Speaking at the All Things Digital D10 conference this evening, Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook provided new insight into the company’s manufacturing practices in both the US and China.

During a live interview at the D10 conference tonight in Palos Verdes, Calif.

Steve Jobs famously called the Apple TV a “hobby,” but his successor Tim Cook seems to be slowly turning that ship around.

With alleged new iPhone part images leaking today, and the din of Apple TV rumors continuing to roar, there will certainly be more than enough topics for Cook to discuss.

Tim Cook sat down with All Things Digital’s Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher to kick off this year’s D10 conference.

Mossberg in particular asked Cook to consider the question of making a TV set hypothetically.

Cook countered by saying that Apple would need to control key technology, make a “significant contribution,” and if the end result would be the product the company wanted.

Cook noted that Apple does some component manufacturing in the United States, including the main microchip that runs the iPhone and iPad.

Apple, of course has long been rumored to be working on a TV set, a rumor that’s rooted in some fact.

Cook, who took the helm of the worlds most valuable technology company in August shortly before founder Steve Jobs died, said manufacturing in the United States was difficult because of declining tool and die manufacturing expertise, among other things, but he was working on it.

Julia Macdonald is a business journalist based in Cairns, Australia. Julia has a passion for financial markets and breaking news stories and loves writing about business news, stock market, and economic opinions that matters most to its audience. Julia spends a lot of time discovering and researching latest financial markets and industry news stories in order to make sure the latest and greatest stories are brought to you first on BigBoardNews.com.