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Ambient 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.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"

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Ambient Umbrella
MSRP $100.00
Release date July, 2007
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Pros & Cons4
Reviews3
Details
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Pros & Cons

ProSCORE
3 reviews
50
negative
mixed
positive
1 positive
1 mixed
1 negative

[i] How is the ProSCORE calculated?

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Pros:
Do you agree?
•
Does not require an internet connection
+3agreedisagree

•
Weather information is accurate
+1agreedisagree

Cons:
Do you agree?
•
Only has information for US cities
+3agreedisagree

•
Pretty expensive for an umbrella
+2agreedisagree


3 people added to this review by submitting or voting on pros and cons. Add your say!
See individual votes »

Details

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

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This report was started November 6, 2007 at 10:19 am by Amanie
with the last edit occurring July 9, 2008 at 4:30 pm by docmorgan78
This page has been viewed 3466 times, with 23 edits by 4 contributors.
See the full report history »

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Competitors

Ambient Umbrella is ranked 1st among it's competitors.  See the top picks in Accessories »
Nubrella

Nubrella

MSRP  $59.99    Released  January, 2008
Pros
  • Hands-free umbrella
  • Can bike with an umbrella
  • Reasonably priced
Cons
  • Goofy looking
  • Can't share the umbrella
ProSCORE
9 reviews
50
Vote! (2 votes)
vote Ambient Umbrella 100% vs. vote Nubrella 0%

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Comments

1.  avatar docmorgan78 said:

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 09, 2008 4:30pm
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Reviews

Sort by: Most helpful  •  Newest  •  Most positive

docmorgan78

avatar
July 9, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
33
negative
mixed
positive
1 pro
2 cons
have ithave it
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • Does not require an internet connection

Cons

  • Only has information for US cities
  • Pretty expensive for an umbrella

Comments

"

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?

"
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Erik

avatar
November 6, 2007
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
50
negative
mixed
positive
2 pros
2 cons

Pros

  • Does not require an internet connection
  • Weather information is accurate

Cons

  • Only has information for US cities
  • Pretty expensive for an umbrella

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
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Amanie

avatar
November 6, 2007
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
67
negative
mixed
positive
2 pros
1 con
love itlove it

Pros

  • Does not require an internet connection
  • Weather information is accurate

Cons

  • Only has information for US cities

Competitors

Amanie prefers Ambient Umbrella over Nubrella
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