Tim Cook speaks!

The Wall Street Journal scores a rare interview with Apple CEO Tim Cook (yes, Apple takes care of Wall Street Journal and AllThingsD, but let's not begrudge them their success here).

In one of his first interviews as Apple Chief Executive, Tim Cook said the Cupertino, Calif., company has long aimed to be more transparent and believes the steps it is taking—including nearly doubling the number of supplier audits it does—are "raising the bar" for the industry.

"I have spent a lot of time in factories over this lifetime and we are clearly leading in this area," said Mr. Cook, previously Apple's chief operating officer who oversaw its supply chain. "It is like innovating in products. You can focus on things that are barriers or you can focus on scaling the wall or redefining the problem."

"Working hours is a complex issue," said Mr. Cook, adding he's confident the company can improve in the area by "monitoring these plants at a very, very micro level."

"I know this is a journey," Mr. Cook said.

Mr. Cook said Apple has been sharing more of its findings about working conditions in its factories over time, but this year's update represents its most detailed.

Apple, "transparent?"

That registers a 'open the pod bay doors' shock to the brain, yes?

Cook speaks, finally, and its about working conditions. This tells us a few things:

1. Cook is an operations guy, plain and simple
2. Don't let the fact that Cook is an operations guy worry you. The more I watch Apple this past year, the more it becomes apparent that Steve Jobs infused the company with his DNA. That plus the product pipeline plus Cook's abilities plus all the people there plus the $80 billion endowment Jobs left Apple with ensure their ability to do great stuff.
3. The 'Foxconn is an Apple supplier is suicide death' meme is powerful, but false. This is an extremely complex issue and, with Cook breaking his silence on it, reveals that he and Apple take this seriously. This is not just PR.

From what I can tell, Cook is giddily focused on his work as CEO so he probably won't have much time for interviews but he will grant them. Better, I suspect we are at the start of a long road of opening Apple up to the outside world.

Charlie has taken ownership of the chocolate factory!