See Google's eclipse watching and Android Oreo party in NYC
Google invited us to 14th Street Park in New York City, where moments after the eclipse passed, Google unveiled a statue for its Android OS 8 update: Oreo.
After waiting in line to get into the small gated park on the west side of Manhattan, we were offered Android-branded picnic blankets and green solar glasses to view the eclipse.
A platform displayed a countdown clock until the eclipse would be viewable from our location.
A number of google employees and guests had cameras set up on tripods with the proper filters or DIY filters made from eclipse-watching glasses material.
Members of the CNET video team were on hand to capture the magic. Here's Mark Licea taking in the eclipse.
As peak eclipse neared, we were treated to video feeds from NASA and various clips from places in the path of totality.
Some of us put the glasses up as a filter over our phone's camera.
Granted, it's a wide shot for a distant subject, and not terribly sharp. But given that I didn't want to burn my DSLR sensor, it was the best I could get.
The crowd got excited every time there was a break in the clouds. We all counted down from 10 as we reached peak eclipse.
Moments later, the stage got active with some smoke effects... and a statue to represent the new Android OS 8 was revealed.
Oreo will be its name. Will Google ever run out of sweets to name these after?
There were a number of people who brought their kids. I wonder if they'll remember the eclipse or the smoke effects more.
Or maybe the free Oreos?
Free ice cream? Yes, please.
The special edition Oreos on top of the cones doled out by Little Damage were branded with the Android O robot figure.