nothing will turn out better than a good bit of blind faith and experience.
 
Nope, if you're a lousy cook, you're a lousy cook and no amount of gadget wizardry is ever going to help you cook a decent meal.

Food is one of those things which should never be tampered with tech. Look at the microwave and see where that has led us.

I'd say a thermometer was once a tech gadget. bringing science (device to get the temperature) to cooking.

What about convection ovens, or induction heating?

I am not saying it will make a BETTER cook. but I can see value in this device. not the value where you'd want to toss away a perfectly good slow-cooker but if you are in the market for one...it could be beneficial.


***and I could see the App that "comes with it" but probably FREE for others to download too, would have recipes and other stuff.***
 
That's my reaction - the great thing about a crock pot is that you set it, walk away (go to sleep or work) and leave it without touching it during cooking. You don't adjust the temperature, you don't take the lid off, you leave it. Seems a strange kitchen appliance to support in this way.

I don't get it.

You're not wrong but not every slow cooker meal requires it to cook for 9 or 10 hours. Many require half that. I could see this being useful if you wanted to delay the start of your slow cooker.

Having said that, the best option is really just to get a slow cooker with a timer function so it turns the meals down to warm when it's done.
 
Ok, perhaps I might have been a little extreme with suggestions. Some tech does have uses in the kitchen like the food processor. Tech to speed up preparation and cooking is always welcome. But tech for making a lousy cook churn out Michelin-quality food is clearly not going to happen.

Well, no, of course not! And you can't fix stupid. Not even with a iPho....

*ducks* *whistles* *walks away*
 
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