Privacy (for robot vacuums) isn’t cheap. via the Verge.

      • colourlesspony@pawb.social
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        11 months ago

        I know right! I hate that so much new tech needs an app and will lose functionality/stop working if the company stop supporting it or you phone stop working with the app.

    • ditty@lemm.ee
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      10 months ago

      The fact that it costs $1800 means it was dead on arrival for me. But I wish them the best if they can carve out a niche of privacy-focused iRobot/Roomba customers while bringing increased exposure to privacy issues

  • Nyfure@kbin.social
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    11 months ago

    Some/Many robot vacuums can be flashed with custom firmware and then only communicate locally.
    Unfortunately it seems the software isnt as polished or well as cleaning, but i guess some less efficient cleaning vs phone-home crap is a good counter.

  • qwertyqwertyqwerty@lemmy.one
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    11 months ago

    I know you can’t put a true price on privacy, but I can clearly state that this goes beyond reasonable pricing for me. $1800, plus $180/year in fees for bags/membership subscription. That’s a $3600 + battery and parts replacement investment over 10 years, and who’s to say the app/device firmware will be supported that whole time? The extended warranty is for two years. There doesn’t appear to be information on repairs outside of the warranty, which requires the subscription for 2 years for the extended warranty. This sounds like a disaster of a product from an ecological standpoint.

    • sbv@sh.itjust.worksOP
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      11 months ago

      The price is way too high. I’m still rocking my dumb Roomba from ten years ago. It’s a few parts away from the Roomba of Theseus at this point, but it still works. Without an Internet connection.

      • iheartneopets@lemm.ee
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        10 months ago

        Would you mind telling me which model you have? I’m looking to pick one up used on ebay or something :)

  • Dizzy Devil Ducky@lemm.ee
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    11 months ago

    Another solution that guarantees no data is sold is to just buy a regular corded vacuum. It may not be as convenient, but it’ll save you having to worry about your vacuum stealing data. At least until they start forcing newer models to require an app.

  • Stephen304@lemmy.ml
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    10 months ago

    Damn that bag must be super small to only last a week. My s7 ultra dock bag lasts around 6 months. Before I started living with a cat I was still using the original bag that had been going on a year and still wasn’t full, vacuuming daily.

    Edit: For context, my roborock dock’s bag is 3 liters, so think the volume of 1 and a half 2 liter soda bottles, and the apartment it lasted a year in was ~500 sq ft. The matic’s bag needs to fit inside the robot and looks to be close to the size of the palm of your hand. You can see it at 0:37 in the video on their site.

  • teagrrl@lemmy.ml
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    11 months ago

    I’m think I’m okay with using my bagless, cordless, replaceable battery, dumb vaccuum.

  • Rearsays@lemmy.ml
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    11 months ago

    This is cool but it would have to be like a third that price before anyone could take the leap. If anything someone should find some way to hack and replace the spyware in a Roomba or something