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"Since all eyes are on the Times Square New Year\u2019s Eve Ball each year, it\u2019s only natural that the high-tech device would inspire some digital initiatives surrounding the big event. From TV networks rewarding viewers for watching certain shows to following the ball on Twitter, there\u2019s various ways to ring in the New Year with a very digital twist.\nThe ball in itself is a stunning piece of technology, boasting more than 32,000 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDs with each bulb lasting a whopping 30,000 hours \u2013 or 1,250 days. Weighing in at nearly 12,000 pounds and measuring 12 feet in diameter, the ball even remains lit throughout the year and changes color depending on the holidays.\nAlthough the ball drops at midnight, you can follow @timessquareball on Twitter to keep track of news and its sentiments:  \"Dang, my request for tomorrow off was declined. Sigh,\" it tweeted on Friday.\nCan't be in Times Square for New Year\u2019s Eve? You can live stream the big drop via the official Times Square Ball App for Apple and Android devices. Powered by Livestream, the app streams six-and-a-quarter-hours of commercial-free coverage from its always-on webcam, including musical performances throughout the night. The app also allows users to upload photos to the app and Toshiba \u2014 the Times Square New Year\u2019s Eve official countdown sponsor \u2013 will select some to appear on its Toshiba Vision billboard featured directly below the ball.\nKodak is offering a similar treat with its Kodak Gallery mobile app \u2013 uploading pictures through a special New Year's Eve group album via the app might land you on its JumboTron billboard in Times Square. \nFeedMagnet \u2014 a social media agency that has worked with popular brands such as GE and Sephora \u2014 is also getting in on the Times Square action by allowing visitors to send Instagram photos to its billboard and it will display real-time check-ins from everyone packed in the area.\nFor those staying in for the night, eight TV networks will be rewarding fans at home that check-in on GetGlue \u2014 a social network for entertainment \u2014 with peel-off stickers for various shows. When TV viewers check-in through the platform while watching episode marathons and specials on certain networks, including NBC, ABC, CNN, MTV, Nickelodeon, TeenNick, AMC &amp; BET, they are rewarded with exclusive physical stickers.\nFor example, ABC will award a sticker for those who tune-in to Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2012. But New Year\u2019s Eve-themed shows aren\u2019t the only ones offering incentives. AMC will be ringing in the night with an all-night zombie marathon, also rewarding fans who check-in with stickers \u2014 maybe even with a Zombie sticker.\nAnd to help bring a little extra New Year's cheer, check out this brand new video from the @Nyan Cat, this time decked out in 2012 glasses.\n\n\n\n\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2011/12/30/new-years-eve-times-square-bal/>