Bose announced in October 2025 that it would discontinue support for its SoundTouch speaker lineup in February 2026. The speakers, which launched in 2013 with prices ranging from $399 to $1,500, were to lose cloud connectivity, app support, and most wireless features.
As expected, this didn't sit too well with customers who had bought these devices. It looked like the usual planned obsolescence playbook, where working hardware was cut off to push people toward newer products.
While not on the scale of how Pebble, the smartwatch brand, kickstarted its redemption arc, Bose has done something to regain the trust of its old customers.
What's Happening?
Bose has moved the end-of-life date from February 18, 2026, to May 6, 2026, and more importantly, the company published the complete SoundTouch Web API documentation as a PDF available to everyone.
The 31-page specification includes HTTP-based API endpoints, WebSocket protocols for real-time control, and detailed information about how SoundTouch devices communicate.
For developers, this means they can see exactly how to control volume, manage multi-room zones, handle playback, and configure audio settings.
Do keep in mind that Bose has released this under a royalty-free license that lets developers build and distribute applications. The license is revocable and proprietary, with no actual source code being released; just the technical specifications.
What to Expect?
The API documentation opens the door for developers to build their own control apps. Custom controllers, preset systems, and multi-room setups are all possible now too. Whether anyone actually does this is another story.
Meanwhile, users of SoundTouch can take some solace in the fact that Bose has preserved more functionality than originally announced. AirPlay and Spotify Connect will keep working, keeping wireless streaming options beyond basic Bluetooth intact.
The SoundTouch apps for Android and iOS stick around too; these will be patched to work without internet access on May 6.
Via: Ars Technica
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