2.7M views · Nov 12, 2020 · 14:21 · 7 HN recommenders · 19 mentions · discussed 2020–2025
Technology Connections examines an old feature-rich microwave and shows how it uses a humidity or steam sensor and lookup data to cook food well, arguing it beats many modern ones.
Why Hacker News points people here: Cited again and again in microwave and smart-appliance threads as proof that older appliances were smarter, especially for steam-sensor cooking.
“it explains how microwaves use a humidity probe to sense steam escaping from say a microwave-popcorn bag to determine when its done.”HN comment, 2020
“Technology Connections published an interesting video just a few days ago”
Interesting video on an antique microwave
Tangentially related, Technology Connections published an interesting video just a few days ago, "The Antique Microwave Oven that's Better than Yours": this video
“Great 'Review' of an old Microwave loaded with features.”
Review of a feature-rich old microwave
Great 'Review' of an old Microwave loaded with features. this video Why can't we have nice things by default, especially with appliances like microwaves, toasters, printers...
“Fun video about microwave oven now vs thirty years ago”
Compares microwave ovens now and thirty years ago
Fun video about microwave oven now vs thirty years ago: this video "The Antique Microwave Oven that's Better than Yours" by Technology Connections
“technology connections just did a recent YouTube video on microwaves that might be of interest to you.”
Technology Connections video on microwaves relevant to the discussion
Coincidentally, technology connections just did a recent YouTube video on microwaves that might be of interest to you. this video
“it explains how microwaves use a humidity probe to sense steam escaping from say a microwave-popcorn bag to determine when its done.”
Old microwave with better features; explains humidity probe sensing steam
Technology Connections just put out a video about an old microwave that he contends has better features that most you can buy today. Also it explains how microwaves use a humidity probe to sense steam escaping from say a microwave-popcorn bag to determine when its done. this video
“this really shows the sad direction smart appliances have gone in.”
Shows sad direction of smart appliances versus smarter older designs
Since everyone is mentioning Technology Connections (he deserves it, great channel), I want to bring up this video: this video To me, this really shows the sad direction smart appliances have gone in. I would love to see that smart appliances would have continued to evolve in this direction. I don't like the current state of smart appliances, but going back to the absolute basic seems like an over-reaction to me.
“Thanks to Technology Connections, great channel. Convinced me to read all the fine print until I found a Breville that had it.”
Convinced commenter to seek out a microwave with a steam sensor
Don’t forget a physical handle to pull open the door. I’d take a steam sensor as well. Thanks to Technology Connections, great channel. Convinced me to read all the fine print until I found a Breville that had it. this video
“I might try the microwave Technology Connections demonstrated [0] because it sounds like it actually works..”
Demonstrates a microwave that actually works well
We have a microwave at work, I used it once and it took me 5 minutes do actually make it do something. It is like someone just slapped some buttons and dials and a display on there without thought and created some twisted logic just to annoy the user. I only ever bought two dial microwaves. Power and time, two variables, easy to understand and intuitive. Granted, I might try the microwave Technology Connections demonstrated [0] because it sounds like it actually works.. but no chance of getting an old model where I live... or anywhere else. 0: this video
“Some microwaves have a steam sensor, and use that to detect how cooked something is”
Shows microwaves using steam sensors to detect doneness
> Though some kind of temperature sensor could be nice Some microwaves have a steam sensor, and use that to detect how cooked something is Source: this video at 3:59
“Just a steam sensor and a dictionary with info on how foods release steam as they cook.”
Steam sensor with food lookup data suffices for doneness
You don't even need fancy cameras. Just a steam sensor and a dictionary with info on how foods release steam as they cook. The Antique Microwave Oven that's Better than Yours this video
“It mentions lookup tables for the steam sensor, which fits for pre internet technology.”
Microwave tech stagnating; steam sensor lookup tables
Technology Connections talk about Microwave tech stagnating, or even going backwards - The Antique Microwave Oven that's Better than Yours this video It mentions lookup tables for the steam sensor, which fits for pre internet technology.
“Microwaves peaked in the late '90 when they had humidity and temperature sensors to detect when the food was property cooked/warmed.”
Late-90s microwaves had humidity and temperature sensors
You might need to go back in time. Microwaves peaked in the late '90 when they had humidity and temperature sensors to detect when the food was property cooked/warmed. Things went downhill after that as the cost cutting race to the bottom happened. this video
“This video from technology connections shows exactly the same but with microwaves, specifically one from 1997.”
A 1997 microwave with better features than modern ones
This video from technology connections shows exactly the same but with microwaves, specifically one from 1997. this video What I don't understand is, you have done the development, the cost of the rest of things is marginal. Why don't keep giving those features into all microwaves manufactured by the same company?
“apparently microwave technology already peaked in the 90's, but it never caught on”
Microwave technology peaked in the 90s but never caught on
Technology connections made a video about this a few years ago, apparently microwave technology already peaked in the 90's, but it never caught on: this video
“It seems to use a moisture sensor and lookup tables to adjust cooking times and power.”
Sharp Carousel uses moisture sensor and lookup tables
This one? this video Sharp Carousel Multiple Choice. It seems to use a moisture sensor and lookup tables to adjust cooking times and power. I was expecting something more complex!
“I owned this microwave back in the day. It was awesome”
Commenter owned this microwave; was awesome but features rarely needed
You can't mention the Technology Connections video without linking it! this video I owned this microwave back in the day. It was awesome, but its awesomeness didn't stand out that much because we really didn't need all those different recipes -- if we had changed our habits to Microwave All The Things then it would have been more compelling, but really our use cases came down to: 1. Reheating food 2. Popcorn 3. Potatoes very rarely did we actually cook in the microwave.
“I owned one of these, it was indeed awesome. It really did cook food intelligently.”
Commenter owned this model; it cooked food intelligently
The Antique Microwave Oven that's Better than Yours [video] this video I owned one of these, it was indeed awesome. It really did cook food intelligently.
“Obligatory Technology Connections.”
Obligatory citation on microwave special functions
The popcorn button on a microwave actually does something unique, or at least it does on microwaves with a real popcorn button. I think microwave designs are only bad insofar as they have been made so cheap that the special functions have been made vastly less useful. Obligatory Technology Connections. this video
“The most advanced microwave oven I've seen was from the 90's and definitely didn't splurge on an microprocessor.”
Example of an advanced 90s microwave without a microprocessor
Espressif's ESP32 line uses an MCU IC, either sold by itself ( link ) or with flash memory and RAM ICs, all packaged together in a system-in-package footprint. (e.g. link ) There are various options for which flash and RAM ICs are packaged together, but the ESP32 die itself is very much an MCU and has only has 520 KB of SRAM. A managed switch is very computy heavy, and does usually run a microprocessor with a full RTOS, if not Linux itself, which probably costs in the mult-dollar range. It's also not something most people have at home, outside of the switch built into their router. Everything elese you mentioned usually runs on microcontrollers with under 1 MiB of RAM. For example, Infineon's CYUSB306X series ASICs for webcams come in two RAM sizes: 256 KiB or 512 KiB, despite handling gigabits per second of data, and having an MCU at all isn't even necessary. ( link ) The Pinecil's Bouffalo BL706 MCU has 123 KiB of RAM, despite being a low-volume product where design time matters more than component cost. ( link , link ) Microwave ovens are so high volume that they often don't even use packaged microcontrollers, mounting the die directly on the PCB, with an epoxy blob protecting it, and there's no way any would splurge on megabytes of SRAM. The most advanced microwave oven I've seen was from the 90's and definitely didn't splurge on an microprocessor. ( this video ) A slow MCU with external memory could run anything, like booting into linux on an AVR ( link ) but it
