Apple CEO Tim Cook on Sunday sent a holiday email to employees, highlighting the main accomplishments of the company in 2013, and hinting at some surprises for next year, 9to5mac reports. “We have a lot to look forward to in 2014,” Cook wrote in the leaked memo, “including some big plans that we think customers are going to love.” The top Apple exec did not elaborate on those “big plans,” but Apple is rumored to be working on several interesting projects for next year, including bigger iPhone models, a 12.9-inch iPad, a rumored smartwatch (possibly dubbed iWatch) and maybe even that Apple TV set (iTV) that keeps circling back every once in a while.
About existing products, Cook said that Apple “introduced industry-leading products in each of our major categories in 2013, showing the breadth and depth of innovation at Apple.” The CEO focused on the new iPhone 5s, iOS 7, the free OS X Mavericks, the iPad Air, Retina iPad mini, the American-made Mac Pro and the 50 billion App Store app downloads.
Additionally, the exec also mentioned the various charities Apple is part of, reminding employees that the company has raised and donated millions of dollars for many charities, and that the company is the “largest contributor to (PRODUCT)RED.” Also important for Cook are Apple’s efforts to stand up “for what we believe is right,” as the company asked the U.S. Congress “to support workplace protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.”
Apple on Sunday announced it has reached a deal with China Mobile to sell the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c in the region, but it was not mentioned in the memo. The entire holiday message from Tim Cook follows below.
Team,
This holiday season, tens of millions of people around the world, from all walks of life, are experiencing Apple products for the first time. Those moments of surprise and delight are magical, and they’re all made possible by your hard work. As many of us prepare to celebrate the holidays with our loved ones, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on what we’ve achieved together over the past year.
First and foremost, we introduced industry-leading products in each of our major categories in 2013, showing the breadth and depth of innovation at Apple. We extended our lead in the smartphone market with iPhone 5s; launched iOS 7, an extraordinarily ambitious project; released OS X Mavericks for free to our customers; introduced the iPad Air and the iPad mini with Retina display; and this week began shipping the Mac Pro from a manufacturing facility in Austin, Texas. We also marked our 50 billionth download on the App Store – a milestone no one could have predicted we would reach so quickly.
Together we’ve shown the world that innovation at Apple goes beyond our products to the way we do business and how we give back to our community. This year, Apple raised and donated tens of millions of dollars for important charities and relief efforts like Red Cross aid to typhoon victims in the Philippines, and we continue to be the largest contributor to (PRODUCT)RED, supporting the Global Fund in its fight against the spread of AIDS in Africa. Just a few weeks ago, Jony Ive led an unprecedented effort that brought money and awareness to eliminating the transmission of AIDS from mother to child.
And finally, Apple is standing up for what we believe is right. We know that equality and diversity make our company and our society stronger, so we’ve urged the U.S. Congress to support workplace protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. We are also laser focused on our contribution to several environmental initiatives and we will increase our efforts even more in this area in the future.
We have a lot to look forward to in 2014, including some big plans that we think customers are going to love. I am extremely proud to stand alongside you as we put innovation to work serving humankind’s deepest values and highest aspirations. I consider myself the luckiest person in the world for the opportunity to work at this amazing company with all of you.
Happy Holidays,
Tim
