The interview, posted online Thursday to preview the magazine’s Friday edition, delved into several issues facing Apple right now, including the perception that it isn’t innovating enough.

Cook defended Apple’s record, pointing out that it’s refreshed the majority of its product lines in the past two months.

“Eighty percent of our revenues are from products that didn’t exist 60 days ago. Is there any other company that would do that?” Cook asked.

But he also said that innovation isn’t the sort of thing companies can schedule into their calendars.

“Creativity and innovation are something you can’t flowchart out,” he said. “A lot of companies have innovation departments, and this is always a sign that something is wrong when you have a VP of innovation or something. You know, put a for-sale sign on the door.”

Addressing the problems Apple had with its Maps program, Cook said that public misstep was an example where Apple didn’t live up to its own expectations. He dismissed the thought that Apple had put corporate interests — namely, cutting ties with Google — before customer service. But he did say that Apple may have overreached and is working furiously to make the product better.

“We screwed up,” he said.

Cook also gave some of his time to Rock Center’s Brian Williams in an interview set to air Thursday night. The CEO didn’t say anything concrete about future products but did hint that he has interests in changing the way people interact with their televisions.