Toyota Wants to Make Smart Homes

Toyota wants to make smart homes with Panasonic

Like many carmakers, Toyota is trying to find new sources of revenue beyond making vehicles.

The company been branching out into robotics and now wants to push further into the growing market for homes that can connect with cars, appliances, and services via the internet.

It is teaming up with Panasonic — an existing partner in batteries for electric vehicles — to build smart houses and cities.

The companies said Thursday they will form a joint venture early next year that will combine Toyota's construction subsidiary Misawa Homes and its development unit Toyota Housing with Panasonic Homes.

Panasonic (PCRFF) and Toyota (TM) said that working together will boost their competitiveness in the Japanese housing market, where the country's shrinking population is reducing demand for new homes.

While its parent company is best known as a carmaker, Toyota Housing has sold over 100,000 homes over nearly four decades.

Toyota and other global automakers have been investing heavily in new technologies that connect vehicles to road infrastructure and devices including household products via an internet connection.

The joint venture with Panasonic, which specializes in connected home appliances and batteries, could yield tech breakthroughs that would help Toyota compete against Tesla (TSLA), Google (GOOGL) and Uber.

Toyota has in recent years been on the hunt for tech opportunities: It's making robots that assist with household jobs and health care while venturing into the ride-sharing business.

Other car makers have been forming similar partnerships and strategic alliances. Volkswagen has struck a deal with Microsoft (MSFT) to develop an "Automotive Cloud" that will integrate apps into cars.

The Renault (RNLSY)-Nissan (NSANF) alliance and Fiat Chrysler (FCAU) have both partnered with Google, while Volvo (VOLAF) is working with Uber on autonomous vehicles.

Source: CNN

Netflix to Publish Magazines?

Netflix to launch magazine to hype its content for awards season, report says

Netflix is reportedly launching a magazine with the working title Wide

For your consideration: a Netflix magazine.

Netflix is casting a wider net with an awards-style magazine meant to tout its productions, according to Bloomberg. The online streaming giant will reportedly launch the publication, with the working title Wide, just in time for Emmy Awards campaigning.

Netflix representatives did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment. The company has not officially confirmed the news.

The print journal’s 100-plus-page inaugural issue will be published in June and will include interviews, essays, and features about and by people who work on Netflix series, according to emails reviewed by Bloomberg. It’s free, too, and will be distributed at various Netflix events.

The Los Gatos, Calif.-based company — which, you’ll recall, started as a movie-rental-by-mail company before making a groundbreaking shift to streaming in 2010 — has been operating a studio in Hollywood and has opened production facilities in New Mexico and Spain.

Last year, it hired veteran publicist Lisa Taback to oversee its awards operation and recently hired Vanity Fair editor Krista Smith to assist, Bloomberg said. It has previously operated its so-called “FYSee” campaign space on the Raleigh Studios lot ahead of and during Emmy nominations voting, the Hollywood Reporter said.

Netflix and its growing roster of A-list talent released some 700 programs last year, including films, TV series, documentaries, comedy specials and more. A print product is the latest heavy-hitting move from the young-but-mighty studio, which earlier this week was revealed to be in talks to buy Hollywood’s iconic Egyptian Theatre.

The prospective purchase has been widely regarded as an attempt to boost Netflix’s controversial Oscars changes, while simultaneously being shunned by traditional cineastes.

The streaming giant also has been spending big during awards campaigns and has already earned a slew of Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy Awards with shows such as “The Crown,” “Stranger Things” and “Black Mirror.”

It came very close to winning a best-picture Oscar this year for “Roma,” setting off a bit of anti-Netflix sentiment from the likes of Steven Spielberg in the last few months.

Source: LaTimes