31–40 of 55 posts
Isn't this just putting a Tile [1] (or any number of other BLE devices) on an umbrella? [1] https://www.thetileapp.com/
Actually no, because the use case is quite different. We wanted to create an umbrella that really has an app that helps. With Tile, you would just get the location feature, without the weather forecast
Isn't this just putting a Tile [1] (or any number of other BLE devices) on an umbrella? [1] https://www.thetileapp.com/
Actually no, because the use case is quite different. We wanted to create an umbrella that really has an app that helps. With Tile, you would just get the location feature, without the weather forecast
Current technology has already solved the generic version of this problem. What you've done is solve this problem again, but only for a very specific use case, while requiring the user to buy in to a bunch of specific software and overhead that only helps them in that specific use case.
I really am not so sold on the idea of having to charge my umbrella... I do wish you all the success though!
You don't need to charge the umbrella, just replace the battery on the beacon.
At first I thought it was an umbrella... Than I thought it was an app that tells you when it's going to rain... Which led me to believe it could be some sort of satire... Then at the bottom is an actual umbrella, so now I'm thinking it's a weather app AND umbrella? and NOT satire? No idea, but I already have numerous weather apps, and an umbrella in my car.
I can't love this. It seems there is a flood of new products that allow you to track or remember them. This can't be sustainable in the long run, as each product uses it's own proprietary technology, that requires you to use a specific app. Fast-forward 5-10 years. Do I want 30 apps on my phone that track the various things I may or may not bring with me? Nope. That would be very annoying, indeed.
Surely they should all use BLE or similar? If umbrella disconnects (you're outside the 15-25m range), give an alert. If using BLE, the protocol is essentially open and other apps could build around it.
Just my (unrequested) two cents.
Without some way to guarantee a low failure rate, I can see something like this getting so annoying that I'd just turn it off completely.
And besides, I thought only people who rarely needed rain gear used umbrellas. The last time I visited Portland, or Ireland, I didn't see anyone with umbrellas. Everyone wore rain jackets. Incidentally, they keep your hands free.
At first I thought it was an umbrella... Than I thought it was an app that tells you when it's going to rain... Which led me to believe it could be some sort of satire... Then at the bottom is an actual umbrella, so now I'm thinking it's a weather app AND umbrella? and NOT satire? No idea, but I already have numerous weather apps, and an umbrella in my car.