future

Pink Panther auto and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang replica headed for online auction Sept. 4

The original Pink Panther car and a replica of the "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" car will be featured in an online auction from from a U.K. auction house beginning at noon on Sept. 4, and running through 1 p.m Oct. 14.

The Panthermobile was created for "The Pink Panther Show," which ran from 1969 to 1976 on NBC.

According to auction house, Robson Kay, the car was the brainchild of Hollywood designer Jay Ohrberg, who is best known for creating memorable small- and big-screen vehicles such as K.I.T.T. from "Knight … Read more

What could Apple look like three years from now?

Editor's note: This story was co-written by CNET staffers Donald Bell, Greg Sandoval, Josh Lowensohn, Kent German, and Scott Stein.

Most Apple watchers figure very little will change at Steve Jobs' company over the next few years. There's plenty of product plans in the works and his executive team--with a few exceptions--looks set for the next few years.

The real question is what happens after that, when the plans that will be made without Jobs in Apple's corner office begin to bear fruit, or languish.

The company, which has grown to become the second-most valuable in the … Read more

With Jobs out, what else will change at Apple?

Even if the company has been reluctant to discuss it and outsiders have a hard time imagining it, it's clear Apple has been preparing for a day when Steve Jobs would no longer be chief executive.

Since rejoining the company as part of Apple's acquisition of NeXT in 1996, Jobs has played a pivotal role in its turnaround from a company with an army of clone computers on the brink of bankruptcy to the second-most valuable in the world with gadgets people wait outside stores days to get. He's also been the company's chief spokesperson at … Read more

Apple: Samsung request for iPad 3, iPhone 5 is harassment

It was easy to predict that Samsung's request to see early copies of Apple products as part of an ongoing legal dispute between the two companies wouldn't go over well with Apple.

Apple finally responded to Samsung's late May request to see the "final, commercial version(s)" of the "iPhone 4S," "iPhone 5," "iPad 3," "third-generation iPad," and their retail packaging. Yesterday, Apple filed a motion in the District Court for the Northern District of California asking the judge to deny Samsung's request.

The reason? Samsung'… Read more

The transparent Airbus powered by your body heat

Some people believe the future is something to look forward to. And, indeed, there is some evidence that, for a small number of people--especially those who work at Facebook--that might well be true.

However, there are certain aspects of futuristic technology that might make you blanch a little over as you contemplate the difference between what you are now and what you might become.

For example, Airbus has today been in London presenting some of its more advanced dreamings about the future of air travel. They seem to revolve around a plane that has a see-through fuselage, no first class, … Read more

Wayne State University to compete in EcoCar 2

A team of engineering students from Wayne State University has been chosen to participate in EcoCar 2: Plugging in to the Future. WSU is the only university from Michigan to participate in the three-year program, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and General Motors.

Sixteen collegiate teams from across the U.S. and Canada will explore new ways to reduce the environmental impact of vehicles without diminishing performance or compromising safety.

Challengers "will use a Chevrolet Malibu donated by General Motors as the integration platform for their advanced vehicle design," says a WSU statement.… Read more

Get Back to the Future: Episode 1 (PC/Mac) for free

If you're a fan of the graphical adventures of yesteryear and/or the beloved "Back to the Future" movies, today's your lucky day.

Game developer Telltale Games is offering Back to the Future: Episode 1 for PC and Mac absolutely free. All you need to do is sign up for a Telltale account (also free), then download and install the game.

As I wrote in my recent review of the iPad version, the Back to the Future game is kind of an anachronism, a wonderful throwback to the graphical adventures of the past. If you ever … Read more

Jane McGonigal hits New York Public Library in new game

What would you put in the Declaration of Independence if it was being written today?

That's an exercise that you and 499 other people could try out if you're one of the lucky few that will be chosen to take part in game designer Jane McGonigal's 100th anniversary ode to the New York Public Library, "Find the Future."

On May 20, 500 hand-selected gamers will get to spend the night in the world-famous Stephen A. Schwarzman Building--otherwise known as the main branch of the city's library system--immersing themselves in some of the most special … Read more

At SXSW, a peek at the post-laptop age?

AUSTIN, Texas--Digital futurists have been saying for years now that they believe the promises of mobile technology are ushering in an era of technology that goes beyond the PC and even the laptop. At this week's South by Southwest Interactive Festival (SXSW), we may have gotten a look into the future: With the enormous festival sprawled out all over the city, toting around a laptop can hold anyone back. More importantly, the immediacy of it all--where to go, where not to go, which party has a longer or a shorter line, where a surprise musical guest has shown … Read more

Back to the Future for iPad: A welcome addition to the present

Shortly before the calendar struck 2011, gamers and movie fans alike were treated to something special: a new "Back to the Future" adventure for PC and Mac. It was, by most accounts, a terrific game.

Now it's time for iPad owners to get their, er, McFly on: Back to the Future: Episode 1 HD ($6.99) has arrived. And it's the best thing to grace my tablet in recent memory.

Time (heh) didn't permit me to check out the PC version, so this represents my first look at the game. Ironically, it's something of … Read more