this post was submitted on 12 Mar 2025
546 points (99.5% liked)

Technology

66372 readers
5901 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.


Our Rules


  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related content.
  3. Be excellent to each other!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
  10. Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.

Approved Bots


founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Troubled robot vacuum-cleaner maker iRobot, abandoned by Amazon after regulators effectively doomed the web giant's takeover offer, has warned investors it may not survive the next 12 months.

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Flocklesscrow@lemm.ee 41 points 2 days ago

The free market is supposed to make this happen. The problem is that we have also built a system that just generates mountains of junk and e-waste. Because our government is feckless and refuses to actually regulate, ya know, anything with a shareholder attached.

[–] skozzii@lemmy.ca 16 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Oof, as an American company the rest of the world is boycotting them too.

Yup, they are toast. I dont think the Americans have realized how much permanent damage Trump has caused.

[–] Global_Liberty@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Democrats have known from the moment he was elected. Republicans are starting to figure it out now that they are feeling the effects. Of course, they were the ones who caused it so....

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] StinkySocialist@lemmy.ml 27 points 2 days ago (2 children)

So the Roomba I bought in 2021 is gonna stop working come 2026... Guess I need an open source vacuum now too 😩

[–] TriflingToad@sh.itjust.works 19 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

this comment makes me question, is there an open source sex toy community?
edit: there is lmao https://github.com/PITR-DEV/ukbutt-mod

[–] StinkySocialist@lemmy.ml 7 points 2 days ago

Bro .. this is the best response I've ever gotten on Lemmy 🤣🤣🤣 thank you stranger, both fascinating and hilarious

[–] asymmetric@slrpnk.net 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] StinkySocialist@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 day ago

Thank you stranger! This is great

[–] pHr34kY@lemmy.world 60 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (8 children)

It would be great if more smart devices had a LAN-only control mode like my 3D printer, TV and AV receiver.

I would be perfectly happy if my iRobot phone app only worked from inside my network.

[–] domi@lemmy.secnd.me 23 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Doesn't apply to iRobot but there are lots of robot vacuums that can be flashed with an open firmware with just a USB UART cable: https://valetudo.cloud/pages/general/supported-robots.html

As for the other devices, my 3D printer, projector and AV receiver are all locally controlled.

[–] aarch64@lemm.ee 8 points 2 days ago (6 children)

Big +1 for Valetudo. I use it on a refurbished Roborock S7+ I got on eBay and it's fantastic.

load more comments (6 replies)
[–] Allero@lemmy.today 15 points 2 days ago

At that point, I wouldn't trust ANY device that cannot be controlled locally, either natively or at least through some hacks.

[–] exu@feditown.com 7 points 2 days ago

I think it's just using MQTT, so block network access and use HomeAssistant

load more comments (5 replies)
[–] skysurfer@lemmy.world 17 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Will certainly be a bummer if they do go under, I really appreciated their serviceability. Have several in the immediate family that have been going for over 7 years at this point though all kinds of calamities. Each time can I just pop out all the components clean/replace as necessary and get it back in service, good as new.

Agree. While I think there's been little effort to evolve their products at the same pace as their competitors, I have very much appreciated their servicability.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] SocialMediaRefugee@lemmy.world 15 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Once they are cut off from the parent company they will go rogue and attack in the night...

[–] Toribor@corndog.social 9 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

When I got my first robot vacuum I was too impatient to wait for the battery to fully charge before trying it out so when I started it up it was only able to clean a small area before it had to go back to charge. Very exciting though!

Anyway I went to bed not realizing that once it was fully charged it would resume cleaning. So approximately 1am the vacuum wakes back up and starts cleaning. In my sleep-addled delirious state I had absolutely no idea what the fuck was going on. Suddenly it sounded like there was a jet engine in my room and I couldn't even tell where it was coming from until I jumped out of bed and there were red lights coming at me.

Saw my life flash before my eyes. Little fucker might as well have been a terminator.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] aldfin@lemm.ee 13 points 1 day ago

We need decent European alternatives for robot vaccuums.

[–] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 166 points 2 days ago (11 children)

Hmm so this entire trick of setting up companies just to be bought by mega corps appears to be not a viable strategy if anti trust law is enforced?

Edit: apparently this company was set up before sell to mega corp craze got kicked off. I don't think changes the thesis but this case study doesn't support it with the strength I suggested

Hmm as if last 30 years of corpo behavior has been essentially to maintain mega corp dominance via captured regulators and legislators

We got the capitalism alright but where is the free market at, daddy?

[–] Glitchvid@lemmy.world 83 points 2 days ago (4 children)

Don't worry, the new strategy is to string a company along with talks of a buyout, then when their cash runs out and they declare bankruptcy, to buy all the assets on fire sale.

[–] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 24 points 2 days ago

Owners of the take over target shoulda worked harder and maybe ate less avocado toast?

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] scarabic@lemmy.world 45 points 2 days ago (6 children)

setting up companies just to be bought by mega corps

iRobot was originally founded all the way back in 1990 and have sold quite a lot of Roomba vacuums, advancing innovation in home automation along the way. I don’t think anyone can ever say that they set up this company for a quick flip corpo pump and dump.

load more comments (6 replies)
load more comments (9 replies)
[–] imetators@lemm.ee 24 points 2 days ago (4 children)

Haha. Ofc with these prices and features compared to some other good Chinese and other brands roomba is doomed. Like check vacuum wars on YT. Middle model roombas are on par with your typical Chinese brand robots but price is double. Basically, you pay for a brand 🤷.

[–] CoffeeJunkie@lemmy.cafe 9 points 2 days ago (3 children)

I will check them out later! I've been wanting a robot vacuum for a while now but I also am wary of Chinese bullshit.

I want a really good one that doesn't connect to the internet in any way. 👍🏻 Even if that kills some of its smart features.

load more comments (3 replies)
load more comments (3 replies)
[–] Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee 97 points 2 days ago (13 children)

(I know I didn't contribute shit & just complain but) ... isn't it a bit weird how after all this time there arent any good open sauce diy robot kits?

Like, materials, sensors, brushes, filters, batteries, etc are all cheaply available, a basic board could literally be just cut plywood with the rest is the things mounted on top (who even needs a cover?). And ofc one could mount various weapons mod on it.

[–] MangoPenguin@lemmy.blahaj.zone 78 points 2 days ago (2 children)

There is https://valetudo.cloud/ for a lot of existing models, it's about the closest thing we have.

[–] onoki@reddthat.com 16 points 2 days ago (2 children)

"for a lot of models" is a bit of an exaggeration. Especially as Xiaomi/Dreame try to actively restrict Valetudo use.

But yes, Valetudo is a great project. I'd just wish there was a manufacturer who would openly endorse it.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee 19 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (3 children)

Oh fuck, ~~I'm gonna~~ I might test this.
I've never heard of it before, but the more I read the more I like it.

Thx!

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] turkalino@lemmy.yachts 12 points 2 days ago (5 children)

I love DIY tech projects and yet I would never go through the effort to make a robot vacuum because vacuuming is already the easiest chore in the house. You kinda just stand there and go swoop swoop swoop a few times. Takes like 3 minutes to do an entire room. As opposed to listening to the robot vacuum rumble around for an hour and do a half ass job, if it even finishes without getting spooked by a shadow thinking it’s a 100ft cliff

[–] Halosheep@lemm.ee 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Sounds like you don't have a thick furred dog that sheds multiple coats throughout the year.

We got a roomba as a gift and it has saved so much effort of sweeping/vacuuming the excess of fur on the floors.

Love my husky but damn...

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (4 replies)
[–] Rhaedas@fedia.io 17 points 2 days ago

Popular Science had an "open source" robot lawnmower plans in the...80s? I have it somewhere. Old enough that it used deep cycle lead-acid batteries and spinning round dremel blades. No laser to cut the grass, although it did use LEDs for sensors for grass height.

load more comments (10 replies)
[–] lamyipming@lemmy.world 18 points 2 days ago

Their products are like 5 years behind their competitors. It's inevitable.

[–] PerogiBoi@lemmy.ca 15 points 2 days ago

So my vacuum will likely not work in 12 months. Niiiice.

[–] ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 49 points 2 days ago (6 children)

I'm a bit of a diy and repair nerd for damned near anything. I have a near 20 year old roomba 530 model that still works great. Back then and for a good many years roombas were hands down the best bang for your buck. I haven't recommended them for the past decade. They fell behind in ability and build quality. Let alone any of the privacy concerns stuff. Damned shame.

[–] freely1333@reddthat.com 18 points 2 days ago

Patiently awaiting Congress to ban any Chinese robot vacuums out of national security risk

load more comments (5 replies)
[–] kane@femboys.biz 61 points 2 days ago (12 children)

Their products require their app, would this effectively turn their devices useless when the servers die?

I know it supports a single button to start cleaning, but I wonder if that will work properly without being able to call home.

Might be time for people to look for alternatives.

[–] TheGreatSnacku@lemm.ee 43 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It technically still works without the app but it loses features that increase the efficiency of the map, tells it where not to clean, scheduled cleaning, etc.

[–] TheTechnician27@lemmy.world 22 points 2 days ago (1 children)

So basically anything that makes it more useful than just doing it yourself.

[–] entropicdrift@lemmy.sdf.org 18 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Everything that makes it better than a generic copy, yes

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (11 replies)
[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 53 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Another company squandering their patents and market advantage. Reminds me of TiVo.

load more comments (2 replies)

I'm glad I waited to replace my old Eufy one. I definitely will not be replacing it with Roomba now.

[–] bouncing_blob@sh.itjust.works 36 points 2 days ago

my first thought was aren't they a part of the Military Industrial Complex, how could they possibly go bankrupt? It turns out they sold off that part of their business in 2016 to private equity. Oops.

[–] cyd@lemmy.world 17 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Pretty much inevitable. Nowadays there are so many robot vacuum cleaners from different brands, and everyone has more or less figured out the tech so they all work pretty well. (I have a Roborock, and have nothing to say about it other than it keeps the floors clean and doesn't cause me any grief.) There's no moat, so consumer market success is purely a matter of manufacturing and cost efficiency, and iRobot obviously would have a huge upfill fight against Samsung, Xiaomi, and a thousand other light consumer goods makers.

load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments
view more: next ›