50% of U.S. Cars to Have iPod Connections in 2009

More than half of the cars sold in the U.S. in 2009 will have some kind of iPod connectivity, according to a new report from iSuppli. Apparently about 40% of cars have these features now, but in 2009 the number will rise to nearly 60%, the firm says. Currently, most iPod owners connect their music players to their car stereos using either cassette adapters or FM broadcasters, neither of which is a foolproof or high-quality option. These direction connections built into cars offer higher-quality sound and ease of use - though they also often carry a price premium.