The Bing Lee Blog keeps you up to date with all the latest in home technology.
Author: Natalie Milad
Natalie Milad is a content and blog writer who studied journalism at the University of Technology, Sydney. Since her graduation in 2016, she has written many lifestyle articles for various Australian businesses, including the homewares and furniture retailer Zanui.
Natalie has experience in script writing, news reading and interviewing. Her days not writing are usually filled with DIY projects, floury benchtops and constantly renovating her home.
Today, Natalie writes her articles for the Bing Lee Blog. She gives user reviews, lifestyle tips and product research on all the latest technology.
Want a twist on your iced coffees during the warmer weeks? Thanks to KitchenAid’s mouth-watering recipes and their innovative Cold Brew Coffee Maker, you’ll be sipping on something cool and delicious in no time!
If you haven’t yet checked out KitchenAid’s Cold Brew Coffee Maker, what are you waiting for?! The innovative design lets you enjoy a refreshing drink anytime, at home, and on tap! It’s got so many features that make it a stand out appliance.
It steeps without heat, its super fine mesh steeper delivers smooth taste, it’s made with glass and steel to maintain flavour integrity, it has an aluminium handle for easy portability, it has a small footprint to fit into any refrigerator, *breathe* it has a stainless steel tap to pout with ease (no leaks!) aaaand it’s easy to clean!
Almost sounds too good to be true, right? Check out the quick clip below to see how simple it is to use.
And don’t be fooled by the name – if you’re not a coffee lover, you can still use this sensational appliance to brew teas, create fruit infusions, cocktails and creative beverages to your heart’s content!
If you are a lover of coffee, you’ll want (and need!) to try these seven delicious iced coffee recipes courtesy of KitchenAid. Whether you fancy something sweet, minty or aromatic, there’s something for everyone!
Looking for an excuse to update your kitchen? Don’t wait around any longer – Get up to $400 CASHBACK on selected Samsung fridges*! Here are five top reasons (among many!) why you’ll love switching to a Samsung French door fridge.
A fridge is one of the most used appliances by everyone in the home – no matter who you are and despite whether or not you cook! Mums, dads, kids and even cheeky pets make their way to the fridge multiple times every single day.
Organising snacks, meats, veggies and dairy products can get a bit messy when several hands are moving around the contents of your fridge. Food spoils quickly when not stored properly or when they are placed beside other foods that require different optimum temperature and conditions.
Considering how much we rely on our fridges, it’s essential to opt for one that is practical, durable and innovative in performance. Thanks to Samsung, there’s an easy way to preserve your groceries with their collection of stunning French door fridges.
There are so many great reasons why an upgrade to a Samsung French door fridge will make your cooking endeavours a dream, but we’re going to break down five of our favourites for you.
This one is quite obvious, but the sheer design of Samsung’s French doors means that you can open up the fridge completely to have everything within your sight. The doors have so much storage capacity, so – whether you’re after your sauces, marinades, drinks or milk – you can pop whatever you need straight out from either your left or right.
More upright storage on the doors prevents spills from bottles and jars on your shelves, resulting in a more hygienic, mess-free interior.
Access is a breeze too with easy-open functions and a gentle pull. Drawers and doors latch securely shut when not in use, so inside stays cooler and no energy is going to waste!
Twin/Triple Cooling technology
What you can’t see in the fridge is arguably one of the most important features – the cooling technology. Samsung’s innovative cooling utilises separate systems in the refrigerator and freezer.
The idea is to optimise the control of temperature independently in each compartment, so food stays fresher for longer.
Individual fans ensure near-commercial grade humidity too so that your perishable foods are kept in peak condition. Plus, it prevents odours mixing between fresh and frozen foods!
LED lighting
Lighting is a feature that is commonly overlooked in a refrigerator, but Samsung doesn’t skimp out on the finer details. That’s why their French door fridges are designed with LED lights.
LED lighting is cooler and more energy efficient than incandescent light so every corner of your fridge will be illuminated effectively and resourcefully.
No longer will the stick of butter be left unseen at the back of the shelf!
Water and ice dispenser
Stay hydrated with access to cold water and ice at your fingertips! At the touch of a screen (or a button, depending on your model), you can control the fridge settings to dispense cold water, ice cubes and crushed ice.
The innovative Ice Master produces ice quickly and leaves more space for taller groceries – win-win!
There’s also easy access to the water filter and a uniquely-tall face on the dispenser so that you can fill up tall glasses or even pitchers for the whole family.
Adjustability
Not every item you buy from the grocery store is the same width or height, needless to say! Shuffling around huge shelves in and out of the fridge can be a major inconvenience and incredibly time-consuming.
With Samsung’s French door fridges, simple tri-fold shelves adjust your storage dimensions in a flash. So whether you’re entertaining and need space for a jug, or have a platter to keep cold before guests arrive, your fridge will take away the stress.
Storage has never been more flexible!
There are so many more features to be enjoyed with a Samsung French door fridge (like its luxurious stainless steel looks and recessed handles!). Simply shop online or head in-store to a Bing Lee near you for further information and some expert advice. Get inspired and get cooking!
Are you a big fan of the Swifts netball team? Don’t miss out on a chance to win incredible memorabilia including a signed netball and a large signed sports frame that features Swifts netball bibs and a team poster.
It’s so simple to enter the competition! Just post a photo of your most memorable netball game and caption it with why it meant so much to you. Then follow @bingleeofficial and hashtag #ilikebinglee – too easy!
Our panel of judges will select the most creative image and announce the winner via Instagram. But be quick – the competition ends on 2 November 2017.
With Quantum Dot technology, Samsung has revolutionised the way we watch TV. Here’s why.
If you love watching movies, binge-watching Netflix or simply surfing the internet from the comfort of your couch, you’ll know that the screen you watch will determine how good of an experience you have.
If you’re not particularly a television connoisseur but want simply a great TV, we’re here to break down why you’ll want that great TV to be a Samsung QLED.
What goes on behind the screen
QLED bids its name to the technology behind it – Quantum Dot technology and LED panelling. As you can guess, the highly advanced tech refers to dots – tiny dots that are between 2-10 nanometers in diameter. That’s equivalent to a number of atoms!
Now, when the LED light hits each of these microscopic dots within the screen, they individually light up to produce pure shades of almost every colour visible in the world around us – billions of them.
In addition to this, Quantum Dots also achieve 100% colour volume. The result? Extremely bright and intensely dark colours visible on the screen.
The sheer size of the Quantum Dots that work individually allow for precise detail and, in turn, incredible contrast.
Sceptical about seeing contrast during the day? Precision Black technology automatically adjusts the brightness of the scene you’re watching so that you don’t have to wait till the sun goes down to get that cinema-quality feel! Watch the short clip below to see how it all works.
The High Dynamic Range (HDR) screen of QLED lets you get the most of the latest 4K movies on Blu-ray™ and Netflix. HDR portrays all of the extreme frames so that you don’t have a screen that hides details in dark shadows or whitewashed brightness – meaning you see exactly what the director intended.
All HDR content, including the latest games, is made for incredible user experience – and QLED technology is intended for just that.
Hassle-free control
No longer does your coffee table need to be scattered with a handful of remote controls when the Q One remote can replace them all! With its slim, compact design, you can navigate your way around all the programs and TV features hassle-free.
The all-in-one remote even caters for access to your gaming consoles, Blu-ray™ Players, Pay TV boxes and more. Accessing your entertainment is made incredibly easy and convenient with the Smart Hub, too. Get to your favourite TV channels, connected devices, and streaming services such as Stan and Netflix all from one place.
You can also use your Android smartphone as a handy remote control. Just download the Smart View App and you’ll have a virtual TV remote in your pocket!
Modern design is all about minimalism – less is more. And there’s nothing minimalist about messy wiring and tangled cables!
Queue the Clear Cable Connection. With one single discreet cable, visible wiring is reduced, and you can place your entertainment sources wherever it looks best.
You can even paint over the clear cable to blend your interior style in any room! No longer does stylish design have to be compromised by the technology and entertainment you love.
For real luxury and convenience, you can hang your QLED TV on the wall easily. And you don’t need to worry about having a bulky look on your wall thanks to the No Gap Wall-Mount. Your stunning TV will sit snug on your wall in no time.
Not only is the front of the TV exceptional – on and off – but so is the back with its sleek, modern design. The brushed-metal rear is timeless, so whether you’re hanging your QLED on the wall or sitting it atop a stand, it will look extraordinary.
Are you a big fan of the GIANTS Netball team? Don’t miss out on a chance to WIN incredible merchandise including a GIANTS netball and a large memorabilia frame that features GIANTS Netball bibs and a poster – all signed by members of the 2017 GIANTS Netball team!
It’s so simple to enter the competition! Just post a photo of yourself playing netball, follow @bingleeofficial and hashtag #ilikebinglee – easy as pie!
Our panel of judges will select the most creative image and announce the winner via Instagram. But be quick – the competition ends on 18 October 2017.
So you’ve got your brand new TV and sound system set up, and the colours of your team decorating the living room – but what will your guests be nibbling on throughout the game?
We’ve got some footy finals snacks that are a twist on the classic favourites. So ditch the store-bought frozen food for these tasty treats that every fan will love!
Meat Lovers Pie
Why choose between the classic meat pie or meat lovers pizza when you can have both?! Grab your Sunbeam Pie Magic and make a super impressive meat lovers pie!
Watch the clip or follow the steps below to get started.
Ingredients
Red onion
Ham
Pepperoni/Salami (or both!)
Grated cheese
Minced beef
Pizza sauce
Pastry sheets
Method
Dice the red onion. Set aside in a bowl.
Stir the minced beef in a pot over medium heat until thoroughly cooked. Set aside.
Lay out your pastry sheets and cut out the moulds using the Sunbeam Pie Magic pastry cutter. Prepare the bases in the Sunbeam Pie Magic appliance and set the tops aside.
Fill the bases with the red onion, meats, cheese and sauce.
Place the pastry tops on the pies and close the Pie Magic, leaving them to cook for 15 mins.
Take them out and serve with tomato or BBQ sauce!
Smoked Popcorn
Popcorn is always a family favourite – but why stop at buttered popcorn? With the Breville Smoking Gun, you can give popcorn a whole new, exciting flavour.
Check out just how easy it is with the clip or follow the steps below.
Microwavable butter popcorn
Paprika
Salt, to taste
Method
Microwave butter popcorn as per packet instructions and put popcorn in a bowl.
Cover the bowl with cling wrap, leaving an edge to place the Smoking Gun through.
Use the Smoking Gun and cover the bowl entirely. Give it a light shake and leave to infuse for 1-2 minutes.
Uncover, sprinkle with paprika. Sprinkle with salt to taste. Serve!
Root Vegetable Chips with Chimichurri Dip
Skip on the packeted potato chips and opt for something much more wholesome in both flavour and nutrients. KitchenAid’s Vegetable Sheet Cutter Attachment makes it so easy to incorporate veggies into your meals – and footy snacks are no exception!
Watch the clip below to see how easy it is to use the attachment to make sweet potato chips too!
Ingredients
2 sweet potatoes, ends trimmed, cut into 4-inch sections
2 parsnips, ends trimmed, cut into 4-inch sections
2 beets, ends trimmed, cut into 4-inch sections
3 teaspoons olive oil
½ teaspoon sea salt
1½ tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon flaked salt
2 tablespoons grated
Parmesan cheese
CHIMICHURRI DIP
½ cup parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon lemon zest
½ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon dried chilli flakes
3 tablespoons sour cream
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
½ avocado, chopped
Method
Preheat oven to 190°C
Combine parsley, cilantro, garlic, lemon zest, sea salt and chilli flakes in medium bowl.
Puree sour cream, mayonnaise and avocado in a blender. Add just a bit of water, if needed.
Combine avocado puree with parsley-cilantro mixture. Store in airtight container until ready to use.
Attach the Vegetable Sheet Cutter Attachment to the KitchenAid Stand Mixer. Insert food holder into the centre of one end of the sweet potato and secure onto attachment. Insert food skewer through the sweet potato, up to the first mark.
Attach ThinBlade to attachment. Position bowl under the blade to catch sweet potato. Turn Stand Mixer to Speed 2 and position blade against sweet potato to process.
Repeat with remaining sweet potato, parsnip and beet sections.
Transfer vegetable sheets to cutting board and cut into irregular square and triangular pieces, about 2-inches.
Toss with olive oil and spread out evenly on 2-3 baking sheets. Sprinkle with sea salt and bake until crisp, 15-20 minutes, turning once halfway through cooking time.
Remove from oven and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Let cool completely before serving with Chimichurri Dip.
Hosting a get-together? Or feeling peckish? Blitz up something flavoursome and satisfying with these three impressive dip recipes.
Aside from grinding nuts and crumbing bread, your food processor has the power to make a stand-out dish of its own – dips! They make some of the best snacks and party treats, and are a little more luxurious than the plain old crackers and cheese.
Get creative and whip up these three homemade, delicious and filling dips!
Thai cashew dip
*Recipe and image credited to KitchenAid’s The Kitchenthusiast.
Ingredients
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 onion, roughly chopped
3 tsp or to taste, Thai red curry paste
150g (3 medium) carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons lemon juice
½ small bunch coriander, roughly chopped
120g roasted salted cashews
½ cup coconut cream
Salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Method
Heat the oil in a medium sized saucepan. Add the onion and curry paste and cook stirring over a medium heat for 3-4 minutes or until very fragrant.
Add the carrot and 2 tbs water. Cover and cook over a low heat until the carrots are very
Allow to cool completely. Lightly drain.
Add the carrots, lemon juice, coriander, cashews, coconut cream and salt and pepper into the food processor.
Process for a few seconds or until the desired consistency is achieved. Serve with vegetable pieces and crackers.
Roasted beetroot hummus with yogurt and dill
*Recipe and image credited to taste.com.au.
Ingredients
1 large (250g) beetroot, trimmed
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon ground coriander
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
400g can chickpeas, drained, rinsed
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons tahini
1 garlic clove, peeled, quartered
2 tablespoons plain Greek-style yoghurt
2 tablespoons fresh dill sprigs
1 tablespoon pine nuts, toasted
1 tablespoon sunflower kernels, toasted
Assorted vegetables and crackers, to serve
Method
Preheat oven to 220C/200C fan-forced.
Wearing disposable gloves, peel beetroot. Place in the centre of a sheet of foil. Sprinkle with paprika and coriander. Drizzle with oil. Season with salt and pepper. Fold up sides of foil to enclose beetroot, scrunching at the top to secure. Place on a small baking tray. Roast for 50 minutes or until tender. Set aside for 20 minutes to cool.
Transfer beetroot and spice mixture to a food processor. Process until finely chopped. Add chickpeas, lemon juice, tahini and garlic. Process until smooth and combined.
Transfer hummus to a serving bowl. Top with yoghurt. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with dill, pine nuts and sunflower kernels. Serve with assorted vegetables and cauliflower crackers.
Minty Pea Dip
*Recipe and image credited to marthastewart.com.
Ingredients
3 cups frozen green peas
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
1 clove garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for drizzling
Salt and pepper
Method
Cook peas in salted boiling water until tender, 1 minute. Transfer to an ice-water bath; drain.
Pulse peas in a food processor with mint, lemon zest and juice, garlic, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and tahini.
Don’t second guess whether or not your baby monitoring camera (or the one you’re gifting!) is good enough. Here are all the incredible features that Arlo Baby has to offer.
All parents want safety and security for their little bundles of joy. There’s no greater peace of mind knowing that you can check up on your baby anywhere and at any time.
Arlo by Netgear has designed the Arlo Baby range – all-in-one smart monitoring cameras that are packed with features and have the sweetest designs. Here’s why you’ll want one in your nursery.
High definition video & advanced night vision
Gone are the days of squinting at a pixelated screen! Arlo Baby lets you keep an eye on your baby with a crystal clear 1080p High Definition screen. With this HD technology, you’ll be able to see every detail without disturbing their sleep – all parents know how crucial that is!
Speaking of sleep, the near-invisible infrared LED lights let you monitor them even when they’re dreaming in total darkness. No longer do you need to tip-toe into their room and accidentally wake them.
Arlo Baby gives you ultimate vision so that you feel like you’re in the room with them.
Total control using a smartphone or computer
…or a tablet. With the free Arlo app, you can simply click to check in. Not only can you view live, but you’ll also receive an instant email or mobile notification whenever the monitor detects motion or sound – it even lets you know if that sound is specifically a cry.
Integrated air sensors let you monitor the nursery’s air condition, too! Yes, you can keep an eye on the air around your baby. This feature ensures that your baby gets the most comfortable sleep in just the right temperature, humidity and a safe VOCs level (amount of nasty solvents in the air).
If your child has trouble falling asleep, you can talk to them straight from your smartphone, play soothing lullabies or even let them listen to pre-recordings of your own voice! Now that’s convenience at its best 😉
Secure cloud storage & untethered battery
Live videos can make many parents feel rather uncomfortable. That’s why Arlo ensures that their cameras are encrypted with the highest industry standards – privacy and data collection is taken very seriously. Only you can share camera access or specific videos to show friends and family how fast your baby is growing!
You can also move the camera around whenever you please with the built-in rechargeable battery. It gives you the freedom of mobility for hours at a time, untethered.
Adorable design & customisable night light
All the technical features might seem like the gadget is robotic and unwelcoming, especially for a child – but Arlo has taken care of the exterior just as wonderfully as the technology.
Available in three adorable designs, the camera is as reassuring and comforting for babies as it is for parents. Add character to their nursery with a friendly bunny, a bright kitten or a spotty puppy.
You can keep the theme of your nursery by customising the night light as well! Pick from thousands of light colours and adjust the brightness and warmth without even needing to step into their room.
Arlo Baby knows that technology doesn’t have to compromise on design, so it’s easy to prop it on a shelf, above their cot or simply anywhere!
Not quite sure which washing machine you should opt for? Here is an ultimate guide of the pros and cons of both front and top loaders.
Of course, there’s no right or wrong answer when picking a washing machine – it all depends on your lifestyle and personal preference. Nevertheless, there are pros and cons to each design, ones that may influence your decision more than others depending on what matters to you.
We’ve comprised a list of the good and not-so-good of both front and top loader washing machines to help make your decision easier.
It’s good to keep in mind that if your laundry is small or if you live in an apartment with no clothesline, a washer dryer combo is a space-saving option that will provide you with the 2-in-1 functions!
Not sure if you should buy a tablet or a laptop? Here are five reasons why a 2-in-1 is the perfect solution for you.
Laptops are great for their functionality. Tablets are incredible for their portability. A 2-in-1 is an amazing compromise of both. Here are five benefits, among many, that you’ll experience with a 2-in-1 convertible laptop.
1. Easily transforms
What makes a 2-in-1 is its flexibility. Either a reversible hinge allows the screen to flip back on itself with a 360˚ range or the screen can detach entirely from the keyboard to create a standalone tablet for portability and convenience.
Either form is typically quite light and slim, so it’s easy to carry around or pack in your bag. This innovative design lets you enjoy the best of both worlds.
2. Touch or type
All technology is moving toward touch-screen functionality. Swiping and tapping on screens is this generation’s norm, so a gadget without that kind of control is simply not as convenient.
In saying that, typing documents on a touch screen isn’t always convenient either.
Switching between touch and type on a 2-in-1 is a win-win situation because you’ll have access to the quickest methods of any activity and comfortably use it according to your personal preference.
3. Carries all the latest features
A common misconception is that a 2-in-1 will lack in brightness, colour or sound. That’s not true. Just like the wide range of laptops on the market, all these features will vary from model to model.
In fact, 2-in-1s are made with impressive technology with all the latest advancements for a pleasant user experience.
The most recent 2-in-1s have remarkable processors and memory, making them just as powerful as regular laptops. Many also have incredible battery life so that you can enjoy high performance for longer without having to reach for the charger.
4. Caters for work and play
Whether you’re doodling or typing emails, a 2-in-1 makes it all easy. They’re perfect to use on-the-go, at work or while unwinding in your spare time.
Its space-saving design means that work trips are stress-free – whether by train, bus or plane. You’ll still get the familiar, desktop-classic browser view that makes working simple.
After work, watching movies and catching up on binge-worthy shows are made a cinch when switching to display mode. It prevents a bunch of random keys from being smashed or restarting the episode when you roll over on the couch!
5. Value for money
A 2-in-1 is cost effective in that you’ll be paying much less than if you were to purchase a separate laptop and tablet. It’ll also prevent you from doubling up on cables and buying all the extra accessories for both a laptop and tablet.
Don’t forget, more importantly, that you’re also getting all the convenience in the points mentioned above!
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