Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsWoW Insider is available on your Amazon Kindle
by Michael Sacco 
Sep 29th 2010 at 7:00PM
So, I bought an Amazon Kindle recently, and it's just the coolest thing. All the books I could ever read, available to me any time, on a crisp, easy-to-read display that doesn't hurt my eyes. "But I don't care about books," you say. "I care about blogs! Specifically, blogs about WoW that are named WoW Insider!"
Well, you're in luck. WoW Insider is available on the Kindle right this very moment, and you can get it one of two ways. The first is to use the experimental browser, accessible from the main Kindle menu under "Experimental"; enter our URL or mobile address (i.wow.joystiq.com). The browser is surprisingly nice for being on an e-reader device, and especially for being in black and white.
The second way is admittedly cooler. You can subscribe to WoW Insider from the Blogs section of the Kindle Store for a small fee, and as long as you have a wireless connection, your Kindle will automatically update your archive of WoW Insider articles as often as we post new articles. Most formatting is intact in the Kindle blog format -- the only thing missing is pictures.
Reading the latest Know Your Lore like it was a book? Now that's technology I can get behind.
Well, you're in luck. WoW Insider is available on the Kindle right this very moment, and you can get it one of two ways. The first is to use the experimental browser, accessible from the main Kindle menu under "Experimental"; enter our URL or mobile address (i.wow.joystiq.com). The browser is surprisingly nice for being on an e-reader device, and especially for being in black and white.
The second way is admittedly cooler. You can subscribe to WoW Insider from the Blogs section of the Kindle Store for a small fee, and as long as you have a wireless connection, your Kindle will automatically update your archive of WoW Insider articles as often as we post new articles. Most formatting is intact in the Kindle blog format -- the only thing missing is pictures.
Reading the latest Know Your Lore like it was a book? Now that's technology I can get behind.
Filed under: WoW Insider Business
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 3)
Griever Sep 29th 2010 8:26PM
I have a quick question. Avid reader, love the IDEA of the eBook readers, but every one I've ever had the chance to play with has an annoying screen flicker when you turn a page. I read... well, fast. Circa 100pgs/hr(mass mkt paperback). That flicker, short though it is, breaks my brain everytime I see it. The kindle is the only major player I haven't had a chance to get my hands on. Same situation there?
Alex Ziebart Sep 29th 2010 8:29PM
There is a flicker when you turn the page, but I don't find it any more distracting than the actual act of turning the page and I don't think it takes any longer than turning the page either. I don't have any experience with other eReaders to compare whether its better or worse than others, though.
Griever Sep 29th 2010 8:43PM
Thanks Alex. Could just be me being used to one visual when I turn the page and not the other. I'm beginning to think that I'm just being retentive on this issue, everyone I've managed to talk to that has on loves em...
On another note, Yay, something else to save my money for!
Katterz Sep 29th 2010 9:54PM
I own a 1st gen Kindle, and I've actually gotten to where I press the next page button a couple sentences before the end of the page. By the time my eyes go back to the top of the page, it's already finished turning. The blinking doesn't slow me down a bit. I'd say it's made me a faster reader, honestly.
My $.02. :)
Jen Sep 30th 2010 4:58AM
I hated that when I tested an old Sony in a store. My Kindle 2 is much, MUCH faster, and it doesn't bother me at all. I actually postponed buying an e-book reader for a year because of the flicker thing, but I'm very happy I caved and got my Kindle.
Kole Sep 29th 2010 8:42PM
I love my Kindle...this is good news!
icepyro Sep 29th 2010 9:08PM
FWIW, iPads are basically very large iPhones without a phone app. In fact, even the specs are more or less the same. So.... yeah. Here's an idea for iPad users: get the Kindle app! :p
As for the article, now I want a kindle even more =\
Russell Sep 29th 2010 11:36PM
I just got my Kindle in the mail (finally) the other day! Thank you, WoW Insider, for the Kindle-warming present!
melzer.jens Sep 30th 2010 2:03AM
I'm from Germany.
And my college bought the kindle 3g. But 3g only works for Wikipedia.com and the amazon book store.
And many books in the kindle are not available for our region (e.g. wow insider) :(
Don't take me wrong, I would like the Kindle, if I have the same features as a German customer as a US/UK customer.
The other disadvantage is that it doesn't support the ePub format, which is more common in German eBook stores.
And the pdf support could be better too imo.
And you can't resell the eBooks once bought over amazon. They are bind to your amazon account and can be even deleted from amazon, if you piss them off.
I'm still not sure, if I buy it. Maybe and than I use calibri to convert the eBooks in kindle format.
Albert Sep 30th 2010 2:15AM
You can get library books on kindle, just get calibri and convert the files. Plus any book before 1923, is free, download from Project Gutenberg
brothejr Sep 30th 2010 7:24AM
The best suggest would be get what you like and want and ignore those who say this or that is bad.
Personally, I plan on getting an iPad over a kindle because of the more functions an iPad has over a kindle. Plus, I can read Wow-Insider for free on an iPad over paying for it on a kindle.
For me, the kindle does not bring enough to the equation for me to spend the money for it.
Swordfire Sep 30th 2010 7:32AM
Kindle eh? Just seems like something you would have bought new like 10 years ago, not bashing it, but black and white, no pictures, no touch screen, 139.99 just to read text? Seems a bit much for my blood anyway.
Dragoniel Sep 30th 2010 7:32AM
Um, I live in Lithuania, which is mid Europe, and I have ordered my Kindle just fine yesterday. It's shipping tomorrow, yay!
Was a nice surprise to stumble upon this article indeed. I'm not playing WoW for months now, waiting for PvP changes to take effect (I HATE PvE), but I read wowinsider daily.
The life just get's better and better, huh.
ellindigo Sep 30th 2010 7:43AM
I adore my Kindle. I have the Kindle2 and while I had many of the same worries about the flicker and such, I've found it to be a really enjoyable way to read. I've gotten rid of all my classics and replaced them with Kindle versions, and now when I go on business trips I don't have to lug 6 books with me as well; I just pop the Kindle into my carry-on.
Honestly, I think comparing iPads to Kindles is an apples/oranges sort of endeavor. They aren't meant to be the same thing, and they aren't.
JB Sep 30th 2010 8:58AM
What a shameless plug for Kindle :( ! Amazon Kindle is proprietary! There are loads of ebook readers that support ePUB. I have the Kobo reader - and it's great.
Does Calibre convert Kindle to ePUB? That's really great if it does :).
For comparison: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-book_readers
clundgren Sep 30th 2010 12:08PM
I have an iPad, and love it; is it worthwhile to have a Kindle too? In particular, my wife loves reading on the iPad; is the Kindle that much better?
Nikkiezorz Sep 30th 2010 5:04PM
Wow! such argument... I live in canada, and as such, this article made me extremely sad. Blogs are not available in Canada. But an article about how wow insider is now available on teh amazon blog shop, written by a kindle owner who thoroughly enjoys said product? i don't think thats shameless marketing, its jsut, what it is, a news item abotu a new way to access wow insider, and a little bit about how awesome the writer thinks the kindle is.
I personally agree Kindle over Ipad, but that is because i use my kindle for reading books, and i read for long periods of time. If i want to surf teh web i use my laptop or my desktop, its really an issue of what you are using it for, i agree that yeas, ipad can do tons more, but, if i sat for 4 hours reading a book on an i-pad, i would be suffernign from severe eye strain, which i would not on the kindle, whic is designed to read like a real book, no back lighting e-ink screen. I like it.
E-reader wise, the kindle was definately the superior choice, I dislike the Sony, its too pricey, and in comparison very behild the times, The Kodo costs more to buy in store than it cost me to order a kindle online with international shipping, and it's also not great, slow page turns, heavier, the screen has less contrast, which works out to a big thing, and the nook is somply not an option since B&N is not in Canada at all. I'm extremely happy with my kindle3, i have the wifi, no 3g.
I'd even be perfectly willing to pay the 1.99/mo to get the wow insider blog, if it were accessible here in canada... because i love reading wow insider, and especially right now, I'm pregnant and on bedrest, so i can't get up and go sit at my computer to read it, my son is usually monopolizing the laptop, and while teh experimental browser on teh kindle works okay, the kindle isn't designed for web browsing, thats why its experimental after all...
I think this is awesome news,a nd when blogs become available here that will be teh first one is ign up for on my kindle. I have much love!
Max Nov 2nd 2010 12:39PM
This morning I canceled my Kindle subscription. Anyone contemplating subscribing should be aware that the Kindle feed has been inactive since October 12, and my multiple messages both to Amazon and WoW Insider have gone unanswered.
I even tried blowing another $1.99 to re-subscribe and see if that fixed the problem, but no go.
Too bad, because the Kindle was the only way I could find time to read this blog.
Max Nov 2nd 2010 4:07PM
Just to clarify, I'm talking about canceling my Kindle subscription to WoW Insider.