Hasta La Gadget!

After 22 years of existence, iRobot has come a long way and is still releasing new models of its home cleaning robots. The Looj 330 has been completely redesigned to improve your gutter cleaning experience.

In the vacuuming robot line, the Roomba 600 series has been updated as well with redesigned brushes and a better air system.

Two years ago, iRobot released the Looj for those who do not like heights and cleaning out gutters. The new version has the same strengths as its predecessor. It is an effective way to push out dust and branches with a remote control and a flippy-flappy front sweeper.

A nice side effect is that it’s fun to use. But, as we said in our review, using the last-gen Looj with tighter gutters could be a problem.

With the Looj 330, iRobot addressed that flaw. The robot has a lower profile design and comes with interchangeable auger flaps to fit all kinds of gutters. Moreover, there is a new automatic “clean” mode that adapts to debris. But don’t worry, the manual mode is still here for your inner child.

The battery is now a lithium-ion battery that is supposed to work well after many months spent in your garage. The robot comes with a belt clip to carry it while climbing a ladder.

Finally, a new accessory kit is now available with other auger flap sizes and a bag to put away all this stuff. It looks like a toolbox dedicated to the Looj, and you can hang it on the wall next to your other tools. The accessory kit is available for $99.99.

While the first version of the Looj cost $169, the updated version now costs $299.99 due to the new features.

iRobot has released today a new version of the entry model of its vacuuming robots as well. It is a minor revision. In addition to redesigning the look of the robot, the two main new features are a new brush design and a better air system. The entry price is $329.

With those new products, iRobot still seems dedicated to automate home maintenance.

Click to view slideshow.

This particular Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner is not exactly the in thing at the moment, but you know the proverb – waste not, want not. What do you do with a partially destroyed Roomba? Why, the answer would be to take it in, restore it while performing some tinkering with its innards and throwing in additional parts, and you end up with a telepresence robot which can be controlled over a Google+ Hangout. While this telepresence robot will not make an appearance at the Academy Awards anytime soon, it still has been dubbed “Oscar”, and can be controlled by any of the participants in that particular video chat session. Of course, having something as fun as this might translate to you having a hard time relinquishing control to the rest of your mates.

The robot’s view can be seen by everyone as there is a tablet with a webcam that is mounted on it. Those who are near Oscar can also check out the particular Hangout session that is going on, how neat is that?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Hangouts on Gmail allows you to launch face-to-face-to-face chats, Hangouts on Air Rolled out by Google: Offers Live Streaming,

What to get the homeowner who has everything? Perhaps a robotic vacuum styled in the fashion of an RC toy will fit the bill. Here at a gdgt event in New York City we happened upon iRobot’s Roomba 790, which comes with a touchscreen remote for manually controlling where the bot goes. The controller — make that the “Wireless Command Center” — has an interface matching the one on the 790 itself, so there’s no second set of menus to master here. In addition to deciding where it moves, you can also schedule daily cleanings or tap a “Clean” button to push the robot into action.Though this isn’t the first time iRobot’s dabbled in remote-controlled vacuum cleaners, previous models tended to rely on infrared sensors, meaning you could only control the Roomba if it was in your line of sight. This guy, though, uses a proprietary technology that allows you to program that 4pm scrubbing from up to 25 meters away.

As for battery life, it runs on four AA cells, and is rated for three to six months of runtime, depending on how compulsively you plan on cleaning. Interestingly, despite the change in wireless standards, the 790 is compatible with older 700-series Roombas, though it’s not as is the controller would be sold separately. If you happen to be the kind of fabulously wealthy family who can afford (and has a need) for multiple Roomba cleaners, you can only pair the remote with one robot at a time anyway. Don’t have the budget for a $700 robotic vacuum kit? We’ve got hands-on photos below and a demo video after the break.

Continue reading iRobot Roomba 790 with Wireless Command Center hands-on (video)

iRobot Roomba 790 with Wireless Command Center hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 18:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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