There's been a lot of random misinformation about the iPhone 3G floating around out there, like David Pogue's baffling comment that the device's GPS antenna is "too small" to support turn-by-turn directions, and Apple's iPod and iPhone marketing head Greg Joswiak recently sat down with AppScout to clear up some of the confusion. Greg says that Apple has an internal priority list of features for the iPhone, and that the company went as far down the list with the 3G as it could -- and that copy / paste support simply didn't make the cut. Similarly, there are no technical issues preventing turn-by-turn directions, just other "complicated issues" (read: legal agreements) that need to be sorted out, and Josiwak expects developers to "amaze us." as things "evolve." Hopefully that means that nav app TomTom's got in the labs will evolve its way into the wild sometime soon. Finally, Joswiak said that he's not aware of any technical reasons an office suite isn't already in the App Store, but that the lack of a cross-application file structure could impede development. Yeah, and maybe the lack of copy / paste, you think?

If you've been warming to those OnStar assistants when dialing up to get directions, you've now got a couple more reasons to pretend that you're lost. The first enhancement to its existing turn-by-turn service is Destination Download, which essentially enables subscribers with screen-based NAV systems to have routes beamed in without the driver having to pull over and manually enter them. Moving on, we see the official rollout of the long-awaited eNav service, which allows motorists in "turn-by-turn navigation-capable vehicles" to find and save destinations on MapQuest.com; afterwards, the directions can be sent to the car's navigator. Lastly, XM NavTraffic is joining the fray in order to give OnStar users instant notification if there are any delays ahead in their planned route (and the ability to change course). Peep the read link for a video demonstration of the services, and click on through for the full release.

There always seemed to be an inexplicable void between the Maestro 2000 and 4000 series, but now Magellan has finally filled that gap with the launch of the first two units in the 3000 lineup. Holding down the low-end, the 3100 navigation device sports a 3.5-inch QVGA touchscreen, SiRF Star III chipset, QuickSpell, turn-by-turn guidance, SmartDetour technology, over 750,000 POIs, and a three-hour battery life as well. Upping the ante a bit is the 3140, which mimics the aforementioned unit in most areas, but adds a few more niceties such as Bluetooth, text-to-speech, AAA TourBook information, handsfree calling, and an expanded map selection. Of course, there's nothing here to get overly excited about, but if something does manage to catch your fancy, you can snap up the 3100 later this month for $299.99, while the higher-end 3140 will hit in May for an extra Benjamin.

[Thanks, Alloy]

Magellan's been known to toss out GPS units three at a time before, and while the company hasn't come forward yet about its presumably forthcoming trio of navigation devices, we've got the skinny anyway. All three Maestro units will sport a 4.3-inch WQVGA touchscreen display, SiRF Star III chipset, and an in-car mounting kit, but the similarities basically end there. On the low-end, you'll find NAVTEQ maps for the 48 contiguous United States, QuickSpell, 1.6 million POIs, and a rechargeable battery with around three hours of juice. The 4040 steps it up by adding more detailed map coverage, 4.5 million POIs, text-to-speech / Bluetooth capabilities, and by playing nice with the real-time traffic add-on service. The flagship unit boasts all the capabilities of its lesser siblings, but also adds traffic functions right out of the box as well as voice recognition software. The Maestro 4000 / 4040 are each slated to land in "early April" for $449.99 / $599.99, respectively, while the high-end 4050 will demand a somewhat steep $799.99 for its niceties when it arrives in May.

Read - Magellan Maestro 4000
Read - Magellan Maestro 4040
Read - Magellan Maestro 4050
[Via GPSGazette]

If the maze of budget navigation units has you all turned around, you probably haven't even looked in Lowrance's direction; while primarily known for it's aquatic endeavors, the iWay GPS nav systems are formidable alternatives to more familiar names like TomTom and Garmin. The affordable iWay 250c has a meager 3.5-inch 320 x 240 touch-screen display, NAVTEQ maps, adjustable white LED backlighting, and just for kicks, completes a trifecta of functions by acting as a JPEG viewer and MP3 player. You won't, however, have the luxury of a hard drive, as the SD slot is your only storage option. While on your merry way, expect detailed turn-by-turn guidance via on-screen alerts and the obligatory robotic voice cues. The iWay 250c is certainly not laced with features, unlike its tricked-out sibling, but priced at $349.99 it'll cost you less than half as much.