Alpine calls time on CDs

The latest in-car entertainment systems show that compact discs in the cockpit could soon get the eject button - just like cassette players and the eight-track tape machine before them.

Alpine has recently launched head units that don't have the crucial disc slots. Instead, the company predicts music lovers will prefer to play the songs which are stored on their MP3 digital players. And now it's providing simple connections to the portable personal jukeboxes.

The revolution could happen very quickly. Alpine released the aftermarket slot-less head units earlier this month. It usually waits 18 months to test public popularity - but only a week later, the firm started offering the same units to car makers, confident they are what everyone wants.