Hongfujin Precision Industry Co., the contracted manufacturer of Apple's iPod media jukebox have filed lawsuits against two Chinese journalists who wrote articles about working conditions at factories where iPods are made. According to Chinese press, Hongfujin, which is a subsidiary of TaiwanÂ?s Hon Hai Precision Industry Ltd.Â?s Foxconn Technology Group, is seeking 30 million renminbi (US$3.77 million) in damages from the two journalists.

Published articles written by the two journalists accused Apple and Hongfujin Precision Industry Co. of exploiting workers at their factory in southern China. The Shenzhen Intermediate Court, which accepted the case, froze the assets of the two reporters, Weng Bao and Wang You. The journalist rights group Reporters Without Borders have requested that the iPod contractor drop the lawsuit, but as of yet no news on Hongfujin Precision Industry Co.'s reply has surfaced.

We earlier reported about allegations reported in UK's The Mail that one of Apple's iPod factories in China was a "sweatshop," with low pay, cramped conditions, the (horrible) works. We also reported that Apple quickly responded by stating it would send a team to investigate the allegations in their China factories.

Apple's finally released the results of their investigation on the matter - or more accurately the summary of their investigations - in their website. Here's the summary of the summary:

• The Apple workplace audit team interviewed 100 random employees, with line workers making up 83% of the sample, and the rest being supervisors, executives, security guards, custodians, and other support personnel.
• No, they didn't find any evidence of child labor. To be sure, they even went through the possibility that someone submitted false IDs to enter the workforce.
• The manufacturing facility where the iPods are manufactured (apparently iPods only account for 15% of the work there) was judged adequate and humane for the employees' needs, including the all the services of a small city such as supermarkets, a post office, banks, hospital, and recreational facilities like soccer fields, TV lounges, swimming pools, and TV and internet lounges.

Ever since the iPhone and iPod Messenger rumors started, iPod People have been digging their way to China trying to come with proof. According to the latest vine buzz, some people are sifting through iPod's software code like Tom Hanks, searching for clues about  the next-gen digital music players. Amazingly, they may have found what they were looking for.

AppleInsider member VL-Tone dissected the latest iPod firmware update like a frog and came upon the following  codes:
 

"t_feature_app_PHONE_APP" application and variables such as "kPhoneSignalStrength," "clPhoneCallHistoryModel," prPhoneSettingsMenu," "prPhoneSettingsMenuView," prPhoneEnableSetting" and "prPhoneMenuItem."

The iPod phone references, according to VL-Tone, are unlikely about Motorola's iTunes Music phones because the mobiles do not run iPod's OS, the member pointed out in his analysis. Furthermore, he thinks it's unrelated Apple's address book synching.  Now, if you connect this with Apple's European design filing we featured a while back, then he could be on to something.

The codebreaker isn't finished yet.

"t_feature_app_MESSENGER_APP," "clMessengerModel," and "clMessengerApplication."

His interpretation: Apple may also be working on an iPod-based instant messenger application. He also found clues to a possible iPod-based search application, an iPod keyboard, and what could be two new game applications.

You read that right; I did say fuel cell.

A lot of companies support fuel-cell technology because it seems a perfect solution for recharging batteries of devices like mobile phones, PDAs, laptops and mp3 players. We've only seen products like Toshiba's reported fuel cell prototype (which, by the way, isn't even portable.)

Now we have a company that's already started shipping portable fuel cells in several areas such as mainland China, Europe, Taiwan, US, and Japan. More Energy, a company in Lod, Israel and a subsidiary of Medis Technologies, has developed a disposable fuel cell that will recharge any device that needs recharging.

The creator of this portable fuel cell is Gennadi Finkelshtain who is also the general manager of More Energy. His invention is housed in a flexible plastic shell (compared to a deck of cards, this one's a bit larger). To use it, one has to squeeze the shell container which will resist lightly before you hear a click. You then plug the cable in and connect it to the device you will be recharging.

The fuel cell recharger pack from More Energy will be the first commercially-distributed device if the company meets its deadlines (in terms of mass production and shipping) come 2007.

A couple of weeks ago, Apple responded to iPod "sweatshop" accusation and reassured the public that the company is committed to ensuring that workers are treated with respect and dignity. It didn't take long for Shanghai Business Review to defend Apple to defend Apple, even saying that quality of factories in China are better than in Europe. Of course, the accused, Foxconn had already spoken. And it continues to speak, but this time, bashing domestic and international media for the irresponsible reporting without independent verification of the actual working conditions in Foxconn's iPod plants.

Edmund Ding, speaking on behalf of Foxconn Electronics (registered trade name of Hon Hai Precision Industry), has submitted a filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange strongly criticizing the media for erroneously reporting less than humane conditions in its iPod factories in China. Again, Foxconn has denied allegations of sweatshop conditions in light of reports that the company has admitted to breaking labor laws in China, by asking employees to work 80 extra hours every month and only giving an equivalent of $50 in pay.

In response, Ding stated that Foxconn pays an overtime rate equivalent or better than that required by Chinese laws. He further stated that "Foxconn does not comment about customer information, much less make a public announcement on behalf of a customer."

Despite earlier denials, Foxconn, an original equipment manufacturer for Apple's iPod, reportedly admitted it is breaking labor laws in China, according to China CSR. China CSR is a corporate social responsibility website that mainly focuses on labor situations in the most populous nation on Earth.

Foxconn allegedly 'fessed that their employees work about 80 extra hours each month, a practice which is not legal in China. According to Chinese labor laws, employees cannot be forced to work more than 36 extra hours a month. However, Foxconn says its complicated salary structure has caused misunderstanding among the media, and the company has paid the workers according to the minimum salary standards of the Shenzhen local government. 

The company also claimed Apple has already sent a special investigation team but found no evidence of the allegations of the sweatshop conditions at iPod City. While the China CSR report has surfaced on various sites, it cannot be confirmed if the reports were true.

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.

Allegations made against Foxconn's supposed sweatshops/factories for the Apple iPod have already been responded to by Foxconn. UK-based The Mail reported that workers in Foxconn factories most especially those in the company's Longhua factory were operating in harsh conditions. Employees were working 15 hours a day for a salary of $50 per month and they slept in quarters that housed 100 people each.

Now Apple has decided to take matters more seriously and has begun an audit of Foxconn's China plant. According to Apple spokesman Steve Dowling, this thorough audit will look into the allegations of worker abuse. The employees' working and living conditions will be investigated and interviews with managers and employees alike will be conducted to know if Foxconn really complies with wage and overtime regulations. Other areas necessary to determine Foxconn's compliance to Apple's supplier code of conduct will also be investigated.

Foxconn Electronics, the component manufacturer for Apple's iPod, denied allegations that the company's factories were "sweatshops". The company cited "huge discrepancies between the truth and the claims in the report."

Last week, UK-based The Mail reported that iPods were being made in Chinese factories where the employees worked under harsh conditions. According to the allegations, one factory at Longhua employed 200,000 workers each working 15 hours a day for US$50 monthly. During off-hours, these workers lived in rooms which housed 100 people each.

Foxconn said its workforce is only about 160,000 employees worldwide. The company maintained it abides by the employment law in China. Furthermore, Foxconn issued a statement saying it has continued to make improvements to workers' living conditions, providing safe and well-equipped dormitories complete with free laundry service, sports facilities, libraries, and other facilities.

Foxconn is  the largest manufacturer of PC connectors in Taiwan, and a leading manufacturer of connectors and cable assemblies in the world. In addtition the company also manufactures enclosures, primarily for desktop PCs and PC servers.

A few days ago, UKÂ?s The Mail published a report that iPod factory workers in China were working under "sweatshop conditions." "Sweatshop" is a term used to described  companies involved in using child labor, violationg labor laws, or providing low levels of wages or workplace safety. It also implies a workplace that is physically or mentally abusive, or that crowds, confines, or compels workers, as would be the case with penal labor or slave labor.

The Mail report said the iPod plant in Longhua houses 200,000 workers who work 15 hours a day for $50 per month. The workers were allegedly staying in dormitories that house 100 people each and were not permitted to see visitors. The Mail reported that the iPod nano factory is a five-story factory secured by police officers. While workers at the iPod shuffle factory in Shanghai are housed outside the plant and earned $100 per month, they were required to pay for their housing and food totalling to $50.00.

Apple quickly responded to the report saying the company takes the allegations seriously and that it is looking into the charges.  Â?Apple is committed to ensuring that working conditions in our supply chain are safe, workers are treated with respect and dignity, and manufacturing processes are environmentally responsible. It is "currently investigating the allegations regarding working conditions in the iPod manufacturing plant in China. We do not tolerate any violations of our supplier code of conduct which are posted online.Â? 

Apple did not say what it plans to do if the investigations were true but we'll keep you posted.