Samsung shuns Google, launches its own Galaxy Apps Store

SAMSUNG has launched the Galaxy Apps Store, its own app store for Samsung Galaxy owners, as it looks to take some of Google's Play store revenues.

Essentially a replacement for the firm's recently shuttered Samsung Apps service, Samsung's Galaxy Apps Store offers "hundreds" - yes, hundreds - of apps designed exclusively for devices like the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S5 Mini.

Samsung said in a blog post, "Samsung Electronics launched Samsung Galaxy Apps, an app store that offers hundreds of apps exclusively available to users of Samsung Galaxy mobile devices.

"An improvement upon its predecessor, Samsung Apps, the new app store features apps that will allow greater customisation of mobile devices and will also function as a platform to offer various promotions and discounts."

Apps are split into three categories, Best Picks, Top, and For Galaxy. Best Picks, unsurprisingly, allows users to find highly recommended apps, while Top shows those that have been downloaded the most.

The For Galaxy section, Samsung explains, is split into four categories - Galaxy Gifts, Galaxy Essentials, Apps for Professionals and Galaxy Specials.

Samsung says, "Galaxy Gifts offers premium apps exclusively for Galaxy devices. Galaxy Essentials delivers must-have apps for Galaxy devices. Apps for Professionals is the home of business focused apps and other services that fully utilise the features of Galaxy devices. Galaxy Specials lets users download apps specifically created by using Samsung SDKs."

This move sees Samsung edging away from Google, much like it did recently by equipping its latest smartwatch, the Samsung Gear 2, with its own Tizen operating system rather than Android.

Android 4.4.3 now available to all Google Play Edition phones

T-Mobile was the first to unleash the official Android 4.4.3 KitKat update on its Nexus (4,5,7) lineup. Then Motorola begun updating the Moto X, Moto G and Moto E.
Today the entire Google Play Edition phone lineup has been treated to Android 4.4.3 KitKat. The OTA firmware is available for HTC One, HTC One (M8), Samsung Galaxy S4 and Sony Xperia Z Ultra. There is no info on the LG G Pad 8.3 slate, but we bet it will be getting it very soon if not already.
The owners of Nexus devices outside T-Mobile are still waiting on the over-the-air update although Google has already release the official factory images. We guess Google should take care of this soon too.
Android 4.4.3 is a minor update bringing a refreshed UI in the Phone app, plus critical bug fixes, stability and performance improvements.