Skip to main content

Smart oven wants to do for cookies what Nespresso did for coffee

CHiP Smart Cookie Oven—Fresh Cookies in Under 10 Minutes
You know those world-changing breakthroughs that make you glad that technology exists? Well, CHiP — also known as SideChef’s new “smart cookie oven,” currently raising funds on Kickstarter — may just be one. For our tastebuds’ sake, at least!

Promising to let us create fresh-baked cookies with no mess, it’s a smart tabletop kitchen device that will “intelligently bake” everyone’s favorite chocolate chip-filled snacks — courtesy of a Wi-Fi connection to your mobile device, and a range of smart sensors.

Recommended Videos

“Different flavors go through different chemical reactions as they bake, so we’ve programmed [CHiP] to sense the cookie temperature throughout the baking process, ensuring each cookie is perfectly baked,” the company’s Kickstarter campaign notes.

The cutting-edge cookie oven promises to be more energy-efficient than traditional electric elements. It heats up instantly, and even allows users to delay baking time so that the cookies can be ready when you most want them.

cook1
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“Building the world’s first smart device to bake fresh cookies under 10 minutes took quite a bit of engineering ingenuity,” SideChef CEO Kevin Yu told Digital Trends. “We also incorporated a scan and bake function, and no clean up, for the easiest batch of cookies to bake on the market. Beyond that, we really wanted to reinvent a common kitchen appliance to fit the modern consumer, who has less time to cook, high standards of quality around food, and often [eats] outside of just the kitchen and dining room.”

Much as you would with a Nespresso machine, to use SideChef’s smart cookie oven you’ll need to order the company’s proprietary pods, which contain all the ingredients you need. Then, simply choose a flavor — which range from sea salt chocolate chip to oatmeal raisin — and pop the corresponding gourmet cookie dough into the machine. Then wait for the connected mobile app to send a “ready” alert to your smartphone or tablet.

There’s even a smart messaging app built in for communicating with friends and family.

If you want to get your hands on a CHiP machine, you can pre-order one on Kickstarter, where a unit will cost you $99+. Shipping will take place roughly a year from now in October 2017.

Luke Dormehl
Former Digital Trends Contributor
I'm a UK-based tech writer covering Cool Tech at Digital Trends. I've also written for Fast Company, Wired, the Guardian…
Freaked out by the FBI’s smart TV warning? Here’s what you should do
smart tvs not enough to protect us from hackers tv security hacked feature

On November 26, the FBI's Portland, Oregon, office issued a warning about the security risks associated with buying a smart TV. The timing was no doubt meant to offer up some helpful advice right before the American public entered its annual TV buying spree for Black Friday/Cyber Monday. Ironically, the warning wasn't picked up by many news outlets when it was originally issued, which means some consumers may be looking at their new purchases and wondering if they've made a terrible mistake.

At first glance, the concern seems warranted. The FBI warning uses some pretty scary language to describe the potential risk:
Hackers can also take control of your unsecured TV. At the low end of the risk spectrum, they can change channels, play with the volume, and show your kids inappropriate videos. In a worst-case scenario, they can turn on your bedroom TV's camera and microphone and silently cyberstalk you. -- FBI Warning
But before you go rushing to read the fine print of your retailer's return policy, take a breath. Despite the dire nature of the FBI's warning, your actual risks are probably quite low.

Read more
Trump administration prepares to end Biden’s EV tax incentive, report says
president biden drives 2022 ford f 150 lightning electric pickup truck prototype visits rouge vehicle center

If you’re looking to buy or lease an electric vehicle (EV) and benefit from the Biden administration’s $7,500 tax incentive, you’d better act soon.

The transition team of the incoming Trump administration is already planning to end the credit, according to a report from Reuters citing sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

Read more
Hertz is selling used Teslas for under $20K, Chevrolet Bolt EVs under $14K
2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV

Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently nixed hopes of a regular Tesla model ever selling for $25,000.

But he was talking about new models. For car rental company Hertz, the race to sell used Teslas and other EVs at ever-lower prices is not only still on but accelerating.

Read more