Z.buds: no more tangles

Designers at Zagg audio think they've found a niche in the crowded market for iPhone earbuds: eliminating tangles. Z.buds are equipped with stiffer, yet sturdier nylon cables that are not likely to bunch together into a tangled mess, the company says. A quick hands-on demo at CES shows the technology does appear to work -- the Z.buds were hard to tangle even when wadded up.

At about $80, most users will want more than just tangle reduction, and Zagg has added several other features to justify the price tag. A noise-cancelling microphone is built-in, along with a button to answer calls and control music playback. There is also an in-line volume control, several sets of soft adaptors for different ear sizes, and a handy button loop for keeping the cord from dangling.

Available in red or black, Z.buds ship with the special 3.5mm plug that works on the iphone without an adaptor. The buds work with other phones as well, according to Zagg. The 10mm speakers are billed as high-end, with a 20Hz to 20KHz frequency response. Available in red or black, Z.buds are available now online, although the black model is backordered until early February.