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New Year's Eve? There's an App for That

By DNAinfo Staff on December 31, 2010 7:33am

The Times Square Official New Year’s Eve Ball App - 2011.
The Times Square Official New Year’s Eve Ball App - 2011.
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iPhone Screenshot from itunes.apple.com

By Jill Colvin

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MANHATTAN — Ringing in the New Year? There's an app for that.

As organizers have been planning the city’s blockbuster bash, the tech set has been rolling out a series of SmartPhone apps designed to enhance the ball-dropping celebration.

At the top of the download list is the free Times Square Official New Year’s Eve Ball Drop App, which will live stream the countdown straight to users' iPhones, iPads and new-edition Androids.

Users at the event can also send in photos, which will be featured on a billboard in Times Square and shared with other users watching live. There are also maps, an event schedule and trivia questions to keep users busy while they wait.

No New Year's party is complete without some old-fashioned noise makers. But if you'd prefer a newer twist, the free Party Whistle iPhone app is one of the coolest options. The whistle sound and animation are activated when users blow into their phones' microphones.

A second option for celebration is the New Year Noise Maker. The 99-cent app plays the classic noisemaker sound as well as horn and  "twirler" noises and the New Year's song. But beware: This app could become painful if placed in the hands of someone who wants to play all at once.

And what would New Year's be without a midnight champagne toast?

If you're out of bubbly, a creative digital standby is the IKEA Skal app, made by everyone's favorite Swedish furniture maker. The app uses an iPhone's camera to make it look like its user is holding a wine, champagne or beer glass in their hand.

Even better, if two iPhone users have the app, they can digitally "cheer," complete with a "clink!" When the two glasses touch, user's profile information is also exchanged.