Automatic Toilet Tissue Dispenser rolls out

Company Rolls Out Electronic Toilet Tissue Dispenser That Spits Out 5 Sheets Per Wave

By Greg Bluestein, Associated Press Writer

Richard Thorne grins as he waves his hand under a toilet paper dispenser in a women's restroom. The machine spits five sheets of tissue into his grasp.

A year in the works, the electronic tissue dispenser is being rolled out to the masses by Kimberly-Clark Professional as it seeks to capture more of the $1 billion away-from-home toilet paper market. The company believes most people will be satisfied with five sheets -- and use 20 percent less toilet paper.

"Most people will take the amount given," says Thorne. Waxing philosophical, he adds, "People generally in life will take what you give them."

Kimberly-Clark turned to focus groups and years of internal research to determine just how much is right.

Americans typically use twice as much toilet paper as Europeans -- as much as an arm's length each pull, Thorne says. The company decided the best length is about 20 inches -- or precisely five standard toilet paper squares, though the machine can also be adjusted to churn out 16 inches or 24 inches, depending on the demand.

Roswell-based Kimberly-Clark Professional, a unit of Dallas-based Kimberly-Clark Corp., hopes dispensers like the one at the office will one day fit in with the automatic toilets, faucets and paper towel machines that have become a norm in many other office and institutional bathrooms.

"The one part of the room where there's not an automatic option is toilet tissue," says Thorne, director of the company's washroom business.

Call it a final frontier -- of cheapness -- if you wish.

When one of the two motion sensors is activated, the device's battery-powered motor automatically dispenses a predetermined amount of toilet paper.

The machine isn't completely automated. Each also comes with a suite of "security" features in case the machine malfunctions.

There's an emergency feed button, and a manual feed roller lets the users pull the roll around if the motor breaks down or the four D-size batteries run out. There's also an option for a "rescue roll" on one side of the machine just in case the old-fashioned way is preferred.

"This is probably the most personal experience you can have. We didn't want to get any frustrations," Thorne says. "None of us like to touch things they think someone before them has touched."

The devices cost about $30 apiece for the plastic variety, and $55 if cased in stainless steel.

Sean Nichols, one of the lead marketers for the device, says he's banking on the "coolness, the newness of the unit."

He's sending some to late-night comedians and hoping for TV exposure. He also says he hopes the devices will appeal to clean-freaks, such as Tony Shalhoub's obsessive compulsive germophobe character on the USA Network's "Monk."

But Thorne admits the company won't truly achieve a "touchless" bathroom until it develops a toilet that does the dirty work for you.

"And that," he says, "is going to be interesting."

He slides his hand under the toilet paper one more time for emphasis, and another string of toilet paper shoots out.

"The final frontier," he says with a smile.

Boeing unveils 787 Dreamliner jet

By Bill Rigby

Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA - news) prepared to unveil the first carbon-composite 787 Dreamliner on Sunday amid a flurry of 55 new orders for the lightweight, fuel efficient plane.

European, Middle Eastern and Australian carriers trumpeted new purchases at various Boeing events in Seattle, as the U.S. plane maker got ready to host 15,000 or so employees, customers and suppliers at its nearby Everett, Washington, plant.

All are waiting for the first glimpse of the mid-sized, long-range jetliner, which is the company's first all-new plane in 12 years.

The jet will not look radically new on the outside, but beneath the just-dried paint lies a structure 50 percent made up of carbon composite materials and another 15 percent titanium, making the plane much lighter and fuel efficient than existing jetliners of the same size.

The use of fatigue-resistant and rust-free composite materials means air in the cabin can be more humid, leaving passengers less dried out and jetlagged after a long flight.

The lighter weight and newly designed engines made by General Electric Co. (NYSE:GE - news) and Britain's Rolls-Royce plc (RR.L) mean air carriers will save about 20 percent on fuel costs.

Airlines have jumped at the plane after years of struggling to turn a profit, and Boeing is rapidly closing in on 700 orders, worth more than $100 billion at list prices.

AIRBUS CONGRATULATES

The plane is trouncing rival Airbus, whose competing A350 XWB (extra wide body) has been bedeviled by design changes. The European plane maker conceded that the day -- 7/8/07 in U.S. date shorthand -- belonged to Boeing.

"Even if tomorrow Airbus will get back to the business of competing vigorously, today is Boeing's day -- a day to celebrate the 787," Airbus chief executive Louis Gallois wrote in a letter to Boeing CEO Jim McNerney in a letter made public by Airbus on Sunday.

Airbus and Boeing are the subject of a long-running EU-U.S. trade row over subsidies, and often jab at each other in the press. But the European company is most likely glad to cede the spotlight to Boeing as it puts more pressure on the Chicago-based firm to actually deliver the finished plane to customers from May next year.

Airbus itself has learned the dangers of over-exposure when its giant A380 superjumbo -- unveiled amid massive celebration in 2005 -- later stumbled on wiring problems, putting it two years behind schedule.

Boeing's new plane will not leave the ground until its first test flight in late August or September. First deliveries are expected by Japan's All Nippon Airways Co. (9202.T) next May, in time to carry passengers to the Beijing Olympics that summer.

Forty-six other airlines and leasing companies are lining up behind ANA to take delivery of 787s, which will be wider, quicker and more fuel efficient than the 767s they are designed to replace. They offer thousands of miles in extra range, making direct routes such as Tokyo to New York easier and cheaper to operate.

MORE ORDERS

On Saturday, German low-cost carrier Air Berlin (AB1.DE) ordered 25 of the planes, worth $4 billion, while Kuwait's Aviation Lease and Finance Co. (ALAF.KW) ordered another 10, on top of the 12 it already had on order.

That puts the number of firm orders for 787s at 677. That number is set to grow further as Australian carrier Qantas Airways Ltd. (QAN.AX) said on Friday it planned to order another 20 of the planes, on top of the 45 it has already agreed to buy.

More customer announcements may crop up on Sunday as airlines look to cash in on the publicity surrounding Boeing's unveiling ceremony, which is set for 3:30 p.m. local time (2230

GMT).

Boeing is beaming the event, to be hosted by former TV news anchor Tom Brokaw, live via satellite to what it hopes will be millions of viewers around the world.

Six Steps to becoming a safer Driver

Play it safe with these racetrack-proven driving tips.

By Jon Alain Guzik, Yahoo! Autos, Editor-at-Large

In honor of the recent Independence Day holiday and the beginning of prime road trip season, Yahoo! Autos spoke to professional driver Tanner Foust, who with years of road, rally and drifting competitions under his belt, knows a thing or two about keeping the car on the road and avoiding costly accidents.

Foust, 34, has been driving since he was a young boy, offers up some proven racecar driving tips that also apply to everyday driving situations.

“With driving in general, it all comes down to common sense,” says Foust. “Common sense is what can save your life. Driving is a sport, and it’s unique because it is something we do everyday. I feel that if I was in an emergency, I’d have an advantage because it’s something I practice every day. Drifting, stunt driving and rally racing, they are all basically like driving in an emergency situation.”

Tanner Foust’s Top Driving Tips

1. Avoid the Target

One of the main problems in an accident is “target fixation.” Look at it like this; if you mash on the brakes and stare at the bumper in front of you, you are going to hit that bumper. If you look at the escape lane, you have a much better chance of getting there. Just like in any sport, you look where you want to go.

2. Avoid Distractions

If you’re paying more attention to the cheeseburger in your hand than the road in front of you, it’s a big problem. Eating in the car and not paying attention on a whole are huge distractions. Pay attention and you can help prevent accidents.

3. Anticipate Everything

Try to see things before you get to them. In any performance-driving situation, it helps if you keep your eyes up and look further down the road then you are used to. It keeps you from being surprised. In racing, anticipation is everything, and the same applies to everyday driving.

4. Know Your Car

For any motor sport or stunt driving, the most important thing is to know the equipment you are strapping yourself into. All good stunt drivers carry an air pressure gauge because tire pressure has one of the most pronounced effects on performance. For your own car, it helps to be aware of your car’s safety features, like anti-lock brakes and traction control. Also, monitor your tire pressure. Keeping track of the simple things helps.

5. Don’t Stress

With drifting, people only see the violence. But as a driver, it’s all about remaining calm in the face of stress and danger. When you are calm, you make the proper decisions. When you are stressed, you make mistakes and your natural instincts kick in. Natural instincts are not conducive to driving well. The main advantage that professional drivers have over everyday drivers is that they have replaced natural instinct with proper technique.

6. Stomp and Steer

Racing and emergency situations are in some cases very similar; for example, under maximum breaking it is very easy to lock up the brakes and skid. Most people in an emergency will mash on the brakes and hold them hard, even as they try and steer around obstacles. With normal braking systems this will result in a straight skid, and the steering wheel will have no effect on the direction of the car. The brakes need to be released in order for the car to turn. This technique is called “separation of controls” and is a basic racing technique. However, with anti-lock brakes (ABS), stomping on the brakes and steering at the same time will work. The ABS system will balance the traction between steering and braking, allowing you to accomplish both tasks simultaneously.

Microsoft lengthens Xbox 360 warranty

By Ben Silverman

No longer content adhering to the adage, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," Microsoft on Thursday announced that it will extend its Xbox 360 warranty coverage to three years from date of purchase. The warranty covers any consumer who experiences the general system failure indicated by three flashing red lights, more commonly referred to as the "red ring of death." Both shipping and repair costs will be covered.

The new warranty will represent a $1 billion pre-tax charge on Microsoft's earnings for the year's final quarter. This marks a notable setback for the company's Entertainment & Devices division, who reported a $315 million operating loss in the third quarter.

"The majority of Xbox 360 owners are having a great experience with their console and have from day one. But, this problem has caused frustration for some of our customers and for that, we sincerely apologize," said Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's Entertainment & Devices Division.

The warranty also retroactively reimburses the small but vocal community of console owners who have already paid to get the error fixed. Though the company has not revealed the cause behind the hardware malfunctions, it claims to have "identified a number of factors which can cause general hardware failures" and "has made improvements to the console."

The announcement is intended to soothe the tide of disgruntled gamers who have experienced the failure, many of whom have meticulously documented numerous failed attempts at getting it repaired. In a conference call, Bach acknowledged an increase in the amount of attention the issue has been receiving. Although he didn't mention a specific number of problems, he called the rate of repair requests "too high for our liking."

Peter Moore, corporate VP of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices division, has posted an open letter on the official Xbox site further explaining the decision.

Curious gadget fans smash and dissect iPhones

By Scott Hillis

It took Apple Inc. more than six months to build the iPhone but curious gadget fanatics needed only minutes to tear one apart.

Within hours of the first iPhones going on sale on Friday, enthusiasts scrambled to be the first to discover what makes the devices tick, posting photos and videos of disassembled phones on the Internet.

The information is more than just academic. Apple keeps a tight grip on information about parts suppliers so "tear downs" of its products are closely watched by investors keen to figure out how to place their bets.

In the past, word that a particular part was being used in Apple's popular iPod music players has sent that company's shares higher.

"With every new release of an Apple product, the hype and interest ratchets up a notch," said Andrew Rassweiler, an analyst with market research firm iSuppli.

Rassweiler and his team at iSuppli were working through the weekend to catalog the phone's guts for a report estimating the cost of every component, crucial for figuring how much it cost Apple to make each iPhone.

"We have had more people thrown at it this week than any other previous product," Rassweiler said.

Apple is offering the phone in two versions costing $500 and $600 depending on memory capacity, but the high price and limited availability wasn't enough to stop some people from giving into curiosity.

Some dissected the phones with the clinical skill of a surgeon while others resorted to brute force, enraging those swept up in the hype and winning praise from those gleefully resisting it.

By Sunday afternoon, a video on YouTube showing two guys banging away at an iPhone with a hammer and nail had garnered 56,000 views and was the 13th most-watched clip on the site, prompting some extremely angry comments. Watching the clip, it is difficult to see what was learned from the destruction.

The creator, whose user page identified him only as Rob in Miami, Florida, posted a second clip defending his unorthodox methods.

"We didn't smash it just to smash it. We smashed it to see what was inside. We were under a time limit," Rob said. "We resorted to extreme measures."

Ifixit.com, an Apple parts and repair guide site, conducted one of the most sophisticated dismantlings, posting dozens of high-quality photos alongside technical commentary.

"They've done some things that are above and beyond. They did some very innovative things," site cofounder Kyle Wiens said of the iPhone's manufacture.

Their efforts yielded a few nuggets of information. The iPhone boasts a main processor and memory chips from Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., an audio-processing chip from Britain's Wolfson Microelectronics Plc and a Wi-fi wireless chip from Marvell Technology Group Ltd.

Opening the iPhone was the easy part. For many, the real prize is hacking the phone to get it to do things Apple never intended, such as run on networks other than that of AT&T Inc., the exclusive U.S. service provider.

Some programmers also want to find a way to run their own programs directly on the phone's operating system rather than being limited to programs run through the Web browser.