395 - Apple Wallet Digital Passport, M5 Chip Talk, and Tesla Finally Adding CarPlay

The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave is joined by Jill McKinley,Jeff Gamet, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius, Guy Serle. Episode 395 discusses VisionOS 26.2, Apple's new immersive F-18 video, third-party VR content, iOS/macOS beta features, CarPlay tweaks, and frustrations with notifications. The team reviews five years of M-series chips, explores new satellite features, tests out the digital passport ID in Wallet, debates the bizarre iPhone Pocket, reacts to Tesla adopting CarPlay, and covers Apple TV's plans to stream MLS for free in 2026. The show notes are at InTouchwithiOS.com Direct Link to Audio Links to our Show Give us a review on Apple Podcasts! CLICK HERE we would really appreciate it! Click this link Buy me a Coffee to support the show we would really appreciate it. intouchwithios.com/coffee Another way to support the show is to become a Patreon member patreon.com/intouchwithios Website: In Touch With iOS YouTube Channel In Touch with iOS Magazine on Flipboard Facebook Page BlueSky Mastodon X Instagram Threads Summary In Episode 395, the panel kicks off with a hilarious "tinfoil hat convention" after Guy reveals his "Hat of Intelligence." The group jokes about aliens, mental shielding, and Guy's emergency hat deployment skills before shifting into the week's Apple news. They begin with VisionOS 26.2 Beta, noting incremental improvements such as fixes for stylus pressure, stability updates, and lingering bugs in AirDrop visibility, SharePlay DRM playback, and subscription syncing. The panel agrees the update feels like a tightening pass while everyone waits for the next major feature drop. Apple's newest immersive video, "Flight Ready," filmed with Navy F-18s, sparks lively discussion. The group praises the cinematic quality—especially nighttime carrier deck landings and aerial shots—but several mention Apple's signature issue with immersive content: the feeling that "people are way too close to your face." The panel also highlights the increasing amount of third-party immersive Vision Pro content, including music videos, training simulations, and niche experiences created in tools like DaVinci Resolve, signaling that spatial content creation is slowly becoming more accessible. Eric shares his in-store test of the Vision Pro M5, where he focused on widgets, Safari multitasking, virtual displays, and system responsiveness. He intentionally pushed the device hard to see if it stutters—and it didn't. Dave walks through updates in iOS/iPadOS/watchOS/tvOS 26.2 betas, pointing out UI refinements such as expanded Liquid Glass styling, an improved Alarm interface, app sorting options in Game Library, and message-pinning in CarPlay. CarPlay itself becomes a heated topic—Dave explains how answering a call sometimes instantly hangs up afterward. Marty expresses frustration over automotive UI "reactions" in group chats while driving. The general consensus: CarPlay is great… except when it isn't. The group digs into macOS 26.2 (Tahoe) with mixed reactions. While some see improvements, Jeff notes memory issues and audio stack quirks still need addressing. 1Password's new behavior—unlocking automatically after system login—splits the panel. Some appreciate fewer prompts, while others insist on strict manual unlocking for security. A retrospective on five years of Apple's M-series chips follows. Marty mentions real-world benefits moving from M4 to M5, Jeff feels his M2 Pro is still strong, Dave says his M4 Pro Mac mini is now his main machine, and Guy jokes that old Intel Macs were basically "space heaters with keyboards." Topics and Links In Touch With Vision Pro this week. visionOS 26.2 Beta 2 Release Notes Apple Releases Second visionOS 26.2 Beta Flight Ready film brings immersive F-18 fighter pilot footage to Apple Vision Pro Apple now selling the PlayStation VR2 Sense Controllers for Apple Vision Pro Beta this week. Apple Seeds Second Betas of iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 to Developers Everything New in iOS 26.2 Beta 2 iOS 26.2 Available Next Month With These 8 New Features - MacRumors iOS 26.2 Adds New CarPlay Setting iOS 26.2 Adds Alarms for Reminders iOS 26.2 Adds Three New Features to Podcasts App iOS 26.2 Lock Screen Gets Liquid Glass Slider iOS 26.2 Expands Live Translation on AirPods to EU iOS 26.2 lets you disable new CarPlay feature in Messages In Touch With Mac this week Second macOS Tahoe 26.2 Beta Now Available to Developers macOS Tahoe 26.2 Gets Edge Light Feature for Video Calls 1Password Simplifies Access With New Unlock Setting Five Years of Apple Silicon: M1 to M5 Performance Comparison News Apple Developing These 5 New Satellite Features for iPhone Apple Announces Launch of U.S. Passport Feature in iPhone's Wallet App Apple introduces Digital ID, a new way to create and present an ID in Apple Wallet Introducing iPhone Pocket: a beautiful way to wear and carry iPhone Apple ...