AirVisual Node is the latest smart air quality monitoring solution

AirVisual, a social enterprise that provides air quality tools and information people need to thrive in polluted environments, today announced the worldwide launch of the Airvisual Node, the world’s smartest air quality monitor allowing people around the world to control the air they breathe.

The portable device uses a complex proprietary algorithm to calculate and display real-time and three-day forecasts of particulate matter (PM) and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations on a screen and via the AirVisual mobile app.

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Toyota to discontinue the Scion youth-oriented brand

Scion no more: Scion's last concept vehicle shown off at the Detroit Auto Show - Photo By Gadjo Sevilla

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Scion, the Toyota sub-brand designed to attract younger buyers will be discontinued. Toyota said it will rebadge three of its 2017 model-year Scions as Toyotas, beginning in August. One model, the tC coupe, will no longer be produced as of that month. Scion debuted in the US in 2003 and was a targeted towards first-time buyers and students.

The brand was built on the foundations of Toyota vehicles but offered customization in terms of colour and materials, quirky vehicle styles and youthful advertising campaigns. Scion only came to Canada in 2010, Toyota is scrapping the brand in response to customer needs.

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Study: Apple Watch trumps standalone fitness trackers in terms of privacy and security

Privacy and security aren't issues most of us have in mind when thinking about our fitness trackers. Mostly though of as 'dumb' devices or a collection of sensors that are designed around tracking physical activity, they don't seem like the types of gadgets that will be susceptible to attacks or data exploits. 

A recent study held by Open Effect called Every Step You Fake took a look at eight fitness trackers and wearables and determined that seven out of the eight fitness trackers emit persistent unique identifiers (Bluetooth media addresses, etc,). Many were shown to have vulnerabilities in their companion smartphone apps and some can even be used to create fake fitness band records. Apple's Apple Watch, which features activity tracking features, a hear rate monitor and various motivational features to keep user's moving, was the only device that did not exhibit security vulnerabilities. This is likely because, watchOS, as an extension of the ironclad iOS platform, surely has key security loopholes covered in their Watch products.

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Microsoft purchases SwiftKey for $250 million

Microsoft has just bought popular Android and iOS software keyboard maker SwiftKey for $250 million. Although SwiftKey gained its reputation for creating innovative predictive keyboards that make using software keyboards on smartphones more efficient, it seems that Microsoft is after possible Artificial Intelligence applications. 

Once a paid app with 300 million users on Android and iOS, SwiftKey went for the premium model and has struggled to profit from a highly competitive segment of aftermarket predictive software keyboards. While it has yet to be formally announced, Microsoft will likely absorb the company’s 150 employees around the world are expected to join Microsoft Research. 

Source:9to5Mac