While Samsung is preparing for the big unveiling of its newest flagship phones, the OEM is launching a new major update for its digital storefront – as per a SamMobile report-, rebranding it and introducing a handful of new features along with a reworked user interface based on its new One UI design language.
Following the update which pushes the app’s version to 4.5.01.7, Galaxy Apps will be known as the Galaxy Store, but as yet it looks like the update has been released only for Samsung devices running Android 9 Pie. Devices running an older Android OS version will apparently retain the old application based on the Samsung Experience user interface. It remains to be seen whether this is a temporary decision or if Galaxy Apps on these devices will simply fade away with the passage time as the hardware reaches end-of-life.
As for the latest update, the rebranded Galaxy Store mobile app now features larger banners akin to One UI, along with a new set of buttons at the bottom of the screen, giving users quick access to various app categories including those that have been designed for the OEM’s smartwatches. There’s also a dedicated button for mobile games published on Samsung’s platform, along with a shortcut to the list of apps already owned by or installed on the user’s device.
The Samsung Galaxy Apps platform along with its dedicated mobile application originally launched nearly ten years ago under the name of Samsung Apps. It was released publicly roughly one year after Google Play made its debut under its original Android Market moniker.
Samsung’s storefront was first rebranded in 2014 when the Samsung Apps name was dropped in favor of Galaxy Apps. In other words, the recent major update marks the second time the OEM’s storefront went through a major overhaul denoted by a new name.
By now most gadget enthusiasts should be aware that Samsung will introduce its latest Galaxy S10 flagship series later today at its Unpacked event in San Francisco, and given the timing of this latest update, it’s likely that the new Galaxy Store app will be preloaded on these newer devices out of the box.
The official announcement will be followed by a pre-order period of roughly two weeks before the hardware hits the shelves, so there should be no reason for the OEM to launch these fresh devices with the older version of the app pre-installed, only for users to then be prompted to update the app on their own.
The Samsung Galaxy S10 series will launch with Android 9 Pie covered by the OEM’s proprietary One UI. The redesigned user interface replaced Samsung Experience late last year, but only for devices that run Google’s latest mobile OS version. Its main purpose is to offer a cleaner look overall and make certain on-screen elements easier to reach when using the smartphone with one hand.
One UI applies to the entire operating system as well as Samsung’s default apps like Phone and Messages, but evidently, some applications have been updated later than others, and it’s likely that the Galaxy Store update arrived later due to the storefront being rebranded.