Today, consumers, accustomed to the ease of use, want more flexibility. (Take note Apple: a software upgrade that allowed users to change their screen display, such as adding a big round clock or introducing tiles, would create a real buzz.) Ironically, because Apple was instrumental in a big part of the proliferation of technology for the consumer, consumers, in a way, have outgrown Apple.

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So I went into this knowing that this had to be a big old 10 o'clock--well, its 9 o'clock--drama with broad appeal.

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Incidents in 2004 included a group of campaigners from Greenpeace scaling Big Ben's clock tower.

BBC: Parliament rooftop protest ends

With the clock ticking (the Democratic VP candidate delivers a big speech next Wednesday) the announcement is at most days and at least a few hours away.

CNN: Speculation, anticipation as Obama's VP announcement nears

They think the K7 will be a big winner if AMD can make it in sufficient volume at the highest clock speeds.

CNN: AMD's K7: Better than Intel's best processor?

As a mark of respect, the chimes of Big Ben, as the bell and clock tower by the Palace of Westminster are commonly known, were silenced for the duration of the proceedings.

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The Mecca Clock Royal Tower Hotel, with more than 800 rooms, occupies what will soon be the world's second-tallest building, a structure incorporating the world's biggest clock, with faces at least six times the size of Big Ben's, and capped by a spire topped with a golden crescent.

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