Over-the-network updates for home appliances will enable multiple new features to enhance and modernize experiences for more users
By: peter wahba
Samsung Electronics today announced the new features that will be provided via Smart Forward, Samsung’s over-the-network updates for home appliances, to select devices, which will roll out throughout the second half of this year. These Smart Forward updates — designed to breathe new life into existing appliances through new functionality, future-proofing, and enhanced safety and energy savings — are the latest step forward in Samsung’s journey to deliver optimal experiences to more users.
“After years of R&D with a relentless focus on the home user experience, we are thrilled to be rolling out more Smart Forward updates to our earlier released appliances around the globe,” said Miyoung Yoo, EVP and Head of the Software Development Team, Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics. “With the enhanced functionality, extended lifespan, and improved security provided by Smart Forward, the home experience can truly take a step forward.”
New Functionalities Alter Kitchen Experiences
The Smart Forward updates introduce an array of new functionalities designed to enhance the user experience and appliance performance. The Family Hub™, a touchscreen panel installed on the 4-Door French Door Refrigerator for food management, entertainment, and communication, will now come with Quick Share, Buds Auto Switch, and Fridge Call, new features that significantly improve connectivity and usability.
Quick Share makes sharing memories and recipes while in the kitchen easier than ever by allowing users to quickly send photos to the Family Hub™ screen directly from their mobile device with just a few clicks. When users have their Galaxy Buds connected to the Family Hub™ to listen to music or watch cooking tutorial videos, the Buds Auto Switch feature allows users to seamlessly switch to their mobile device to answer incoming calls and back when the call is finished, enabling a cooking experience free from interruptions.
Finally, users can receive phone calls with Fridge Call directly on the Family Hub™ using its microphone and speaker, eliminating the need to move to a different room to find their phone. This is especially convenient when users’ hands are occupied with cooking, cleaning, and dishwashing, making it much easier to multitask while remaining connected. Perhaps best of all, these new features will be available on refrigerator models with Family Hub™ produced from 2017 onward rather than new models only.
Quick Remote, an additional feature in which a user’s mobile phone becomes a remote control for connected Samsung appliances, is being expanded across refrigerators produced since 2023, regardless of whether they include a Family Hub™ screen or not. Other connected appliances include washing machines and air conditioners also produced since 2023. All users need to do is simply move close to a SmartThings-connected appliance, and a remote-control menu for the appliance will appear on the quick panel of the Galaxy phone screen being used. This seamless integration ensures that users can control their home environment with ease.
Future-Proofing Home Appliances to the Next Level
Apart from making the user experience more seamless, Samsung is also focused on future-proofing existing appliances. The upgraded Bixby will understand commands with multiple intentions and remember the most recent conversation. This advanced functionality transforms the way users interact with their appliances, making voice commands more intuitive and responsive. Samsung is providing the update to five products launched in 2024 first: the Bespoke 4-Door Refrigerator with AI Family Hub™; Bespoke AI Laundry Combo™; Bespoke Slide-in Range; Bespoke Jet Bot Combo™ AI; and Bespoke AI WindFree™ Gallery Freestanding Air Conditioner (Sold in Korea only).
Additionally, Bixby now opens doors for 2024 refrigerators with Family Hub™ upon verbal request, without the need for wake-up commands like “Hi Bixby.” Users can simply say, “Open the refrigerator door.” This functionality offers users an unparalleled level of convenience and hands-free operation. Plus, for refrigerators with Family Hub™ launched in Korea and the U.S. after 2022, a new wallpaper feature will allow users to create custom wallpapers for the fridge’s screen, adding a personalized touch to their kitchen space.
Safer Use and Lower Energy Consumption
In terms of safety and energy savings, Samsung is rolling out updates to older models — including refrigerators made as far back as 2021 — because the importance of safety does not diminish with time. After an event of a power outage and once resumed with power, refrigerators will detect and notify users via the SmartThings app when internal temperature is high, providing an extra layer of food safety by making users aware of potential issues that could affect the freshness of their stored food.
Additionally, users can now choose different chimes for open-door notifications, giving them greater control over their appliance settings. Furthermore, users can maintain a peaceful home environment by putting ice makers in sleep mode, preventing them from working during the night and creating the disruptive sound of ice falling into the tray while users sleep.
Optimal Scheduling, which delays the start of appliances to not have them run during peak energy usage hours or periods of high carbon intensity, will also be added to the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo™ and Samsung Dishwashers. This feature can help users cut down on energy costs. Additionally, the 7-inch AI Home on the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo™ now automatically switches to power-save mode during wash cycles, further contributing to smart energy savings.
These updates reflect Samsung’s broader strategy of providing value to customers by enhancing the products they already own. By continuously improving the functionality and performance of its appliances, Samsung ensures that users do not have to worry about their devices becoming obsolete. This approach not only safeguards customers’ investments but also aligns with the company’s efforts to reduce the need for frequent replacements.
Samsung’s updated home appliances will be showcased at IFA 2024 in Berlin, Germany, from September 6 to 10, where visitors will be able to see and experience each feature.
