It is not news that Apple Computer - which promotes the image as a "young, hip" progressive company - does a great deal of manufacturing through partners in Asia. What is making news is that its Chinese partner, Foxconn, has been running a sweat-shop operation that breaks even Beijing's lax labor laws. Workers in the i-Pod factory have been forced to work an average of 80 extra hours every month.

Workers in China can be forced to work up to 36 extra hours a month without having to worry about penalties, but according to Chinese authorities, 80 hours was a bit much.

Foxconn spokesperson Li Zong assured authorities that workers had been paid the minimum salary as dictated by local ordinance in Shenzen.

What is turning into Steve Job's (well-deserved, if I dare say so myself) PR nightmare - is that a team from the corporate offices in Cupertino visited the iPod factory, investigated its operations, and publicly declared that all was well.

Well, its not for us who bring you the news to make judgements about such things...but I think the photo of "I-Pod City" below speaks volumes.

In the meantime, you might consider foregoing that new I-Pod purchase. Get a slightly used one on E-Bay, instead.