MyDeskFriend robot penguin will link to Facebook, be a true friend

Robots and other devices linked to social networking sites aren't exactly anything new, but few have been in the form of tiny robot penguins, and even fewer have been tiny robot penguins with hats. That bit of mold-breaking comes courtesy of upstart Arimaz of Switzerland, which is now busy showing off its MyDeskFriend "Facebook companion" that's set for release this September. As you can see in the video after the break, the bot is able to mosey about your desk without falling off and react to your voice like any good robot, but its real secret is that it can connect to Facebook and read your messages, or even be controlled (some may say tormented) by your real Facebook friends. Look for it to run $99 when it's released.

[Via Technabob]

[bandigolo @ Jun 29th 2009 3:16PM]

Hilarious.

[loosely_coupled @ Jun 29th 2009 3:37PM]

lol

[PGP-Protector @ Jun 29th 2009 3:21PM]

Ouch, $99 is a bit much right now.

[xenolion @ Jun 29th 2009 3:23PM]

$99 for a friend LMAO

[rcarm @ Jun 29th 2009 3:30PM]

For $400 more, I can get a friend with benefits.

[benderillo @ Jun 29th 2009 3:40PM]

$400? I'll give you a half-n-half for $40

[html159 @ Jun 30th 2009 12:08AM]

for $400 u can get ur self some real warm friends... the hell with facebook

[fistpittingnork @ Jun 29th 2009 3:24PM]

Well aren't these just cute?

[nvidiagtx @ Jun 29th 2009 3:29PM]

Pfff you call that a punch, let me try

[Simon Tooke @ Jun 29th 2009 3:34PM]

I don't give signup for FB applications, why would I sign up for a FB penguin? The data mining is the same in the end.

[bandigolo @ Jun 29th 2009 3:39PM]

Well everyone knows that penguins are evil.

[drumdbeat @ Jun 29th 2009 3:35PM]

controlled by my REAL facebook friends..... LOL Who has them these days??? Pfffftt

[Celedhring @ Jun 29th 2009 3:48PM]

Add a webcam to it and you'll get the greatest stalking device ever made.

[macxprt @ Jun 29th 2009 3:51PM]

That scream it lets out when he shakes it is classic!

[we need thneeds @ Jun 30th 2009 1:08AM]

totally agree. lmao

[UK31337 @ Jun 29th 2009 3:52PM]

Arrrgh, not the F word again.

[Croooow @ Jun 29th 2009 4:03PM]

So what is the point?

[Monkey with glasses @ Jun 29th 2009 4:21PM]

Having a facebook account is torment enough.

[SewerShark @ Jun 29th 2009 4:25PM]

Homer: "hit me"
Croupier: "19"
Homer: "hit me"
Croupier: "20"
Homer: "hit me"
Croupier: "21"
Homer: "hit me"
Croupier: "22"
Homer: "Doh"

[Tom Reinke @ Jun 29th 2009 4:44PM]

I'm pretty sure that was from the mafia episode of Family Guy. Unless they did it in Simpsons too.

[West Town @ Jun 29th 2009 5:39PM]

Croupier? Cont you mean Dealer?

(love Clive Owen)

[jmzrbnsn @ Jun 29th 2009 7:10PM]

It was the Simpsons!
The Family guy probably ripped it off, I dunno, no-one watches that misogynist crap anyways!

[Uncontrol @ Jun 29th 2009 4:30PM]

Would buy for nineteen, not ninety nine.

[Andir3.0 @ Jun 29th 2009 4:40PM]

With inflation in this Bailout world we are in, $99 is the new $19...

[VS Dude @ Jun 29th 2009 4:56PM]

Now I know what to spend that $100 I have just lying around doing nothing.

[Chris Are @ Jun 29th 2009 5:08PM]

This will be great until all the teens and 20s get sick of their parents friending them, move on to another social networking site, thus rendering facebook as barren as myspace.

[reinekec @ Jun 29th 2009 6:21PM]

lmfao soo true. My grandma tried adding me the other day. I was like WTF gram!

[reinekec @ Jun 29th 2009 6:26PM]

However, I might consider this guy if this thing can spit out RSS Feeds? That would be really cool.

[Elipsis @ Jun 29th 2009 9:52PM]

dude i would have that just because its a penguin that has light up eyes and a visor that comes in the color of your choice. and besides, with all this, quote, "global warming," the penguins need some new digs. why not my desk?

[JohnTech @ Jun 29th 2009 11:16PM]

I would pay no more then $49 for that, so the $99 price tag is way too much.

[pika2000 @ Jun 30th 2009 2:43AM]

Sounds cool, but really, $99? I mean come on, really? I was guessing $50, but $99?

[Justin @ Jun 30th 2009 10:39AM]

I'm about as early adopter as they come for Facebook (I was the 65th person at my University to get it when it was colleges only by network), and I just don't see how someone can be so into Facebook that they need to spend $99 on a penguin robot that does nothing else. I wouldn't even have the facebook app for iPhone if it wasn't free. I pity the future of humanity if this thing isn't a total bust.

[benahad @ Jun 30th 2009 11:51AM]

Couple that with the Dyson vacuum, you'll never see me again.

[Joseph A Nickence @ Jun 30th 2009 8:52PM]

Good concept. It obviously gets it's processing power from the net. But because it's so tiny, it is eventually going to gum up and stop working mechanically. Can you see yourself pulling pet hair and fuzz out of it's wheels? I personally never liked cleaning the trackball inside my mouse back in the day. This bugger need to be a little bit bigger. About the size of Nazbatag. Hell, might as well get a Nazbatag, and not have to worry about penguins. My deskspace is cluttered, anyway. LOL!