Amazon has just launched an official Amazon Mac Downloads Store
where you can instantly buy and download a variety of Mac software and games directly from Amazon servers. The purchased Mac software is then stored on your Amazon account and you can then download as many copies for your own personal use as you want.This is an interesting move since Amazon is obviously competing directly against Apple here. While Apple may offer more titles in all, the Amazon Mac Download Store is carrying some software products that the Apple App Store doesn’t, like Microsoft Office 2011 and Adobe Photoshop Elements, both sold as heavily discounted downloads from Amazon
"The Mac Download Store is a one-stop shop where customers can get the most popular games and software products for Mac from Call of Duty to Microsoft Office," an Amazon PR rep toldMacworld. "Amazon will continue to build out the broadest selection of titles across these categories in the next several months. Amazon's Mac Download store features an install-less download process where the customer gets just the product without any unwanted extras, making for faster and easier purchases. Plus, downloads are conveniently backed up in your Games and Software Library where you can download an unlimited number of times for personal use."
The Amazon representative said that as a launch promotion, the company is offering customers free downloads of the game Airport Mania: First Flight as well as offering a $5 discount on their first download for the first week for all games and software with the code SAVE5MAC.
To download an app, Amazon relies on its own Game/Software Downloader software, which it says will launch automatically for Mac users when they download their first application. As for updates, expect a process that’s not quite as smooth as the Mac App Store. While some programs may prompt you for updates and patches on their own, Amazon says that for others you may need to visit the manufacturer’s site. And while trial versions are available for PC downloads, that feature hasn’t yet made its way to the Mac.
Software purchased from Amazon’s Mac Software Downloads requires Mac OS X 10.5 or later.
