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Blizzard updated [URL=""http://www.starcraft2.com""]StarCraft2.com[/URL] today with a new Protoss unit, the [B][COLOR=Yellow]Observer[/COLOR][/B].
[quote=StarCraft2.com]These small drones are employed to survey vast wasteland areas or observe and record battles for study within the Protoss archives. Their complex sensor array leaves little energy for defenses, but they can detect cloaked or concealed enemies with ease. This ability makes observers invaluable auxiliary units on the battlefield.
Observers that are used for deep-space exploration are often deployed without any form of defensive systems. However, those destined for use in a combat zone are equipped with a micro-cloaking field to hide them from the enemy. The small sensor signature of an observer means that the drone does not have to drain its energy in order to maintain the field over long periods.[/quote]
Besides the Observer, Blizzard also added various interesting art pieces to the site, including Jim Raynor in a Marine suit and what seems to be Dark Templar ornaments and unknown buildings. There are already some speculations that the structures below are Xel'naga in origin:
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[LEFT]Who knows?
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Source:
[URL=""http://www.starcraft2.com/features/protoss/observer.xml""]StarCraft2.com Official Update: The Protoss Observer[/URL]"
 Medievaldragon from Blizzplanet.com recently posted his second interview with Christie Golden, the author of the The Dark Templar Trilogy. He asked her a number of excellent questions about the upcoming second book and how it all will tie together. It's been noted before by Metzen himself that these novels will serve as a prolouge to the SCII single player campaign. The second book in the series is set to be released on November 27, 2007. Be sure to check out both this interview and the book! From this awesome interview: 8. Will we see Tassadar's memories within Zamara, the Preserver?
Christie: Yes. I'll continue using the motif of a friend of the great protoss figure to show readers these very important protoss in history. I'm really enjoying it, moreso than actually doing the point of view of Khas or\'82\'c4\'b6others.
9. What should we expect in Starcraft: The Dark Templar, Shadow Hunters and the upcoming third book: Twilight?
Christie: Much more protoss culture. More revelations about the Xel'Naga. Betrayals and twists. Some characters won't make it. Hints at what you'll see in the game. Big battles and very quiet intimate moments. Source:Blizzplanet's Christie Golden Interview #2Read an Excerpt from Book II
The mighty iconic flagship of the Protoss fleet has docked at the StarCraft2.com site! I'm sure we all remember a time when the Tempest seemed destined to replace our beloved capitol ship. But the Carrier is back, and here's what it's official profile on StarCraft2.com has to say about the Protoss' aerial fortress! Builds From: Stargate
Armament: Interceptors
Role: Capital Ship
The massive carriers serve as operations centers for leaders of the protoss fleets. Heavily armored and shielded, carriers can punch their way through enemy blockades by unleashing flights of robotic interceptors at vital enemy targets. These maneuverable, computer-guided craft tear through enemy flight formations and relentlessly strafe slower ground targets with potent plasma charges.
Interceptors are automatically manufactured and serviced inside the carriers’ bays, and a number of prepped interceptors can be launched in rapid succession. In battle, carriers appear to be virtual hornets’ nests of activity as their agile offspring dart out to launch their attacks and retreat just as rapidly to repair any damage they sustain. Terran scientists have long yearned for an opportunity to study just how the smoothly orchestrated operations of a carrier are achieved in detail.
Most carriers have no weapon batteries of any kind, but their deployment of interceptor flights makes them devastating in a ship-to-ship battle. However, a handful of heavily armed "super carriers" exist, most famously the Gantrithor. This was the flagship of Executor Tassadar when he led a protoss expeditionary force in its attempts to eradicate the zerg in terran space. The Gantrithor was powerful enough that it single-handedly defeated an entire terran battlecruiser squadron under the command of General Edmund Duke. Tassadar later sacrificed himself and his ship to destroy the zerg Overmind when it manifested on Aiur. The Carrier is back, it still has that flurry of drones to launch, and Tassadar is still revered as a mighty hero. Ah, the more things change, the more they really do stay the same. Our old pal Karune also had this to say on the Carrier's demo video on the site. The Carrier is not at all balanced in that video. The video is more showing off the animations involved in the Carrier's attack, so no need to worry about it being completely 'nerfed.' Furthermore, Blizzard revealed the artwork for the new Protoss Executor, Selendis (who was originally revealed by Metzen on BlizzCon): 
(Press for a full-size version)
Thankfully, It currently seems like Blizzard abandoned the awkward "female Protoss with breasts" concept that could be seen in some old StarCraft: Ghost screenshots. Source: StarCraft2.com - the Carrier
"  Today Blizzard released information on the Terran's new "discovery" building: The Sensor Tower. From StarCraft2.com: Top Terran military analysts all agree that "Knowing is half the battle" and that early warning is one of the keys to victory. The sensor tower is a vital tool for long-range surveillance of enemy movement and the detection of stealthed aggressors. Sensor towers are a lynchpin of terran base defenses, and as such, they need to be heavily guarded. A smart attacker will try to destroy sensor towers as the first priority.
A sensor tower processes a whole battery of input, constantly updating a commander's knowledge of the battlefield. By using both passive and active thermal and electromagnetic scanning mixed with millimetric radar sweeps, input from seismic sensors, and Doppler analysis, a sensor tower can quickly pinpoint any target within range. Even foes that are out of sight behind terrain can be detected, although a visual verification will still be required to positively identify them.
The downside to all this multi-spectrum output is that foes can easily detect the presence of a sensor tower and use it to identify the whereabouts of a terran base. Other strategies revolve around "spoofing" the tower with decoy units or simply staying outside its range. Terran commanders have been known to counter by erecting sensor towers in fake base locations just to keep enemies guessing. Everyone has seen these new buildings in the demo videos and at BlizzCon they were pretty impressive. Definitely adds a different dimmension to early detection and it'll be interesting to see how these play out. Source: StarCraft2.com Update: The Sensor Tower"
 Today Blizzard finally released the Official FanSite Kit to the public on StarCraft2.com: The Complete FanSite Kit:
The assets in our official StarCraft II Fansite Kit are a potential bonanza for those who wish to build their own StarCraft II related fansites. This downloadable package contains the following content, including some exclusive assets:
-Art assets including screenshots, concept art, hi-res logos, and wallpapers
-Site design elements including borders, backgrounds, fonts, and stylesheets
-Exclusive content: Unit renders and forum avatars / Messenger images
-StarCraft II fact sheet and FAQ
-Sample StarCraft II text content
-Site building tips Be sure to check it out. Even if you don't make a site it's got some very nice stuff included. I'm sure you'll see some of it integrated into our designs in the near future. Source: StarCraft II Complete FanSite Kit
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