Apple on Tuesday announced a new Mac Studio desktop computer powered by a faster M1 ultra processor as well as new versions of the iPhone SE and iPad Air with faster processors and 5G support.
Why it matters: The moves, part of Apple's first product launch of the year, gives Mac buyers a new option and helps the iPhone be more competitive in the mid-range market.
The most significant help tech companies are providing Ukraine is, most likely, their move to halt sales in Russia. However, many large companies are also donating directly to Ukrainian relief efforts and/or matching employee contributions.
Why it matters: Russia's invasion of Ukraine is already a humanitarian crisis.
Google has agreed to buy Mandiant (Nasdaq: MNDT), a Reston, Va.-based cybersecurity firm, for $5.4 billion in cash.
Why it matters: The deal reflects how the rise of cloud computing comes with increased cybersecurity needs, which is why Microsoft was also interested in buying Mandiant — a company that recently generated headlines for uncovering the SolarWinds hack.
The tease for Tuesday's Apple's press event was "Peek Performance," perhaps a hint that we will get a "peek" at something new. And that, more than the prospect of a new iPad or a 5G-capable iPhone SE, is what I am most interested in.
Between the lines: Apple usually uses its press events to announce products that are shipping either immediately or within the next few weeks. Every now and then, though, it teases a product that is further out.
Yoco, a South Africa-based fintech helping small businesses take card and mobile payments, is in talks to raise about $150 million in funding, sources tell Axios.
Why it matters: Yoco's funding plans come amid a flurry of African mega-rounds as investors bet that the developing economy is ripe for growth across the fintech sector.
The internet promised a world in which no government could fully hide the truth from its people. Russia's free-speech crackdown following its invasion of Ukraine is testing that premise as never before.
Why it matters: How everyday Russians view the conflict is likely to determine their willingness to support Vladimir Putin and his war.
As sanctions clamp down on Russia, some of the biggest names in tech have halted new product sales in the country entirely, including Apple, Samsung, Microsoft and Adobe.
Why it matters: The move is clearly significant, but experts say it won't mean a massive financial hit for the companies. Plus it ensures compliance with sanctions and avoids the challenges of getting paid within a fractured financial system.
Warner Bros.' "The Batman," became the second film in the pandemic era to cross $100 million in its domestic box office debut this weekend, giving the theater industry a much-needed boost of optimism early in the year.
Why it matters: "It's another brick in the foundation for movie theaters coming back," Comscore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian told Axios.
