Tech Roundup: Ads in Virtual Reality, Amazon Cash & More

[A recurring feature on the latest in Science & Technology.]

• The United States Congress votes to allow internet service providers to sell users' web browsing history for advertising purposes, triggering a new battle on user privacy and net neutrality.
• Elon Musk-founded space transport services company SpaceX makes aerospace history after it successfully launches and lands one of its used Falcon 9 rockets.
• Electric car maker Tesla reports a record 25,000 car deliveries for the quarter ending December 31, 2016.
• Apple releases iOS 10.3 to the public with new features like Find my AirPods, Apple File System (APFS), among others. (It's still bizarre how Apple has to release a new OS update just to add 3D Touch options for Podcasts app. Just separate the first-party app updates from the system updates already!)
• Apple opens app accelerator in Bangalore, India to foster iOS app development.
• Google's smart home system Home to arrive in the U.K. on April 6 for €129.
• Google updates YouTube ad policies following advertiser boycotts amid reports that their ads were run against videos that promoted hate, violence and racism.
• Google's Android overtakes Windows for the first time as the most popular operating system in terms of worldwide internet usage.
• Samsung to sell refurbished Note 7 smartphones to minimize environmental impact, months after the phones were recalled for being a fire risk.
• Samsung's newly unveiled Galaxy S8's face unlock feature is defeated with a simple picture.
• Amazon's cashier-free grocery service Go suffers setback (paywall); reportedly ceases to function properly when there are more than 20 people within the store, in addition to having trouble tracking products that are moved from their proper spot on a shelf.
• Amazon to shut down diapers.com and other Quidsi-affiliated sites after it fails to reach desired profitability.
• Amazon announces Amazon Cash, a new service that allows consumers to add cash to their Amazon balance by showing a barcode (received as a text) at a participating retailer.
• Popular dating app Tinder gets a desktop version.
• Microsoft all set to release Windows 10 Creators Update on April 11 with improved Paint, Edge browser (with ebook reading capabilities), a more helpful Cortana among other features.
• Ride hailing startup Uber to allow users in the U.S., U.K. and Canada to edit their pickup locations after the ride has been booked.
• Facebook adds a personal fundraiser that allows users to raised funds for themselves or on behalf of others.
• Facebook-owned virtual reality arm Oculus' co-founder and Rift creator Palmer Luckey departs the company; comes on the heels of trade secret theft lawsuit filed by Zenimax earlier this year that was ruled in latter's favour for charges of copyright infringement.
• Twitter makes a subtle change; to no longer count @usernames towards 140 character limit.
• Snapchat rolls out its first major change since going public last month; to reach wider audience with searchable public Stories.
• HTC launches VR advertising service to developers on its Viveport platform with an aim to "maximize your ad revenue while maintaining a great user experience."
• Music streaming service Spotify acquires content recommendation startup MightyTV and shuts it down.