UPDATED 16:33 EDT / JUNE 08 2011

StackSocial Extends the Mac App Store’s Ecosystem with App Bundles

While everyone is going crazy about what’s hot and not with iPad and iPhone, the Mac App store is also showing solid market following. In less than two months since its launch, the Mac App store is already generating revenues equivalent of half the revenue of a top 300 iPad application on average, according to a recent report. It carries more than 2,000 applications that can be far more expensive than those you find in iPhone and iPad portfolio. SocialStack, a known hub for sharing, discovering and curating Mac software released an array of apps for Mac enthusiasts.

In a blog by SocialStack, they demonstrated pretty much everything one can get out of these 11 Mac Essentials bundle: “Our first software bundle is chock full of productivity and utility apps that are essential for making you (and your Mac) more efficient.  From much needed apps like a snappy windows resizer to a robust video screen-capturing tool to an addictive drag and drop ringtone creator…this bundle of award-winning software was hand-picked to help you get the job done.”

Here’s a quick rundown of the 11 Apps in the SocialStack Mac Essentials Bundle:

  1. 1. Wallpaper Wizard- unlimited access to 100,000 wallpapers
  2. 2. Vitamin-R- performance analyzer and working memory enhancer
  3. 3. Narrator- the fun of having someone reading your eBook, letter etc.
  4. 4. MacCleanse 2- erases caches, logs, cookies, histories
  5. 5. Surface- desktop-like workspace
  6. 6. Iconbox- icon library
  7. 7. SizeUp- for easy screen size adjustment
  8. 8. MacJournal- your virtual diary
  9. 9. Snapz Pro X- the ultimate screen-recording tool
  10. 10. WireTap Studio- record just about anything in your web broswer
  11. 11. iToner- allows you to create custom ringtones
  12. 12. Mondo Solitaire- an additional app you get for free if you purchase all 11

Although some would seem irrelevant and others get you with the wow-factor, you might be lured in by the low cost. Simple math would give you a total of $333 for all apps. But, the price is slashed by 86%, bringing the total fee to just $44 dollars for 12 apps. This bundle will be available on June 15th.

With Apple’s new strategy forming around apps and cloud delivery, it’s a growing trend for third parties to develop their own markets around software.  And considering the prices of many necessary and popular iOS apps, it’s a marketing and consumer-driven initiative that’s pushing companies like StackSocial to create their own hubs around mobile applications.

The consumerization of IT is a growing trend, touching every aspect of the cloud, tricking down from the enterprise and landing on our tablets.  It’s inevitable that an ecosystem grows around Apple’s own app market, especially as Apple has such a stronghold on the Mac App Store and iTunes.  Companies like StackSocial can help Apple overall, making its ecosystem more competitive with Android, which has already spawned third party marketplaces, though some are riddled with pirated apps or malware.  There’s a fine line to be balanced here, and security will undoubtedly be a determining factor as mobile app ecosystems continue to evolve.  But brands like Amazon are readily extending their retail support to the digital world, with app stores for both Android’s OS and iOS.  It’s only a matter of time before we see more marketplaces like StackSocial emerge, with the consumer at the heart of its marketing and distribution efforts.


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