Chris Herbert

730 posts on MacStories since September 2010

Vector & pixel trafficker for Seymour Midwest LLC, regular MacStories contributor, Hip-Hop junkie all day long; Apple addict circa 1976.

herbert@macstories.net

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Amazon Launches Mac App Store Competitor: Mac Download Store

Amazon has it’s eyes set on Apple again. Today they have launched the Mac Download Store. It features over 250 titles like from Microsoft Office (which the Mac App Store does not have), Adobe Elements and Call of Duty 4. The games are available for purchase via “an install-less download process.” Amazon says for Mac downloads, you don’t need to install any software, the Downloader will launch within the browser. It also appears that the Amazon Mac Download Store will also support trial versions of software that can be upgraded within the app unlike the Mac App Store.

Amazon is even launching a special with the Mac Download Store. “Save $5 on Mac Software and Game Downloads” - Celebrate our new Mac downloads stores and save $5 on any Mac game or software product through June 1, 2011. To save, click the “Buy and download” button on the product you have chosen, then enter the code SAVE5MAC in the “Gift Cards and Promotions” box. Limit 1 discount per customer.

There is no official press release from Amazon yet, but The Loop and All Things D have both confirmed that the Mac Download Store is here.

Update: We’re hearing the new Amazon Mac Download Store currently offers no way for independent developers to submit their applications – we’re told Amazon simply worked with existing, established sellers like Microsoft, Adobe and others to set up the new web interface and download system. No indie dev channel has been implemented yet, apparently.

Twelve South’s BookBook Case Now Available for MacBook Air

We love Twelve South’s Mac and iOS accessories, they make some of the most beautiful third-party accessories for Apple devices. We’ve previously talked about the Compass mobile stand, the BookArc for iPad and MacBook Air. Today we’re showing you the BookBook for MacBook Air.

Twelve South’s new BookBook case was designed for the MacBook Air (11 & 13-inch 2nd Gen). The genuine leather case is only 13.5 ounces and has two hardback covers with reinforced corners and a tough spine for impact protection. The inside of the case is lined with a velvet-like soft padded interior as well. Read more

Kickstarter Project: SoundJaw - An iPad Sound Booster

Here’s a simple yet great idea over on Kickstarter for an iPad accessory - the SoundJaw, by Matthew McLachlan. It’s an iPad accessory that redirects sound, giving it a louder and richer tone (all without batteries). It makes an incredible difference according to Matthew. The SoundJaw is very portable, so you can keep in your pocket when not using it. He also says that it makes the biggest difference when you are outside or somewhere with a lot of background noise.

Besides sound quality, he also wanted it to compliment the slimness of the iPad with a slim accessory. The SoundJaw works with the iPad in either landscape or portrait mode, no interference with your hands. It also works with a Smart Cover as well. Matthew even says that a future, more flexible version will also work with an iPhone 4, truly making the SoundJaw a universal accessory.

Promo video after the break. Read more

Report: iOS Devices Streaming 80% of Mobile Video

Freewheel, a video monetization startup, is reporting that Apple is dominating mobile video – 80 percent of it. FreeWheel said in its Q1 2011 report that the majority of video views are occuring on Apple’s iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. The iPhone and iPod each grabbed about 30 percent of all mobile video views while the iPad grabbed 20 percent; the remaining 20 percent belonged to Android devices. Everything else accounted for less than 1 percent of all video views on mobile devices.

FreeWheel attributes Apple’s dominance in mobile video to the early lead the company has had in the mobile video market with their line of iOS devices. They also believe that greater viewership on Apple devices represents the adoption of video publishers and mobile developers who build their apps / videos for iOS devices first before moving to other platforms. Despite having sold just 20 million tablets worldwide, the iPad already accounts for 20 percent of videos viewed on mobile devices, according to FreeWheel. GigaOM said in their article that “We thought the iPad would be an ideal device for viewing video when it was announced, but the extent to which it has been embraced by even traditional video producers and distributors speaks to the power of the platform. TV networks like ABC and HBO have built applications for the iPad, as have pay TV operators like Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cablevision and others.”

While mobile video viewing accounts for only one percent of all online video views, much of it is driven by news and live events. Mobile views peaked during the Japanese tsunami / earthquake crisis and also during the NCAA Men’s College Basketball March Madness Tournament. This makes sense because much of the Japan / basketball events happened during “working hours” when viewers turned to their smartphones and mobile devices because they couldn’t watch TV at work.

The 20 percent that the iPad gets is the biggest stat in my opinion; most people don’t take their iPad with them everywhere they go, like an iPhone or iPod Touch. Most people use it after working hours, and to have that 20 percent is outstanding. [via GigaOM]