Providing market intelligence for more than 35 years

In The News

IRobot faces a murky future amid rising Roomba competitors

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

Previously In The News

Viewers lament Super Bowl video lags. Can streaming really handle big scale live events?

Livestreaming is not what these services were built for. And especially when millions of people are watching at once, that puts pressure on their technical infrastructure, says Eric Sorensen with Park...

Disney and FOX Don’t Think Their New Sports Bundle Will Wreck Cable TV. Are They in Denial?

Consulting firm Parks Associates found 40% of US traditional pay-TV subscribers still watch live sports via Legacy pay TV. “This could be a win for the sport streaming consumer searching for their...

46% of pay-TV subscribers show interest in smart more control features, survey finds

In recent findings by Parks Associates, a trend among pay-TV subscribers underscores a growing inclination towards integrating smart home and security functionalities within their TV services. The...

Interest Is Growing for a More Interactive TV-Watching Experience

New data from research firm Parks Associates found that 46% of cable TV subscribers find emerging home control and interactive features, provided through their TV service, appealing or very appealing....