General Motors plans to offer optional car stereos with USB ports for personal music players on some of its 2009 models, according to the Associated Press. The new stereo systems will let owners play music from iPods or MP3 players as well as charge their gadgets via USB.

Today, you can already get them on the Chevrolet Cobalt and HHR and the Pontiac G5. By the middle of the model year, the report said that GM will extend USB compatibility to the Pontiac G6 and Solstice, the Saturn Sky and Aura, and the Chevrolet Malibu. It's possible that some of the systems (depending on the model) will also let drivers scan libraries using the stereo display, giving them a second advantage over garden-variety auxiliary input jacks in addition to their charging ability.