Weber shut down cloud services for the June smart oven this week. The oven had a camera, a scale and heating elements that could recognise food. It cost $1,495 when it launched a decade ago.
Owners can still bake with it, but the app, updates and AI food recognition are gone. There are no spare parts. A factory reset could now kill the device for good.
Weber said it thought about sharing the software so others could keep it alive, but decided not to. June's co-founder said he tried to keep the servers running.
π The Backstory
Smart home gadgets often rely on a company's servers. When the company stops paying, the product stops working. In the last two years many have gone dark, from Nest Secure and Belkin's WeMo gear to Neato robot vacuums and Bose SoundTouch speakers. Nest thermostats still run your heating, but no better than the $30 wall unit they replaced.
Some were saved by open systems like Home Assistant. Users of Insteon bought that company to keep it running, and Pebble watches were reborn by fans.
The Verge columnist Jennifer Pattison Tuohy says we need new laws so devices keep a local option when the cloud dies.
π― Why It Matters
You may pay hundreds for a smart device that becomes junk when the company quits. Buyers should ask how long the app and servers will last.
Weber shut down cloud services for the June smart oven this week. The oven had a camera, a scale and heating elements that could recognise food. It cost $1,495 when it launched a decade ago.
Owners can still bake with it, but the app, updates and AI food recognition are gone. There are no spare parts. A factory reset could now kill the device for good.
Weber said it thought about sharing the software so others could keep it alive, but decided not to. June's co-founder said he tried to keep the servers running.
Smart home gadgets often rely on a company's servers. When the company stops paying, the product stops working. In the last two years many have gone dark, from Nest Secure and Belkin's WeMo gear to Neato robot vacuums and Bose SoundTouch speakers. Nest thermostats still run your heating, but no better than the $30 wall unit they replaced.
Some were saved by open systems like Home Assistant. Users of Insteon bought that company to keep it running, and Pebble watches were reborn by fans.
The Verge columnist Jennifer Pattison Tuohy says we need new laws so devices keep a local option when the cloud dies.
You may pay hundreds for a smart device that becomes junk when the company quits. Buyers should ask how long the app and servers will last.