a POCKET-SIZE WINDER will UNTANGLE CORDS

Recoil Winders, $10,

www.recoilwinders.com

Recoil, a company in Park City, Utah, has developed a way to keep the cords attached to technology devices from becoming a knotted mess.

The company calls its product Recoil Winders, retractable cord winders that eliminate the problem of twisting cords. The winders consist of a spring-loaded spool in a sturdy housing. Simply hook the cord around the spool's trigger, and it winds the cord inside the housing.

The winders come in three sizes, $10 each or a pack of all three for $28; they are available from the company's website and Amazon.com. The small and medium winders are intended for earbuds and USB cords; the large model is for power cords. They all wind cords neatly into a tiny package that you can slip into a pocket. The combo pack comes with a storage rack.

The device is surprisingly simple, although the trigger is tiny, and it took a couple of tries to snag it properly. Once the spring is triggered, the winder spools very quickly, so it's best to let the cord run through your fingers so it doesn't catch. Pulling the cord back out winds the spool again, resetting it for next time.

for iPhone 5, A PHOTO plus some EXTRA JUICE

Power Gallery, $120,

www.getuncommon.com

Battery cases and phone cases customized with photos you have taken are both staples of the phone accessory world. But not a battery case featuring a photo you have taken.

That's where Uncommon comes in. The company claims to make the first battery case for the iPhone 5 that can be imprinted with your own photo.

The case contains a 2,200 milliamp-hour battery, which just about doubles the battery life of an iPhone; the company says it provides an extra 10 hours of talk time.

On the back of the phone goes a photograph that wraps partway up the sides. You can pick a design from Uncommon's gallery or upload a photo of your own. The company said it uses a proprietary method to print the photo on the case so that it resists scratching.

The case is quite slim and light, and seems to offer some bump-and-scratch protection, but don't count on it in a 15-foot drop test, like those used for some military-specification protective cases.

NEW YORK TIMES