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Galaxy Store

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This article is about the app distribution platform run by Samsung. For the company's retail chain, see Samsung Experience Store.

Galaxy Store
Developer(s)Samsung Electronics
Initial release14 September 2009; 15 years ago (2009-09-14) (as Samsung Apps)
Operating systemAndroid
PlatformAndroid
Formerly: Samsung Gear (Tizen), Bada, Samsung feature phones, Windows Mobile, Omnia HD (Symbian)
Available inmultiple languages
TypeDigital distribution
Websitegalaxystore.samsung.com

The Galaxy Store (Korean: 갤럭시 스토어) is an app store offering apps, games and exclusive themes and other customizations for mobile devices manufactured by Samsung Electronics.[1] The service is primarily supplied pre-installed on Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets, and Galaxy Watch wearables. It requires a Samsung account to be used.[2]

History

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The Galaxy Store has its origins in a mobile developer program launched in 2008, Samsung Mobile Innovator.[3] Samsung Mobile Applications, an app store powered by Handango launched at Mobile World Congress 2009 providing software for Windows Mobile, Symbian, and (from August) Java ME.[4] The services had been established in China and several European countries by the third quarter of 2009.[5]

On 14 September 2009, Samsung Apps launched initially in western Europe, providing software for the Samsung Omnia (i900) and Samsung Omnia HD (i8910) smartphones with more devices added later.[6] In 2010 it started offering apps for the Bada platform, which the Samsung Wave runs on.[7] There were 10 million app downloads by September 2010 in Europe, made up of Java, Windows Mobile and Bada apps.[8]

There was also a Samsung Apps TV for smart TVs, which had gotten 10 million downloads by October 2011. Samsung also held a developer challenge called Free the TV Challenge, which was won by WeDraw in 2010, an application that could draw on mobile and display on the TV screen.[9]

In March 2011 Samsung Apps was launched for the Galaxy line, running Android. Samsung Apps had 40,000 applications by its second anniversary in 2011.[7] The store was also offered on Samsung Gear wearables and Samsung REX feature phones.

A feature called S Suggest (app and www.ssuggest.com) was launched in 2013 that would suggest apps from the store to users.[10] This service was closed in 2014.[citation needed]

In July 2014, with the Galaxy line mostly consolidating Samsung's mobile offerings, Samsung Apps was rebranded to Galaxy Apps.[11]

In 2018, Samsung began an annual award for the best developers, called Best of Galaxy Store Awards. At the inaugural award at the Samsung Developer Ceremony, Booking.com was awarded 'Best App' and Wrist Camera the 'Best Watch App', amongst others.[12]

App icon

In early 2019, soon after the introduction of One UI, Galaxy Apps was rebranded to Galaxy Store.[13] The store was redesigned in October 2020 with an increased focus on games.[14]

Games rewards

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The Galaxy Store features reward points given to users who purchase games.[14]

Best of Galaxy Store Awards

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The awards of the latest edition of 2022 were given to:[15]

  • Best Theme Collection: Pengtai Interactive Advertising Co.
  • Best Wallpaper Collection: Bergen
  • Best Icon Pack Collection: Cogul Planet
  • Best Music App: Sirius XM Streaming by Sirius XM Radio Inc.
  • Best Entertainment App: Vudu by Fandango Media
  • Best Podcast: SOLAR by CurtCo Media
  • Game of the Year: Catalyst Black by Super Evil Megacorp

Samsung apps provided

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The following is a list of apps and utilities provided by Samsung itself on the Galaxy Store. (as of September 2023)

Software Description
Samsung TV Plus Free television streaming service
Samsung Internet Web browser
Samsung Wallet Digital wallet including Samsung Pay
Samsung Health Personal health tracker
Samsung Members Exclusive content and support for Galaxy
Samsung Music Music player supporting MP3, WMA, AAC and FLAC formats
Samsung Smart Switch Data transfer to new Galaxy device
Samsung Notes Note-taking and PDF reader
Samsung Kids Parental controls
Samsung Free Online media and entertainment
Samsung Blockchain Wallet Cryptocurrency management
Samsung Gallery Image and video gallery
Samsung Email Email client
Samsung Video Library Browse and play video content (Discontinued from 1 January 2024)[16]
Samsung TTS (Text-to-speech) Speech synthesis
Samsung Calendar Calendar
AR Zone Augmented reality and My Emoji
Samsung Level Complementary app for Samsung Level headphones
Samsung Family Hub Family reminders, shopping lists, schedule and more
SmartThings Home automation
PENUP Social network for drawings
My Files File manager
Samsung Shop Storefront for Samsung Electronics products
Good Lock UI customization tool for Galaxy as well as productivity tools like Camera Assistant and One Hand Operation+
Good Guardians (formerly Galaxy Labs) Privileged utilities for Galaxy for device battery, temperature, and more
Sound Assistant Advanced sound utility
Galaxy Wearable Interconnects Galaxy devices with Samsung Galaxy Gear
Samsung Global Goals Advertising to support donation for the UN's Sustainable Development Goals
Expert RAW Image editor capable of editing raw image files
Galaxy Enhance-X AI-powered tool to automatically improve photos[17]
Samsung Good Vibes Two-way communication tool for the deafblind
Samsung PPT Controller PowerPoint controller for Galaxy Watch
Health Platform An aggregator bringing together data from various health apps
Samsung Compass Compass feature for Galaxy Watch[18]
Daily Board Photo frame emulator for Galaxy tablets[19]
Walkie-Talkie Walkie-talkie app for Galaxy Watch[20]
Perf Z Game performance monitor[21]

Third-parties

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Some third-party apps are also available on the Galaxy Store, despite Galaxy devices running on the Google Mobile Services platform which features the Play Store. These apps include the likes of Firefox, Microsoft 365, Wikipedia, and Clip Studio Paint. Some Android games have been exclusive on the Galaxy Store, such as Fortnite for users in the US.[22]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Make It Your Galaxy: Customize Your Favorite Galaxy Devices with the Galaxy Store". samsungmobilepress.com. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Do I need a Samsung account to download an app?". Samsung uk. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Samsung gets touchy-feely, but no Android".
  4. ^ Stănescu, Alexandru (4 February 2009). "Samsung Launches Its Own App Store for WM and Symbian Devices". GSMDome.com. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Samsung goes the Symbian route with mobile application warehouse". Archived from the original on 8 March 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ Geary, Leigh (1 September 2009). "Samsung Apps store to launch in two weeks". Coolsmartphone. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Samsung Apps Celebrates 2nd Anniversary with New Version of Apps Store". news.samsung.com. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  8. ^ O'Hear, Steve (22 September 2010). "Anything Apple can do... Samsung's European app store reaches 10m downloads in year one". TechCrunch. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  9. ^ "Samsung TV apps downloads near 10 million | The Digital Home – CNET News". 7 October 2011. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Samsung's S Suggest Helps You Find the Apps You Need | | InformIT".
  11. ^ Rockman, Simon. "Samsung rebrands store as Galaxy Apps, eyes up Google Play customers". The Register. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Best of Galaxy Store Awards Winners". Samsung Developers. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  13. ^ SamMobile; Farooqui, Adnan (20 February 2019). "Galaxy Apps gets rebranded to Galaxy Store with a new One UI design". SamMobile. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Samsung redesigns its Galaxy Store to focus on games". Engadget. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  15. ^ SamMobile; Naresh, Sagar (8 December 2022). "Samsung announces winners of fifth annual Best of Galaxy Store Awards". SamMobile. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  16. ^ "Samsung ends Video Library App update support: Won't compatible with Android 14". 10 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  17. ^ Iyer, Karthik (8 June 2023). "How to use the Samsung Galaxy Enhance-X app to improve your photos in seconds with AI". XDA Developers. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Galaxy Watch Compass app user guide". Samsung levant. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  19. ^ "What is Daily Board and how do I use it?". Samsung uk. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  20. ^ Porter, Jon (31 August 2021). "Samsung's new Galaxy Watch gets a walkie talkie feature of its own". The Verge. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  21. ^ Kee, Kok (9 March 2022). "Monitor the performance of your Samsung phones with these two tools | Nasi Lemak Tech". Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  22. ^ Russell, Brandon (30 October 2020). "Samsung Galaxy Store gets a big redesign with an emphasis on games". XDA Developers. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
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