Stuff Magazine's Mark Wilson today reports that Ambient Devices has announced the Ambient Umbrella, to be released this summer (just in time for it to stop raining?) -- the umbrella is similar to a prototype which was recently offered by design company Yanko Design.

The idea is simple: a Wi-Fi chip in the handle of the umbrella receives information from AccuWeather, then either changes color or pulses with increasing frequency to report the likelihood of rain.

As Wilson points out, "You could, of course, just look out of the window or tune into Sian Lloyd, but you'll be ignoring the 'buy regardless of frivolity' clause in your early adopter contract."