Samsung is bringing its Bixby beyond the mobile devices. At the CES 2018, the Korean company showcased the Family Hub 3.0 refrigerator with advanced Bixby voice control. Samsung has not revealed exactly what the in-house voice assistant would do, but it is certain that it will personalize responses to individual voices. So, in the morning, if you ask “Hi Bixby, what’s new?” the voice assistant will offer correct calendar appointments.
Samsung Family Hub fridge – what’s new
Though the Samsung Family Hub fridge did come with Bixby support previously, it only offered basic voice controls. However, the new version brings the full capabilities of Samsung’s voice assistant.
The 2018 Samsung Family Hub smart refrigerator also includes SmartThings integration and AKG speakers “for sound that is deep in bass and rich in mid-range.” Samsung’s SmartThings is a connected home hub, allowing several devices to interact with one another. With Samsung bringing SmartThings connectivity to the Family Hub, users will be able to control and monitor the connected devices from the screen of their fridge’s front door.
“Since Family Hub’s introduction in 2016, consumers have embraced it as their home’s digital command center to help manage food, family and fun. We’ve been listening closely to current users and created a new Family Hub that’s even smarter and more advanced than before,” Samsung said, in a press release.
Users can also control the compatible third-party devices, like ring doorbell, home video cameras and thermostats. Further, users will also be able to view the camera feeds from inside their rooms of what is happening in another room.
With a built-in AKG speaker, Samsung Family Hub is the first fridge, which could replace a dedicated speaker. The AKG speaker offers better bass and midrange sounds. Further, the tech also allows users to stream music directly from their phone.
A Meal Planner as well
The 2018 Samsung Family Hub also includes software updates. One such update is a Meal Planner, which personalizes the recipes based on user’s preferences, allergies and restrictions. Further, a new Deals app would allow users to save sale-priced groceries to the shopping list.
According to Samsung, all its smart home-connected devices will not only have IoT, but will also be integrated with “intelligence” by 2020. Further, a user can already play Samsung smart TV on the fridge’s touchscreen, and going forward, a user would also be able to mirror their smartphone.
The Samsung Family Hub fridge won the 2018 CES Best of Innovation award. The machine will hit the markets this spring. As of now, there is no information on the pricing.
A 146-inch modular TV
At the CES 2018, Samsung also showcased a massive 4K TV, called The Wall. The Korean firm claims it to be the “world’s first modular TV,” measuring 146 inches. The Korean firm has not revealed much about The Wall, except for saying “the modular screen can be used to create a wall-sized display, or simply let consumers increase their traditional screen size to suit a new room in the home.”
The TV uses MicroLED technology to produce its pictures. MicroLED produces similar results as with OLED. Each microscopic LED can produce its own light, and thus no backlight is required, notes The Verge. This results in a brighter picture, something which we see with the OLED sets.
