TC Roundup: Facebook's Oculus buys two startups for virtual-reality gestures, 3D

Facebook's Oculus buys two startups for virtual-reality gestures, 3D: Virtual-reality headset maker Oculus VR will be making its virtual worlds more three-dimensional and more responsive to gestures with its acquisitions of startup companies Nimble VR and 13th Lab AB, Oculus said.

The acquisitions come as the virtual-reality sector heats up with venture investment. Oculus, which was acquired by Facebook in a $2 billion deal in March, didn't divulge the financial details of the acquisitions (The Wall Street Journal).

China's Xiaomi booked $56 million profit in 2013: Xiaomi Technology Ltd Co booked 347.5 million yuan ($56 million) in net profit last year, according to a regulatory filing that showed the world's No.3 smartphone maker grappling razor-thin margins (Reuters).

Uber offers free rides during Sydney hostage crisis after surge pricing backlash: After prices spiked as high as four times the normal fare (with prices starting at about $100 AUD) during the ongoing Sydney hostage crisis, Uber has backed away from its surge pricing policy and is now offering free rides out of Sydney's central business district (CBD) (TechCrunch).