A Washer that Connects to the Internet and Other Amazingly Dumb Smart Gadgets

Smart appliances get no love. Every year at the Consumer Electronics Show, the world's gadget makers unveil a slate of refrigerators, ovens, and washer-dryers that they insist have been infused with superior intelligence. And every year, everyone scoffs. That's because smart appliances' smarts are usually pretty stupid and never worth the price. This year Samsung showed off a $4,000 fridge called the T9000. It's got an LCD touch screen and a wireless connection to the Internet. That's the sine qua non of intelligence according to gadget makers-slap a touch screen and Wi-Fi

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