Grams, a Tor-accessible search engine for contraband, aims to be the Google of Dark Web  —  New ‘Google’ for the Dark Web Makes Buying Dope and Guns Easy  —  The dark web just got a little less dark with the launch of a new search engine that lets you easily find illicit drugs and other contraband online.

Dropbox acquires two more startups: collaborative document tool Hackpad and photo sync app Loom  —  As It Becomes an App Platform, Dropbox Gobbles Up More Than One App Startup Per Month  —  Once a simple way to move stuff around between devices and people, Dropbox now wants to be a platform …

UberX adds $1 ‘Safe Rides Fee’ for passengers, reinstates 20% commission fee for drivers  —  UberX customers, take note: Your rides are about to cost a little more.  In an email sent to UberX Seattle drivers, the company notes a new “Safe Rides Fee,” that takes effect today.

Facebook Launches “Nearby Friends” With Opt-In Real-Time Location Sharing To Help You Meet Up  —  Today Facebook begins rolling out a new opt-in feature called Nearby Friends.  It lets friends see approximately how far away you are from them, and you can share your exact, on-going location with them for a limited time.

3 Million Customer Credit, Debit Cards Stolen in Michaels, Aaron Brothers Breaches  —  Nationwide arts and crafts chain Michaels Stores Inc. said today that two separate eight-month-long security breaches at its stores last year may have exposed as many as 3 million customer credit and debit cards.

Citymapper raises $10M to help you navigate on buses and trains  —  Citymapper, a mapping app that specializes in navigating the complexities of public transportation in big cities, has raised a $10 million Series A round led by Balderton Capital with participation from Connect Ventures, Index Ventures and Greylock Partners.

Ubuntu 14.04 will power “first commercially available Ubuntu tablets”  —  From May 2013, a tablet running an early version of Ubuntu Touch.  —  Andrew Cunningham  —  Canonical today is releasing Ubuntu 14.04, a Long Term Support (LTS) edition for desktops and servers and an update to the versions of Ubuntu for phones and tablets.

Microsoft's Xbox One passes 5M units sold to retailers, but Titanfall boost not enough to beat Sony  —  Microsoft today announced that it has sold over 5 million Xbox One consoles to retailers around the globe, but sales of the system have still lagged behind rival Sony's PlayStation 4.

Connected device companies like Nest And Fitbit start side businesses selling data to utilities and health insurers  —  The Quantified Other: Nest And Fitbit Chase A Lucrative Side Business  —  The real value in smart gadgets may be not in what they tell you but in what they say to your doctor, insurance company and utilities.

Easy Unlock feature in Chrome OS may potentially skip password prompt when phone is nearby  —  Unfinished ‘Easy Unlock’ Feature Creeps Into Chrome OS Dev, Will Potentially Skip The Password Prompt If Your Phone Is Nearby  —  A new feature has snuck into the Chrome OS dev channel that …

Try before you buy: Google launches home try-on program for Glass  —  Google is allowing potential Explorers to try Glass before they shell out the $1,500 to actually buy the device, according to a Reddit user by the name of clide.  He posted various images of a home try-on kit …

Exclusive: Google's Project Loon tests move to LTE band in Nevada  —  Google has expanded its Project Loon tests to the Nevada desert and, for the first time, into licensed radio spectrum.  —  Google declined to comment on the secret trials, but a local official confirmed they are related to Project Loon …

Microsoft starts letting Windows Phone developers respond to app reviews  —  Microsoft today announced the launch of a pilot program that lets Windows Phone developers respond to app reviews.  The company says the roll-out will begin this week with a small group of developers who have been pre-selected …

Instacart Could Raise A Big New Round Of Funding Valuing It At $400 Million  —  On-demand grocery startup Instacart is fielding term sheets for a big new round of funding, according to sources.  We've heard the new financing could be led by a non-VC investor, and according to one source it would value the company at up to $400 million.

Google Analytics Now Lets You Track Web And App Data In A Single View  —  Here is a small but important update to Google Analytics: Developers can now create a single reporting view that includes both web and app data.  Google says this will help businesses that have multiple digital touchpoints …

Sonos software update lets it connect completely wirelessly, $50 Bridge unit no longer needed  —  Our Vision for Rock-Solid Wireless, Evolved  —  From the archives: drawing of the original Sonos architecture, 2003.  —  We created the Sonos Wireless HiFi System to provide music lovers …

Apache OpenOffice hits major 100 million downloads milestone in under 2 years  —  Microsoft's Office may be the go-to productivity suite in the business world, but there's apparently plenty of room out there for challengers to thrive: On Thursday, the Apache Software Foundation announced …

Could “Liking” A Brand On Facebook Waive Your Legal Rights?  —  There is a very disturbing trend in the world of corporate terms and conditions.  Consumers (and small merchants) are increasingly being forced by fine-print clauses into binding arbitration to resolve disputes with companies.