The smart home graveyard is getting crowded

A decade after a team of ex-Apple engineers introduced a camera-equipped, AI-driven smart oven that could recognize foods and tailor cooking, that product’s smart functions have been largely shuttered. Weber, which bought the June Oven in January 2021 and ceased making the units in 2022, recently turned off the app and cloud services that powered its advanced features. Owners can still use the device as a conventional oven, but remote controls, software updates, AI food recognition, and vendor support are no longer available. June’s loss of cloud services is part of a wider wave of connected products that have seen their server lifelines cut in recent years. Devices named in this trend include Nest Secure and early Nest thermostats, Belkin’s WeMo line, Neato robot vacuums, the Brava smart oven, Logitech’s Pop buttons, Bose’s SoundTouch speakers, and Sengled smart bulbs. Some hardware can continue to perform core local functions, while others have been reduced to unusable e-waste without cloud support. A small number of products have been revived or kept alive through open-source projects, community purchases, or vendor reversals: examples include Insteon users buying the company back, Bose open-sourcing its SoundTouch API, and third-party efforts that kept Pebble-compatible services running. Open-source home automation platforms such as Home Assistant have become a refuge for devices that can be reconnected locally, and local protocols like Zigbee, Thread, Z-Wave and Apple’s HomeKit can preserve functionality independent of a cloud service. Observers and consumer advocates say preventing further losses will require action on several fronts. Consumer Reports is advocating for legislation that would require manufacturers to provide a local API before shutting a cloud service, enabling continued operation with platforms like Home Assistant. Manufacturers are urged to design devices to work without the cloud, include physical controls, support local protocols, or plan financially for end-of-life support. Some companies have offered partial remedies in shutdowns — refunds, replacement offers, or limited commitments to keep services running for a time — but advocates argue the industry needs stronger, built-in safeguards for device longevity.