As We Get Closer To The Day Of Jesus' Return, More GTA Online Info Trickles Out

I took the liberty of putting the really interesting parts in bold font.

• Character progression has a "flow" but there isn't an "overarching narrative that culminates in a definitive conclusion" 
• The aim of GTA Online is to do whatever it takes to get more money in the bank and accrue assets such as cars and real estate 
• Characters appear in cut scenes when interacting with other characters in the world as they would in the single-player but doesn't speak 
• Female characters can be used in GTA Online 
• Almost all activities from the campaign are available in GTA online: "heists, missions, robberies, assaulting gang hideouts, hijacking armored vehicles, races" as well as "tennis, golf and base jumping" 
• According to Rockstar North president Leslie Benzies there's over 500 missions. Some can be completed solo, but others are complicated and require a team. 
• GTA Online takes place after the main story, familiar faces will make appearances 
• By currying favor of characters you can be introduced to more people and delve deeper into the criminal world 
• Franklin's friend Lamar may introduce you to a car dealer named Simeon Yetarian, who wants you to steal cars for him 
• Biker gangs my support you during missions if you're friendly with them 
• A tech-savvy character you've befriended may hide you on the radar during multiplayer 
• Security firms that have taken a liking to you may be used to deliver air strikes 
• Rockstar uses a "dynamic" system to populate GTA Online, starting with your friends and crew members, then similarly skilled players in the same part of the world. 
• GTA Online has been created to be "as customisable as possible" in terms of who you play with: "there are options to let the game decide who to play with... or you can hand pick every player in the game". 
• The game analyses your playing style as you play and surfaces missions that appeal more to your style. 
• There's a crew ranking system and a personal rank 
• The fourth GTA Online player is fresh off a plane in Los Santos, character creation involves choosing your mum, dad and grandparents and you're given a character. Then players then choose a lifestyle, make choices about the things the character does (partying, couch potato, criminal, athletics nut). 
• Starting skills are based on the chosen lifestyles, but can be upgraded, as can the look of the character 
• Players riding shotgun in cars can also control radio station, set way points, use a cinematic camera, or attack others 
• Holding the select button (on a PS3) pulls up a menu where outfits and gestures can be changed 
• Phone camera's can be used to take a selfie 
• During a liquor store robbery the player can shout at the cashier to hurry up through a mic and the character will respond 
• Escaping cops involves keeping yourself out of the police's vision cone 
• After each GTA Online mission cash rewards and Reputation Points are awarded. The crew leader decides who keeps the loot. 
• A leader can choose to hog the spoils but, obviously, other players might not take that very well 
• Invites are received through the character's phone and accepting seamlessly transports the player to the activity 
• Players can customise the way a vehicle handles at shops found around the city 
• In missions involving bigger teams a lobby window opens up. From this the roles such as sniper, look-out and transporter can be assigned. The crew leader can tweak settings such as time of day, weather, difficulty and how many lives they have to complete the mission. 
• Everyone is given priorities suited to their role when missions begin 
• When you have enough cash to purchase a "high end residency" you gain the ability to set up heists like the ones in the solo campaign. 
• These missions involve multiple phases, including a set-up phase. In the mission shown prep involved buying guns from Ammu-Nation and procuring a helicopter. The tasks can be split between players. 
• Passive mode can be activated if you want to enjoy Online without being troubled by other players, this is automatically deactivated when you fire your gun however. 
• Players can kill you and take your cash, so you are encouraged to put money in the bank and use ATMs. 
• Purchases can still be made using the money even if it's in the bank 
• If you are robbed, you can put a bounty on a players head for revenge 
• Each house you purchase has space for storing cars. Modest apartments have space for two, but high-end homes can store ten. 
• Garage areas can be treated like showrooms. You can walk around and admire your cars and hire a mechanic to keep them in good condition. You can also insure them to avoid big payouts should you damage them badly. 
• You can invite friends to your home and drink, call strippers, watch Rockstar's custom created TV shows (or your friends in high-speed chases). 
• Missions are controlled through Rockstar's Social Club, which means the developer tweak them regularly.

[Credit to CVG for this info]