If Dyson can't come out and be the best, there really isn't any point. I'm glad they scrapped it if they thought it wasn't going to be up to snuff.

The software aside, they have the best vacuuming technology and are in no way of losing that IP.

As far as Roomba goes, there's plenty of "competition" for it starting to appear. Though I don't see any of the others as serious threats at this time: some other little-known European model which just doesn't have the right form-factor nor run-time, the Trilobite from Electrolux which does sound promising but isn't yet out, and then at least another one or two I found which are likely more vapour than substance.

While searching I did find a US$700 robotic lawn mower though. I'm pretty sure it doesn't self-charge and there's likely a lot of manual work setting up a perimiter for it first.

Bruno