The 1,070-pound ball was new and improved this year. It was outfitted with 9,576 Phillips Luxion LED bulbs.
The LEDs replaced the 600 incandescent and halogen lamps of the older model. With these lights, the ball can create more than 16 million colors and billions of different patterns. Each light can be lit individually to create magnificent patterns and create a kaleidoscope effect.
Waterford Crystal redesigned the crystal to feature a new “Let There Be Light” design. The 2008 ball was redesigned by a New York City lighting design firm called Focus Lighting, and a company by the name of E:Cue Lighting Control provided the lighting control system.
Since LED bulbs are produced using semiconductors chips, and without glass bulbs or tungsten fibers, they are lightweight and environmentally safe. Best of all, LED lighting consumes 50% to 70% less energy and is a much brighter light. The entire ball consumes about as much energy as about 10 toaster ovens. These bulbs, however, are not a new technology. You can find them in cars, electronics — even Christmas lights are available in LEDs now.
It’s only natural that the New Year’s Eve Alliance waited for this year’s drop to unveil the new state-of-the-art ball. In 1907 (when the very first ball was dropped), electricity was a brand new technology, and now LEDs will take its place.
There was another change in tradition this year. The NEW Official New Year’s Eve Ball was on display in Macy’s main New York store during the months of November and December 2007.
This was the first time the Times Square Official New Year’s Eve Ball has been available to the public for a close-up viewing. It definitely beats the 1907 wood and steel version.
I decided to try to catch a glimpse of the new ball myself. I found a video on YouTube and it really is amazing. Even though you saw it drop on New Year’s Eve, when you see it close up it is really cool. You can see for yourself at www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eYBsSP03V8=1.
The 2007 version looks dated in comparison. If you search the internet you can see that this was a much needed improvement.
Jonathan Masker is a wireless solution expert and a self-proclaimed gadget guru. Reach him at jonathan.masker@gmail.com.