Quick Tip: Keeping Earbuds Un-Tangled
Written on June 27, 2007 by Nick Santilli and 15 people have commented
Any iPod owner knows that the earbuds cable gets tangled very easily. I can’t claim ownership of this great tip, but don’t recall where I first heard it long ago. Anyhow, it’s very simple to do, essentially giving the “Rock on!” hand gesture, and looping the cord figure-8 wise around your extended fingers. I took this as an opportunity to try out the video service, Vimeo . (Viddler kept erroring out – grrr) Hope you find the tip useful!
Brian Warren on June 27th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
That’s a pretty untangled way for sure; however, I’ve found this way to work even better.
Figured I’d try vimeo too.
Contra on June 27th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
Why so complicated? The Apple earbuds have a slider builtin, where the two earbuds connect. Just slide it up to the earbuds and enjoy your untanglable earbuds. ;-)
Josh Pigford on June 27th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
Look, I really have created the best way. Don’t deny it: http://vimeo.com/223427
Brian Warren on June 27th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
I created an even BETTER video of how to wrap headphones, with glamorous music.
http://vimeo.com/223505
Mrad on June 27th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
That’s clever for sure – but I’d have a hell of a time remembering. Still, it’s fun to see though. :)
Neil Anderson on June 27th, 2007 at 11:36 pm
You guys are amazing! Thanks! Now if only I could remember where I’ve left the blasted things after putting my iPod on the Hi-Fi.
Nick Santilli on June 28th, 2007 at 8:23 am
@neil – my next tip will show you how to keep your HiFi untangled…
Charles on June 29th, 2007 at 8:11 am
These tricks would work a lot better if you slid the little slider up to the headphone end. A lot of people call this an “earphone cable shortener” and think it’s for shortening the loose cables when the earphones are in your ears, but it really is intended to keep the earphones together when not in use. Most of the the problems with tangled cables comes from the headphone wires, moving the little slider up to the headphone end will eliminate that.
Colin Devroe on July 2nd, 2007 at 6:31 am
Hit me up with the problems you were having with Viddler, I’ll see what was up.
Oh. And great tip! I’m using it right now!
Contra on July 2nd, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Exactly Charles. Like I said, Apple already thought about that.
Rachel on May 5th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
That’s a good way of keeping them untangled. I will have to try it for sure. I love my ipod. Love it so much I had to get another battery. needbattery.com has them for cheap with a 1 year warranty.
Frederik on September 10th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
check out this ‘home grown’ solution using 3m cable clips with easy release adhesive tapes:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3086178965711730635&hl=en
Jeffrey on August 30th, 2009 at 11:23 am
It seems to me that if you have to wind the cord around the iPhone anyway, this device isn’t that useful, since winding the cord keeps it untangled anyway. But it blocks your screen. Try a BudSock instead: http://www.budsock.com/