Most assumed Apple or Google would be the digital media giants to first implement cloud-based music streaming, so it surprised quite a few folks when Amazon actually made the first move.

Some have pointed out that smaller companies have done similar cloud-based media lockers or music streaming services and perhaps we shouldn’t be impressed. But no one said what Amazon did was a major technological feat. In fact, the sheer number of startups who have actually done cloud storage and streaming shows that it’s not the technology that’s been the stumbling block — it’s the potential legal and business complications.

And that’s exactly why Amazon’s move was a big deal: The company decided that it was going to do it now and apologize later, assuming the sheer momentum and force of its will would be enough.

So while the company doesn’t have a first mover advantage in the technology sense, by moving first among the large digital media goliaths, Amazon has essentially established itself as digital and cloud media’s alpha dog.

In fact, you could argue Amazon’s behavior is part of a pattern, one which shows the company moving ever more aggressively, playing somewhat fast and loose with the rules (both in legal and business terms), in an effort to establish itself before its competitors or spurned partner reacts, by which time the company’s seeded the market.

Some examples of Amazon’s alpha-dogness:

• The brower-purchase option on iOS devices. This way of skirting Apple’s app store was genius, and of course it was too good to last. But by the time Apple implemented its in-app purchase rule, Amazon had already established itself in a big way with Kindle for iPad.
• Going DRM-free first. Remember, while Apple still dominants music sales, Amazon made itself a player (and grabbed second-place market share) by dropping DRM on its MP3s, a pretty radical move at the time.
• App store with Test-Drive. By creating its own app store, Amazon not only ticked off Apple by using the term, but more importantly it decided to create an app store that was a real alternative to iTunes for apps as well as music.
• Kindle e-book pricing strategies. Make no doubt, Kindle and Amazon’s e-book efforts to disintermediate publishers is by far their biggest move, as well as their aggressive moves to drop e-book pricing (which created the agency-model revolt that Apple helped along with iBooks)

Sure, these are disparate group of initiatives, but I think they’re all largely connected. In fact, the more recently aggressive behavior by Amazon in cloud streaming and app stores was a result of Apple’s app-store rules, something I speculated in February would result in Amazon looking to create an iTunes alternative, something which look to be fully intent on creating.

And while Amazon may be showing the most aggressive behavior of all the big digital media giants, there’s no doubt the other big dogs will bite back, and no doubt its likely to happen soon.

For more on Amazon’s first-mover advantage among the media giants and its relationship with Apple, see our latest weekly update over at GigaOM Pro (subscription required).

Image courtesy of Flickr user Beverly & Pack

Related content from GigaOM Pro (subscription req’d):

• Amazon Bets on First-Mover Advantage in Race to the Cloud

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Getting paid on Android has been a touchy subject for developers, who have had trouble turning their apps into big money-makers like their iOS counterparts. But now that Google has finally rolled out a new web store for Android Market, support for local currencies, and in-app purchases for Android apps, developers are hoping to kick-start revenues.

The web storefront of the Android Market, first promised last May, brings the ability to search, browse and buy apps from a computer browser. Up to now, mobile apps would be purchased directly through the Android Market store on devices or through independent app stores such as AppBrain and GetJar. The new Android Market provides a very Apple-like App Store interface with categories, lists of top free, paid and featured apps along with screen shots and video demos. Customers who buy an app will have it pushed out to their device through a Wi-Fi or mobile broadband network. And they’ll be able to share links to apps in Android Market now through Twitter.

The other major improvement is in-app purchases for Android Market apps. Some payment providers like Zong and Boku have either deployed or tested similar systems on Android apps. But this is Google’s first move toward offering native support for in-app purchases for virtual goods and extra content inside Android apps. Developers who integrate the feature can offer one-click payments through Google Checkout or carrier billing from AT&T and T-Mobile. In-app payments will roll out to consumers by the end of this quarter. 

This is clearly the bigger announcement for developers because it brings a huge new revenue source to Android app developers. In-app purchases have proven incredibly lucrative to Apple iPhone developers, who now make almost as much money from such purchases as they do from paid downloads. Selling from within an app gives Android developers a new way to make money outside of traditional advertising.

Matt Hall, co-founder of Larva Labs, one of the early developers in Android Market, said to me today that he’s excited about the changes and believes they’ll help monetize new and older titles. Larva Labs has been sitting on a Facebook photo wallpaper app that Hall said will launch with Google in-app purchases. He expects to apply in-payments to most of Larva Labs existing apps as well.

“In-app payments look great,” said Hall. “It needs to be that almost any Android user should be able to purchase something with a click. Anything you can do to make the process seamless really helps with conversion.” Hall, however, is hoping to see more carrier billing options, suggesting that for some, it’s a simpler way to pay for things than Google Checkout.

Andrej Nabergoj, CEO of Outfit7, which makes a series of Talking Friends apps, said the new in-app purchase feature will help close the revenue imbalance between its apps on iOS and Android, which produces far less in sales for Outfit7. The company has recorded more than 60 million downloads on both Android and iOS. For its free apps on iOS, Outfit7 has been able to convert 10 percent of customers to the paid version of the apps through in-app purchases. That option will finally come to Android for the first time when Google makes it available, Nabergoj said.

“We have 20 million downloads on Android and it’s growing really well. But we have a really hard time monetizing it,” he said. “I have a lot of confidence that in-app purchases will help monetize that audience.”

Mike Breslin, vice president of marketing for game maker Glu Mobile, said the move to in-app purchases also plays to Android’s history of selling more free apps. Instead of trying to push paid purchases up front, Breslin said developers can stay free, get a lot of downloads and try and pick up sales later on.

He said freemium has been a huge paradigm shift in mobile gaming and it’s remaking parts of Glu’s business. Games like Deer Hunter Challenge and World Series of Poker are now making more money as freemium titles than they did when they were paid. Breslin said the move to freemium will not only help existing developers but should make Android more of a destination for serious game developers, one of the knocks against the platform compared to iOS.

“It’s really exciting news for anyone in the content business,” Breslin said of in-app payments. “Especially social mobile gaming companies like us, our entire games are built around freemium. When you can monetize a channel, it’ll bring better quality products and more often.”

Related content from GigaOM Pro (sub. req.):

• How To Ride The Freemium App Wave To Success
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• How Carriers Can Crack the App Discoverability Nut

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Tips on Renting a Van
Whether this is your first move or your tenth,you’ll know that moving house can be a daunting task. This may be out of necessity due to a new job opening in some other town or just out of choice. In such an event, you either hire a removal company or van rental company. In Ireland, you will not run short of several Van Hire Dublin companies out to hire out their vehicles. Before contracting a Van Rental Dublin company, consider the following tips to help you make the appropriate choice of van or truck to hire.

The first thing to do is to assess what you want to move. The more stuff you have in your house the bigger the van you will require. There are a number of renting options available including self-drive vans. Get a few quotes from companies before making a decision.

Consider the type of van to rent. The panel van does not have the same capacity as the box van. Always take a bigger van to ensure that all your items fit into it. Underestimating the goods to be ferried may delay the moving exercise. You may consider renting a van that has a hydraulic tail-lift to hoist heavy items such as a floor safe. The size of the van also determines the amount of fuel that you need to budget for.

If you opt for a self-drive alternative, consider the license requirements of the various trucks on offer. Driving vehicles beyond a certain weight may require specialized licenses. In Ireland for instance, you need a Class C license to drive a truck weighing more than 7.5 tons. However, for a regular box van you only need the general Class B license.

It’s important to take into account how far you’re going to travel before you reach your destination. This will assist you save money from mileage allowance. If you have to make severaltrips to complete the task, then you need to look for a van rentalcompany that has unlimited mileage allowance. By doing this, you will save some money from the hidden costs inherent in the pricing system. You can also save money by taking advantage of the special rates offered over the weekend by many Van Hire Dublin companies.

Before signing the agreement, enquire on the insurance charges that are payable for everyday the vehicle is on the road. The rental charges should include the insurance charge. Also, consider consulting your credit card company. Most card companies have {a provision for insurance coverage. Enquire from them if the insurance cover includes moving vehicles and trailers. Ask whether the cover protects you in the event of a collision, theft and damage to property through an accident.

The duration for which you wish to use the van also matters. Demand for vans usually peaks between the months of May to September. As such, one needs to book early to ensure that the van will be available during that period. It is also more expensive to move during the peak period since the van rental companies increase the charges levied. Many people prefer to move at the end of the month. To avoid the rush it is advisable to plan your moving house at the middle of the month.

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A 404 sticker at Shake Shack next to the CNET N.Y. office- thanks for the picture, Derrick!

(Credit:
Derrick Chen/The404)

Today’s episode of The 404 Podcast starts off with a intimate glimpse into Justin’s mind, so we recommend throwing on some goggles before watching. He reveals that his name was initially supposed to be Jonathan, but due to complications surrounding the pronunciation of his name, the doctor just shortened it to the simpler-sounding Justin. Jeff also has a funny story about his father’s name, and it turns out it wasn’t always Sweet Lou!

It’s Thursday, so you know what that means: Natali Del Conte joins the fun and adds a valuable female perspective on our motley crew.

We’ve been talking about the Sony PlayStation Move since it debuted at last week’s Game Developers Conference, and Sony just announced its first Move commercial, brought to you by…the future. The video features a very Colberian Kevin Butler, the PlayStation’s VP of Realistic Movements, who takes sarcastic shots at Nintendo and Microsoft in the very distant future (November 2010).

We could spend an entire show on this next topic, a list of 10 things women do that turn men off. It’s all in good fun and we’re obviously generalizing, but we’re finding it hard to dispute the irritations that writer Brendan Tapley brings up, including “assuming we know what you want us to do,” “smothering instead of mothering,” and “over-sharing.” Thanks to NDC for sticking around to keep us in check!

Finally, a new study in the latest Retrevo Gadgetology Report (gadgetology?) anecdotally shows that one in 10 people under 25 would pause coitus to check their social networking updates, which begs the question: is Facebook better than sex?

Short answer: No, dude.

Long answer: Listen to the show!

EPISODE 540

Listen now:

Download today’s podcast

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Originally posted at The 404 Podcast

Moving House, Office or Furniture – Chose a Cheap Van Rental

Whether this is your first move or your tenth,you’ll know that moving office can be a daunting task. Besides all the packing, organizing, and planning, there’s the matter of actually moving all the belongings from one location to another. Whether your move is just a short distance or is all the way across town, choosing a cheap van rental to transport your items can save you time and headaches.

However, keep in mind that most moves using regular passenger vehicles will require many more trips than originally anticipated This means increased fuel costs for each trip that each vehicle makes, in addition to more time spent traveling, finding a parking space, loading and unloading with each trip. Not only are increased fuel costs a concern in these cases, but potential wear and tear on the vehicles being used, and the possibility that the inside of one could become damaged by a large piece of furniture.

A Cheap Van Rental, on the other hand, can savemoney because you will only have to load, travel, find parking, and unload a single time. This means paying fuel charges for only one trip, taking advantage of the generosity of friends for only a small portion of the day If you choose to rent a van dublin , because your van rental is booked in advance and guaranteed, there will be no last minute changes in peoples’ plans or late arrivals on moving day.

National Truck Rental offers a variety of van sizes to help the needs of anyone looking to Rent A Van Dublin. From the smallest Ford Connect ideal for very small moving jobs, to the largest 18 ton Super Mover, you’ll find just the size you need to make your move as easy and trouble-free as possible. In addition to the cheap van rental that you’ll find, National Truck Rental also offers packing and moving supplies such as bubble wrap, a tail lift, and hand trolleys. Fully comprehensive insurance coverage is also available at a reasonably cheap daily rate.

whether you’re moving down the street or across town choosing a Cheap Van Rental from National Truck Rental can save you hassle. Fleets of all sizes to fit every type of move mean that you’ll only have to make one trip to transport your goods from their previous location to the new one. With all of the other hassles that go along with moving, don’t let transportation be one of them. Choosing to Rent A Van Dublin is a decision that you will not regret.