Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/Google
Google has just promoted a new Android Auto build to the stable channel, with the rollout now kicking off to devices through the Google Play Store.
Android Auto 10.5 made its way to the beta program earlier this month – the stand-alone APK installer also reached the web in mid-September, allowing users to test the new build before it graduates to the stable ring.
Google has now started the rollout of the stable version to users' devices, but the process follows the standard procedure and ships in stages through the Google Play Store. The rollout typically completes in a few weeks once Google determines the update's reliability and whitelists version 10.5 for all devices.
Meanwhile, users who don’t want to wait for Google to ship Android Auto 10.5 to their devices can manually install the new build using the stand-alone APK installer.
The Android Auto 10.5 APK file must be stored on the mobile device before kicking off the update. Users must browse to its location, tap the installer, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process. On some devices, enabling permissions for the installation of apps from non-Google Play Store sources is also required.
Most users are interested in the changelog, but like its predecessors, Android Auto 10.5 ships without release notes.
I already installed the update on my Samsung phone, but I couldn't notice any significant change – the only difference from Android Auto 10.4 appears to be a bug happening mid-drive, as Waze and Google Maps sometimes lose their GPS tracking and freeze for a few seconds before returning to normal; the issue could be unrelated to the Android Auto 10.5 update, though it didn't happen on the previous app version.
More information on the update should emerge in the coming days as Google accelerates the rollout and ships the new version to more devices. If you notice something new, you can use the comment box after the jump to let everybody know about it.
Android Auto has recently received a new influx of apps, as Google announced the debut of WebEx by Cisco and Zoom in the car. The productivity apps allow users to participate in meetings and initiate or receive audio calls while driving. The video experience is only allowed on the mobile devices for safety reasons, but drivers of vehicles equipped with the phone mirroring software can now remain productive while in motion, too.
More apps are coming to Android Auto, especially as Google has unlocked new software categories. Earlier this month, the first OBD2 app made its way to Android Auto, allowing users to get vehicle diagnosis data on the infotainment screen through a connected adapter. Previously, the data was locked on Android Auto and was only accessible on a mobile device.
Google has now started the rollout of the stable version to users' devices, but the process follows the standard procedure and ships in stages through the Google Play Store. The rollout typically completes in a few weeks once Google determines the update's reliability and whitelists version 10.5 for all devices.
Meanwhile, users who don’t want to wait for Google to ship Android Auto 10.5 to their devices can manually install the new build using the stand-alone APK installer.
The Android Auto 10.5 APK file must be stored on the mobile device before kicking off the update. Users must browse to its location, tap the installer, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process. On some devices, enabling permissions for the installation of apps from non-Google Play Store sources is also required.
Most users are interested in the changelog, but like its predecessors, Android Auto 10.5 ships without release notes.
I already installed the update on my Samsung phone, but I couldn't notice any significant change – the only difference from Android Auto 10.4 appears to be a bug happening mid-drive, as Waze and Google Maps sometimes lose their GPS tracking and freeze for a few seconds before returning to normal; the issue could be unrelated to the Android Auto 10.5 update, though it didn't happen on the previous app version.
More information on the update should emerge in the coming days as Google accelerates the rollout and ships the new version to more devices. If you notice something new, you can use the comment box after the jump to let everybody know about it.
Android Auto has recently received a new influx of apps, as Google announced the debut of WebEx by Cisco and Zoom in the car. The productivity apps allow users to participate in meetings and initiate or receive audio calls while driving. The video experience is only allowed on the mobile devices for safety reasons, but drivers of vehicles equipped with the phone mirroring software can now remain productive while in motion, too.
More apps are coming to Android Auto, especially as Google has unlocked new software categories. Earlier this month, the first OBD2 app made its way to Android Auto, allowing users to get vehicle diagnosis data on the infotainment screen through a connected adapter. Previously, the data was locked on Android Auto and was only accessible on a mobile device.
Google News