Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
Google has significantly accelerated the Android Auto release pace, so new builds go live at a faster pace, especially in the beta program.
Thanks to this effort, users can try out the latest improvements in advance, providing valuable feedback that helps the search giant polish new Android Auto updates before the public rollout begins.
The latest build is Android Auto 10.2.1331 beta and is now available for download for users enrolled in the private beta program. At the same time, the rest of us can install this update with the dedicated APK installer, so we can try out the new release without being part of the beta program.
Google does not share release information, so I can't tell what's new in this update, but we'll find out more about Android Auto 10.2 once more users install it. If Google does not detect a significant bug, Android Auto 10.2 should reach the production stage in a few weeks, at which point the company will kick off the public rollout through the Google Play Store.
Users who want Android Auto 10.2 beta today must download the APK installer. Once the file lands on their Android devices, they must browse to its location and begin the installation by tapping the APK installer. The process takes only a few seconds and requires permission to install applications from non-Google Play Store sources. Android is restricted to the Google Play Store out of the box, but users can also enable sideloading by allowing other app sources.
I already installed Android Auto 10.2 beta on my device, but I can't spot any significant difference. Google has been testing several ideas lately, including a new Google Assistant loading animation, but it's not yet enabled on my device. It could be a placebo, but Android Auto is faster now, especially when switching from the Coolwalk screen to the full-screen mode in navigation applications, especially Waze.
The experience has been very slow in my car, despite running Android Auto on a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
It won't take long until we find out if Google also addresses the most widespread bugs in Android Auto. One of them causes the lower part of the screen, including the taskbar, to freeze, making it impossible for users to interact with their apps. The glitch appeared when Google started the Coolwalk rollout.
Android Auto 10.2 does not include the highly anticipated weather card on landscape displays. Coolwalk comes with a weather card only on portrait screens, but Google promised to address the lack of the forecast on landscape models with a future update. The new version doesn't seem to make any difference in this regard, so we'll have to wait a bit longer for this update.
Android Auto 10.2 should reach the stable channel by the end of August.
The latest build is Android Auto 10.2.1331 beta and is now available for download for users enrolled in the private beta program. At the same time, the rest of us can install this update with the dedicated APK installer, so we can try out the new release without being part of the beta program.
Google does not share release information, so I can't tell what's new in this update, but we'll find out more about Android Auto 10.2 once more users install it. If Google does not detect a significant bug, Android Auto 10.2 should reach the production stage in a few weeks, at which point the company will kick off the public rollout through the Google Play Store.
Users who want Android Auto 10.2 beta today must download the APK installer. Once the file lands on their Android devices, they must browse to its location and begin the installation by tapping the APK installer. The process takes only a few seconds and requires permission to install applications from non-Google Play Store sources. Android is restricted to the Google Play Store out of the box, but users can also enable sideloading by allowing other app sources.
I already installed Android Auto 10.2 beta on my device, but I can't spot any significant difference. Google has been testing several ideas lately, including a new Google Assistant loading animation, but it's not yet enabled on my device. It could be a placebo, but Android Auto is faster now, especially when switching from the Coolwalk screen to the full-screen mode in navigation applications, especially Waze.
The experience has been very slow in my car, despite running Android Auto on a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
It won't take long until we find out if Google also addresses the most widespread bugs in Android Auto. One of them causes the lower part of the screen, including the taskbar, to freeze, making it impossible for users to interact with their apps. The glitch appeared when Google started the Coolwalk rollout.
Android Auto 10.2 does not include the highly anticipated weather card on landscape displays. Coolwalk comes with a weather card only on portrait screens, but Google promised to address the lack of the forecast on landscape models with a future update. The new version doesn't seem to make any difference in this regard, so we'll have to wait a bit longer for this update.
Android Auto 10.2 should reach the stable channel by the end of August.
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