54
Ambient Umbrella
$100.00
Released July, 2007
The Pros:Does not require an internet connection. Weather information is accurate.
The Cons:Only has information for US cities. Pretty expensive for an umbrella. Ambient module can't be transferred to another umbrella.
The Ambient Umbrella, by Ambrient Devices is an umbrella that glows when rain or snow is forecasted. The umbrella has a built in wireless receiver in the handle that gets weather updates from AccuWeather.
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com. When rain, drizzle, snow or thunderstorms are forecasted, the handle glows to indicate the necessity of an umbrella. The light pattern changes depending on the severity of the forecasted conditions. Dimensions: Umbrella diameter - 58", handle length - 41.5"
The umbrella requires you to program your city so that it knows which weather forecast to monitor. The idea is that you keep the umbrella by the door, and the blinking light will remind you whether or not you need to bring it along with you. It does not require an internet connection to gather information, but rather uses narrowband radio communication.
Umbrella Features
- Patented "gust-buster" technology to ensure the umbrella maintains its shape, even at high winds
- Requires 1 C battery with indicator for low battery
- Receives data for 150 US cities
- Indicator when network signal is present
User Reviews (5)
Pros & Cons
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4
Does not require an internet connection
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2
Weather information is accurate
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3
Only has information for US cities
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2
Pretty expensive for an umbrella
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1
Ambient module can't be transferred to another umbrella.
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Comments (1)
docmorgan78:
#ambient_umbrella Ok... so I thought to myself, yeah... I gotta get me one of these! Well I should have gotten a clue when Ambient Changed owners and my 2003 Stock Orb couldn't be customized like I had configured it in the past.
First thing I noticed, is that you can only specify major citys in the us, not your specific Zip Code. Ambient claims that making that an option would skyrocket the price... mind asking me what its worth and giving the consumer a choice? How about offering a premium package like they do with the Weather Beacon, or Stock Orb? Nah... they already made that decision for you! Well, even though I live in NJ... NYC doesn't always get the same weather we do... so the concept of a customized reminder is shot unless you live in a city that Ambient deemed as a city they service. I get reception... just cant specify my zip.
Second thing is that this thing blinks, not glows. You better hope you don't come across someone with a bad case of epilepsy on a rainy week. Why week?
Third thing... this umbrella doesn't tell you the weather for the day, but for 8 days! Not only that... but you cant tell which day is which by the blinks... so you end up checking the weather forecast anyway because you cant decipher it from the blinking which is supposed to tell you if it will rain anyway!!! Excuse me, but doesn't this defeat the entire purpose of the device on the umbrella to begin with! I wouldn't mind paying a larger amount of money for an umbrella that is supposed to save you the time and effort of checking the weather... if it actually worked! They could have put a barometric sensor in the umbrella... my Timex Watch has one, and it can predict rain fairly accurately and in real time! BRILLIANT!
So the concept is great, but Ambient lacks the brilliant engineers and quality control to turn out a potentially awesome and useful product.
I e-mailed Ambient support with these concerns and all I got was the advice to return the product if I wasn't happy with it. I'll keep it as I need a Big Honking umbrella... but I wouldnt buy another or waste the money on another "C" battery when this one dies.... whats the point?
Jul 9, 08
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