If officials from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are walking the show floor at the Consumer Electronics Show this week, they're probably having apoplectic fits.

On display is an explosion of in-car apps, Internet services -- even behind-the-wheel video conferencing -- that is bound to send government officials screaming about driver distraction. And with more advanced technology, including self-driving cars, rapidly rolling out, rulemakers are finding it hard to keep up.

This will be the year of the connected car, with all the major automakers pushing Web-based services through their entire lines, from luxury brands like Lexus to budget models from Chevy. At the electronics expo GM announced that it would make it easier for outside companies to create new smartphone apps that would make its vehicles more flexible and allow owners to more readily personalize and upgrade their in-dash systems.

It means that services like TuneIn, which makes radio stations from around the world available in some Chevy models, will appear sooner in GM cars. The company also hopes developers will use information from the car -- such as safe driving habits -- to deliver tangible benefits, such as lower insurance charges.Even companies that have built their reputations on safety and security are jumping into the car app market.

Ford is also pushing its existing Applink software, which allows developers to quickly write new connected car programs in days rather than months or years. The automaker has been a leader in enabling smartphones to connect to in-dash systems to play Web-based music and recorded radio shows. It's aggressively pushing more apps to the car, with nine new programs announced here in Las Vegas.

For the first time, the music service Rhapsody will be available in the car, and there will be some rather odd offerings. BeCouply, an app that suggests creative date ideas, will soon be available on Ford systems, so that drivers on the road can get dating pointers, such as spending quality time at a nearby bowling alley or taking skydiving lessons at a local airport.

Dating apps for cars aren't likely to be the next big thing, but even companies that have built their reputations on safety and security are jumping into the car app market. For the first time, Volvo will introduce a retro-fit, in-dash connected car system this spring. Volvo owners of later model cars (2010 or newer) will be able to get dealer-installed Connected Touch in their autos. With prices yet to be set, the touch-screen systems will include Google Maps, TuneIn, and -- a first for cars -- Spotify. With the Spotify app, drivers can select songs using voice commands.