I don't know if this was clever planning by someone at Apple, or just happy chance, but it looks like that new iPad Mini we're all so excited about (sort of like how the world lost its shit at the release of fun-sized Oreos) is almost exactly the right size to fit into many car's dashboards easily.

I get so frustrated when I'm in a new car and there's no way to plug in my iPod. Get with the times, car manufacturers! Or bring them up to speed yourself with the O'Car, a dedicated iPhone-based head unit.

The 2009 Detroit Auto Show provided a stage for Alpine Electronics to proudly announce they've released a few new mobile media solutions for GM, BMW and Mercedes featuring iPod-like graphical design.