Amazon Launches Mac Download Store To Compete With Apple

Major web retailer Amazon has launched a new Mac download store on its site, offering direct downloads for dozens of full games and hundreds of pieces of software for Apple computers. The newly launched store includes downloadable versions of full retail releases from Electronic Arts, Aspyr Media, and Feral Interactive, as well as a number of digital casual titles that are now distributed by the online retailer. Amazon is promoting the new offering with a code offering $5 off any Mac software download, and a free Mac download of casual title Airport Mania: First Flight, which usually costs $6.99. Amazon's move comes just months after Apple's January launch of the Mac App Store, which attracted 1 million downloads in its first day of availability. In March, Amazon launched an Android App Store as an alternative to Google's Android Marketplace and other Android app stores run by various service providers. The Amazon Android store is the currently the subject of an Apple lawsuit over the rights to the "app store" trademark. Amazon argues the term is generic and can't legally be claimed by Apple. Amazon has offered PC game downloads since early 2009, though the selection primarily focused on casual titles until a revamp last November added downloadable versions of retail titles from the likes of EA, Ubisoft, Atari and Sega.