I don't think I've ever seen this before — firmware updates directly in the browser! Typically you have to install some kind of desktop app and connect it through USB to make it happen... imagine if this technique were applied to printers, hard drives, and other peripherals!
This is a super cool use of browser tech!
It doesn't currently support Safari or Firefox - so if you don't have Chrome you'll be forced to install it to update the firmware?! 😅😂🤣 I don't see the problem with downloading the firmware from another browser.
I think this is cool, but a lot of the smart homes I use now have firmware upgrades over Bluetooth. Praise for your creativity.
About Dr. Opal on Product Hunt
“Browser based firmware updater”
Dr. Opal launched on Product Hunt on May 11th, 2024 and earned 157 upvotes and 9 comments, placing #7 on the daily leaderboard. An innovative way to update your Opal Tadpole firmware — right in the browser!
Dr. Opal was featured in Hardware (11.4k followers) and Video cameras (521 followers) on Product Hunt. Together, these topics include over 3.3k products, making this a competitive space to launch in.
Who hunted Dr. Opal?
Dr. Opal was hunted by Chris Messina. A “hunter” on Product Hunt is the community member who submits a product to the platform — uploading the images, the link, and tagging the makers behind it. Hunters typically write the first comment explaining why a product is worth attention, and their followers are notified the moment they post. Around 79% of featured launches on Product Hunt are self-hunted by their makers, but a well-known hunter still acts as a signal of quality to the rest of the community. See the full all-time top hunters leaderboard to discover who is shaping the Product Hunt ecosystem.
Want to see how Dr. Opal stacked up against nearby launches in real time? Check out the live launch dashboard for upvote speed charts, proximity comparisons, and more analytics.
Chris Messina