How many umbrellas have you accidentally left behind, here, there or wherever? With the new Davek Alert Umbrella, you’ll have to do so on purpose. That’s because this foul- weather friend has a little Bluetooth beacon chip embedded in its handle. When synched with your Bluetooth-enabled phone and activated via a free app, the device broadcasts a proximity signal, which tracks the distance between the umbrella and the phone. If you move more than 30 feet away, you will get a visual alert on your phone, with the plaintive words: “Umbrella is out of range.” Once activated, the alert can be turned off, on or paused with a tap on the notification screen. The tracking beacon operates on an included replaceable CR2032 coin battery. About 12 inches long when closed, the umbrella provides a generous 43-inch diameter canopy with the push of its auto-open/auto-close button. Despite its abandonment issues, this little guy is tough, with a solid steel shaft and a fiberglass-reinforced steel and aluminum core support rib system. The tightly woven microfiber fabric canopy, available in black or blue, is no wimp, either. The alert app is compatible with newer iPhone and Android models and includes a five-day weather forecast.
Davek Alert Umbrella is $125 at .
Judi Dash, Gear & Gadgets syndicate
