PowerCurve surge protectors,

$20-$35, www.360electrical.com

Surge protectors aren't very exciting to think about, but they do serve a necessary purpose: safeguarding our gadgets while supplying them with power. So, hats off to 360 Electrical for giving them a little extra thought.

The patented surge protectors in the company's new line, called PowerCurve, feature adjustable outlets that can be rotated 360 degrees to accommodate those bulky power adapters.

Using the seven-outlet surge protector, you can plug in seven devices simply by angling each outlet. Five of the outlets are designed for AC plugs, and the other two are USB ports, perfect for charging smartphones and tablets.

The PowerCurve line also includes a six-outlet surge protector, which does not have a USB port, and a smaller model that has two AC outlets and two USB ports. The smaller one does not come with the 4-foot cord the other two have; instead, it has a foldable plug that goes right into a wall socket, making it a practical accessory for business trips.

The surge protectors range in price from $20 to $35 and are available at retailers like Best Buy, Home Depot and Amazon.com.

ELVIS USB DRIVES

OFFER CHOICE OF ERAS

Elvis Presley flash drives,

$20 to $70, www.mimoco.com

Mimoco, the company known for its Mimobot flash drives made to resemble fantasy characters like Boba Fett, Captain Kirk and Batman, has added a figure from a distinctly different sphere of pop culture: Elvis Presley.

Why Elvis suits the tech audience isn't clear, but fans will have a choice between a limited edition "G.I. Blues"-era Elvis or a jumpsuited 1973 "Aloha From Hawaii" Elvis.

Each Elvis is priced similarly and is available in four storage sizes, from 8GB at $20 to 64GB at $70. The drives are USB 3.0 capable and come with digital extras, like wallpapers, screen savers and other Mimobot Elvis icons.

There is even audio, but don't expect to hear the King taking care of business. It's the preferred sound-alike of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Jamie Aaron Kelley, crooning lines like, "I'm savin' the last file fer meeee."

There is some actual Elvis video: an interview before the 1973 concert, and one from the day he mustered out of the Army. The USBs are 2.5-by-1-by-0.5 inches. Pop off Elvis' pompadour to plug into a USB port.

NEW YORK TIMES