After 16 years, Ecobee is shutting down support for the original smart thermostat

Thermostats are easy to change out. So this isn't a huge deal. But I don't love the idea that tech isn't built to be self-hosted or maintained in any meaningful way. If you're not shipping an open source version of your software when you close up, you're an asshole.

Yeah, self hosting isn't for most lay people if it's just a GitHub repo. But GitHub repos quickly become adopted by nerds like me who build tooling around it that eventually let lay people self host software with the click of a button.

16 years? That's like 8 separate Google project lifetimes.

Why is nobody here asking for a local API? Are we as techies just accepting that this NEEDS a server component run by the manufacturer?

16 years old? That thermostat has sure had a run, must have been designed pretty well to last this long without some electronic failure.

Assuming it's cloud connected, anyone aware whether it got updates for the newer versions of TLS and root certificates? As an example I'm aware quite a lot of android and similar devices from that era have expired certificates now, and outdated/vulnerable SSL libraries...

Edit: Edit example

The company is offering affected users a 30 percent discount on a new Ecobee thermostat, valid for up to 15 thermostats.

...

I wouldn’t be surprised if someone reverse-engineers the protocol and codes up their own replacement backend as a one-file Python script in a weekend.

That's ok if you ask me, considering that they will still continue to function as regular thermostats

Why do we allow this? Companies that contribute to operate should be severely penalized if they don't A)) continue to support legacy products B)) offer FULL replacement if servers/apps shutdown or C)) open source EVERYTHING is they are going to try to kill a device.

As per the Ecobee notice this only impacts the two original models and they still function as regular thermostats still, they are just not providing any of the smart / cloud features anymore.

Newer units support local homekit control, which can also be paired with open systems like Home Assistant for full local control for automation.

Honestly this makes me feel that not adopting IOT is still a good idea. Yep I am probably leaving some efficiency on the table, but I get more reliability in exchange.

Spelling

The article (which nobody here bothered to open) says they'll still function as "dumb" thermostats, so actually it's less of a big deal.

I will never understand the appeal for cloud based home automation.

All the spying aside, 16 years and your thermostat is no longer supported sounds ok until you think about how if you replace everything with cloud based equivalents you are always going to be having to replace things going out of service. I think its funny that you pay more for a device that lasts for lot less (How many thermostats have people seen fail?). I guess the companies are happy?

AA much hate this might be getting, they're offering discounts on a new product, and 16 years is a hell of a lifetime. Imagine having to support software written in c99 maybe even c89, with some homebrew UI full of bugs.

That's why one uses an industry standard that is brand-independent,operates offline by design and does not require a central component besides a power supply.

Sounds like utopia?

This standard has been available since 1990 in its archaic form, since 2002 in its current form. It is downwards compatible and over 400 companies worldwide are part of the standard. HomeAssistant, ioBroker, openHAB,etc. all support it directly and there are multiple crossover gateways with other standards like DMX, ModBus, Dali,etc. exist. And no, it's components are not more expensive once you look at the TCO.

For fucks sake, people, use KNX.

(PS: There are even a few open-source/DIY components available)

they made it online and dont want to bother actually supporting it...

so we replacing thermostats every decade and a half now?

This is why I'm all in for non-"smart crap", I don't even have inductive heating stove top because they never have basic knobs.

Long clicking on [3] then + + + + + + to boil your f eggs? No thanks.

A link to the official notice: https://support.ecobee.com/s/articles/Connectivity-and-Support-for-Legacy-Products

(It was the first link in the article, good job The Verge)

That's why I have KNX.

Most thermostats would fail in that timeframe. Our original Nest thermostat failed this year because the connection that turns on the furnace wore out or became thin. Caused our furnace to click on and off repeatedly and ruined a relay on the furnace’s circuit board. Had to replace the thermostat and the furnace circuit board. Costly repair. Upgrade your thermostat before it wears out.

Our smart thermostat has never been all that useful to me. The main thing is I don't have to walk over to it to change the temp. But that convenience isn't really worth the $150 I paid for it.