The company is still “number one,” said Elizabeth Parks, president of market research firm Parks Associates in Dallas. But it’s a shaky number one. Parks estimates that iRobot had nearly two-thirds of the robot vacuum market in 2018, but now holds only a 48 percent share. Meanwhile, rival robot makers like SharkNinja, Roborock, Eufy, and Ecovacs have been steadily chipping away.
One possible reason, according to Parks, is concern about data privacy. More advanced versions of the Roomba and other robots use visual sensors to generate detailed maps of the user’s home. This information is shared with the manufacturers to develop more advanced products, but it could also potentially be used to monitor users.
From the article, "IRobot faces a murky future amid rising Roomba competitors" by Hiawatha Bray
The research in the report was done by Parks Associates, a “market research and consulting company specializing in emerging consumer technology products and services,” according to its public statemen...
By almost any measure, Chromecast has been a hit. Among dedicated streaming devices, it was the second-most popular in the U.S. in 2014, capturing about 20% of the market according to Parks Associates...
The Biebs is just one of hundreds of artists who will be releasing vinyl albums on Record Store Day. Fans of the recently departed David Bowie will have a chance to get a limited edition pressing of s...
Netflix has some of the most loyal customers among streaming video services. While 52% of U.S. broadband households subscribe to Netflix, just 5% cancelled a subscription (including free trials) in th...
