GE WiFi Connected Appliances will now work directly with Google Assistant

NEWS – GE has announced that the will be the first appliance manufacturer to work directly with Google Assistant. That means that instead of saying, “Hey Google, ask Geneva Home to preheat the oven to 425 degrees,” you’ll now be able to say to your GE WiFi Connected appliance, “Hey Google, preheat the oven to 425 degrees.” Yes, you will now be able to bypass GE’s Geneva Home Action assistant altogether, saving time and awkwardness speaking lengthy commands.

GE offers a variety of WiFi Connected appliances that include ovens, microwaves, dishwashers, washers, dryers, refrigerators, and air conditioners. A software update will add the new Google Assistant capability.

You can shop GE WiFi Connected Appliances by visiting geappliances.com

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GE WiFi Connected Appliances will now work directly with Google Assistant originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 31, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

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Sodastream Fizzi One Touch review

I used to be addicted to Diet Coke. But then I became sensitive to caffeine and had to cut out all caffeinated drinks. I took this problem and turned it into my motivation to stop drinking artificially sweetened drinks. But the problem is that I really missed fizzy drinks. For a while, I made my own using seltzer, stevia, and Cappella’s flavor drops. This worked fine but it meant that I needed to keep a supply of bottled seltzer. Then I switched to a SodaStream Crystal Sparkling Water Maker for on-demand fizzy drink goodness. I loved that machine. Well, except that I had problems getting consistent fizziness of my drinks. But those days are gone now that I’ve started using the SodaStream Fizzi One Touch. Let’s check it out.

What is it?

The SodaStream Fizzi One Touch is a table-top appliance that carbonates water with 3 levels of carbonation to choose from.

What’s in the box?

SodaStream Fizzi One Touch
60 liter co2 carbonator
1 liter BPA-free reusable source carbonating bottle
AC adapter

Design and features

The Fizzi One Touch looks similar to other SodaStream sparkling water makers. It’s a 5″ x 7 1/4″ x 17″ high gloss black plastic device with the SodaStream logo on the front.

The back of the One Touch pops off the back of the unit to reveal the holder for the CO2 cartridge.

Installing the cartridge takes just a few seconds. All you have to do is peel off the wrapper at the top and remove the cap. This reveals the connector.

Then you slide the cartridge in place and screw it into the receptacle.

The next step is to attach the AC adapter to the bottom of the unit and route the cable. This is the first SodaStream that I’ve used that requires power. The others that I’ve tried over the years were manual sparkling water makers that required me to press the button as many times as needed to carbonate the water. That’s where the Fizzi One Touch is so much better because it does all the work for you!

The Fizzi One Touch comes with one BPA-free 1 Liter plastic bottle. The bottle is clear with a chrome-covered cap and base. Printed on the bottom is a fill line that helps you fill the bottle to the appropriate level.

The One Touch has a nozzle that goes into the bottle to “inject” the carbonation into the water.

Around the nozzle is an automatic clamp that holds the top of the bottom when you insert it.

You might be wondering if you can fill the bottle with something other than water and the answer to that question is no. The SodaStream is designed to only carbonate water. Trying other liquids can result in a mess and/or ruining your SodaStream, so don’t try it.

The nozzle swivels out from the unit to allow you to angle the bottle into the clamp.

When the bottle is in place, you press the bottle back into the unit so it’s in an upright position and is ready for carbonation.

As I mentioned earlier, the SodaStream Fizzi One Touch is a powered carbonator. On the top of the unit are three buttons that light up in blue when the unit is active. The left button (one drop) is for light fizz, the middle button (two drops) is for medium fizz, and the right button (three drops) is for high fizz.

It takes one button press to wake up the unit at which point the buttons will light up. Then you can press the button you want for the desired amount of fizz. Then the Fizzi will carbonate the water in the attached bottle. As soon as the lights on the buttons go out, you can remove the bottle.

See it in action

Using the One Touch is pretty much effortless. I prefer to fill the bottle with water and put it in the fridge so it gets cold BEFORE I make my drinks. But that’s just because I don’t want to water down the flavor with melting ice.

I like my homemade flavored soda drinks to be very fizzy, so I always use the max fizz button. I’ve been VERY happy with the performance of the Fizzi One Touch. Each time the fizz level is exactly the same unlike other SodaStream that I’ve used that have different fizz levels based on how many times and how long you press the manual button. I much prefer the One Touch do the work to get it the same fizz level each and every time.

Time will tell if the CO2 cartridge in the One Touch actually ends up lasting longer or not as long as the cartridge in a manual sparkling water maker. From what I’ve read, one cartridge should be able to carbonate up to 60 liters. New cartridges cost about $15 when you trade in your old one at Best Buy, Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, etc.

What I like

  • Consistent results with one button press
  • Easy to use

What needs to be improved

  • A 2nd bottle would be nice

Final thoughts

I love the SodaStream Fizzi One Touch. It has removed the only pain point that I had from the previous SodaStream that I used but adding the one touch carbonation feature. The only way that I could be better would be to include an extra bottle but otherwise, it’s a definite keeper and popular gadget in our kitchen.

Price: $129.99
Where to buy: SodaStream and William Sonoma
Source: The sample for this review was provided by SodaStream.

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Sodastream Fizzi One Touch review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 14, 2018 at 12:46 pm.

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Laundry day won’t be such a chore when you can wash two loads and dry two loads at a time

NEWS – Laundry will take less time with these FlexWash and FlexDry machines from Samsung.  Both have two tubs, so they can both handle two loads at once.

The Samsung FlexWash WV9600 5.5 Total cu. ft. FlexWash™ Washer is available in fingerprint-resistant black stainless steel or in white.  Both the top-loading washer and the front-loading washer have separate controls, so you can do a regular load and a delicate load simultaneously.  The washer can use steam to help clean your clothes without needing pre-treatment.  Unlike most washers, the FlexWash machine releases steam from the bottom of the tub, to better saturate your clothes.

Samsung says their “VRT Plus™ Technology reduces vibration 40% more than standard VRT™ for quiet washing. An innovative tub design and special sensors keep heavy loads balanced even at high spin speeds.”  And their “Diamond Drum Design extends clothing life by treating fabrics gently”.

The FlexWash machine is WiFi connected, so you can remotely monitor remaining cycle time, receive alerts when the cycle is complete, and schedule cycles from anywhere using your smartphone device.  You can also troubleshoot problems with the washer with Smart Care, which interacts with your washer and dryer to perform an immediate diagnosis and offer quick solutions.  The Samsung FlexWash WV9600 5.5 Total cu. ft. FlexWash™ Washer is $1,367.00 ($232 off normal price) directly from Samsung now.

The Samsung DV9600 7.5 cu. ft. FlexDry™ Gas Dryer is the perfect match.  It is also WiFi-connected and can be monitored, controlled, or diagnosed remotely with your smartphone app.  Both machines are Energy Star certified, and both machines are available in white or the black stainless steel.

The FlexDry machine has Multi-Steam Technology with multiple steam options, so you can “reduce and remove wrinkles, odors, bacteria and static. Unlike other steam dryers which require users to manually refill a water reservoir, Samsung’s Multi-Steam Technology requires no refills. Now you can confidently steam away wrinkles and spend less time ironing.”  The big, front-loading dryer can handle everyday clothes, while the standstill dryer on top dries delicates to prevent shrinkage and fabric damage.

The Samsung DV9600 7.5 cu. ft. FlexDry™ Gas Dryer is $1,609 at Samsung.

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Laundry day won’t be such a chore when you can wash two loads and dry two loads at a time originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 23, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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Hate washing dishes by hand? Here’s a dishwasher that fits in even the tiniest kitchen.

If you rent an apartment without a dishwasher or spend a lot of time traveling in an RV, the SPT Countertop Dishwasher may be exactly what you need.  The dishwasher measures 21.67″ wide x 19.67″ deep x 17.25″ tall, so it will fit on many countertops.  You connect to the kitchen faucet with the included faucet adapter.

The exterior is white or silver-colored plastic; the interior and spray arm are durable stainless steel.  Just like bigger models, this countertop dishwasher has automatic detergent and rinse agent dispensers.  The dish rack and flatware basket holds up to 6 standard place settings.  The dishwasher has six cycles to get your dishes clean:  heavy, normal, light, glass, speed, soak.

The SPT Countertop Dishwasher is $230.00 at Amazon.

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Hate washing dishes by hand? Here’s a dishwasher that fits in even the tiniest kitchen. originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 19, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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Having a small kitchen no longer means you can’t have gourmet appliances

Having a tiny kitchen meant, in the past, that you couldn’t have a gourmet kitchen.  That’s no longer true with Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances.  They’ve offered 30″ dual-fuel ranges, cooktops, wall ovens, and counter-depth fridge/freezer units for some time now, but now they’ve introduced 24″ and smaller appliances for the tiniest of kitchens.

Sub-Zero now offers integrated counter-depth column refrigerator modules as narrow as 24″ and freezer modules as narrow as 18″, so you can custom design your refrigerated storage.  They also offer 18″ wine fridges and 15″ wide ice makers.

Wolf offers a variety of cooking options for the small kitchen, including a 24″ 3-burner induction cooktop, a 24″ E Series Transitional built-in single convection oven, 24″ built-in steam ovens, built-in drop-drawer microwave, and a built-in coffee system.

Go to the Sub-Zero / Wolf website to learn more and start planning your dream kitchen.

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Having a small kitchen no longer means you can’t have gourmet appliances originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 16, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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