Around the Web 8.19.08: Apple troubles, the Uncanny Valley and Buzz unleashed

-- MobileMe's future is still cloudy. Apple extends the free trial period of its cloud computing service by 60 days. Wired

-- Mike Arrington runs into a few bad Apples, airing his woes. TechCrunch

-- Apple also says it will replace first-generation iPod Nanos that emit smoke. CNet

-- Despite the company's string of snafus, Apple's customers aren't fazed. Ars Technica

-- Santa Monica company traverses the "Uncanny Valley" in search of lifelike facial animation. Times Online

-- Muxtape, a site that lets users share mix tapes, shutters temporarily, citing conflict with music industry watchdog RIAA. Techdirt

-- Yahoo unleashes Buzz to public voting, as well as debate over whether social news sites ought to have editorial intervention to curtail "gaming." ZDNet

-- Google's charity arm invests $10 million in geothermal technologies. CNet

-- Alex Pham

Photo: Apple Air gets inspection at MacWorld Conference in January. Credit: Robert Durell / Los Angeles Times