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Apple CEO Tim Cook today shared a "50 Years of Thinking Different" letter, ahead of the company's 50th anniversary on April 1, 2026.

Hello-Tim-Cook-iMac.jpeg

The letter touches on the upcoming 50th anniversary and says that "the world is moved forward by people who think different." For those unaware, "Think Different" was a famous advertising slogan used by Apple in the late 1990s to early 2000s.

"At Apple, we're more focused on building tomorrow than remembering yesterday," said Cook, in the letter. "But we couldn't let this milestone pass without thanking the millions of people who make Apple what it is today."

Apple announced that it will celebrate the company's 50th anniversary over the coming weeks, but it has yet to reveal any specific plans.

Here is the full letter:
Fifty years ago in a small garage, a big idea was born. Apple was founded on the simple notion that technology should be personal, and that belief — radical at the time — changed everything.

April 1st marks 50 years of Apple. From the first Apple computer to the Mac, from iPod to iPhone, iPad to Apple Watch and AirPods, as well as the services we use every day — the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud, and Apple TV — we've spent five decades rethinking what's possible and putting powerful tools into people's hands. Through every breakthrough, one idea has guided us — that the world is moved forward by people who think different.

That's because progress always begins with someone — an inventor or scientist, a student or storyteller — who imagines a better way, a new idea, a different path. That spirit has guided Apple from the start. But it has never belonged to us alone.

Every invention we bring into the world is just the beginning of a story. The most meaningful chapters are written by all of you — the people who use our technology to work, learn, dream, and discover. You've made breakthroughs and launched businesses. You've cheered up loved ones in the hospital and captured your toddler's first steps. You've run marathons, written books, and rekindled friendships. You've chased your curiosity, found your new favorite song, and shared stories that connect us all.

In your hands, the tools we make have improved lives, and sometimes even saved them. And that is what inspires us — not what technology can do alone, but everything you can do with it.

At Apple, we're more focused on building tomorrow than remembering yesterday. But we couldn't let this milestone pass without thanking the millions of people who make Apple what it is today — our incredible teams around the world, our developer community, and every customer who has joined us on this journey. Your ideas inspire our work. Your trust drives us to do better. Your stories remind us of all we can accomplish when we think different.

If you've taught us anything, it's that the people crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.

So here's to the crazy ones.

The misfits.
The rebels.
The troublemakers.
The round pegs in the square holes.
The ones who see things differently.

Here's to you.
Apple is featuring the letter on its website and on its new "Hello Apple" account on Instagram.

Article Link: Apple CEO Tim Cook Shares '50 Years of Thinking Different' Letter
 
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Talking about being "a rebel" and "a misfit", while being one of the most-valued companies and the most-recognizable brands of the world, is a contradiction in itself.

As a shareholder, I say: Thank you, Tim.
As a user, I say: Thank you, but now have a nice retirement.
 
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Hmm..well, okay Tim.

Apple's management still talks and acts like they are some big underdog that the misfits and rebels seek out, but it's starting to sound a bit gaslightly when they are one of the largest corporations in the world, dominate the mobile market in north America, and have enough power and money to directly influence world leaders and law. And they wield that power, frequently.

With the company and Tim's attitude over the last few years, It just doesn't sit well with me. "Buy your mom an iPhone", indeed.
 
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Happy 50, Apple. I've been using Apple products for over 25 years and I agree with everything Tim said in the letter: Apple is best when they strive to make products that allow and encourage users to be creative and do amazing things.

I really felt the line about how we've "found your new favorite song" because that was probably one of the first things that really drew me to Apple as a kid growing up - iTunes+iPod, which allowed me to discover and curate my own music library over the last 20+ years. Here's to the crazy ones.
 
The essence of the letter is all Steve Jobs' thoughts and words, yet it doesn't acknowledge him. Maybe Apple's PR thought it was superfluous, but it kinda reads like plagiarism. The only thing that's Cook's is the word "services". Maybe he also meant to thank shareholders but it was edited out at the last second.
 
The essence of the letter is all Steve Jobs' thoughts and words, yet it doesn't acknowledge him. Maybe Apple's PR thought it was superfluous, but it kinda reads like plagiarism. The only thing that's Cook's is the word "services". Maybe he also meant to thank shareholders but it was edited out at the last second.
It's an homage. Tim probably figured most people reading it would realize Steve's words were being used. Calling it plagiarism implies most people reading it wouldn't know that and I respectfully disagree with you.
 
I find this and Tim Cook offensive.

What was the last product that embodied the notion of thinking differently? What makes you a rebel when you bow down to dear leader?

Let's not forget that Think Different was in response to the IBM juggernaut and the lemmings that followed. Apple has surpassed by leaps and bounds everything that Think Different represents.

Cook traded Apple's soul for stock valuation.

 
The essence of the letter is all Steve Jobs' thoughts and words, yet it doesn't acknowledge him. Maybe Apple's PR thought it was superfluous, but it kinda reads like plagiarism. The only thing that's Cook's is the word "services". Maybe he also meant to thank shareholders but it was edited out at the last second.
In the same way that you "forgot" to mention The Woz.

Yes, I know, the loyal ones have rewritten history and only Jobs created Apple.

Back to Tim, the stones of Tim are indeed gigantic by allowing posting such letter without mentioning at least the two Steves.
 
Apple has not thought differently for a long time, I’d say the last “first to market” product was the iPad - 2010 (maybe you could argue CarPlay - 2014). Just look at the last product that has been described as a market disrupter - the Neo - a laptop with 4 year old performance to grab a market share they are not in. That is not innovation, rather revenue.

I am 100% sure, inventing new products segments is very.. very difficult, but for Tim to allude that Apple is some sort of unique tech company who only think differently requires a suspension of disbelief.
 
Steve Jobs would have never....

Steve always hated this look back stuff. I know it's a different company but Steve actively got rid of Mac-Museums, the Pixel Art Garden at 1 Infinite Loop and always shifted press questions toward "what's next"

It's fine that we're doing this but I'd prefer Tim & the team spend time looking forward. A single splash page marking the date 4/1/2026 is good enough. No need to do more.
 
In the same way that you "forgot" to mention The Woz.

Yes, I know, the loyal ones have rewritten history and only Jobs created Apple.

Back to Tim, the stones of Tim are indeed gigantic by allowing posting such letter without mentioning at least the two Steves.
I was talking about the letter and the words that were used which are Steve Jobs', yet are attributed to Cook on the site. I didn't comment on Apple's history.
 
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For most of his career as CEO, I’ve admired that Tim hasn’t tried to be Steve, yet here he is clearly trying to channel Steve’s voice, and it rings a little hollow as a result.

Still it’s nicely written and despite its current status as a corporate behemoth I really believe Apple has tried to stay loyal to these core values, and yes, while serving shareholders.

Happy 50th Birthday Apple!
 
Came here for the laughs, didn’t leave disappointed. Here’s to you steves. Here’s to you Apple. Just stop the google collabs and we’ll be roses.

“Cent’ann’”!!!
 
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