File under: Amazon, Computer, Electronics, Movies, News of the Day

Amazon.com officially launched its first full digital store with the debut of the Amazon Unbox Video Downloads Store. The concept is pretty simple — download the Amazon Unbox Video Player and then go to to the Amazon Unbox Video Downloads Store and download the videos of your choice (see Amazon graphic below).

Some highlights from the Frequently Asked Questions:

• Videos will play on computers identified in the “RemoteLoad” pull-down menu when you make a purchase (so you can play on multiple PCs but only select ones.
• Amazon Unbox video downloads are not compatible with Apple / Macintosh hardware and computer systems and iPods.
• One hour of programming is roughly equal to one gigabyte (1 GB) of file space on your computer.
• Amazon Unbox only plays files downloaded from Amazon.com. Each download includes two .wmv files (one main file containing the video and a preview file) and a .amzn file (smaller format file optimized for mobile devices). You cannot use Amazon Unbox to play video files downloaded from other vendors.
• You can store your downloaded files on a DVD or other removable computer storage. However, any DVDs that you burn with Amazon Unbox files will not be readable by a DVD player.
• When you choose to rent an Amazon Unbox video, your access to view the file is limited by the rental term (usually 30 days). After you begin playing an Amazon Unbox Video, you will have 24 hours to complete viewing it. After these expiration times, the Amazon Unbox Video will automatically be deleted from your computer and Your Media Library.
• Puchased videos do not expire. You can download a purchased file onto 2 different PCs at one time and each PC can transfer the file to one portable video device.
• Current supported portable video devices (PlayForSure): Creative Zen Vision: M, Creative Zen Vision, Toshiba Gigabeat S, Archos AV 500, Archos AV 700, and iRiver PMC.

The current selection of movies is pretty interesting and includes some favorites such as Office Space, Walk the Line, The Matrix, and Everything is Illuminated.

In the TV category, Amazon Unbox offers shows from: A&E, Adult Swim, Animal Planet, BBC, The Biography Channel, Cartoon Network, CBS, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, E!, Fine Living, FOX, Fuel, FX, Hanna-Barbera, HGTV, The History Channel, Logo, MTV, MTV2, The N, Nickelodeon, PBS, Speed, The Travel Channel, and VH1. That means you can download 24, South Park, CSI: Miami and some of our favorites including Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Mythbusters, and Chappelle Show: Uncensored.

Unbox also offers titles from several international sources including BBC (UK), KBS (Korea), and Bandai Anime (Japan).

To celebrate the opening of our new Amazon Unbox Video Downloads store, Amazon is offering a $1.99 instant rebate on your first purchase or rental (most TV shows are available for purchase at $1.99)