LG has announced a new range of washing machines featuring NFC for downloading extra programmes.
The new LG washing machines feature a full touch panel with a white LED display, that offers a very modern look, the pictures we’ve seen don’t seem to do it justice.
There are three models in the new range, with the top model having a number of technologies and features on offer.
The big new thing is the connectivity that allows owners to pair up their smartphones to subsequently download extra programmes to add to the ones that are already available on the machines. Quite why anyone would want to do this we don’t understand but, it’s there.
The programmes available to download include Wool, Baby Care and Cold Wash. Once you download the custom program, you just have to tap your phone to the Tag On symbol on the washing machine and it will be added to your appliance.
The NFC feature is also used for the LG’s Smart Diagnosis feature that helps identify minor problems with the machine.
The new machines come with TurboWash that LG claim can wash the most commonly used wash cycles, including Cotton, Cotton Large, Mix and Easy Care in just 59 minutes. Whether this is a proper wash program or merely a rehash of the quick wash, we don’t know but given the time it either is not a proper wash or, it’s probably going to use considerably more water and lots of energy.
The top model also comes with the company’s TrueSteam technology, again though this is a pretty gimmicky feature that many users seem not all that bothered about after the first few uses.
There are three features that come from the technology: Steam Refresh, Allergy Care and a new Steam Softener feature.
Steam Refresh feature uses steam rather than water to remove wrinkles and odours from delicate clothes in 20 minutes and Steam Softener injects steam into the washer’s drum for 20 minutes after a cycle has finished, to smooth out clothes. On all counts there are varying reports on how well this actually works in the real world.
The new LG washing machines should be available from end of May 2014 but pricing is not yet known however, don’t expect this to come cheap.