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Bose has released API docs and opened the API for its EoL SoundTouch speakers

arstechnica.com

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Re: Bose has released API docs and opened the API for its EoL SoundTouch speakers

#101

Post by shrubby »

quijoteuniv wrote: post #56
ktg0215 wrote: post #8

This is how "end of support" should be handled. Instead of turning devices into e-waste, open-source them and let the community extend their life. Kudos to Bose for setting a good example. More companies should follow this approach - especially as right-to-repair becomes a bigger issue.

This is the way! (And should be the law, maybe enforced by mandalorians taking greedy CEOs!)

Yup. All the "bricked" cars should have their service software opened. All the old iPads that have perfectly good hardware.

...

Planet is burning and the zillionaires have enough zillions already so I vouch for the Mando too.

Re: Bose has released API docs and opened the API for its EoL SoundTouch speakers

#102

Post by s_dev »

esskay wrote: post #37

Hey Sonos, this is how you handle old products, and this is why most of us wont touch your hardware ever again.

I have my fathers Sonos soundbar and a pair of speakers at home that I bought for him as Christmas gifts years ago. I still can't believe they knowingly released an app that bricked older devices.

I have to try and get them working again. The only solution I've heard of is to get an old version of the Sonos app APK, a dedicated old single purpose Android phone to acts as a bridge between your speakers and phone and connect that way.

Stay away from Sonos.

Re: Bose has released API docs and opened the API for its EoL SoundTouch speakers

#103

Post by BoredPositron »

worldsavior wrote: post #58
ktg0215 wrote: post #8

This is how "end of support" should be handled. Instead of turning devices into e-waste, open-source them and let the community extend their life. Kudos to Bose for setting a good example. More companies should follow this approach - especially as right-to-repair becomes a bigger issue.

[flagged]

People with hot takes that didn't even bother to read the article.

Re: Bose has released API docs and opened the API for its EoL SoundTouch speakers

#104

Post by ryandrake »

freedomben wrote: post #15

This might sound crazy to some people, but I think this is much better than ongoing support. Removal of reliance on cloud alone is a massive feature that gets me interested in buying one of these (I don't currently own one). And the fact it has an API I can hit myself? Awesome!!!

Not crazy. I would be much more willing to buy a device, in general, if it was advertised as NOT cloud-dependent rather than cloud-dependent.

Re: Bose has released API docs and opened the API for its EoL SoundTouch speakers

#105

Post by aeturnum »

Oh cool! I got a set of SoundTouch speakers years ago because they supported simultaneous Bluetooth playback as well as synced cloud service playback. This was in 2018 so options were more limited then. Since it became clear Bose was shutting them down I've moved over to Wiims[1] for managing playback (the SoundTouch app was always kind of odd and hard to manage) - but allowing local control is really nice. Currently you need to hit a button to enable playing from AUX on the soundtouches - they won't stay on the "dumb speaker" mode unless music is playing. Hopefully after this I'll be able to set them up as permanent speakers driven by the wiims.

[1] https://www.wiimhome.com/

Re: Bose has released API docs and opened the API for its EoL SoundTouch speakers

#106

Post by ahepp »

samrus wrote: post #86
dspillett wrote: post #53

This is not open sourcing any actual software or hardware it is “open-sourcing the API documentation for its SoundTouch smart speakers”. You might be able to point them at an alternative back-end¹ if you want the cloud features, but that will need to be written from scratch rather than being forked from code provided by Sonos. > When cloud support ends, an update to the SoundTouch app will add local controls to retai…

Yeah but writing that backend app will be much much easier now

It’s a very nice thing to do, but from what I have read it is very much not open sourcing anything.

Maybe that distinction is too arcane for general technology audiences, but I don’t really think it is?

Re: Bose has released API docs and opened the API for its EoL SoundTouch speakers

#107

Post by mrtksn »

ktg0215 wrote: post #8

This is how "end of support" should be handled. Instead of turning devices into e-waste, open-source them and let the community extend their life. Kudos to Bose for setting a good example. More companies should follow this approach - especially as right-to-repair becomes a bigger issue.

Exactly, I wish EU enforced this.

Maybe the general rule should be like, if something isn’t in the users control and the user doesn’t want it anymore or can no longer function despite not being damaged, then the company should take back the hardware and refund the user.

So the company still have two options, either refund or open-source the systems needed for the device so that the user or third-party can continue supporting it.

Re: Bose has released API docs and opened the API for its EoL SoundTouch speakers

#108

Post by andrepd »

ktg0215 wrote: post #8

This is how "end of support" should be handled. Instead of turning devices into e-waste, open-source them and let the community extend their life. Kudos to Bose for setting a good example. More companies should follow this approach - especially as right-to-repair becomes a bigger issue.

> More companies should follow this approach

No, the law must mandate that. You either provide active support, or if you end it you must open-source all tools necessary to perform maintenance. It's one of those things that has to be mandated by law to provide a uniform floor on all companies and manufacturers, like food safety laws, fire codes, or accessibility for the physically disabled.

Re: Bose has released API docs and opened the API for its EoL SoundTouch speakers

#109

Post by ghm2199 »

ktg0215 wrote: post #8

This is how "end of support" should be handled. Instead of turning devices into e-waste, open-source them and let the community extend their life. Kudos to Bose for setting a good example. More companies should follow this approach - especially as right-to-repair becomes a bigger issue.

I wish meta would do the same for its portal devices. The devices are solid hardware. They removed a ton of app support that needed cloud services.

I loved their camera tracking and picture frame along with their speaker quality.

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