Cell phone authentication

The Battle.net Mobile Authenticator, an optional security tool to help prevent unauthorized Battle.net account access, is now available for a wide range of mobile phones and carriers in the United States and Europe. Previously available only for the Apple iPhone, the Battle.net Mobile Authenticator is a mobile application that generates a one-time password to use in addition to your regular account ID and password when logging in to a Battle.net account or any merged World of Warcraft accounts.

Sounds pretty neat if you ask me. I know some of you are (understandably) ultra protective of all the time you put into your toons!

Next Under Development Segment

The folks at Blizzard just updated the Under Development section with a Paladin question and answer! Check it out here: http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/underdev/paladin.html

Win a Trip to Blizzcon 2009!

Hey everybody, just letting you know there is a chance to win a trip to Blizzcon 2009!

SteelSeries has joined forces with J!NX, Upper Deck, BradyGames, and SwagDog to offer you the chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Blizzcon 2009. Visit the official Blizzcon Sweepstakes websitewww.blizzconsweepstakes.com and fill out an entry form for a chance to win. Runner-up prizes include prize packs valued at $2000.

You better believe I've already entered! So if you haven't already entered, you better get to it. The last day to enter is July 31st.

New Edition of Gadgetzan Times

Hello everybody!

I would just like to let you know (as if you don't know already) that there is a new edition of Gadgetzan Times out now! Gadgetzan Times is a collection of World of Warcraft fan fiction. The best of the best are published here, so check it out!

http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/gadgetzan/index.xml

Under Development: New Tier 9 Class Sets

The great folks at Blizzard just updated the World of Warcraft website with some exciting news. They are giving us a preview of the new tier 9 class sets due to come out with patch 3.2. You can check out the sets they have up here at their under development page!

It also looks like they're working on a long list of other new things for the Call of the Crusade patch:

• Introducing the Crusaders' Coliseum: Within the Crusaders' Coliseum only the greatest champions of the Argent Tournament are given entrance. Here they will face new challenges, battle new foes, and achieve new glory. The coliseum includes new gameplay options for the most hardened of veterans in ten and twenty-five-player Heroic modes as well as a five-player dungeon. Read more about the Crusaders' Coliseum.
  
  
• New Battleground: Located north of Icecrown, the Isle of Conquest bristles with activity as the Horde and Alliance go head-to-head in a bid to control the resources that could mean their victory against the forces of the Lich King and his Scourge. The upcoming content patch, Call of the Crusade, will introduce the new Isle of Conquest Battleground, where players will be able to battle forty-versus-forty to control this critical location. Read more about the newest addition to our Battleground system.
  
  
• Battleground Experience Arrives: War brings experiences few would choose to endure in their lifetimes; and yet, in Azeroth, it is the way of the world. With the upcoming content patch, players will be able to gain experience within the Battlegrounds for completing objectives and actions that yield honor. If you want to play Battlegrounds without leveling, a small fee can be paid to disable a player's ability to gain experience, and players who make this choice will face only those opponents who have chosen a similar fate. Lead Content Designer Cory Stockton explains more about the new experience system for Battlegrounds and gives an in-depth briefing on the features found on the Isle of Conquest in our recent Battleground Q&A.
  
  
• New Argent Tournament Updates: The Argent Crusade continues to call forth the bold and brave to take up arms against their enemies and overcome the threat of the Lich King. In the upcoming content patch, Call of the Crusade, the Argent Tournament expands into two new points of interest, adding new dailies, new rewards, and new challenges for the heroes of Azeroth. Read more about these new additions.
  
  
• Updated Druid Forms: Druids will find a host of new textures for two major forms, cat and bear. There will be five different designs for each of these forms for the Horde and Alliance. Take a look at the new artwork here.

World of Warcraft Art Exhibition

From the World of Warcraft Website:

This summer, Laguna Art Museum and Blizzard Entertainment are proud to present WoW: Emergent Media Phenomenon. This exhibit features art created by professional artists from around the world who have been influenced by World of Warcraft, as well as works generated by Blizzard Entertainment and by members of our community.

The goal of this exhibit is to illustrate the impact that World of Warcraft has had on our modern art culture and to give insight into the creative community it has gathered. The exhibit is currently open and will be running through October 4, 2009.

If I lived anywhere near California, I'm pretty sure I'd have to check this out. Some of the artwork looks absolutely amazing!

Rise of the Lich King Stein Collection

From the World of Warcraft website:

The Rise of the Lich King stein is now available for shipment. Featuring Lich King Arthas Menethil and his undead minions, each hand-crafted stein features amazing graphics by Alex Horley. Also available is an ultra-rare Legendary version featuring an 18 ct. gold-plated lid and hand-painted gold accents. The Legendary version of stein is limited to 750 pieces worldwide, with each signed by Horley. To celebrate the launch, 3 Point Entertainment is offering up to 20% off on all Warcraft Epic steins. For a limited time you can enjoy big savings on Alliance, Horde, and the new Rise of the Lich King stein. Visit their website for details and to join the celebration.

If you buy more than one, you get a better deal. If anyone out there buys one (or more!) of these amazing pieces of artwork, let us know if they are worth the $90+ it will take to get one!