2016 Canadian International Auto Show reveals an industry at the crossroads

VW's GTI Roadster concept was born in the Gran Turismo video game yet came to life in Toronto - Photo By Gadjo SevillaBy Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Toronto, ON- The 2016 Canadian International Auto Show is heading into its last weekend. While highlighted by various snazzy concept vehicles a record number of vehicle launches at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the buzz in the floor show was a clear dychotomy of where the industry is at currently.

While many visitors were excited to see the latest in electrified vehicles and hybrid options, trucks and SUVs still drew large crowds of visitors who were earnest in trying out the vehicles as their next purchase.

One of my favourite parts of the AutoShow is the Auto Exotica section which displays exotic supercars and ultra luxe vehicles that most of us can only dream of riding in, much less owning.

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GM to recall 200,000 Saab and Saturn cars for Takata air bag issues

GM is recalling more than 200,000 Saab and Saturn cars in the US and Canada because of air bag inflator issues on their Takata-made air bags. This is just the latest in a series of recalls of Japanese-made faulty Takata air bags.

The latest announcements are part of a widening recall which has seen roughly 500 million vehicles affected by Takata's airbag inflators, which can explode with excessive force, causing metal shrapnel to spray within vehicle compartments.

So far, these inflators have been linked to at least 10 deaths, mainly in the United States, and around 100 injuries.

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DoJ files a motion to force Apple to comply with FBI iPhone backdoor request

In response to Apple's denial to allow a backdoor access on an iPhone used in a terrorist attack in San Bernandino, the US Department of Justice has filed a motion to compel Apple to create firmware that would allow the FBI to brute force access into iPhones. Apple has three days to reply to the order.

Apple CEO Tim Cook posted a public letter this week to Apple's website explaining why creating a backdoor tool for the iPhone would set a dangerous precedent. Other technology CEOs, namely Google's Sundar Pichai and executives from Twitter and Facebook have backed Apple's stand. Apple has stressed that it has in the passed turned over subpoenaed information under request as well as allowed its engineers and their expertise to serve as consultants to various government and security agencies, however the creation of a tool that can be used to crack the encryption of the iPhone would be a dangerous precedent.

Source: 9to5Mac

US Department of Defense to standardize Windows 10 for over 4 million seats

Microsoft and Windows 10 got a great vote of confidence today from the US Department of Defense which plans to standardize the OS across 4 million seats.

According to the Office of the DoD CIO the Secretary of Defense has directed all U.S. DoD agencies to begin the rapid deployment of the Microsoft Windows 10 throughout their respective organizations for information systems currently utilizing Microsoft Operating Systems. From laptops to desktops to mobile devices, including Surface devices, the DoD is targeting its Windows 10 upgrade for completion in a year, an unprecedented move for a customer with the size and complexity of the DoD.

the DoD will be the single largest enterprise deployment of Windows 10 to date. Head on over to the Windows blog for more details.

Source: Microsoft