While its prototype was a fun device to tinker with at last year’s CES show in Las Vegas, GE Appliances is making its dynamic new Kitchen Hub the centerpiece of the appliance manufacturer’s presence at CES 2019 as it prepares to bring the product to the consumer market later this year. CES attendees should expect multiple interactive stations that give GE Appliances the chance for as many people to experience the hub’s capabilities as possible. More CES 2019 coverage Originally, the Kitchen Hub was planned to be released in Fall of 2018 at a real cost around $600, but it looks like GE Appliances has invested some time and resources in tweaking and improving the versatile interactive smart kitchen and ventilation system designed to be installed over an oven or range. Now, the manufacturer will launch the much-anticipated smart kitchen hub in May of 2019, at a cost ranging from $1,200 to $1,400 MSRP. It almost seems a misnomer to call the Kitchen Hub a smart kitchen appliance because it can do so much more than augment a homeowner’s cooking duties, including acting as the control station for other smart home devices like thermostats and lighting systems as well as serving as a fully-enabled entertainment and communication station. The “hub” of the Kitchen Hub is a 27-inch smart touch screen and ventilation combo designed to easily fit above a standard range (although we’re sure GE Appliances would happily sell you one, too). It’s built on the company’s much-lauded GE Appliances U+ Connect platform and features a built-in Google Assistant as well as access to thousands of recipes through SideChef and access to entertainment options like Netflix and Spotify. Other popular functions include dinner playlists, social networking, and access to calendars and schedules to streamline household management. Previous Next 1 of 4 “U+ Connect allows you to manage your smart home from one place,” said Shawn Stover, vice president of SmartHome Solutions for GE Appliances,” in a release. “You can preheat the oven, brew coffee, start the washer, play music, dim lights and more — all through the Hub.” One key function that YouTubers and other streaming stars will appreciate, as well as those who like to chat with others as they cook, are the dual HD cameras with live video chat functionality. The Kitchen Hub features not only a forward-facing camera that can be used to check in with Grandma about the finer points of a family recipe, but also use the overhead camera to snap and upload their culinary masterpieces to Instagram or the social sharing site of their choice. “The Kitchen Hub enhances a family’s ability to create great meals, connect with loved ones and manage control of their households from the most important room in the home — the kitchen,” said Stover. “At its core, the Kitchen Hub brings more efficiency and skill to the home cook. But it goes far beyond the kitchen, giving users a single, universal cooking and smart home portal that saves them time and allows them to focus on the things that matter most to them.” CES guests can visit the GE Appliances booth (LVCC, Central Hall – 11128) at CES 2019 to experience the Kitchen Hub and other new devices that promise to change the way we experience the smart kitchen. Editors' Recommendations<doc-sep>Have you ever looked at the area above your stove and told yourself that would be the perfect place for a gigantic touchscreen? Well, GE’s answer to that question is the Kitchen Hub. The Kitchen Hub is a 27-inch touchscreen that runs Android and supports Google Assistant. That means you can use your voice to bring up recipes, watch cooking videos, and control other smart home devices. You can also download and run apps like Netflix and Spotify to watch movies and listen to music while you cook.<doc-sep>Although Android hasn't been a primary focus of CES for a few years, there are still companies here and there that use the OS to create all sorts of wacky products. This year at CES 2019, one such company is GE with the Kitchen Hub. The Kitchen Hub is a monster of a device and features a 27-inch touchscreen display that can be used for watching Netflix, listening to Spotify, making calls with Google Duo, etc. However, unlike things like the Lenovo Smart Display and JBL Link View that use a special Smart Display UI powered by Android Things, the GE Kitchen Hub runs a full-fledged version of the regular Android OS. It's unclear right now what version of Android it is, but it should offer the same general experience found on your phone/tablet.<doc-sep>
GE wants to put a smart display at head level while you’re cooking. The Kitchen Hub is a 27-inch touchscreen that runs Android and also functionally replaces your exhaust vent at its mounting above your stove. The company first teased the device at last year’s CES but ultimately never shipped it. It has updated this year’s version with a sleeker interface and tons of features like video calls and streaming movies. The Kitchen Hub supports Google Assistant, meaning you can ask Google to create grocery lists, look up recipes, or control other smart home devices like thermostats, lights, and cameras. The Hub can also run apps like Netflix and Spotify, so you can stream The Great British Baking Show or listen to music while you cook. There’s also a built-in overhead camera for taking photos of what you’re cooking and a forward-facing lens for video calls. So much function in an exhaust vent The Kitchen Hub is in a pretty dangerous position to get hit by grease splashes. GE says that while the screen isn’t rated water-resistant, it at least has a glass display to protect the touchscreen from direct contact. The vent itself is made with the same materials found in other GE vents, so it should handle steam and heat without taking damage, although we haven’t tested out those claims. The Kitchen Hub costs $1,199 to $1,399, depending on whether you choose stainless steel or matte finish, and it should ship in May this year, barring any further delay. Check out the full gallery of images below. It’s one good-looking vent, although due to its placement above the stove, it could easily be mistaken for a microwave.