The U.S. company that put robot vacuums into American homes has hit the skids. The maker of Roomba, called iRobot, has filed for bankruptcy about two years after its failed merger with Amazon. The company has struggled to keep up with foreign rivals, its hefty debt and new costs of tariffs. The firm is now being taken over by its main manufacturer based in China, assuring owners that its devices will keep running as usual.
IFA, short for Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin, meaning International Radio Exhibition Berlin because it started in 1924 when radios were the hottest things in tech, doesn't see as many major gadget announcements as CES. Still, it's Europe's largest tech show to close out summer, and this year the show doubled down on the stuff its Messe Berlin convention halls are typically known for: smart home gear and robots.