As you (hopefully) noticed last weekend, starting this spring DST starts and ends on earlier dates. In order to comply with the United States Energy Policy Act of 2005, DST went into affect three weeks earlier (the second Sunday in March this year). It will end one week later (the first Sunday in November). Since 1986, DST had been observed from the first Sunday in April through the last Sunday of October.
The change has been made with an eye toward energy conservation, but Congress retained the right to revert to the 1986 law should the change prove unpopular or if energy savings are not significant.
The DST change affects everyone in North America, including users in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.
It also affects most mobile data devices, such as Palm, Windows Mobile and Blackberry.
Since some mobile device clocks will automatically adjust to the incorrect DST, users run the risk of having their clocks (and calendars) be an hour off for the three-week period. This can pose a big problem when you’re scheduled for a meeting and you show up an hour late because your mobile didn’t automatically adjust the time in your calendar.
But, there’s no need to worry. Manufacturers have released updates that are available for download on their sites, so all you have to do is find a little time (no pun intended) and install the fix on your device so you won’t miss out on the next big appointment, movie or interview ever again.
Jonathan Masker of Portland is a wireless solution expert and a self-proclaimed gaget guru.