We’ve seen these mailbox type email alert gadgets before, but this one is tiny enough to be cute and useful. The USB Mail Box Friends Alert is an $18 device that plugs into your USB port, where it will monitor your email, Twitter, and Facebook accounts using its companion software.

The mailbox lights up red or green to notify you of an update. Also, upping the cute factor, the little plastic flag will actually raise. It supports Windows 7, Vista, and XP.

[Wired]