In the spirit of keeping up with the lastest in mp3 car audio...no matter how much of a hack it sounds like, I give you Alpine's IPOD head unit. Actually, kidding aside, this could be a decent system for some people if it works right.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1433411,00.asp

LAS VEGAS--Alpine Electronics of America Inc. demonstrated car audio head units that are capable of connecting to and controlling Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod player.

With a one-cable connection to selected 2004 Alpine in-dash receivers, iPod users will be able to operate key playback features from the Alpine receiver's buttons, the company said. Playlists, album, artist and song title text will appear on the head unit.

Alpine's system works with an interface box that uses the iPod Accessory Protocol allowing audio and control signals to be sent over the Ai-NET system bus to the in-dash receiver.

The iPod Ready Interface kit will be available later this summer.