Sometimes it’s the accessory makers that show what’s coming around the bend for a major new Apple product.

Chinese accessory maker Tama Electric is now advertising a series of Lightning-to-headphone adapters with separate volume controls, thereby lending credence that Apple is ditching the 3.5 millimeter headphone jack in exchange for a Lightning-based equivalent.

The company is currently advertising three Lightning-to-headphone adapters, two of which also include a micro USB port for charging while using headphones.

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It’s a rumor, but if it’s true, it could be pretty useful.

A post on a Chinese social media site cites supply chain research indicates that the iPhone 7 will feature 32 GB storage as the $199 base model, which would mean Apple would finally drop the 16 GB SKU from its lineup with its new flagship smartphone expected in the fall.

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Ladies and gents, it’s Memorial Day and with that in mind, the staff of O’Grady’s PowerPage will be taking the day to spend time with food, friends and family while remembering those who gave their lives so we could have this.

Enjoy the day, see some friends, get some sun and we’ll be back tomorrow with all the Mac and iOS mobile news and updates we can get our hands on.

Happy Memorial Day!

Following up on the launch of Apple Pay in Singapore this week, Apple executive Jennifer Bailey has gone on the record stating that the company is planning a rapid expansion into every significant market it can with a focus on Europe and Asia. Apple Pay is currently available in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, China, Singapore and Australia. Apple has already said the mobile payments service will reach Hong Kong soon …

Bailey stated that Apple decides the next item on its Apple Pay expansion given a number of factors, although market size for Apple products tends to be a primary factor. She also stated that existing market penetration of contactless payment terminals and existing financial infrastructures also plays a factor.

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With rumors that Apple is working on a device to compete with Amazon’s Echo, it’s been suggested that a fifth-generation version of the Apple TV will eventually get its own microphone and speaker, and that Apple will be improving its computing infrastructure to handle more Siri queries.

Supporting these developments will be the previously-rumored Siri SDK for developers, allowing them to hook third-party apps into the platform, the source noted.

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Apple is looking towards a means of charging its cars, whenever they may happen to debut.

The company is rumored to be in talks with several charging station companies about their underlying technologies.

The talks are largely unsurprising given that Apple is widely believed to be researching and developing its own electric vehicle, which could enter production by 2020.

The charging firms themselves are reportedly treading carefully and limiting they information with Apple, which may wind up being a competitor in the next decade.

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It’s been a while since Apple released one of these.

On Wednesday, Apple released its AirPort Base Station Firmware Update 7.7.7 for its 802.11ac AirPort Extreme Base Station and Time Capsule units.

The update resolves the following security issues with the devices:

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When in doubt, you can compete with Amazon by building your own device.

And you can make Siri that much better by throwing the developer community at it.

An anonymous source has stated that Apple is looking to build a device to compete with Amazon’s Echo as well as open up Siri to outside developers. Apple is said to be preparing to release a Siri software development kit that would allow developers to make their apps and their app content accessible through Siri voice commands. Apple plans to require developers to use the tool responsibly.

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When Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo releases a research note, people tend to listen.

A new note states that Apple plans to introduce a dramatically overhauled MacBook Pro later this year. Kuo says the device will have a new “thinner and lighter” design with design cues taken from the 12-inch MacBook, as well as Touch ID support and a new OLED display touch bar above the keyboard.

The changes are expected to hit both the 13-inch and 15-inch models, which are set to debut during the fourth quarter of 2016.

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Well, this is a bit of a mess.

As of Friday, Apple has effectively pulled the iOS 9.3.2 update for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro.

The company has promised that a fix is in the works, albeit some users complained that the update effectively “bricked” their tablets in some cases while others were able to install the update without issue.

Upon attempting to install the update, affected iPad Pro units displayed an “Error 56” message, which Apple identifies as a generic hardware effort. Early reports suggested there was no immediate workaround other than taking the tablet to an Apple Store for help or a replacement.

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