Every single day—weekend, weekday, rain or shine—whichever robot vacuum I’m currently testing starts running at 9 am. It’s always a good sign. I heave a sigh of relief and continue with whatever else I was doing, content that at least that f*cking chore in my house is getting done.

When I first started testing robot vacuums eight years ago, it sometimes seemed like more trouble than it was worth. I cleaned up the floor. I meticulously maintained the different sensors. Now I just don’t care. (I mean, yes, I do care, robot vacuum manufacturers, I just care slightly less.) Even if it gets tripped up on my daughter’s latest knitting project, or it can’t mop the kitchen because I haven’t emptied the water tank. Just go, little soldier, go.

Robot vacuums are so much smarter now. They can navigate through many more surprising minefields of Lego bricks, stuffed animals, or piles of shoes than you might have expected even two or three years ago. As a working parent with two elementary-school-aged kids and a dog, I need all the help I can get. Maybe it will clean the whole house; maybe it will only clean up 50 or 65 percent of it. But as someone who is constantly fighting chaos, consistency is what counts.

It’s a Miss

It took a while for me to reach this Zen state (and also to collect enough robot vacuums to have an army running in every room and floor of my house). Based on my years of talking to many families (and trying to foist used robot vacuums on them), these are a few reasons why a robot vacuum might not be worth it for you.

• You live in a small space. If it only takes you an hour or so to vacuum, why bother?
• Your home has a complicated layout. A lot of 1970s homes have strange, complicated designs—a sunken living room, a playroom that’s up a few stairs, bedrooms upstairs. Although stair-climbing vacuums are on the way, for now, it’s not worth carrying a vacuum from room to room.
• You have rugs with weird tassels. The 1970s were bad for robot vacuums. Shag carpeting is also bad, as is a lot of low furniture.
• You hate maintenance. You really can’t stand emptying the fussy little dust bag or refilling the water container. I’m going to say here that you probably have other problems that need addressing before getting a robot vacuum.

Even I don’t rely solely on a robot vacuum to keep my house clean. I also have a Dyson stick vacuum, a carpet cleaner, and a regular broom and mop in a closet. If my kid spills a bunch of flour under the counter while she’s making pancakes, I’m not going to pull out my phone, open the app, and watch a robot vacuum slowly trundle over to spot-clean it.

It’s also not great for deep-cleaning. No matter how much a company hypes up a robot’s suction power, it will just never be as thorough as even the smallest hand vacuum. It’s just physics. A robot vacuum’s motor and battery are smaller.

Even the best navigation system cannot accommodate everything that happens in a crazy, dynamic environment with a bunch of gremlins and animals running around. If I have people coming over, I still have to walk around and do things like put away cushion forts and pick up the shreds of a log that my dog decided to pluck off the woodpile and bring into the house to gnaw in the warmth and comfort of the living room.

HBO Max is not just for The Sopranos anymore (but it is the only place to stream The Sopranos). Subscription video service HBO Max not only has The Sopranos, but other content from the best entertainment libraries, including: Warner Bros., Discovery Channel, CNN, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Animal Planet, and other brands.

We at WIRED also watch a lot of content—obviously, because we are always testing TVs, soundbars, and streaming devices—and regularly round up our newest favorites from HBO Max so that you’ll know what to watch once you nab an HBO Max promo code. Whether you’re wanting to watch an HBO original series like Succession or a smash hit movie like Barbie, HBO Max has the content you’re looking for, and WIRED has the perfect promo codes to help you save on these sometimes-pricey subscription plans.

50% Off HBO Max Promo Code for Students

Students rejoice, you don’t have to try to mooch off your friends’ parents’ HBO Max subscriptions anymore when you want to rewatch Euphoria for the 15th time (…not speaking from personal experience or anything). HBO Max is offering a Student Discount, where you can save and get 50% off subscriptions with a promo code. This means the price is only $5 a month. This discounted plan is eligible for The HBO Max Basic With Ads monthly plan, so you’ll get unlimited access to all of HBO, hit series, movies, news, sports, and more on up to two devices at once.

Save 35% by Bundling HBO Max, Disney+ and Hulu

This deal is honestly one of the best I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been thinking of switching as well, because with this Magic Bundle, you can get HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu for just $17 a month. (which is crazy because I pay that much alone for my Hulu! Again, I’m convincing myself while writing this that I should switch to this plan.) This crazy good deal is for those three streaming services with ads, but you’ll be saving 35% on the original price. If you’re impatient like me, you can get the same deal without ads for $30 a month, which is definitely higher than with ads but you’re still saving almost $19 a month with this Evergreen deal.

HBO Max Deals: Save up to $41

Like other streaming services, HBO Max has different tiers at different prices for streaming, so you can choose which one fits you (or your “household;” wink) best. Basic with ads allows you to stream on two devices at once in full HD for $10 a month. Standard is midrange, where you get everything from the previous basic plus 30 available downloads so you can watch on the go, for $17 a month. If you are impatient and a movie/TV buff, you might want to choose the premium, where you can stream on four devices at once, have 4k Ultra HD video quality, Dolby Atmos immersive audio, and 100 downloads to watch on the go for $21 a month.

HBO Max November 2025 New Shows and Films

HBO Max is known for being one of the most heralded platforms in entertainment. These new shows and films on HBO Max are sure to be a hit too. We’re most excited for Task, a new series set in the working-class suburbs of Philadelphia, where an FBI agent heads a task force aiming to end the violent robberies led by an unsuspecting family man. There’s also a new GOT-spin off series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, premiering January 18. Taking place a century before the events of Game of Thrones, set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne and the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory. There’s also Chair Company from the oddball mind of Tim Robinson, and IT: Welcome to Derry, a spin off set in the IT universe for fans of horror.

Stream Sports Games for Free With Your HBO Max Subscription

As an added bonus, you can also stream live sports through the B/R Sports add-on at no extra cost. This includes super popular events from the NBA, NHL, March Madness, MLB, U.S. Soccer, Bellator, and premier cycling events. Act soon though, because after the promo period, the add-on will be available for $10 a month.

Watch Your Favorite Shows on HBO Max for Free

Because HBO knows how tempting (and sexy) teasing can be, folks can sample episodes of new and fan-favorite original steamy series, like Euphoria, Industry, or The Idol for free without a subscription. When you inevitably get hooked (too soon after the Euphoria reference?) on that sweet, sweet content, you’ll need an HBO Max subscription to stream the full library. To continue to tease, you can stream nearly endless options, like House of the Dragon from the wildly popular Game of Thrones series, Dune, and my personal faves: The Last of Us, The Penguin, and Hacks, right now. Hurry, you don’t want to miss out on the shows everyone is talking about around the proverbial water cooler.

Coats Digital is pleased to announce that leading global apparel manufacturer, Embee International Industries, has implemented Coats Digital’s GSDCost solution across its operations to eliminate inaccurate costing, streamline production processes, and boost competitiveness in international markets. The move forms a key part of Embee International’s digital transformation strategy to drive greater efficiency, improve quality, and strengthen partnerships with its portfolio of top global brands.

Embee International, a leading Egyptian apparel manufacturer, has adopted Coats Digital’s GSDCost solution to standardise work methods, ensure accurate labour costing, and boost efficiency.
The move eliminates manual costing errors, enhances production visibility, and supports its digital transformation to strengthen global competitiveness.

Headquartered in Ismailia, Egypt, with additional facilities in Suez, Port Said, and Alexandria, Embee International employs more than 12,000 people.  The company operates 4,800 sewing machines across 134 sewing lines and produces approximately four million units per month. Its diverse product range includes outer jackets, trousers, chinos, denim pants, shorts, leggings, underwear, tees, polos, shirts, and soft-shell jackets.

As a trusted supplier to brands such as Decathlon, Fruit of the Loom, LC Waikiki, Walmart, Calvin Klein, Skechers, Lee Wrangler, New Yorkers, and Defacto, Embee International is committed to operational excellence, ethical manufacturing, and sustainable growth.

Prior to adopting GSDCost, Embee International relied on manual time studies using stopwatches and inconsistent measurement methods. This led to inaccurate Standard Minute Values (SMVs), incorrect costings, unrealistic production targets, lengthy negotiations with buyers, and inefficient line balancing. It also faced high production costs due to non-standardised work methods, inconsistent quality from variations in operator techniques, frequent bottlenecks and missed delivery deadlines caused by poor production visibility.

Sherwin Ricky Jonas, Head-Industrial Engineering & CI said: “GSDCost delivers a clear, data-driven view of our production processes, allowing us to measure performance accurately, standardise work methods, and optimise resource utilisation. By enhancing workforce efficiency while upholding quality and compliance standards, it fosters seamless interdepartmental coordination, streamlines operations, and drives continuous improvement through informed decision-making.”

With GSDCost, Embee International can now produce precise, data-backed labour costings that improve buyer negotiations and optimise operator methods to reduce SMVs and increase efficiency. The company is building a robust digital SMV library to accelerate new style costing and planning while improving production visibility and line balancing. This transformation is enabling Embee International to create a more agile, scalable operation capable of meeting the fast-paced demands of the global apparel market and supporting long-term growth.

Diaa Hasham, Digital Manager, Sales, Coats Digital, added: “Embee International is a leading force in global apparel manufacturing, and we are thrilled that such a prestigious company has chosen Coats Digital’s GSDCost solution to drive its digital transformation. By optimising production processes through proven, scientific methods, Embee International is strengthening the resilience and efficiency of its operations. In a market where brands demand closer collaboration with fully digitised supply chain partners, GSDCost provides a common language for manufacturers and brands alike, helping to meet cost, quality, and delivery targets while promoting sustainable and ethical practices. We look forward to supporting Embee International throughout its digital transformation journey, so it continues to benefit from improved efficiencies, enhanced profitability, and a stronger position in the global apparel industry.”

Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)