Cell Phones, Computers, BlackBerry, Green Tech
Daylight Savings Wreaks Havoc On Gadgets, or Does It?
Some predicted the Daylight Savings changes signed into law in 2005 by President Bush would result in a mini-Y2K. And they were right, just as when the the year changed from 1999 to 2000, nothing of much note occurred. There was some anecdotal evidence of issues with BlackBerrys, and one kid went to jail for 12 days due to a computer glitch, but otherwise the clock change went without notice among the gadget owning public.
That said, some owners of older gadgets and cell phones, as well as people who just forgot to manually install updates (and some parking meters in Baltimore), have already experienced an early time change that messed with their schedules.
In case you were caught last time with your electronic pants down, here's a quick run down of how to make sure you're prepared this time around. Sadly, there's no simple fix for your confused biological clock.
- Windows Mobile 5 Smart Phones: Microsoft released the update for Windows Mobile 5 in February that fixes the Daylight Savings issue. If your handset runs WinMo 6 then you're already set.
- BlackBerrys: RIM also released the necessary update for the Blackberry software in February. Simply download and install and you're good to go.
- Palm OS Treos: Palm was a little behind others but still had its fix out in time for March's clock change.
so you should be set.
If you've got a cell phone that's older than four years, you might consider calling the manufacturer to make sure you're set for the time change.
From USA Today
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Gary said 6:21PM on 10-30-2007
Some people must have gotten wealthy on the whole Y2K episode though. That was nuts.
http://www.insurance-phoenix.com
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Irritated said 6:51PM on 10-30-2007
So if someone can just tell me how to fix my three clocks/clock radios that automatically reset themselves to the time the rest of the planet goes by, I would be eternally grateful. Hasn't a study shown that the change did not result in energy savings?
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Richard Rinyai said 12:02PM on 10-31-2007
This has actually been a major problem for our firm due to Outlook mixing up the meeting schedules.
I'm hoping that someone comes out with a solution soon!
Thanks,
Richard Rinyai
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Bonnie said 12:15PM on 11-02-2007
yep-for now I use my cell phone or travel alarm for two weeks twice a year to get up for work
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james said 6:30AM on 11-03-2007
could they just leave the damn time alone please
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Frankie said 6:37AM on 11-03-2007
I would like to know why the time shown on my computer is the right time, but when I send email or receive email, the time sent or received is one hour EARLIER??????
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avondallas said 7:03AM on 11-03-2007
Time-changing is now just a part of life. We can either "roll" with it and get on with our lives or complain about it and be miserable. Its unfortunate what happened to the young boy years ago, but it was a freak occurence. Seriously, it isn't that big a deal if you simply change your watch, cell phone and/or computer (as these are the most common) and gte on with life. Its simple, really.
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tulipsonuranus said 7:06AM on 11-03-2007
Personally, I think the whole Daylight Savings Time thing is completely unwarranted nonsense. If you use US Census figures for 2004, there were 112,000,000 households in the US. If you use the number of timepieces that need to have the time changed (there were 20 in my household (clocks, watches, electronics, autos, appliances, etc)) but let's just use 10 and then multiply, you have 1,120,000,000. It took me 20 minutes to set all of them. Multiply again and you have 22,400,000,000 minutes. Now multiply by 2 for once in the Spring and once for the Fall and you now have 44,800,000,000 minutes. Divide by 60 and you have 746,666,666 hours per year Americans waste screwing around with clocks! Think of all the productive things that could be accomplished with that time. Also, all the people who commute to work traveling eastbound have to deal with the sun in their eyes twice a year instead of once not to mention the return westbound trip. I'm sure hundreds of auto accidents are attributable to this time change. Let's just leave the time alone!
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JoAnn Jones said 3:21PM on 11-04-2007
I wish that everyone would get the name straight - it's Daylight Saving Time! There is NO "s" at the end of "Saving".
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Sharon said 7:45AM on 11-03-2007
This is so stupid! With all the serious issue's in this country screwing with the time was not one that should have been on this list. One of the greatest joy's to me was a coffee pot with a timer and a clock that re-set itsself.I just can't figure why? What proven reason show's that this work's?
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Beachbum said 7:45AM on 11-03-2007
The automatic reset clocks did set themselves back an hour already. However I just manually reset mine back to the correct time. This weekend I'll unplug the clock and it'll reset itself to the correct time.
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Anton said 7:51AM on 11-03-2007
I do not get American broadcast censors. They have no problem showing a women getting decapitated or dissected and her entrails cut out but God forbid they show us her boob. They even allow those disgusting man boobs on TV but a nice sweet round firm female boob will wreck havoc on our society. Go figure!!!
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ejowell1 said 8:33AM on 11-03-2007
Can't people just remember to manually set the clocks they go by anymore? Do we really have to rely on a piece of equiment to do everything for us and not use our brain?
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Razzi said 8:11AM on 11-03-2007
Daylight Savings Time, well when I was young and this Time Change thing started. They said it was so the kids going to school would not be walking (yes walking) to school in the dark. Back then it was a pain in the butt. I wish they would just leave it as is. Because it would be nice to drive home in the winter time and have day light left too!
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Ivyevine said 8:15AM on 11-03-2007
It's going to continue, so we might as well get on with it!
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marvin said 8:31PM on 11-03-2007
i enjoy daylight savings time. It really is no big deal to reset the clocks, and it does not interfere with productivity, since it is done at home and, God knows, we waste plenty of time at home! You are all just a bunch of "boobs" to complain about it when there is so much more important things to address ... such at your attitudes!
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Gunnar said 8:25AM on 11-03-2007
LEAVE THE TIME ALONE!!! ANOTHER WAY GOVERNMENT SCREWS WITH US!!
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Norm said 8:35AM on 11-03-2007
It's just "Big Brother" showing it's power again. It does it because it can and we keep re-electing these crooks at evey election. WE are thre ones who need to be ashamed of themselves!
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Mike said 8:38AM on 11-03-2007
It's not Daylight "Savings" time. Try Daylight "Saving" time, without the "s". At any rate, any way you say it, let's get rid of it. Gunnar nailed it . . . big brother screwing with us.
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Norm said 8:37AM on 11-03-2007
Just "Big Brother" controlling our lives. Wny? Because they can. Anyone remeber the phrase about absoulute power?
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