Actually, it’s not really a Pac-Man poncho, it’s a Blinky ghost poncho, and it’s actually just called the “retro arcade poncho,” presumably to avoid any nastiness from Namco’s crack legal team. Regardless of its name, the poncho will look great on any retro game guy or gal, and keep the rainwater off your head and shoulders as it pours down (though it won’t keep you from turning blue and being eaten by a giant yellow dot-gobbling creature.)

You can grab the Pac-Man Blinky Retro Arcade Poncho over at I Want One of Those for £5.99 ($~10 USD.)

The Telescopic Raincoat features a strategically located drawstring that folds the entire raincoat in so you can stuff it in itself and turn it into a bag.

Imagine walking in from the rain, taking the coat off, and just pulling it into one neat, little bag in one swift motion. It’s pretty convenient and makes the entire process less messier.

The designers behind this cool concept are Jia Shenghui, Zhao Qiyun, Fan Jianjun, Zhou Hailun, Chen Jian, Chu Yuhui, Hong Yonghui, and Zhang Yichi.

The Telescopic Raincoat is so cool, that it was even one of the 2011 red dot design concept winners.

[via Yanko Design]

I doubt that’s ever going to become a reality. But what scientists are coming close to doing is coming up with a laser that, when shot at clouds, can induce precipitation. In simpler words, that translates to “make it rain.”

Humans making it rain? That doesn’t like it’s something new, I know, but this method is. Traditionally, man can induce rain by using a method called cloud seeding. It’s basically injecting a certain chemical or substance such as silver iodide that serves as the “seed” to make it rain. However, some of these chemicals (specifically, silver iodide) are toxic and have detrimental effects on humans and animals.

The team of scientists from the University of Geneva have recently published their results detailing how they were able to induce the formation of droplets of water in the air, which is the first step to creating rain itself. After over 113 hours of firing from a mobile laser lab, the team discovered that the laser was able to create particles of nitric acid in the air, which can jumpstart the condensation process.

[via Wired]

When the sun comes a-shining, it’s time to get to work. But when the rain clouds cover the city and rain starts to pour, then it’s time to put the pens away and grab your Squirt Umbrellas for some fun under the pouring rain.

The design of the Squirt Umbrella is simple enough. The top of the canopy actually has a sunken area in the middle where water gathers as the rain pours. The middle part of the handle is actually hollow, so the water from the canopy funnels down into the water gun handle of the umbrella.

You probably already know what to do next. That is, if you had a childhood (which I’m sure you did.) Alex’s design is just that for now: a design. But hopefully, we could see some go into production, because I’d sure love to have one of these around.

[via Fancy via Oh Gizmo!]

Hammacher Schlemmer’s Backpack Umbrella isn’t the first of its kind, but it sure makes a lot of sense. The umbrella is mounted firmly on your back, meaning that the handle isn’t near your face, like some of the other contraptions I’ve seen. This won’t work for everyone, and not in all types of rain. If it gets really windy and the rain comes at you sideways, then this won’t help you much. However, in calmer rainstorms, it will be come in handy so you can carry a bag or even read your tablet while walking.

You can get the Backpack Umbrella from Hammacher Schlemmer for $39.95 (USD).

[via GeekAlerts]

In my experience, if it’s raining, it’s usually not that hot, even in tropical climates. While I can see the logic behind having a small fan in your umbrella, what happens when there are gusts of wind? Won’t the fans be broken immediately?

On top of that, umbrellas are very easy to lose. I don’t lose them easily, but my wife goes through a few every few months. This also makes your umbrella slightly more attractive to umbrella thieves. Either way, the fan is a smart idea if it gets really hot and steamy where you live. Thanko’s Fanbrella sells for ¥3,980 ($49 USD).

[via Ubergizmo]

Now here’s another thing that got me humming to the tune of another song. This time, it’s Rihanna’s “Umbrella” and I’m sure it’s a song that you’ll be singing in your head when you’re walking under the Fanbrella.

Most people don’t really bother to carry an umbrella when it’s a sunny day. But the Fanbrella wants to change that. As you can see, it’s got a battery-powered fan underneath its UV-reflecting canopy. Simply push the button at the bottom of the handle to turn it on and go your merry way, even under the sweltering heat.

The Fanbrella’s shaft and ribs are made out of plastic, so rust won’t be a problem. These go for a hefty $79.95 though and you can get them online from Hammacher Schlemmer. What do you think? Is the Fanbrella worth it?

[via Oh Gizmo!]

If you’re like me, you rarely check the weather. I’ve been caught off guard a few times, but it just darn sucks when you get totally drenched by a rain shower and there are no umbrellas in sight.

The $129 (USD) Ambient Umbrella is basically a smart umbrella. The handle has a small light which can connect to a wireless receiver. This receiver gets updates on the weather automatically, and it tells the handle what light to show. Depending on its glow, you’ll know the severity of the coming rain storm.

The umbrella receives these updates automatically. There’s no need to set it up or configure it. The LED light on the handle will tell you if it’s going to rain, drizzle, snow, or thunderstorm. Naturally, the design of the umbrella is well suited for strong winds, so it won’t be blown inside out.

[via Designboom]

You can buy it at Beyond the Valley for $36 (USD). Rain not included.

[via crave]

Just slip your laptop into one of these oversize plastic sleeves, press the zip seal closed, and it protects your precious portable from the elements. Once your laptop is safely inside the bag, it should resist drips, rainwater and dust (and presumably spills of Red Bull too).

Keep in mind that the design isn’t 100% waterproof, as there are holes in the back to provide ventilation for your computer. That said, I don’t recommend throwing your laptop into the swimming pool in any event.

Japan’s Thanko offers the weather resistant plastic sleeves in two sizes, so most laptops should fit in one or the other. They retail for ¥1980 each (appx. US$20). Now all you have to do is figure out how to read Japanese, and convince them to ship them overseas.

In the mean time, start breaking out some Ziploc freezer bags and see what you can MacGyver together for yourself.