Grand Theft AutoV Ps4 And Xbox One

Grand Theft Auto V on Xbox One and PS4: Is it worth a second trip to Los Santos?

Rockstar Games

This week Grand Theft Auto V makes its debut on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. At first glance it's just a prettier looking version of last year's triumph, but there's a lot that's new buried beneath its polished exterior.

The most apparent addition is of course, first-person mode. GTA V can now be played almost entirely in that view, which essentially turns it into a different game -- at least aesthetically. I've made sure to experience my new-generation playthrough in this mode and with about 10 hours under my belt I'm pleased to say it's awesome.

Getting a first-person view of carjacking, shooting -- even just walking down the street breathes new life into the game. First-person driving shows you the car's moving gauges -- even the headlight and high-beams icons glow appropriately.

Rockstar Games

If there's one drawback to first-person mode it's that it partially severs the player from assuming the identities of the game's three main characters, Trevor, Michael and Franklin, because, well, they're not in front of you on screen. I only bring this up because of how important the development of these people is to the narrative of GTA V, so it's a little upsetting that someone playing for the first time might not get the original story the way it was originally presented.

Nevertheless, the dimension first-person mode adds is the key that makes playing GTA V for the second time not a total rehash.

The new-gen GTA V also ups the ante with a list of technical upgrades beyond the improved textures and graphical makeover. The Xbox One and PS4 editions of GTA V feature increased draw distances -- meaning the game generates visual information that appears further away (which reduces image pop-in).

Rockstar Games

The newer hardware also allows for the appearance of denser car traffic, a new foliage system and more realistic damage and weather effects. There's even addition wildlife inserted into the world.

As for actual new content, don't expect that much. There are some new weapons and vehicles in the game and a ton of new music and radio DJ content has been added.

Players can also take part in some new activities too. For those who played GTA V on Xbox 360 or PS3, tying the new-gen version to your Rockstar Games Social Club account will unlock these activities.

Grand Theft Auto Online has also received upgrades. Online sessions can now consist of 30 simultaneous players and legacy characters left over from GTAO on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 can be carried over to new-gen.

So with all of these improvements and incentives aside, is it worth a purchase? It goes without saying if you've never played Grand Theft Auto V the time is now, but what about someone who experienced the game last year?

Rockstar Games

GTA V on PS4 and Xbox One is a full-priced $60 game and that might be an instant turnoff out of the gate. But if, perhaps, you never got around to completing GTA V's massive campaign and side quests -- and you're able to get some money back for your used last-gen version of the game, GTA V on PS4 and Xbox One might just be worth it. Its first-person mode is definitely a dynamic change to the experience and the visuals, new music and new content incentives sweeten the deal.

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How to get the latest build for Windows 10

How to get the latest build for Windows 10

Microsoft keeps enhancing each new build for its Windows 10 Technical Preview. Here's how to ensure you're running the latest edition.

Screenshot by Lance Whitney/CNET

Heads up, those of you who've been checking out Microsoft's Windows 10 Technical Preview.

Microsoft keeps tweaking its Windows 10 Preview with new builds packed with new features. These builds have been coming out on a fairly regular basis. The initial Windows 10 Technical Preview debuted on October 1. The next build, dubbed Build 9860, came out about three weeks ago. And on Wednesday, Microsoft launched Build 9879.

And why are these new builds so important?

With the lackluster response to Windows 8, Microsoft is under pressure to make sure it gets Windows 10 right. To that end, the software giant has opened the door to a Windows Insider Preview Program. The purpose of the program is to encourage people to download and install Windows 10 and share their opinions with Microsoft so the company knows if it's on the right track. Keeping up with the latest builds ensures that you're your feedback is relevant and up to date.

So, just how do you make sure you're running the latest build?

Let's assume you're already running the Windows 10 Technical Preview. If not, you can install it on your current PC, which isn't recommended unless you do it on a spare computer. Otherwise, you can download it as an ISO file. You can then copy that file to a DVD or USB drive to install on another PC, in a separate partition, or as a virtual machine on your current computer.

In my case, I set up Windows 10 in a virtual machine on one computer and in a second partition on another computer.

Okay, so you've got Windows 10 running. Now how do you grab the latest build?

Assuming you're using Windows 10 via the new Start menu, click the Start button and then click the option for PC settings.
At the PC settings screen, click the setting for Update and recovery.
At the Update and recovery screen, click the option for Preview builds.
At the Preview builds screen, click the button to Check now.
Windows will tell you if a new build is available and display a Download now button. If not, a message appears telling you that no new preview mode was found.

Assuming a new build is available, click the Download now button. Windows will start downloading and then install the new build.
After the build has been installed, Windows prompts you to reboot your PC.
Reboot, log back in, and the new build will be ready and waiting.
You can confirm that you're running the latest build by looking at the lower right portion of the desktop. You'll see the label Windows Technical Preview Evaluation Copy followed by the number of the build. As this point, the latest build is 9879. The next time you run this process, you should see a higher build number.

You can then play around with the new build to see what you like, what works and what doesn't work. For example, Microsoft's OneDrive feature is not working properly in the latest build. As the company pushes out new versions of Windows 10, you'll find new features and new bugs.

To chime in with your feedback, click the Start button and then click the Windows Feedback tile. At the Windows Feedback page, you can then select a specific category and feature to see the feedback from other users and add your own.

Microsoft undoubtedly already has its own ideas for shaping the final version of Windows 10. But the company will certainly rely on some of the feedback it receives. In other words, the future of Windows 10 is partly in your hands.

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How to set up PlayStation 4 Remote Play on your Xperia phone or tablet

How to set up PlayStation 4 Remote Play on your Xperia phone or tablet

If you own one of Sony's high-end Xperia phones or tablets, you'll be delighted to know that you can stream PS4 games straight to your phone. Here's how.

Aloysius Low/CNET

Sony's latest flagship phone, the Sony Xperia Z3, comes with a new feature -- Remote Play. While it wasn't available when the phone was launched, Sony recently turned it on. If you own a PlayStation 4, you'll be able to stream games to your phone and play those games with either a PS4 DualShock controller or with onscreen controls.

If you already own the Xperia Z2 or Z2 Tablet, the good news is that Sony has enabled Remote Play for those devices as well. And while modders have managed to get Remote Play working on other devices, that involves a bunch of work that most people won't bother with, since it involves rooting and flashing certain files to trick the app into thinking it's running on a Sony-certified device.

Anyhow, if you already own the official devices, here's how to get started. I used the Xperia Z3 for this.

Setting up

Setting up is really easy. First, you'll need to download the PlayStation Remote Play app from the Google Play Store. Remember how I said it doesn't work if you don't have a compatible device? Google Play won't let you download the app unless you do.

Once you have the app installed on your Xperia phone, you'll need to ensure that Remote Play is turned on in your PlayStation 4 settings. Navigate to Settings > View Controller Guide > Register and turn it on.

Screenshot by Aloysius Low/CNET

When you first start up the app, it will ask if you want to connect the PS4 DualShock controller to the phone. If you only have one controller, I suggest skipping this step for now. This is because you may need to use the controller when setting up and if you only have one, you won't be able to do so since it will be locked to the phone until you pair it again to the PS4. That said, you can return to doing this any time by clicking on the settings button in the app.

Before you begin pairing the Xperia phone and the PS4, make sure both devices are on the same home network, then hit the search button on the app. If the phone doesn't detect the PS4 (like in my case) automatically, you can still use a number code to pair up your devices.

Ideally, you'll want the PS4 to be on an Ethernet connection, but Remote Play will still work even if both devices are on Wi-Fi. Also, if you're away from home, you can also connect to the PS4, though it's best not to do this with a mobile connection as it will chomp through your data plan. Connecting this way does take a while, so it's really not recommended. Latency was also an issue -- it takes ages for your input instructions to be relayed back and forth through the Internet.

If you have a fast connection, you can also make the video quality better by heading to Settings > Video Quality for Remote Play and switch it to High.

Ta-da! All set up and ready to go.Aloysius Low/CNET

One controller to rule them all

To get the best experience from Remote Play, it's best to use the DualShock controller with the phone. You can buy a clip-on mount, the Game Control Mount GCM10, that lets you attach your Z3 to the controller, though this method can be tiring after a while as the combined weight is fairly hefty.

Just simply stick the Z3 to the suction cup and you're all set to go.Aloysius Low/CNET

I suggest putting the phone somewhere you can see, such as on the table, and holding the controller normally. It's also best to have a dedicated controller if you think you'll be using Remote Play a good deal, since it's quite tedious to switch between pairing with the phone and the PS4.

If you choose not to use the DualShock controller, the Remote Play app does have onscreen controls, but they take up quite a bit of screen real estate, and aren't very useful for fast action games such as Call of Duty.

Aloysius Low/CNET

What you can expect?

While streaming quality was generally smooth, the whole process is really dependent on your router being able to handle the load (especially if you choose the highest quality stream). Depending on the action on the screen, you may see artifacts and noise that aren't apparent in the original on the TV.

Also, if you're trying to aim on the comparatively tiny display in first-person shooters, good luck. Unless you have exceptional eyesight, you'll be squinting most of the time or holding the screen really close to make things out.

Of course, if you're using Remote Play on the larger Z3 Tablet, that shouldn't be a problem. Smaller screens are less of an issue with games such as Driveclub, in which you're just driving a car around.

Sony and Android

Sony will keep this exclusive to its own devices for now (it needs to, given the company's dismal mobile business results), so it's unlikely you'll see this feature appearing on other Android handsets any time soon. That includes those that have been certified PlayStation-compatible, which only means they're able to use DualShock controllers to play Android games.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can always check out our guide on how to root your phone, and then with a bit of work, you can get Remote Play working on your Android device.

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Smartphone models by up to a third in 2015

Samsung to cut smartphone models by up to a third in 2015

The company's head of investor relations says the move is designed to make Samsung's smartphone business more efficient.

Samsung is in the process of deciding which smartphone models it will drop next year.

Samsung will stop producing so many models of smartphones and focus on a core set of devices in the new year, the company said Tuesday.

Speaking to investors in New York, Samsung's head of investor relations, Robert Yi, said his company plans to cut the number of smartphone models it produces in 2015 by 25 percent to 30 percent, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Though Samsung is still a juggernaut in the mobile business, the company has watched its smartphone business start to falter in key markets, such as China. In China specifically, chief competitor Xiaomi has been able to increase smartphone shipments and get consumers excited about its products by delivering higher-end devices at budget-conscious prices.

Meanwhile, Apple, with its new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, has moved to offer smartphones with larger screens, which had been a key point of distinction for Samsung.

The South Korean company's latest quarterly returns put the situation in stark relief. At the end of October, Samsung said that third-quarter income in its mobile business tumbled 74 percent from the previous year and that its operating profits were the lowest they'd been since the middle of 2011. It also warned that smartphone competition would be fierce toward the end of the year.

Samsung is also dealing with increasingly strained margins as its marketing costs have risen considerably. In the third quarter, the company generated just 7 percent margins on smartphones, down from 15 percent in previous years, the Journal reported.

Prompted by the shifts, Samsung had already said that it plans to "fundamentally reform" its product lineup.

Here's how overwhelming Samsung's array of products has become: In just its flagship Galaxy S line, Samsung offers five models beyond the namesake Galaxy S5: the knockabout Galaxy S5 Active and Galaxy S5 Sport; the more modest Galaxy S5 Mini; the Galaxy K Zoom with a higher-end camera; and the Galaxy S5 LTE-Advanced for higher Internet speeds.

There's also the Note phablet line, the new, metal-clad Galaxy Alpha devices and a long list of other Android and Windows Phones devices.

The idea behind streamlining its offerings is simple: the company will be able to cut its overall costs and find ways to improve efficiency in production. Marketing dollars will also be spread across fewer products. Samsung is also planning to use the same components in multiple products to help cut costs.

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