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Release Date: August 05, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: May 22, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: August 29, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: March 27, 2009
Release Date: August 07, 2009

iTunes New Music Releases

Release Date: September 29, 2009
Genre: Rock
Release Date: September 20, 2009
Release Date: September 15, 2009
Release Date: August 25, 2009
Genre: Rock
Release Date: August 25, 2009

Top 5 Paid Apps

Release Date: April 22, 2009
StickWars $0.99
Release Date: March 31, 2009
Genre: Games
Bloons $0.99
Release Date: April 05, 2009
Genre: Games

Discover New Music

  • Odyssey Number Five

    • 10 out of 10
    • Powderfinger
    • Guitar-driven rock out of Australia, Powderfinger has not seen much exposure in the States, but should get a nod for their toe-tapping songs. Building off their previous release, "Internationalist" (
  • The Last 5 Years (2002 Off-Broadway Cast)

    • 10 out of 10
    • Jason Robert Brown
    • The soundtrack to this moving off-broadway musical is heart moving. The lyrics follow a couple in a relationship for five years, one point of view going forward in time, and the other tracing time fr
  • The Life Pursuit

    • 8 out of 10
    • Belle & Sebastian
    • The Life Pursuit is a sort of Reeses Peanut Butter Cup. You get Belle & Sebastian's peanut butter (its wistful, often irresistible pop) dipped in a 'Have A Nice Day!' and glam 70s chocol

  • Perverse

    • 8 out of 10
    • Jesus Jones
    • When you think of Jesus Jones, chances are you can't remember them at all, or you vaguely remember "Right Here, Right Now" because it has been use

  • Hello

    • 8 out of 10
    • Poe
    • Poe rocked my world with "Angry Johnny" (I want to kill you/I want to blow you/Away) and "Trigger Happy Jack" (Trigger Happy Jack/ You're gonna blow/But I'm gonna get off/Before you go), as powe

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News

Wired News Looks at Apple Sweatshop Charges

In his latest Cult of Mac column, Leander Kahney examined the recent claims that the Chinese factories assembling Apple's iPods subject their workers to sub-standard conditions. Even if the factories meet international labor standards, he said, "Apple can expect a grilling from its upscale Volvo-driving fans in the months ahead."

Mr. Kahney looked at the charges closer, however, and noted that one of the iPod manufacturers involved is Foxconn, a company headquartered in Taiwan and part of Hon Hai Precision Industry, which is a major player in the electronics business. Hon Hai only employs 100,000 people in China, however, half the number that supposedly work at one of the plants.

In addition, Nicholas Lardy, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Economics, told Mr. Kahney that Hon Hai's reputation is excellent. And Christopher Foss of Social Accountability International said that one of Hon Hai's Chinese facilities has met international labor standards.

However, Dan Viederman of social research firm Verite said that while Chinese manufacturers "are getting better at environmental issues," they lag in labor standards and don't allow unions to form. Mr. Foss added that the sweatshop charges that have previously plagued other industries have now moved into the high-tech space because of the number of menial jobs available.

Mr. Kahney, who was unable to get a comment from Apple on the subject, wrote: "For Apple's demographic -- well-heeled urbanites -- human rights and labor practices are, presumably, important matters. They buy fair-trade coffee, but iBooks and iPods are not an issue?"

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