Since its debut in 2021, Samsung has shifted from its own Tizen operating system to Google’s Wear OS with the introduction of the Galaxy Watch 4, now enveloped in One UI Watch. Nearly three years have passed and the latest direction from Samsung signals the cessation of support for older Tizen versions.
An official announcement on Samsung’s website states the discontinuation of Tizen app distribution on Samsung’s Galaxy Store without a definitive timeline. Developers are urged to transition their smartwatch apps to Wear OS and distribute them via the Google Play Store instead.
In addition to Samsung’s announcement, Reddit user Seaweed_Maximum claims to have been contacted by the Galaxy Store Operations Team, receiving similar information but with a clear deadline:
– September 30, 2024: Galaxy Store will cease selling paid Tizen Watch apps
– May 31, 2025: Galaxy Store will stop offering free Tizen Watch app downloads
– September 30, 2025: Previously purchased or used apps will no longer be available for download
Impacted devices include the Galaxy Watch 1, Galaxy Watch Active, Galaxy Watch Active 2, Galaxy Watch 3, and all Samsung Gear products. Reports from 9to5google indicate that Samsung USA is allowing trade-ins for these old watches, offering a $100 discount on purchasing the latest Galaxy Watch 6. This is a substantial price reduction, especially for significantly older watches like the Galaxy Watch 1, but it remains uncertain if this approach will extend to other countries.
TLDR: Samsung is discontinuing Tizen app distribution on the Galaxy Store, prompting developers to transition to Wear OS. Galaxy Watch users are advised of upcoming app download limitations, with trade-in options available for select countries like the USA.
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