I looked the product up: The “Revolution R180 smart toaster” costs 350€ and has these features:
Smart Toasting Performance
38+ toasting options across bread types, including gluten-free, warming rack, and Toastie Press™ modes (accessories sold separately).
Fresh, frozen, and reheat modes for proper toasting straight from the freezer or countertop.
7 precise browning levels for consistent results, from light to dark.
Smart toasting algorithms with temperature sensors that adjust in real time for even, repeatable toast.
Patented InstaGLO® 2.0 Heating System (reengineered) for ultra-fast heat that crisps the outside without drying the inside.
Intuitive Touchscreen Experience
7" full-color LCD touchscreen with clear, easy-to-navigate controls.
Dynamic icon home screen that surfaces your most-used settings automatically.
On-screen countdown timer and finishing chime so you know exactly when toast is ready.
Adjustable screen brightness and chime volume for a customized experience.
Connected & Smart Features (Wi-Fi Enabled)
Auto-sets time, date, and day of week when connected to Wi-Fi.
Live, local weather forecast displayed on screen.
Digital or analog clock in 12- or 24-hour format.
On-screen “time to clean” notification when the crumb tray needs attention.
Thoughtful Design & Everyday Convenience
2-slice stainless steel toaster with extra-wide slots for thick breads and bagels.
Auto-lower and lift for smooth, hands-free operation.
Easy-click removable crumb tray for simple cleanup.
Digital photo frame that cycles up to 24 photos when the toaster is idle.
The Internet-connected part is just an attack surface for no possible benefit. It’s a digital photo frame when not in use? Who the hell is in their kitchen thinking that their life would improve if only their toaster could show them photos. Live, local weather forecast? On your toaster? Surely you have other screens where that is more appropriate. A clock? A modern kitchen without any smart products probably already has at least 2-3 clocks already.
A screen could be vaguely useful, showing exactly how toasted bread should look, rather than a dial where you have to figure out just how brown the “3” setting is. Maybe special modes for toaster pastries, or other non-toast items. But, it seems like overkill.
But, a touch screen? A kitchen is just about the worst possible room for a touch screen, with the possible exception of the bathroom. I listen to podcasts while I cook, and I skip commercials, and inevitably I have to clean some goop off my screen at some point. And often the touch doesn’t register because my finger is too wet, or I dripped some water somewhere else on the screen. My mother used to have an oven/stove with a simple LCD display and those plastic-covered buttons that are common on microwaves. Even without being a “touch screen”, it was a major pain in the ass. It was in the splatter zone of the stove, so it had to be wiped down, and virtually every time it was wiped down one of the buttons was activated. If it was the “cancel” button, it could turn off the oven. If the oven was turned off it “forgot” the temperature it had been set to, so you’d have to look up the recipe again to figure out what temperature to use when you turned it back on. So, never mind touch screens, I won’t even buy an oven with bubble-type buttons rather than normal dials.
I looked the product up: The “Revolution R180 smart toaster” costs 350€ and has these features:
Smart Toasting Performance
Intuitive Touchscreen Experience
Connected & Smart Features (Wi-Fi Enabled)
Thoughtful Design & Everyday Convenience
My toaster costs 30€ and has the following features:
The Internet-connected part is just an attack surface for no possible benefit. It’s a digital photo frame when not in use? Who the hell is in their kitchen thinking that their life would improve if only their toaster could show them photos. Live, local weather forecast? On your toaster? Surely you have other screens where that is more appropriate. A clock? A modern kitchen without any smart products probably already has at least 2-3 clocks already.
A screen could be vaguely useful, showing exactly how toasted bread should look, rather than a dial where you have to figure out just how brown the “3” setting is. Maybe special modes for toaster pastries, or other non-toast items. But, it seems like overkill.
But, a touch screen? A kitchen is just about the worst possible room for a touch screen, with the possible exception of the bathroom. I listen to podcasts while I cook, and I skip commercials, and inevitably I have to clean some goop off my screen at some point. And often the touch doesn’t register because my finger is too wet, or I dripped some water somewhere else on the screen. My mother used to have an oven/stove with a simple LCD display and those plastic-covered buttons that are common on microwaves. Even without being a “touch screen”, it was a major pain in the ass. It was in the splatter zone of the stove, so it had to be wiped down, and virtually every time it was wiped down one of the buttons was activated. If it was the “cancel” button, it could turn off the oven. If the oven was turned off it “forgot” the temperature it had been set to, so you’d have to look up the recipe again to figure out what temperature to use when you turned it back on. So, never mind touch screens, I won’t even buy an oven with bubble-type buttons rather than normal dials.