Entertainment

​Sci-fi is now the mainstream and we’re seeing millions spent bringing stories to the screen that are gloriously weird and fantastically futurist. Here are our picks looking forward to 2018 on both the big and small screens, from blockbuster sci-fi spectacle to compelling hard science speculations.

What are we going to do with the extra free time made possible by autonomous cars? Intel and Warner Bros. are developing what they call “in-cabin immersive experiences” designed to keep you entertained while you're being chauffeured around.

Samsung is refreshing the Galaxy Tab A, its family-focused tablet first released in 2015. The new model keeps the 8-inch screen, and beefs up the memory, screen resolution, cameras and battery.

​Fans of science fiction movies that depict weird, interesting or dystopian futures have plenty to look forward to in 2017. Here are our picks of the movies you should put on your radar if you enjoy cinematic depictions of future technology.

​As many parents will know, getting a teenager out of bed can be an impossible task. Thanks to furniture rental firm Furlenco, such trials may be about to get much harder. Its Pod merges a bed, lamp, flat screen TV and speaker system into one piece of funky millennial furniture.

Marilyn Monroe's "Happy Birthday Mr President" dress fetched US$4.81 million today at a Juliens auction in Los Angeles, becoming the second most valuable piece of clothing in history.

Rising 162 m (531 ft) over Brighton, the UK's British Airways i360 is recognized as the world's skinniest tower by Guinness World Records. From August 4, members of the public will be able to ride to the top in a futuristic glass pod, grab a beer, and enjoy one of the best views in the country.

​i-Blades and IdeaNova Technologies have announced a video distribution and playback system designed to give media companies and movie studios an “on-the-go” entertainment delivery mechanism for smart mobile device users.​

The Force Block extension for Chrome scans the dark side of the web for Star Wars: The Force Awakens spoilers and preserve the plot's purity for your own precious premiere. ​​

Following a long wait with teasers, snippets and working versions of robotic characters to whet the appetite, the third and final full-length trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens has debuted.

A unique new attraction is set to be launched along with the Studio City entertainment resort in Macau, China. It is claimed that the Golden Reel Ferris will be the highest in Asia. It will also reportedly be the first in the world to take a figure-eight form.

We may still be some way from having lifelike humanoid robot helpers, but robots are getting more helpful, friendly and domesticated. Blue Frog Robotics' new Buddy robot is designed to be an affordable family companion. It can help with communications, home security, edutainment and even elder care.