Given that Google has yet to offer a changelog, the latest Android Auto release appears to be aimed at correcting bugs and improving overall app performance.
Less than a week after Google released the initial beta build for this version, Android Auto 10.4 is now available for download. There is no release information available, therefore it’s safe to presume the focus has been solely on bug fixes.
The Android Auto 10.4 distribution occurs via the Google Play Store, with Google depending on a method that may cause aggravation among Android Auto users. The update is delivered to devices in stages, so some users will receive the new version sooner than others. Google performs further reliability and stability testing on a select set of product devices before expanding availability to other devices.
Once Google is confident that no serious bugs will harm users’ devices, everyone will receive the update.
The procedure can take several weeks, although power users who don’t want to wait that long can always manually download Android Auto upgrades. Obtaining the standalone APK installer and installing it on the Android device is the first step.
The APK for Android Auto 10.4 can be downloaded from this link. Because Android by default bans app installation from sources other than the Google Play Store, users may need to grant additional permissions to the process.
It’s too early to say if Google made any significant changes with this update, but I didn’t see any new features after a couple of short rides with the new version.
While it’s difficult to say whether Google corrected any issues, I can tell you what Google did not fix. The Coolwalk bug, which has been present for about a year and causes the lower portion of the screen to freeze, remains after the installation of Android Auto 10.4. The bug prevents users from using the taskbar, preventing them from switching between apps. The problem appears to be tied to Google Maps, since users report that the UI freezes when they use the navigation software.
The problem has gotten increasingly common in recent months, but Google does not appear to be in a hurry to fix it. The only option appears to be to go back several Android Auto versions, however Google would begin requiring an update to a more recent release for the increased features.
If you install Android Auto 10.4 and see any changes worth noting, please let us know in the comments section below. If any new features are discovered, I’ll post follow-up stories.