For this second part of my article dedicated on Panther, I've questioned my sources on features that we'll find on new versions of the system applications and iAppz that are going to be included with Mac OS X Panther.

- As we can guess, a final version of Safari will be released with Panther. Some sources told me that Internet Explorer would definitely be ousted from Mac OS X.

- New release of iTunes should come separately very soon. Note that it is something I have already reported on an article posted on March the 14th and it looks like it is more and more confirmed. The new version of iTunes will of course also be included in Panther.

- Sherlock will probably be improved again with channels loading faster, better .Mac integration and online ordering capabilities.

- Mail is also said to get new features with a major update (I couldn't get further details).

- A new version of iSync, if it doesn't come separately, will come with Panther. This version will add compatibility with several devices and improve .Mac synchronizing (synchronizing of Safari bookmarks has been mentioned).

- iCal will also be updated with minor changes to the GUI and new features of which I couldn't get details.

- Disc burning will probably get some new features. Some sources mentioned the possibility of burning ISO 9660 volumes and better support for data-DVD burning. It is also possible that Apple is planning a more user friendly GUI for this application but I couldn't get confirmation from reliable sources about that.

- Address Book will add, according to some new sources, advanced export features that will allow you to make lists of contacts to print or to publish.- An improved version of iChat is also expected. Some sources mentioned video-conferencing capabilities, support for other networks and possibility to send SMS (via Bluetooth and/or .Mac) which is not really confirmed.

- QuickTime is going to be updated and may finally fix some bugs for the popular DivX codec (actually with .avi files) but will not necessarily include it in this new version. It is also possible that the full screen feature will become available to non-registered users. Actually it looks like one of the reasons why QuickTime partially lost its popularity is the fact that the full screen feature is not present on the free player. It is not sure whether it will be numbered 6.5 or, as some sources mentioned, "version 6.2".

- Apple will certainly add Rendezvous related features to many of its applications and even better integration between them.

- As with Jaguar, most of the iApps' updates will be also made available for free download but I guess that there will be some surprises that no rumour site will have mentioned - like it happens on every major upgrade to Mac OS.

It is possible that Apple releases new iApps with Panther but at the moment I don't have any reliable information on that subject. I believe that, once again, it will be quite worthwhile purchasing this upgrade to Mac OS X. For those who have been Mac OS X users since the beginning and believe that it's getting too expensive to pay each year for upgrades to an operating system that started becoming mature only lately, I'd suggest you compare all the money you have spent for Mac OS X since its release with the price of Windows XP. I don't know if there will be a "part 3" article on Panther but be sure that if I get further interesting news, you'll be informed as soon as it is properly verified. So stay tuned and those who can help me, it's here! Note to some quite awkward readers: sending me questions using the anonymous form has no sense as I won't be able to answer to you ;).