Bose has taken a significant step towards giving its customers some peace of mind by making the source code for its SoundTouch home theater smart speakers available, effectively putting an end to their planned obsolescence. The move comes ahead of schedule, with the devices set to reach their end-of-life in May.
As previously announced, Bose had planned to stop supporting the Wi-Fi connectivity on its SoundTouch speakers after February 18, rendering them essentially dumb speakers that would only work via AUX, HDMI, or Bluetooth connections. However, with this latest development, users can breathe a sigh of relief as AirPlay and Spotify Connect will still function on these devices.
Moreover, for those who own SoundTouch devices that support AirPlay 2, they will be able to play the same audio simultaneously without any issues. The company has also confirmed that its companion app, Framingham, Massachusetts-based, will continue to live on albeit with some reduced functionality.
The release of the SoundTouch API documentation is a significant move by Bose and sets an important precedent for other companies in the industry. By making this information available, independent developers can now create their own SoundTouch-compatible tools and features, allowing users to extend the lifespan of their devices and maintain as much functionality as possible.
While some might argue that this decision doesn't address the fundamental issue of planned obsolescence, it's a step in the right direction. It shows that companies like Bose are willing to listen to their customers' concerns and take steps towards making their products more sustainable.
As previously announced, Bose had planned to stop supporting the Wi-Fi connectivity on its SoundTouch speakers after February 18, rendering them essentially dumb speakers that would only work via AUX, HDMI, or Bluetooth connections. However, with this latest development, users can breathe a sigh of relief as AirPlay and Spotify Connect will still function on these devices.
Moreover, for those who own SoundTouch devices that support AirPlay 2, they will be able to play the same audio simultaneously without any issues. The company has also confirmed that its companion app, Framingham, Massachusetts-based, will continue to live on albeit with some reduced functionality.
The release of the SoundTouch API documentation is a significant move by Bose and sets an important precedent for other companies in the industry. By making this information available, independent developers can now create their own SoundTouch-compatible tools and features, allowing users to extend the lifespan of their devices and maintain as much functionality as possible.
While some might argue that this decision doesn't address the fundamental issue of planned obsolescence, it's a step in the right direction. It shows that companies like Bose are willing to listen to their customers' concerns and take steps towards making their products more sustainable.
Bose has finally seen sense about their SoundTouch speakers 
. I mean, who wants a device to just become useless after 5 years? That's just annoying. This move is a good start, but still not enough for me. If other companies see this as the new norm, maybe we'll get more devices with longer lifespans 
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. Now, let's hope some smart devs make something awesome out of it 
. At least this means users won't have to throw away their SoundTouch devices just yet 
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, I mean think about it... Bose just dropped the bomb on planned obsolescence! Now users can breathe easy knowing they can still use those speakers even after they're out of support 
. This is actually kinda cool (Interesting 
) that they're making their source code available, it's like a major step forward for consumer tech 
. It's not gonna change everything, but it's a start!
I mean, who needs planned obsolescence when you can have a user-friendly ecosystem that lets devs create their own goodies 
. This move is like the ultimate power move by Bose - they're saying "peace out" to their outdated plans and embracing the community instead 
. Can't wait to see more brands following suit 
The fact that they're still gonna stop supporting Wi-Fi after February, though, kinda ruins the whole "peace of mind" vibe. Still, I gotta give them props for trying to make things easier for their own customers... but are we really seeing a shift in industry-wide practices or just a one-off gesture? 
they're dropping source code left & right, gonna make life easier for indie devs & users 
this open sourcing thingy might be a PR stunt, but hey who am i to say? seems like a step in the right direction tho, i guess 
! Bose is being pretty cool about this too, releasing the source code and all 
. Plus, now independent devs can create their own tools and features for SoundTouch devices, which is pretty cool tech-wise 
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I mean, who needs obsolescence anyway? it's so annoying when we have to spend all day trying to figure out how to update something that was supposed to be outdated from the start 
but now with this new move, we can breathe a sigh of relief and keep using our SoundTouch speakers for years to come 
. But seriously, this move is a step in the right direction, even if it's not perfect. It's like they're saying "we hear you" and trying to give customers more control over their devices.
. Overall, though, kudos to Bose for listening and taking action 
anyone know if there will be any community made updates or mods available?
. And, I'm super excited to see what independent developers come up with using the API documentation - it's gonna be awesome! 
The fact that Bose is setting this precedent for other companies is just a big thumbs up 
But seriously, it's a good move by Bose, shows they care about customer happiness... still not sure if its enough tho 
Idk, maybe im just overthinking it 
. i guess its good for users cuz they can still use it via aux or bluetooth and stuff. also some devs will be able to make new features for it which is awesome 
. I mean, it's not like they're just releasing the source code out of the goodness of their hearts or anything (although that would be nice 
. Of course, some people might say it doesn't fix the whole planned obsolescence problem, but I think it's a step in the right direction, you know? Companies are starting to listen to us and take our concerns seriously. That's gotta count for something 