iCal

Organized is a new widget from iSlayer featuring a calendar with events, world clocks, notes and to do's. The calendar and to do's utilise OS X's inbuilt databases, so they're always in sync with iCal and Mail.

Awesome, their widgets (or if you want them in your menu bar, their menulings) have always been on my system and I'm glad they released this widget. I like how this not only replaced their menuling for time (since it doesn't fit on my 12" Powerbook) but also grabs iCal events, to dos and Mail notes.

Don't forget to donate to iSlayer.

FlexTD is simply a way to get your to-dos into your calendar/mail to-do list quickly. Simply hit a hotkey that you define and a quick entry window pops up -- from within any application. Type in your to-do and instantly the item is added to your calendar/mail program's to-do list.

Great, now if only entering an event were as easy.

I remembered reading a few weeks ago that forum members of Ars Technica were looking for a light-weight task application that would hook into Leopard's Mail/iCal to-do's. I thought it would be neat and that I might start actually using it, especially if it would sync with my iPhone, but even if it didn't, I'd still be happy. Now, via Daring Fireball, that Anxiety has been released. Nifty. I head back to Ars only to find that they've been following the development of the software all the way up to it's release.

For some reason, seeing this in such a small loop makes me feel sort of nostalgic. Don't know why. And it makes me want to work on my own code.

Apple's next version of it's OS X operating system, Leopard, has 300 features, many of which I couldn't be bothered with. The most interesting is that Mail will have a built in RSS reader. I'd use that if I didn't already shell out $25 for NewsFire. Stationary? Nah, I try to send plain text emails. Forward as attachment? I was wondering when this would show up, Thunderbird and Evolution both already do it. To-do's? Aren't those already there, just in iCal? What other useless features are there:

• Wikipedia Content Filter
• Word of the Day Screen Saver
• Spaces (this was one thing I assumed would be there coming over from Linux, I was surprised it wasn't)
• Boot Camp (I'd like to run a Linux inside of OS X, though)
• Movies Widget In Dashboard
• Apple Dictionary
• Improved Tethered Camera Support (you're either a pro and using something more serious than this or a casual shooter and don't shoot tethered)
• New AirPort Menu

It seems the overwhelming majority of this list is fluff. I could get it for $107 (corporate discount) but I'd be hard-pressed to justify buying it at even half of that price. Time Machine looks interesting, but I manage my own backups just find, thanks.

Now if only I could get the photo books I want. Apple just isn't offering anything I want, let alone need.