Tech News Today 1681

Alphabet continues to pare down its many moonshot efforts by shuttering Project Titan, its solar powered drone program. And according to Bloomberg, Alphabet is also in the process of trying to sell its Skybox Imaging Satellite business, which it renamed Terra Bella last year.

Verizon has confirmed that it will kick grandfathered unlimited users off its networks, if they are data hogs. If you use 200 gigabytes a month, you'll be required to switch to a capped plan or Verizon will show you the door.

Samsung says that more than 96 percent of its Galaxy Note 7 devices have been returned thanks to its recall after a number of exploding battery incidents. Thanks to the high number of returns, the Federal Aviation Administration has lifted its requirement that airlines issue pre-boarding messages warning against bringing the device onto flights.

Instagram is adding full-screen ads to your stories, but you can skip them. Copying Snapchat's stories has been a successful move for Instagram. Since launching Stories five months ago, Instagram has gone from 100 million daily users to 150 million daily users.

Pre-orders for Nintendo's new console, The Switch, will begin on Friday morning at 9AM eastern, snagging gamers a place in line to get the system when it officially launches sometime in March.

• Matt McFarland from CNN discusses how taxi and truck drivers in upstate New York are pushing for severe restrictions to keep self driving cars out for up to 50 years.

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Links

• Google's parent company killed its solar-powered internet-drone program
• Alphabet Said in Talks to Sell Skybox Satellite Business
• Verizon takes aim at its unlimited data plan customers once more
• Samsung: Over 96% of Galaxy Note7 phones returned to date
• Instagram Stories hits 150M daily users, launches skippable ads
• New York’s Nintendo Store will begin taking preorders for its upcoming Switch system on Friday
• The backlash against self-driving cars officially begins
• Hasbro will let the internet vote to replace old Monopoly game pieces with emoji