Rémi Gaillard

Xbox Live to ditch Microsoft Points, switch to local currencies

Having to gauge how cash translates into Microsoft Points will be a thing of the past. Ballmer and Co. just announced that they're doing way with their specialized points on Xbox Live, and will instead rely on your local currency. That's not the only change coming to Redmod's online service, however. Just as promised right after the Xbox One reveal, a single Gold account can be shared among family members on a console. The more the merrier, eh?

SmartGlass for Xbox One detailed: offers gamers in-game purchases, multiplayer control and gameplay tips

It's not just the hardware and games that are getting an overhaul in Microsoft's next generation, it's the services too. Today at E3, Microsoft demonstrated the new SmartGlass app compatible with Xbox One. Using Crytek's Ryse: Son of Rome for the demo and running off of a Surface tablets, reps were able to show how real-time info can be streamed to the player on the second screen. This extended functionality also encompasses the ability to setup multiplayer games, buy add-on content while in-game and view leaderboard stats, as well as tips and tricks for concurrent gameplay.

Apple abandons cats in favor of California-themed names for OS X

After reaching what could have been the tenth big cat iteration of OS X, Apple has announced a new series. It'll be basing the next versions of its computer operating system on California, with the first iteration know asMac OS X Mavericks.