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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

#151

Post by dundundundun »

bee_rider wrote: post #127
senshan wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Please suggest better alternatives

If you were going to consider Bose, you should at least take a look at Sennheiser. They are similar in a “can’t really go too wrong” sense. Nice build quality, generally pretty flat and analytical usually. They are such a standard response that presumably a real audiophile will come along to point out that their favorite model is much better, than a particular well known Sennheiser model, but as far as one can say in…

I loathe analytical sound. It destroys all listening pleasure for me. Give me nice warm coloured midtones and I'm happy!

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

#152

Post by theglenn88_ »

worldsavior wrote: post #139
idiotsecant wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not even sure what you're complaining about here.

Everyone here thinks that everyone="all hacking-experienced people", where I mean everyone is the whole world. MOST people are not going to hack their device.

How would you like Bose to solve this issue, If open sourcing the firmware doesn't make cut it?

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

#153

Post by aeyes »

LetsGetTechnicl wrote: post #138
rcbdev wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IBM's opening of desktop PC standards also contributed a lot to computing. Sometimes, an open API is all you need.

It was reverse engineered, not opened by IBM

No, they published schematics and full BIOS source code.

But it was not libre, they held the copyright to the source code. So to get around this, competing companies wrote a spec from the source code and then had another team which never saw the code implement a new BIOS from the spec.

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

#154

Post by Jaxan »

ebiester wrote: post #23
port3000 wrote: post #6

Good for them. Makes me more likely to consider buying a Bose in future, not just because I know it won't be bricked, but also for the environmental impact of this. Kudos.

If only their sound signature was a bit better... they went all in on engineering tricks to make things small and cheap to produce, but it shows in their sound quality. Their QC headphones are the best in noise cancellation, and the sound quality is good enough that they're my pair of wireless headphones.

When I bought my Bose QC ten years ago, I tried a lot of brands and found Bose to have the most pleasant sound, very clear/neutral. I guess it’s personal taste.

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

#155

Post by wincy »

stewarts wrote: post #125
maximilianthe1 wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In current dynamic world product quality of a company 'today' vs '5y+ ago' may drastically change. Sadly, usually to the bad side

Bose's QC/QC Ultra lines continue to receive praise for comfort, durability, sound quality, noise cancellation, etc. They make pretty great consumer quality headphones. Until quite recently, they were widely one of if not the most recommended wireless headphones. The new Sennheiser's that come with a USB-C dongle might have finally stepped past what Bose has been delivering, but at a higher price.

My wife normally isn’t one to splurge but after her Bose headphones died, we tried a couple other brands, returned them, and went with the QC-35 II despite them being more expensive. The “comfort” part is key, she’s on the spectrum and has a hard time with headphones irritating her, and these are hands down the most comfortable.

We also like the Bose soundbar as it has a mode that makes dialogue more intelligible on our TV.

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

#156

Post by LastTrain »

As others have said already, they are just un-obscuring the server API and restoring local control to your speakers when they discontinue the service. There is nothing noble about this, it is almost least they could do. I walked away from a large investment in Sonos gear over forcing legacy equipment into the cloud, this sort of thing is why.

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

#157

Post by snide »

s_dev wrote: post #102
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 c…

I have 2012 Sonos hardware. You can still get the original Sonos S1 controller, which works with old stuff. It's pretty annoying that all the new stuff is S2 (and that app is better supported), but it's not as hard as you're describing it. You can get it off Google Play and just use it.

The quality of the software, and the fact that it isn't really updated, is another thing, but the actual software availability is there.

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

#158

Post by PaulHoule »

filoleg wrote: post #132
bartread wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly this. "Bose blows" is a popular comment amongst the audiophile community but, to me, it seems like they don't blow at all[0]. In fact quite the opposite: this is a fantastic example for other companies to follow. Top marks, Bose! [0] What is actually true is that they are opinionated about sound reproduction in ways that a bunch of people don't agree with but which in the right context are often effective and…

> "Bose blows" is a popular comment amongst the audiophile community but, to me, it seems like they don't blow at all[0] That comment is not wrong, you are imo just not making an important distinction that the criteria on which audiophiles judge Bose as “blowing” (which is almost purely the sound profile + a few other smaller things like physical comfort/connectivity/price/etc.) vs. what you judge it on (which is mor…

Build quality of Bose products is good in my opinion. The headphones are alright but so are Sony, Plantronics and Apple. I love the sound of Airpods Pro in particular even if they don't want to stay in my ears [1] and the pairing experience even with the iPhone isn't what I expect of >$100 headphones in 2016.

If you want really good stereo or 5.1 sound there is no substitute for big speakers that can move a lot of air.

[1] maybe it is that gene polymorphism that makes my ears overflow with wax and has my doctor warning they will plug up one of these days

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

#159

Post by juris »

bartread wrote: post #95
jeffwask wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This def needs to be celebrated and rewarded. I am more likely to purchase Bose now.

Exactly this. "Bose blows" is a popular comment amongst the audiophile community but, to me, it seems like they don't blow at all[0]. In fact quite the opposite: this is a fantastic example for other companies to follow. Top marks, Bose! [0] What is actually true is that they are opinionated about sound reproduction in ways that a bunch of people don't agree with but which in the right context are often effective and…

not an audiophile but is it possible to tease out those aspects of sound reproduction if the software is open source?
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