The refrigerator and the oven have been an unchanging landscape in the home for most of their lives. The fridge, even when it was just an ice box, looked similar to what it looks like today. Even the oven hasn't really changed - a box that contains heat to cook food.

Whirlpool wants to change all of that. Their research team is working on removing the boxes from the kitchen. From returning to a "gather around the fire" type setup to incorporating refrigerated food into the kitchen's dÃcor, Whirlpool has some bright ideas. Expect to see these things start showing up as soon as 2020.

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Nobody often thinks of home phones, especially not at CES time, but no one told that to Urban Hello. They are showing off an HD voice call capable home phone solution. In fact, the phone is the first to be recognized to support HD voice.

While unusual in that it is a home phone, it is even more unusual that this phone was being launched a Kickstarter project. Unfortunately the project was unsuccessfully funded, but that doesn't mean they won'tgive it another shot, perhaps on a different crowd-source site.

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Working and traveling have a rather unpleasant partnership. You spend a lot of time sitting in airports with no comfortable to way to work on a laptop. That is where the Tripad Traveler TRT-500 comes in handy.

The idea started with photographers but has been amended for laptops, turning your standard rolling carryon into a portable workstation. Simply slide over top of your handle and it creates a flat surface to set your laptop on.

For only $39, this is a product that should be a part of any traveler's collection.

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Having an LCD screen on a refrigerator is not new, but a full Android-powered tablet-like device is. With barcode scanning for live inventory management and the ability for the fridge to communicate the inventory and required shopping list to smartphones, this device can make home life simpler.

In addition to the unique features, there are the old standbys as well: note taking, photos, recipes and more. One variance on the recipe concept is the addition of the inventory management, allowing the fridge to help you determine which ingredients you might need to finish your planned meal.

While introduction to China will be soon, the US market should see this product within 12-18 months.

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Lowe's has put together some security-systems-in-a-box that are easy to install and easier to monitor. Through a connection from a smartphone, you can monitor the hardware in these kits, and their add-ons, from anywhere in the world.

With area coverage monitors, intrusion alarms, medical alert, pet doors sensors, plant monitors, smoke detectors, sprinkler systems and more, there is almost no part of your home or office that you won't know exactly what is going on.

Lowe's also offers monitored services to trigger alerts via SMS, starting at just $15 per month.

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As major metropolitan areas draw more people, they also draw more toxins to the air. Big, sweeping air quality readings give a generalized picture, but what about a more localized idea of what is in the air? That is where the Netatmo Weather Station comes in.

This device can read the weather conditions and air quality for a local area and log it on your account via WiFi. You can see trends and graphs through and iOS or Android device through the smartphone app.

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Levo tablet stands are created to relieve the stress that the odd form factor of tablets has created. From tables that are too short to tired arms in bed, there seems to be no good way to hold and use a tablet.

Levo's tablet stands are available in rolling floor and clamp-on styles for attaching to a music stand or independent use, depending on your needs. They are currently only available through specialty catalogs, but will be available through standard stores soon and run about $150, depending on your desired model.

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What happens when you combine the power of 18 super-bright LED flashlights into one super-light? You get the FourSevens Maelstrom XM18 Flashlight, a 15,000 lumen light that can get so hot they had to design a special power switching system for it.

With a 2-stage power switch, 3 power settings (600, 3,000 and 15,000 lumens) and a strobe option (possibly for emergency use, possibly for livingroom raves), this light is definitely the most intense and insane flashlight we have ever seen.

The XM18 will run you $2,399, but their other flashlights start at just $23.99.

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As demand for mobile technology increases, we see more cars equipped with it show up at CES every year. Here we take a look at the Audi RS5, a 420 horsepower V8 sports car designed to enhance the mobile life.

With T-Mobile 3G data built-in, and T-Mobile and AT&T 4G coming, a QNX-powered system with Google Earth integration and the Audi MMI navigation system, this is the high-end vehicle for a high-tech lifestyle.

The Audi RS5 starts at $69,700.

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There are many scenarios where the ability to charge a phone or other device is important, especially with the less-than-stellar performance of modern phone batteries. That is where the Nectar Mobile Power System comes in.

Unlike most portable power, this doesn't use a rechargeable battery, but instead used a hydrocarbon-oxygen fuel cell. Combining the hydrocarbon (butane) from the cell with the oxygen in the air, this fuel cell can produce enough electricity to keep a standard phone powered for 2 weeks. The cells cost under $10 to replace and are complete recyclable.

The system and cells will be coming to Brookstone later in the year.

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