GitHub Desktop's 1.4 release focuses on improving collaboration by introducing features that provide users with preemptive information about potential merge conflicts, making the merging process more informed and reducing surprises. This update builds on previous versions by notifying users of changes in the master branch and allowing easy integration of these changes. The new conflict detection feature aims to alleviate frustration associated with merging by indicating if a merge will result in conflicts and estimating the effort required to resolve them. The update also incorporates release notes directly into the app to keep users informed about changes and acknowledge contributors. Future releases promise further enhancements to make GitHub Desktop an even more valuable tool for team collaboration.