Dividend Payments and Stock repurchases at Apple Inc.

At fiscal year ended September 28, 2013, Apple was sitting on more than $146,000,000,000 in cash and marketable securities. After reviewing its options, the company chose to give some of this cash back to shareholders in the form of cash dividends and stock repurchases. For the fiscal year ended September 27, 2014, the company paid more than $11,000,000,000 in cash dividends and $45,000,000,000 to repurchase stock. In spite of these significant cash outflows to shareholders, the companys cash and marketable securities increased to more than $155,000,000,000 for the year ended September 27, 2014. This information is found in the financing activities section of Apples statement of cash flows and Apples consolidated balance sheet.

How much did Apple pay for dividends and stock repurchases during the fiscal year ending September 27, 2014?

Why did Apple pay such large amounts for dividends and stock repurchases?

What are the impacts of a stock repurchase to the company's shareholders?

Would a company that buys back their stock and pays dividends make you want to invest with them? Why?