Bose is giving its customers some breathing room as it prepares to shut down the beloved SoundTouch home theater smart speaker series. In a surprise move, the company has open-sourced its API and documentation for the devices, allowing independent developers to create their own compatible tools and features.
As part of the plan, Bose announced that AirPlay and Spotify Connect will continue to work with SoundTouch speakers even after they reach their end-of-life in May. This means users will still be able to access these popular wireless features on their devices, albeit without the cloud connectivity and companion app.
Additionally, SoundTouch devices that support AirPlay 2 will be able to play audio simultaneously, allowing multiple devices to stream the same content at the same time.
While some long-time customers are no doubt relieved by the news, others remain inconvenienced. Despite the changes announced today, Bose is still killing off some popular functionality on speakers that would have worked just fine otherwise.
However, this move has been welcomed by many as a step in the right direction for consumers. By open-sourcing its devices, Bose is giving users more control over their purchases and allowing them to continue using their products even after they've reached the end of life.
It's worth noting that companies like Bose often prioritize profit over customer satisfaction when it comes to supporting their products beyond their intended lifespan. However, by making this move, the company is taking a step towards being more customer-centric.
Ultimately, this decision sets a precedent for other smart device manufacturers to follow. If companies are willing to open-source their devices and give customers more control over them, we may see a shift towards more sustainable practices in the tech industry.
As part of the plan, Bose announced that AirPlay and Spotify Connect will continue to work with SoundTouch speakers even after they reach their end-of-life in May. This means users will still be able to access these popular wireless features on their devices, albeit without the cloud connectivity and companion app.
Additionally, SoundTouch devices that support AirPlay 2 will be able to play audio simultaneously, allowing multiple devices to stream the same content at the same time.
While some long-time customers are no doubt relieved by the news, others remain inconvenienced. Despite the changes announced today, Bose is still killing off some popular functionality on speakers that would have worked just fine otherwise.
However, this move has been welcomed by many as a step in the right direction for consumers. By open-sourcing its devices, Bose is giving users more control over their purchases and allowing them to continue using their products even after they've reached the end of life.
It's worth noting that companies like Bose often prioritize profit over customer satisfaction when it comes to supporting their products beyond their intended lifespan. However, by making this move, the company is taking a step towards being more customer-centric.
Ultimately, this decision sets a precedent for other smart device manufacturers to follow. If companies are willing to open-source their devices and give customers more control over them, we may see a shift towards more sustainable practices in the tech industry.