Samsung celebrates 2nd anniversary of Samsung Apps Store with an overhaul, also offers 30 free apps to Wave owners

To celebrate the second birthday of the Samsung Apps Store, the Korean electronics firm has unveiled a new version of its digital marketplace.

The updated Samsung Apps Store will initially be made available to Samsung Wave owners running the new bada 2.0 OS. Owners of Samsung's Galaxy devices, meanwhile, will be able to access the new-look store ‘towards the end of the year’.

Improvements to the Samsungs App Store - home to 40,000 apps at last count - include an enhanced user interface, a personalised app recommendation service based on current usage trends and favourite apps, and a wish list feature.

Most interestingly, perhaps, bada users will have the option to rent apps via the updated store, granting customers access to the application’s features on a trial basis at a reduced cost. Samsung has dubbed these new purchasing options “Try ‘n Play” and “Rent ‘n Play”.

Clearly in party mood, Samsung is also giving 30 popular paid apps – including Fruit Ninja and Plants vs Zombies – away for free to owners of Samsung Wave smartphones.