CES 2008

(Credit: Alpine)

If you want access to your iPod tunes while on the road but don't necessarily want to rip your dashboard apart to install an aftermarket stereo, then the Alpine eX-10 is probably a good bet. Like the Harman Kardon Drive + Play 2 that we saw last year, the eX-10--which is powered by a car's 12-volt cigarette lighter adapter--makes use of a full-color LCD display and a wireless control module to let drivers browse their iPod libraries, select tunes, and even view album art. With music selected, the audio output is either streamed to the car's stereo via the device's built-in FM transmitter, or connected to the stereo via an auxiliary-input jack.

Watch the Alpine EX-10 video on CNET TV.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

The eX-10 also comes with a built-in Bluetooth hands-free calling interface, which enables drivers to access their cell phone's address books and recent call activity, and to stream music via the A2DP Bluetooth profile (providing their cell phones come with the relevant capabilities). The ex-10 will be available at the end of the month with a price of around $230.

Car Tech editors Wayne Cunningham and Kevin Massy fiddle with a Scion xD.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

At this year's CES, the Car Tech editorial staff members not only cover the show, we are part of it. Along with looking at new and innovative automotive gadgets around the show floor, we are running the Car Tech Testing Lab. We've invited major car stereo manufacturers, such as Eclipse, Alpine, Pioneer, and Blaupunkt, to stop by our Lab and install their latest car stereos in our test car, a 2008 Scion xD, so we can check out the products in a standard environment.

We first got a sense of our new responsibilities as we waited in line to drive our test car into the convention center. There we were, 8 a.m. on Sunday, sitting in our Scion xD, in front of a Morgan, a Ford GT, and a Ferrari F430. We felt a little outclassed, but were happy with our car when we had to maneuver it around crates, forklifts, and cranes through the hall to our Lab. We spent the rest of our setup time prepping the car--taking out the original stereo and disconnecting the starter--and setting up camera angles. Then Monday through Thursday we will be getting our first looks at the latest car stereos.