Bose Open-Sources Its SoundTouch Home Theater Smart Speakers Ahead of End-of-Life

Bose is end-of-lifing its SoundTouch smart speakers but softened the blow by open-sourcing the SoundTouch API and preserving limited local features, AirPlay, and Spotify Connect. Ars Technica reports: In October, Bose announced that its SoundTouch Wi-Fi speakers and soundbars would become dumb speakers on February 18. At the time, Bose said that the speakers would only work if a device was connected via AUX, HDMI, or Bluetooth (which has higher latency than Wi-Fi). After that date, the speakers would stop receiving security and software updates and lose cloud connectivity and their companion app, the Framingham, Massachusetts-based company said. Without the app, users would no longer be able to integrate the device with music services, such as Spotify, have multiple SoundTouch devices play the same audio simultaneously, or use or edit saved presets.

The announcement frustrated some of Bose's long-time customers, some of whom own multiple SoundTouch devices that still function properly. Many questioned companies' increasingly common practice of bricking expensive products to focus on new devices or to minimize costs, or because they've gone through acquisitions or bankruptcy. SoundTouch speakers released in 2013 and 2015 with prices ranging from $399 to $1,500.

Today, Bose had better news. In an email to customers, Bose announced that AirPlay and Spotify Connect will still work with SoundTouch speakers after EoL, expanding the wireless capabilities that people will still be able to access. Additionally, SoundTouch devices that support AirPlay 2 can play the same audio simultaneously. The SoundTouch app will also live on, albeit stripped of some functionality. "On May 6, 2026, the app will update to a version that supports the functions that can operate locally without the cloud. No action will be required on your part. Opening the app will apply the update automatically," Bose said. Bose also provided instructions (PDF) for a workaround for saving presets that uses the favorites options in music service apps.

No highs

[Anonymous Coward]

No lows...

That's BOSE.

"Smart"

[ANonyMouser]

This is why, as far as is reasonably possible, I buy dumb things.

I have old phones that are past end of life, the hardware still works, but the software never will again.

My old video games work fine, so long as I can connect them to something. I'm painfully aware that my newer ones will one day not have servers to connect to and may not work anymore.

Re:

[hjf]

I still use my dad's Hi-Fi and record player. I bought kilos and kilos of vinyl records in my trips to japan.

For "smart anything", I stick with "Home Assistant" and "ESPHome". The latter is an open source platform to build your own smart devices. You can DIY light switches, remote buttons, remote sensors, even build a security camera for $10 (ESP32CAM). Runs great on Raspberry Pi.

For "good behaving" smart things you can buy, you need to look for the "Matter" standard. Devices are required to always have an

Re:"Smart"

[dmomo]

At least they open sourced it. I hate that I'm applauding them for doing something that should be the standard. There should be regulations in place requiring end-of-life insurance that will provide the resources to fully open any hardware and the software it relies on, should a product be sunsetted after some reasonable lifespan.

Re:

[jenningsthecat]

Yeah, they are being "decent according to what currently passes as decent" about it.

I agree that what they're doing shouldn't be legal though. They sold products based on advertised functionality which they then withdrew after the fact. There should be legislation in place forcing them to continue the web services or refund the full purchase price to all customers.

Re:"Smart"

[arglebargle_xiv]

For owners of these Bose products, contact them to let them know how much you appreciate this. It's guaranteed that somewhere inside Bose a monumental battle played out around open-sourcing vs. not open-sourcing, so let them know they made the right decision.

Re:

[mccalli]

Did you read it? Your 'dumb things' is exactly what they would have become and work anyway - aux, hdmi and bluetooth. They weren't bricking the hardware, you could still use them as dumb speakers.

Throw in the open source bit and they're suddenly even more attractive.

Re:

[thegarbz]

This is why, as far as is reasonably possible, I buy dumb things.

So you took the low-IQ approach rather than analysing the smart thing and seeing how it was implemented and then buying devices accordingly only to find yourself exposed to an ever decreasing list of available products?

I buy smart things that continue to work when their smarts are turned off. Put a bit more thought into your purchases.

Stands for

[Anonymous Coward]

Buy
Other
Stereo
Equipment

This is how you do it

[ebunga]

I know a lot of people don't like Bose for the price-versus-sound thing, but this is how you EoL something cloudy that doesn't really need cloud connectivity to function most of the time.

Free Upgrade

[james_marsh]

Totally local, cloud-free seems like a massive improvement!

I'm still happily using a house full of discontinued original SlimDevices/Squeezebox hardware players from 2006-2010 thanks to them having open source local server support from the start and absolute stars like Michael Herger, CDrummond and many other contributors not just keeping them working but fully containerized and using modern web UIs and an enormous range of plugins.

"Smart" Devices are Computers

[iamhigh]

And computers rarely have a life longer than 10-12 years. Unfortunately this is what people need to expect.

My wired Bose speakers will still be blasting in another 10 years however!

Re:

[aaronb1138]

I've been in favor of a binary choice for manufacturers / vendors when it comes to *consumer* electronics goods. Allow the manufacturers to register / legally classify their device as either (A) computing device or (B) smart appliance. Here's the general gist of the legal distinctions:

If it is (A) computing device:
- Consumer provided with permanent root / administrative access day 1.
- Complete offline functionality outside of services with a reasonable need / hosted online (e.g. email clie

Well done BOSE !

[greytree]

I have never been interested in BOSE hardware before. But I am now !

THIS is the way to EOL - looking at you Sonos, Philips, Nvidia et al.

Re: Well done BOSE !

[felixrising]

I agree. This is at least in the right direction and should become an industry standard when companies want to retire the cloud component of their products. Ideally mandated by various large consumer protections from various large jurisdictions.

Re:

[Bill, Shooter of Bul]

Yes I don't understand why so many people are anti Bose in these comments. This is the right way to do things, and more companies should be encouraged to do so.

I like them.

[RealMelancon]

I have one of the SoundTouch , but only use Bluetooth . Donâ(TM)t need the other crap. And it certainly doesnâ(TM)t need to connect to the cloud.. god damâ¦

Congrats Bose

[wakeboarder]

You are a great company. Others should follow this.

Dumb customers

[NotEmmanuelGoldstein]

... increasingly common practice of bricking expensive products ...

Translation: Customers repeatedly expect a corporation to manage their equipment for them, for years, for free.

Seriously, this has been standard practice for 2 years, yet customers continue to be surprised when a corporation pulls the server's plug. If a product's interface is internet-only, the manufacturer is assuming you are a gullible idiot. Buying the product proves them correct.

If customers aren't asking how long the remote management/sync will be available, they deserve disappointment. If pro

This is the way

[iwulinux]

One merit point for Bose!

Geez, see why I don't buy smart devices...

[bsdetector101]

Recurring theme....

Honestly, not surprised

[aitikin]

Bose* sees themselves as a research organization that funds its research through sale of audio equipment. There's some evidence [mashable.com] of that being the case (though there is more evidence of them being litigious jerks). As such, I'm not surprised to find out that Bose open sourced APIs for discontinued product.

* Bose, has, over the years had multiple divisions within the company itself, but, from my limited understanding, recently spun off a couple of the manufacturing divisions into independent companies that license Bose's patents and namesake. Thus a number of product name changes (a prime example being Bose Professional's MA12s, previously named Bose Professional Panaray MA12, because the Panaray trademark is still held by Bose, proving that even people who used to work with the company think it's overly litigious).