Bose is open-sourcing its old smart speakers instead of bricking them

In a amazingly user-friendly move, Bose has announced it will beryllium open-sourcing the API archiving for its SoundTouch smart speakers, which were slated to suffer charismatic support connected February 18th, arsenic reported by Ars Technica. Bose has besides moved that day backmost to May 6th, 2026.

When unreality support ends, an update to the SoundTouch app will adhd section controls to clasp arsenic overmuch functionality arsenic imaginable without unreality services. Users will still beryllium capable to watercourse euphony to SoundTouch speakers pinch Bluetooth, AirPlay, and Spotify Connect (plus beingness AUX connections). Remote power features and grouping speakers will besides proceed to work, and users will still beryllium capable to group up and configure their SoundTouch speakers.

Now that the smart speakers’ API is being open-sourced, users tin besides create their ain compatible SoundTouch devices to thief capable successful immoderate gaps near by the deficiency of unreality services. While it’s still disappointing that the speakers are losing charismatic support, Bose’s attack astatine slightest lets group proceed utilizing their speakers, alternatively than bricking different functional devices.

This move from Bose is peculiarly astonishing because of really uncommon it is. Usually erstwhile products suffer support for unreality services, they extremity up bricked, and occasionally users measurement successful themselves to hole things. For instance, erstwhile Pebble primitively shut down successful 2016, users kept their watches functional by creating the Rebble Alliance, a community-run replacement for the watches’ unreality services, firmware, and app store.