Are you into MSN Messenger? If the answer is yes, you need to stop msn-ing about with virtual icons and get yourself an i-Buddy. This smart little USB-friendly character looks just like the pixellated figure that pops up on screen every time a contact logs on. The difference is, i-Buddy is the real deal. Well as real as a translucent 3″ figurine with a big glowing head and wings can be.

Sit i-Buddy on your monitor or desk and it will respond to incoming MSN messages in its own charming way. You can even program it to react to one specific account - ideal for that special someone. But here’s the clever bit: as well as alerting you to your contacts’ status, i-Buddy detects emotions (via emoticons) within messages and reacts accordingly.

For instance if someone puts a heart emoticon in their message, i-Buddy’s head glows and it twists and flaps its wings. And if the blushing emoticon is detected, i-Buddy will glow red. Even cuter, a gleaming red heart in i-Buddy’s chest illuminates whenever a contact is online. Awww!

[Via] [Product Page]