Palm Issues Daylight-Saving Time Fix

The rules for when Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins and ends will change this year, so all devices with a clock and calendar will need an update, or else their clocks will move forward or backward an hour on incorrect dates.

Palm, Inc. has just released a DST update for its handhelds and smartphones dating back several years. This includes both Palm OS and Windows Mobile devices.

A Daylight Saving Time Change

Previously DST began on the first Sunday in April, and ended on the last Sunday of October. Beginning this year, though, it will start on the second Sunday in March (March 11, 2007), and will changes back to standard time on the first Sunday in November (November 4, 2007).

The idea behind the Energy Policy Act, enacted by the U.S. Congress signed into law by Pres. Bush in 2005, is to save energy.

But it will require a large number of computers -- including handhelds and smartphones -- to have an update, as these devices use the old rules for when DST begins and ends. Otherwise, calendar events and email messages will indicate an hour off the actual time.

Downloading the Update

Palm's Daylight Saving Time update for both its Palm OS and Windows Mobile devices can be downloaded -- for free -- from its web site.

It should be installed by everyone using a model produced by this company, even its most recent ones, the Treo 680 and Treo 750.

Palm's DST fix does not require erasing everything on the mobile device.

Please note, users may also need to update their PC or Mac with the new DST rules.