Times Square Ball Gets Green Makeover

The new version of the Time Square Ball has increased in size to 12 feet in diameter doubling the size of the previous one that was lit for the past 100 years. Besides growing in size the new ball will also require more lights too, 32,256 L.E.D. bulbs to be exact! The New York Times has the complete story of the makeover here.

Big brother watches New York City

Engadget is reporting that New York City will soon be under the watchful eyes of a London style "surveillance veil" consisting of thousands of video cameras monitoring people and vehicles. The "Lower Manhattan Security Initiative" will have more than 100 cameras in place by years end. The cameras will be capable of reading license plates and enable authorities to send out alerts if suspect vehicles are detected. The move is the start of a greater plan which will eventually see 3000 or so cameras by end of next year, as well as a series of gates that will be installed at intersections, giving the city the ability to block off traffic at the push of a button. The project which is being hotly debated on Engadget, is expected to be in full operation by 2010.