LG made a smart decision when they enlisted the help of smartass comedian/actress Jane Lynch ("Glee") to serve as the spokesperson for a new series of "smart technologies" now weaving through many of the company's product lines and categories. Lynch appeared in a taped segment which served to kick off LG's press conference at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Chief among LG's smart technologies is SmartTV (a.k.a. NetCast 2.0), the newest incarnation of LG's internet app suite found in the company's networked displays and Blu-ray Disc players. In addition to offering premium streaming services such as Netflix, Pandora and Hulu Plus, SmartTV allows users to search for and add myriad "LG Apps" which can then be co-mingled with the premium apps we've seen to date. And all of this happens in LG's colorful new graphics-rich interface, which can be navigated using LG's gesture-based Magic Motion remote control.
With respect to SmartTV, LG was quick to point out that TV lovers who aren't ready to shell out for a new TV just yet can still join the party. Here at CES, LG is showing off its recently-announced Smart TV Upgrader box. As we reported earlier, the Smart TV Upgrader brings the SmartTV experience and the power of TV web apps to old school televisions that lack internet connectivity.
Finally, since LG makes a lot more than just home theater products, the company was excited to talk about its new lineup of smart appliances, including stoves, washers, dryers, and refrigerators. Although it remains to be seen whether consumers will want to receive text messages from the oven when the roast is done, LG's Smart Diagnosis tool for reporting potential problems, and LG's Food Management Monitor, to keep track of fridge contents, are sure to make some shoppers happy. The latter utility keeps track of what foods you may be running low on, and you can access the information via your smartphone while at the grocery store. Smart.
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