Clocks, Calendars, and the Failure of Technology

Apparently there’s a known iPhone daylight savings time-related issue cropping up across Europe today. While the displayed time correctly reflects the DST change, select alarm functions are off by an hour. According to Engadget:

The bug appears when using a repeating alarm for anything other than “every day.”

I suppose this could be a big deal if you rely on your phone to wake up for work or get to your wedding on time. But, otherwise, I’d classify this as an amusing quirk related to archaic legislation. However, it’s not the first time we’ve seen technological issues related to clocks and calendars. For example, TiVo wasn’t particularly timely in updating DVRs (especially Series1 units) to account for the new DST dates in 2007. Even more disturbing was Microsoft’s Outlook gaffe in 1999 that led a buddy to schedule his family vacation when he was supposed to be at work. Doh!

And then there was that whole Y2K thing…

6 thoughts on “Clocks, Calendars, and the Failure of Technology”

  1. Not just Europe..

    I use my iPhone for my alarm clock and it went off at 6 when it was set for 7 this morning.

    And it’s set for every day.

  2. Because a picture of the iPhone Alarm app won’t convey it’s off by an hour. Plus, I find it amusing that Microsoft still publishes a knowledgebase article covering a calendar issue specific to 1999. I was reminiscing with my pal yesterday how I urged him to write MS a letter demanding to be compensated for that day of PTO he (and his wife) had to take.

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