Roomba Gets Holiday Updates

Earlier this fall, we took at look at the iRobot Roomba j7+, and despite a few small quirks, really liked the way the robot easily made itself a part of our daily habits around the house. And it’s still going strong just a few weeks later, and shocker – we have little to complain about.

As with all iRobot reviews, we get the opportunity to sit down with folks who designed to the robot to talk about what has led them to this point of development, and what we can expect in the future. Going into that meeting, I did have a number of iRobot concerns. Why can’t I copy a map from one Roomba to another if they are on the same app? When will the new Genius software help the robot detect more than pet waste and cords?

I was assured it was coming, so we held off posting those annoyances – and iRobot delivered. Check it out:

• Holiday Tree Zone Detection – Love the Holiday tree but hate the mess it creates? Now, users can directly send their Roomba j7 or j7+ to clean up those pesky fallen pine needles. The Roomba j7 and j7+ can recommend cleaning zones around Holiday trees via the iRobot Home App. With iRobot Genius, the robot will automatically suggest a Clean Zone around the outer perimeter of the tree and place a Keep Out Zone in the center, which prevents the robot from contacting the tree.
• Shoes and Socks Hazard Avoidance – Did someone leave their shoes in the living room? Accidentally drop a sock from the hamper, or miss an imaginary 3-point attempt? Don’t fret, the Roomba j7 and j7+ can now identify and avoid shoes and socks when cleaning, adding to the current list of other objects that the robot can detect and avoid, including cords and solid pet waste. The Roomba j7+ will continue to get smarter over time and identify even more objects with future over-the-air software updates.
• Map Copy – Users shouldn’t have to create a new Imprint™ Smart Map every time they purchase a robot from iRobot. For a more seamless experience, users with Smart Mapping robots can now transfer existing Smart Maps from one robot to another,2 including the Braava® jet m6 robot mop – an ideal solution for those who purchase a new robot, an additional robot or an iRobot Bundle.

All of these great features are coming for the Roomba j7 and j7+, and we couldn’t be more excited! Let’s get cleaning, Roomie!