Do You Know? A connected appliance can remain physically usable while losing the software features that made it “smart.” That is now the situation facing June Oven owners after Weber shut down the product’s app and cloud services.
According to The Verge, the shutdown left June Oven users without app control, software updates and cloud-based food-recognition features. The ovens can still be used for cooking, but the company is no longer providing support or parts, according to the report.
What changed for June Oven owners?
June developed a connected countertop oven with features including a built-in scale, a camera and food-recognition technology. Weber acquired the company in January 2021 and stopped manufacturing the ovens in 2022.
This past Tuesday, Weber shut down June’s app and cloud services. The change means owners can still operate the appliance as an oven, but features dependent on the company’s servers are no longer available.
- Still available: Basic oven functionality.
- No longer available: App control, software updates and new cloud-based food-recognition features.
- Support outlook: The report says there will be no support or parts.
June is part of a wider smart-home pattern
The June Oven is one of several connected products that have recently lost their online services. The report lists Nest Secure, early Nest Thermostats, Belkin’s WeMo products, Neato robot vacuums, Brava smart ovens, Logitech Pop buttons, Bose SoundTouch speakers and Sengled smart bulbs among products whose service lifelines were cut.
The impact varies. Some devices continue to perform their basic functions, such as heating, cooling or vacuuming, while losing remote access, voice control and updates. Other products, including Nest Secure, are described as becoming unusable electronic waste.
| Device type | What can remain | What may disappear |
|---|---|---|
| Connected oven | Basic cooking | App control, updates and cloud intelligence |
| Smart thermostat | Local heating and cooling control | Remote access and connected features |
| Robot vacuum | Basic floor cleaning | Remote control and other smart functions |
Why cloud dependence matters
Cloud services can make connected products more capable, but they also create an ongoing business cost. When a company decides that a product is no longer worth supporting, owners can lose important features even when the hardware still works.
The report says June considered open-sourcing its technology so another party could maintain it, but decided against that because the company’s intellectual property was part of Weber Connect. June co-founder Matt Van Horn said on X that he tried unsuccessfully to keep the servers online.
Some products have found a second life through local software and open standards. The report cites Zigbee, Thread, Apple HomeKit and Home Assistant integrations as examples of technologies that can help devices continue operating outside a manufacturer’s cloud. It also notes that Bose open-sourced the SoundTouch API after initially moving in the opposite direction.
What manufacturers and buyers can do
The article argues that connected devices should work without the cloud wherever possible. Physical controls, local APIs and protocols such as Matter, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Thread and Bluetooth can reduce dependence on a manufacturer’s servers.
Consumer Reports is pushing for legislation covering connected Internet of Things devices, including a requirement that manufacturers provide a local API before shutting down a cloud service. Such an approach could allow devices to connect to platforms such as Home Assistant instead of becoming unusable.
For buyers, the practical advice is to check whether a product offers local control, physical buttons or a direct remote, and an offline operating mode. Cloud features can still be useful, but any feature that depends on a company’s server may eventually disappear.
FAQ
Can June Ovens still cook food?
Yes. The report says the ovens can still be used as ovens, although their connected features are no longer available.
What June Oven features were lost?
App control, software updates and new cloud-based food-recognition features are no longer available after the service shutdown.
Who acquired June?
Weber acquired June in January 2021 and stopped making the ovens in 2022.
Can local technology protect smart-home devices?
Local APIs, offline controls and standards such as Matter, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Thread and Bluetooth can help reduce reliance on a manufacturer’s cloud, although the source does not suggest they can rescue every product.
Bottom Line
The June Oven shutdown shows that connected hardware can outlive the services that justify its price. Devices with local controls and offline functionality are less vulnerable when a company changes direction or turns off its servers.
Source
This report is based on information published by The Verge.
