VacuumCleaners
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IRL: Dyson DC44, NUU ClickMate PowerPlus and the Galaxy S III
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. Can't get more random than this, folks: in this week's edition of IRL, we have Darren recommending a vacuum cleaner, Dan Cooper continuing his search for a backup phone charger and Jon Fingas putting the Galaxy S III to the test against his beloved HTC One X.
iRobot Roomba 790 with Wireless Command Center hands-on (video)
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. %Gallery-159094%
IRL: Kirby Sentria, Sony bloggie-MHS-FS1 and the OLPC XO laptop
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. Let's just cut to the chase: this week's IRL is a little schizophrenic. On the one hand, you've got Andy singing his bloggie's praises, Terrence waxing philosophical about his unused OLPC XO and Darren ranting about his grandmother's vacuum cleaner. Do you like camcorders that are not a smartphone? Do you despise door-to-door Sentria salesmen? Good. Let's hit it, then.
IRL: Kingston Wi-Drive, Dyson DC35 and being an Ubuntu fanboy
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. The lively comments in yesterday's Nest thermostat post got us thinking: for all our talk of smartphones and Ultrabooks, it's the mundane, not-glamorous stuff that we're spending most of our money on. Take Brad, for instance, who had to make room in his iTunes library for the Aladdin soundtrack and had to get creative after maxing out his iPhone's (non-expandable) storage. Or Zach, who felt not one, but two vacuum cleaners were necessary in his bachelor pad. And at least one of us avoids paying anything by choosing to tinker around in Ubuntu. How'd Brad make do with his 16GB of fixed storage? Why is Zach such a compulsive cleaner? And who's the Linux fanboy on staff? Meet us after the break to find out.
Chinese manufacturer sticks IP webcam on robot vacuum, calls it a day
WiFi-controlled sentry robots have been our playthings for a few years now, but sure as Sunday morning, they don't help us get much work done. Why would you, when you can discreetly spy on your house, kids and neighbors from the convenience of a web browser? That's what we thought. But now, there's a robot to assuade your guilty conscience: the G182, a complete VoIP webcam system built on top of a pseudo-Roomba. Sure, a Roomba-cam isn't really anything new, but while you wait for the real deal to shake off its economic funk (if it ever does), this yellow disc is the next best thing. For the low, low price of $500, you can once again feel like you're accomplishing something -- vacuuming floors and yelling at the kids to do chores -- while dodging the daily grind. Full specs and loads more pics at the source link.
Video: SCRATCHbot hunts like a rat for those trapped like one
Designed for search and rescue missions - which, let's face it, are only ever one loose word away from "search and destroy" - the SCRATCHbot uses its whiskers to detect disaster survivors in inhospitable or dangerous areas. The Bristol Robotics Laboratory developed the rat-inspired people searcher over the past 6 years and now hopes to find interest for it in underground and underwater projects where vision may be impaired. Far less heroic uses are also being contemplated, such as textile inspection and implementation inside intelligent vacuum cleaners that would be able to adjust their cleaning to the particular surface they sense. Video of the new bot coming to life is after the break.
Samsung Silencio vacuum looks like that Master Chief guy
It takes a lot to differentiate a given vacuum cleaner in today's high-tech world of Dysons and Roombas, so kudos to Samsung for attempting to appeal to the gaming crowd by designing a model shaped like a popular Xbox character. The Silencio SC9540 packs in all the high-end features you'd expect from a TV manufacturer making vacuums -- cyclonic suction, HEPA filter, super-special silver nanoparticle coating -- yet really stands out due to its rather striking resemblance to that dude from the Halo games. Samsung's Master Chief vacuum cleaner: Kills dirt. Dead. With a plasma rifle.[Via Slashgear]
LG Kompressor compresses dust, improves sucking action
Nah, LG's latest household gizmo won't run laps around Fido, order its own replacement parts, or replace hordes of human janitors, but the aptly-named Kompressor will do a number to those nasty dust particles that get all stirred up when facing a vacuum. Essentially, the cleaner sucks up dirt and debris as any normal vacuum would, but rather than emitting dusty byproducts whilst handling its duties, this rendition actually compresses the dirt into blocks, which not only decreases the frequency in which you'll be unloading it, but also helps to cut down on those allergic reactions. Furthermore, you'll find a washable HEPA filter and an "electronic controller of power" right on the handle, which will hopefully prevent those awkward moments when trying to find the "off" switch with your foot. Potentially most encouraging, however, is the fairly reasonable pricetag, as you'll end up paying quite a bit less (€299; $398) than a souped-up Dyson when this lands next month.[Via Coolest-Gadgets]
