Seoul, Korea – LG is getting smart with the planned product introductions at the Sept. 4-9 IFA show in Berlin, where the company will launch two new smart appliances and an add-on device that raises the IQ of dumb appliances.
The company will also go to the show with a 23K limited edition of its LG Watch Urbane smart watch, which retail for about $1,200 approximately USD 1,200. Only 500 models of the LG Watch Urbane Luxe will be available at the end of October through www.Reeds.com and later this month or by visiting any Reeds Jewelers stores in the U.S..
Here’s what’s coming
LG’s SmartThinQ Sensor: This disc-shaped device can be attached to many traditional home appliances to make them “smart-aware,” the company said. When attached to washing machines and refrigerators, for example, the device senses feedback such as vibration and temperature and transmits those readings to a SmartThinQ app on a smartphone. When attached to a washing-machine door, the sensor will let a smartphone know that the laundry cycle is complete. When attached to a refrigerator, the SmartThingQ sensor will notify a smartphone that a particular food item is about to expire. The sensor will also track how many times the door is opened. When connected to an air conditioner or other appliance, the device will let users control the appliance remotely through the SmartThinQ app.
U.S. pricing and availability weren’t available at post time. It wasn’t certain whether the device uses Wi-Fi.
LG smart appliances: The company’s Smart Lightwave Oven and Smart Air Conditioner will debut. The Wi-Fi-equipped devices are compatible with AllJoyn, an open IoT platform developed by the Allseen Alliance, a consortium of more than 180 companies.
The oven lets homeowners use a smartphone to set the cooking mode, temperature and cooking time for a given dish. It also diagnoses itself and helps find solutions and repair information online from an LG service center. The oven also lets users download, update and share recipes with friends and relatives via mobile devices.
For its part, the air conditioner can be controlled remotely from a smartphone so owners don’t have to enter a hot home. The AC also informs owners when it’s time to replace the air filter.
Additional details were unavailable.
“Adoption of smart home appliances has been slow because of the perception that the technology is not easily accessible,” said Jo Seong-jin, president/CEO of the LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company.
Smart watch: In going toe-to-toe with Apple in luxury smart watches, LG will unveil the 23-karat gold, alligator-strap LG Watch Urbane Luxe, which will come in a piano-gloss lacquer case. Each of the 500 limited-edition watches will be engraved with its own serial number for authenticity.
The 23-karat gold used in the device is stronger and harder than the 24-karat gold used in jewelry and heavier than the 18-karat gold used in traditional luxury watches, LG said. The Luxe will also feature a deployment clasp for a fitted look that isn’t bulky, the company added. The clasp was invented by Louis Cartier in 1910. The alligator band is handcrafted, undergoing 50 separate steps in creation, LG also said.
“Wearable devices shouldn’t be thought of as an extension of one’s smartphone but an extension of oneself,” said Chris Yie, VP and head of marketing communications for LG Mobile Communications Company.
The limited-edition 23-carat-gold LG Watch Urbane Luxe at around $1,200.
