Charge Via USB... Internationally

USB charging can be a real lifesaver: No more worrying about bulky, unlabeled, and easily misplaced A/C adapters for your PDA, phone, and other gizmos. A much saner solution: Just plug the device into the USB port on your laptop while you're traveling and leave the wall worts at home.

But what if your laptop isn't charged? Or you're out of USB ports? Or, heaven forbid, you left the thing at home?

Good news: Kensington's Travel Plug Adapter with USB Charger ($30) solves all of these problems. The device resembles a standard power converter, with a twist: In addition to a cap that allows you to swap one country's A/C plugs for another's, you can sub in one with a standard female USB port. Just plug your iPod into the Travel Plug Adapter and plug the Adapter into the wall: It works in over 150 countries.

The design of the product is genius. Instead of a bagful of adapters that you'll invariably lose, the device features a series of switches. Slide one down and U.S. plugs pop out. Retract those and you can slide out French or Japanese connectors. Genius! Now if only it could convert voltage on the fly...