Never one to shy away for “Me-Too”-isms, Amazon has just launched their own analogue to the popular Mac App Store.
Obviously, Amazon’s not going to be able to provide the sort of deep system integration with Snow Leopard and Lion that the Mac App Store features, it might, at least, offer some capable deals… and there are a few titles on Amazon’s Mac Download Store that aren’t featured on Apple’s service, like Office for Mac, as well as games by EA, Aspyr and Feral (which are also available on Steam for Mac).
When you buy a title through Amazon’s Mac Download Store, you get a standard downloadable install file that is both pumped to you directly and stored in your Amazon digital locker.
In truth, this isn’t really a game changer. Unlike Amazon’s Appstore for Android, the retailing giant has no obvious long game here: it’s just another digital delivery service. That said, we’re a bit surprised Amazon didn’t call their offering Appstore for Mac: after all, if Apple’s App Store trademark really is invalid, as they claim, why not be consistent with branding?
From a consumer perspective, the most interesting part of this news is that to celebrate the launch of the Mac Download Store, Amazon will give you $5 off your first purchase through June 1st, so get downloading.
[via MacRumors]
John Brownlee is a writer for Fast Company, and a contributing writer here at CoM. He has also written for Wired, Playboy, Boing Boing, Popular Mechanics, VentureBeat, and Gizmodo. He lives in Boston with his wife and two parakeets. You can follow him here on Twitter.
18 responses to “Amazon Launches Their Own Mac App Store”
Seems like Amazon is trying to put their hands into everything.
The Mac App Store is an application, this is just a website. Didn’t Amazon already sell Mac software?
The more places to get Mac software the better. I think the reason they didn’t name the store Mac App store, was because of the litigation that is going on. Better not to kick the beehive, till the dust settles.
I don’t mind this as I like downloading software vs. waiting to get it in a box with, worse, an outdated source of media (CD/DVD).
However, the Amazon store needs some work – it feels slopped together compared to the rest of their offerings.
I will buy from the Apple App store first… in fact I have NOT bought a lot of software because its not in the Apple store. I might check Amazon second now. What I like about Apple is it keeps the software up-to-date as well as making it easy to re-install.
Or give MAC users another option…
True enough. I wasn’t bashing Amazon by any means if that’s what it sounded like.
How many Amazons are there?
You mean to say, “Amazon launches its own Mac App store….”
I don’t think Apple has anything to worry about. Most of those titles are 2-3 years old. But it is nice to find another outlet to purchase downloadable software. Now if I could only find a great greeting card software package!
In my opinion, if Amazon is going to start competing with Apple, they need to get some flare going on, there “amazon download store” makes me feel like i’m in some tacky ready-to-get-spamed-website through a windows XP netbook.