Branded is a weekly column devoted to the intersection of marketing, business, design, and culture. Just a few years ago, iRobot, best known as the maker of the Roomba, was riding high, with annual ...

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› By Liam McCabe iRobot filed for bankruptcy in December 2025 and expects to be ...

It would come as a surprise to more people than you think that "roomba" isn't the universal term for a robot vacuum. It is, in fact, a capital "R" that denotes Roomba as a proper noun rather than a ...