ConnectR Beta Test Continues

I and others who have signed up for the iRobot ConnectR remote presence bot Beta Test have received emails from iRobot asking us to take another survey to requalify for the test. My guess is the company -- having received more than 10,000 applications -- is trying to tailor the test applicants to particular pools of folks, and feels comfortable enough at this point with the product to expand testing. At any rate, given the S-L-O-W testing period, don't expect a working product before late 2009/early 2010, and perhaps later if the test shows them that they need a redesign (which they do, at the very least, to add a video screen option (or iPhone/iPod Touch connector with software hack?), and preferably some height to make it less of a trip hazard for older folks). There's no way I'd pay anything close to the $499 they want to charge without 2-way video. Stick an Intel Atom chip in there, or an ARM-style one.

Tags: iRobot, robot, ConnectR