Can you believe it’s 2014?!
Those of you who have been reading my blog for awhile will know that I go to Las Vegas every January. Of course, the fantastic food that Las Vegas offers is a huge reason that we go (as evidenced by the numerous Las Vegas restaurant posts I have on this blog). However, the main reason we go each year in January is to check out the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the largest trade show of its kind.
So why am I talking about an electronics show on a food blog?
After all, isn’t CES the place where they show off all the latest tech gadgets? Like uber-thin flat screen TVs?
Cool touch screen projectors?
And the latest in 3D technology?
Yes and no.
CES is huge. There is a lot of all that gadget-y stuff (which, frankly, my husband loves). But there’s also a lot of other really, really cool technology that has nothing to do with flat screens: things like the latest technology in music, cars, lighting, audio systems, and even the kitchen!
That’s right.
CES has a huge section devoted to the newest innovations in kitchen technology. It’s super fun to check out what tomorrow’s appliances will be able to do.
This year, I have the privilege of partnering with Whirlpool at CES. I’ll be blogging (live from Las Vegas!) about some of the cool new things they’ll be showing. I don’t have all the information yet, but here’s a sneak peek at some of the stuff.
At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Jan. 7 – 11 in Las Vegas, Whirlpool® brand is showcasing how its three pillars, Connection, Expression, and Innovation come together in both new products and innovative concepts for the future as part of Whirlpool® 20/20.
Connection
Imagine . . . . appliances that talk to you as well as to each other.
Connection means creating appliances that connect you with your world. That speaks volumes to me. I love my current thermostat which I can control with my smartphone. Not only does it save me money by lowering the temperature when I’m not home, I can turn it on remotely with my phone once I know I’m on my way home. In cold Boston, it’s very, very nice to come home to a nicely heated house.
At CES, Whirlpool will be featuring some concept appliances that do just that – talk to each other and also to your smartphone. Just imagine how much easier life would be if you had information and control over your appliances at the tip of your fingers anytime.
I can’t wait to learn more about it.
Expression
Imagine . . appliances designed to reflect each person’s unique style
Expression is about having appliances that are customized to your individual style. Why should handbags, cell phone cases, and cars have all the fun? It’s about time that boring appliances get an upgrade in style. I’ve always enjoyed funky furniture, novelty kitchen appliances, and unusual office supplies. I like being different, so having customizeable appliances totally makes sense to me. It would be fun to pick the color, design, and other features of an appliance, if possible.
Whirlpool is featuring several things at CES including 1) MaxArt Microwaves, colorful, expressive microwaves designed by two Mexican artists using graffiti techniques and 2) Designer Duets – a washer and dryer customizeable with a huge array of colors and designs.
Giveaway #1!
Throughout the week of CES, consumers will have the chance to win a custom laundry pair of their own with the You Be The Designer Sweepstakes.
- Create your perfect Duet® Design and enter for a chance to win a new Duet® Washer and Dryer
- One winner picked daily during CES wins a new Duet® washer and dryer
- One lucky grand-prize-winner takes home the very first Duet® Designer pair from Whirlpool®
To enter the sweepstakes, click here.
Innovation
Imagine . . . the coolest technology you can dream up applied to your everyday appliances
Innovation very important for any company that relies on technology. Although it’s true that most appliances rely on basic, fundamental technology to work, there are still many ways in which our lives could be made so much easier with more innovative solutions.
Whirlpool will be featuring a concept of their Interactive Cooktop, a flat surface on which you can cook anywhere as well as interact with social media, look up recipes, and manage appointments all on one device. I think I have to see this to decide how useful it is, though I do admit that I do use my iPad a lot right now when I’m in the kitchen – mostly to look up recipes!
They will also be featuring CoolVox™, a refrigerator that can play music using bluetooth technology, which can be controlled using a smartphone.
If you want to learn more and/or can’t make it out to Vegas next week, free to browse Whirlpool’s CES website, which will be constantly updated throughout CES (January 7-11). You can also check in here, where I will be writing at least a couple more posts once I’m there in Vegas.
Of course, even if you’re not in the market for appliances right now, I’ll also be blogging (or at least posting photos on Instagram, Facebook, or Google Plus) about all my Vegas eats, so definitely stick around.
Hope you’re enjoying 2014 so far!
Giveaway #2!
- Since Whirlpool 20/20 is all about a future focused on you, we, want to hear your ideas for it. Sharing a comment below, tell us your idea for the future for your home and be entered to win a $1,000 grand prize.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
- Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
- Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
- Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
- For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winner will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
BlogHer will pool entries from participating blogs and select a sweepstakes winner at random and will contact the winner with details about fulfilling the prize.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 1/2/14 – 1/18/14.
All Rights Reserved
Love all the travel – hoping to travel at least half of what you did in 2014!
In the future I would love if my house had a gas burning stove that was way easier to clean than the grates and uneven surfaces.also if there was a laundry machine that can do dry cleaning. I’m super excited for you to come to Vegas! I am a recent transplant to Henderson, suburb of Vegas, from boston. I would love to show you around the places off the strip sometime or make some good recommendations.
A Dishwasher with a built in disposal!
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/peg42/status/419935612649492480
Thanks so much.
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/cnebulosus/status/419934020466536448
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/peg42/status/419936191874465792
Thanks so much.
If the washing machines were able to be both dryer and washer (powerful too). and I can control that switch in function from my iPhone. Laundry done and dry without moving! and moistness detector!
My future kitchen would be in a cabin out in the woods… with a country kitchen with all new appliances! Energy=efficient! myamurphy@mail.com
Tweet! https://twitter.com/mya98604/status/419952276220817408 myamurphy@mail.com
my future home would have solar panels and a whole house fan. I also would like to start a compost pile and a garden that I would water with rain water stored from the winter .Also new smart appliances of course and a kitchen remodel .
I would love a double oven for holiday cooking!
I would like to have a stove with a touch pad.
austma7@aol.com
I would love to have microsuede sectional sofa, a fireplace, a kitchen island, granite countertops, all new GE kitchen appliances including a double oven and a loft!
The interactive stove is AMAZING! I’d love a fridge with multiple sections that could be kept at different temperatures.
Get a UPC reading refrigerator at a decent price
Bed that alters temperature based on sleep cycle
I want to have a self cleaning microwave and a refrigerator that can tell me when that yogurt on the back shelf has gone bad
The future for my home involves me being able to manage my appliances from my smartphone over the internet.
Awesome! A stove with a touch pad!
I would like an internet connected refrigerator.
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/420030048574267392
s2s2 at comcast dot net
I would like to have an interactive home that can audibly read off my daily checklist to me in each room that I enter.
eco-friendly appliances and materials, can run by computer remotely (for example, turn on oven so warm when get home to put supper in)
tvollowitz at aol dot com
We are thinking of going solar.
https://twitter.com/sohamolina/status/420066997959806976
My future house would not only have a fridge that keeps track of the food inside, makes a grocery list, and THEN does the shopping for me! That’d be amazing 🙂 In the distant future, I’m looking forward to replicators that make everything as you need it and reabsorbs the waste when you’re done! 😀
Tweeted 🙂 – https://twitter.com/Enter_Now/status/420173699711393793
My future house will have a very open floor plan. Lots of light colors, white and different shades of blue. A huge kitchen (even though I’m not much of a cook yet) and most importantly a very large master suite with a big enough closet for all my clothes!
It would be nice to have a refrigerator that had a touch pad for inventory with the date so I would know when food needs to be used or thrown out.
Tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/420182967747506176
It would be nice if it were easier to use solar energy for our appliances
ky_grandma40@yahoo.com
I bought a cheap 1-burner induction cook top six months ago and am loving it. Very ENERGY EFFICIENT – boils water in less than a minute! I’d love to have a full 4-burner stove and a set of stainless steel cookware to go with it.
I want to see more energy efficient appliances in the future for my home and ones that can clean themselves.
lazybones344@gmail.com
I’m looking forward to a connected house. Where every screen can be accessed with the family schedule, current shopping lists, chores and whether or not the garage door is open or closed. While we are at it how about a laundry chute that separates laundry based on RFID tags and auto folds it when clean.
Tweeted… https://twitter.com/jdnorthwest/status/420254081563652096
So Whirlpool… when will we get a machine that’ll wash and then transfer the load to the dryer itself (or just morph into a dryer)?
Ah, yes-my home of the future-interactive appliances, self-cleaning everything-and a device that will pour me a glass of wine and call me when dinner is ready!
We really need new appliances. Our
refrigerator is on its last leg and we need a new stove, our oven is not
working. I would love some new modern energy efficient appliances.
https://twitter.com/disneyfan40/status/420298609150525440
I would like to have energy efficient appliances and lights and heated floors in
every room
Cathy Truman
kbtruman(at)att(dot)net
I’d like each tap to have its own thermostat.
https://twitter.com/mkvegas/status/420327952283213825
I would like my future appliances to run efficiently and have more power
I would like to have appliance with a battery or generator backup that automatically kick on when power is lost or a refrigerator that can keep track of expiration dates on perishables and alert you when you run out of them 🙂
For the future of my home, I would love to refit my kitchen and laundry room with energy efficient appliances.
Tweet
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/420357600429891584
I’d love a “futuristic” phone which would block auto-dial calls. That way I wouldn’t get calls from telemarketers, “surveys,” political campaigns, and anyone else wanting to disturb the peace and quiet of my home.
Thanks for a generous giveaway!
Twitter entry:
https://twitter.com/Ida_Sessions/status/420371115265900544
I would like new energy star appliances that self clean
for the future of my home, I’d really like a refrigerator with more room and that keeps things fresher.
lauren51990 at aol dot com
ooh! i love reflection posts and annual recaps. =) as much as i enjoy your travel posts (esp the japan series since i just visited recently), i do look forward to reading more of your reviews on local boston venues. hope to check out some of the new ones you mentioned! =D
I’d love to have talking cookbooks that you can give oral commands to, like “wait” (while you measure an ingredient). Thanks for the giveaway!
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/ChrisMarie510/status/420438700615430144
I would like bigger rooms so I could have more storage space.
https://twitter.com/smilekisses/status/420453470211014656
My future kitchen would have appliances that self clean.
My future home will be more natural and energy-efficient pryfamily5@gmail.com
Tweeted https://mobile.twitter.com/pryfamily5/status/420362594718068736?screen_name=pryfamily5. Pryfamily5@gmail.com
I love the CoolVox refrigerator – it would be awesome to play music. My future home will have all the major appliances connected and controlled via my smartphone. I love the idea of starting the oven or cranking up the thermostat so dinner’s ready and the house is nice and warm when I get home!
https://twitter.com/hellina2000/status/420605114521370624
My future home needs a much quieter ice maker. Our fridge doesn’t have a hook-up, so we have a free standing ice maker that rattles. A quieter one would make for much more pleasant entertaining and a quieter daily life!
aleksnearing gmail com
my hope for the future of my home is more and better automated cleaning devices
I want a very large kitchen with a big island, big pantry, huge fridge and all stainless steel appliances! Maelena1990@hotmail.com
I love your blog! Your photography is amazing and your writing is incredible. I can’t wait to see where 2014 takes you and your blog. P.S. I love the Cape Cod Domo photo!