Isn’t Facebook all-consuming enough? Does it really need an extension into the real world? If you think it does then you’d better have a look at the MyDeskFriend robotic penguin Facebook companion. You can speak to it, shake it, poke and even pat it if you like, and it will respond. It will tell you when you’ve got email, roll around on your desk, pop itself back into it’s charging cradle and even avoid rolling off the edge of your desk.

It’s also a Tamagotchi-style Facebook friend so it’s even needier than your real Facebook friends. You’ll have to feed it, put it to bed and even medicate it if that’s your thing. I wonder if you can over-medicate it accidentally? Anyway it sounds wonderful, but you’ll need US$99.99.

Your companion can keep you informed about your favourite topics, read the weather forecast for any city, and connect with many other services. The deskfriend can also alert you when you receive emails, or before your next important appointment.

Tags: gadget, mydeskfriend, facebook+companion, facebook+robot