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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

#21

Post by freedomben »

thesh4d0w wrote: post #14

Providing API specs is not open-sourcing them. Where's the source code?

Yeah that's quite fair, the article is not very accurate.

It sounds like there are two main pieces to me:

1. Removal of cloud dependency

2. Making usable the API (and providing documentation)

With a minor 3rd piece:

3. The official app will be updated to support the "offline" mode without losing as many features as possible now that the cloud service is going away.

All very laudable things IMHO. I'm actually going to buy one of these

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

#22

Post by neogodless »

Very nice!

One time I got a free Harman Kardon bluetooth speaker from Microsoft (the Invoke from 2017). They were $100* but went on sale for $50 and I snagged one.

Then Microsoft discontinued Cortana for it, but they didn't kill the speaker. They released firmware that turned it into a perfectly good bluetooth speaker (which I still use today.) And they sent me a $50 gift card* to buy something else from Microsoft. Good will! I was a big fan of Microsoft hardware. Shame about the software...

* Apparently $200 initially but they had some steep sales because Cortana as a voice assistant wasn't reviewing well. Reviews are a bit negative on the sound quality. Probably true enough at $200, but for $0-50, I think it's actually really good sound quality.

* https://news.harman.com/releases/releases-20200730

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

#23

Post by ebiester »

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.

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

#24

Post by ricardonunez »

This should be standard practice. Some companies have terrible policies around bricking their products.

When my kid was born, I bought a brand-new Snoo. After six months, I wanted to sell it since we no longer needed it. That's when I discovered stories of people whose used Snoos had been bricked by the company. For such an expensive product, that is such a waste. If I'd known about this beforehand, I never would have made the purchase in the first place.

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

#25

Post by lysace »

The released documentation:

https://assets.bosecreative.com/m/496577402d128874/original/...

From a quick glance it looks like you are just able to do high level playback controls, similar to what you'd do using their on-device UI. Perhaps that's enough?

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

#26

Post by snackdex »

freedomben wrote: post #21
thesh4d0w wrote: post #14

Providing API specs is not open-sourcing them. Where's the source code?

Yeah that's quite fair, the article is not very accurate. It sounds like there are two main pieces to me: 1. Removal of cloud dependency 2. Making usable the API (and providing documentation) With a minor 3rd piece: 3. The official app will be updated to support the "offline" mode without losing as many features as possible now that the cloud service is going away. All very laudable things IMHO. I'm actually going to…

yes. especially when you consider that point 2 requires some amount of investment (writing the api docs, ensuring no ip leaks, etc.)

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

#27

Post by jeffwask »

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

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

#29

Post by crazygringo »

thesh4d0w wrote: post #14

Providing API specs is not open-sourcing them. Where's the source code?

Source code to what?

This is making them controllable.

The headline may be inaccurate, but I'm not clear on what source code you'd even want. To the firmware do you mean?

A documented API seems like the most useful option here.

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

#30

Post by cipehr »

jeffwask wrote: post #27
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 def needs to be celebrated and rewarded. I am more likely to purchase Bose now.

Agree. This is huge. Definitely makes me want to buy more Bose products for my house.
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