–In 2019, Muji will open its first hotel in Tokyo to showcase its ultra-minimalist housewares, reports Business Insider.
–“The arrival of the smartphone has radically changed every aspect of teenagers’ lives, from the nature of their social interactions to their mental health.” Via The Atlantic.
–Modern Fertility is the newest startup to offer affordable, at-home fertility testing. Via TechCrunch.
–In Korea, Hyundai built a robotic shopping assistant that speaks four languages, writes Retail in Asia.
–“After years as a niche market for technologically sophisticated anarchists…digital coins may be on the verge of going mainstream.” The New York Times covers why millennials love Bitcoin.
–Recode reports on Disney’s standalone streaming service, slated to launch in 2019…
–…while FX may soon launch its own streaming service for $6/month, writes the Verge.
–Meanwhile, Facebook’s “Watch” tab will feature “short, episodic video shows.” Via Recode.
–WeWork is pumping $500 million into its Southeast Asian and South Korean locations, reports Bloomberg.
–The “next billion” smartphone users will rely on video and voice, not typing. Via the Wall Street Journal.
–Honeydue is a money management app for couples aimed at the 32 million millennials living with a partner. Via TechCrunch.
–TechCrunch rounds up the startups lending their platforms to the refugee crisis.
