Cook's annual summary: Apple has achieved extraordinary results this year

According to US media reports, Apple CEO Tim Cook sent an email to all employees today, summarizing this year's achievements and proposing prospects for 2015. Cook praised Apple for developing "the most innovative product line" and expressed pride in the hard work of employees on each product. In the letter, Cook emphasized that this year is the 30th anniversary of the launch of the Mac computer, and Apple released the latest iPhone, iPad, Mac hardware, as well as mobile and desktop systems, and publicly released the smart watch Apple Watch.

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He reiterated Apple’s commitment to helping advance education, revealing for the first time how this year’s (PRODUCT) RED promotions across the App Store and Apple Online Store helped the company donate more than $20 million to fight AIDS.

Cook concluded his letter by saying he is looking forward to next year's developments, including the release of the Apple Watch.

The following is the entire content of the email:

Dear team members,

As the holiday season arrives and 2014 draws to a close, it’s time to reflect on an unforgettable year. Together, we’ve reached new heights through our products, launching the most innovative lineup in Apple’s history. I couldn’t be more proud of the work you and your teams are doing to make Apple a force for good in the world, both through our products and by making a difference in the lives of hundreds of millions of people.

This has been a year of amazing launches. Just this fall we introduced iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, the most important iPhone launches in history, as well as a thinner, more powerful iPad Air 2, a new 27-inch iMac with a Retina 5K display, and an all-new service, Apple Pay, which is winning over banks, merchants, and consumers at a faster pace than we could have hoped. The App Store had a record year, with even stronger software products, led by iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite. During this busy holiday season, our store teams did a great job explaining the products and answering questions about them, and customers praised them for their energy and enthusiasm.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Mac, a revolutionary technology that has been around ever since its introduction. Today, Macs have the most users and market share in nearly 20 years. This achievement is a result of our team of people who continue to innovate and develop the best products in the world. Year after year, the Mac gets better because we love and never stop thinking about what's possible.

We made the important decision to acquire Beats to gain popular products and outstanding talent, and to work with IBM to transform enterprise mobile computing. These actions have brought new opportunities to Apple, and we will continue to feel the profound impact of them in the future.

Together, we will have an impact on some of the most important issues facing society. In the United States, we have made a bold commitment to provide technology to schools that need it most. Apple is a leader in sustainability, with 100 percent renewable energy running its data centers. The company's success has created jobs and opportunities for people from all walks of life. We are committed to advancing equity, diversity, and human rights in the workplace, from our corporate offices to our factory floors. We are protecting our customers' personal data because we believe they not only want, but have the right to privacy.

At the start of this year’s holiday shopping season in November, we teamed up with some of the most popular developers on the App Store to launch an unprecedented fundraising effort on behalf of (PRODUCT) RED. Developers created content specifically for the campaign and donated all proceeds to the Global Fund to help fight AIDS in Africa. In addition, Apple has pledged to donate a portion of its retail and online sales during the two busiest shopping seasons of the year.

I'm excited to announce that our total donations this quarter will surpass $20 million—the most in our history—bringing Apple's total funding for (PRODUCT) RED to over $100 million. The funds we raise will bring hope to those in need and save lives. This is a cause we can all be proud of.

In September we revealed a little bit about our most personal device yet: Apple Watch. Most customers will never know how much work you and your team put into making it a reality, but once they put an Apple Watch on their wrist, they’ll appreciate your deep care and dedication. People love Apple products, which means they love your work, too. Recognizing the good you do for others is a huge reward—one I hope you feel during the holiday season and throughout the year. There’s nothing like it.

Enjoy this wonderful time with your friends and loved ones. I look forward to the products and services we’ll release next year, and the opportunity to work with all of you to make them a reality.

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