Daylight Savings Time starts this weekend in the US.  Unfortunately, this is the time we lose the extra hour of sleep.  Don't forget to check your device clocks on Monday to make sure they changed correctly!

It's that time of year again!  Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, Nov 2nd in the USA.

We've discussed this topic for the past several years, especially as it relates to Windows Mobile and Windows CE devices.  Be sure to check your device dates next week to make sure they have updated correctly!

Don't forget, the time change in the United States occurs this weekend.  This is the new, early time change.  Here is a link to all of our previous Daylight Savings entries, in case you need to find the Pocket PC patches or review the details.

Interestingly, a recent study suggests that Daylight Savings Time may not save energy after all, and in fact may increase energy consumption.  From the article:

Their finding: Having the entire state switch to daylight-saving time each year, rather than stay on standard time, costs Indiana households an additional $8.6 million in electricity bills. They conclude that the reduced cost of lighting in afternoons during daylight-saving time is more than offset by the higher air-conditioning costs on hot afternoons and increased heating costs on cool mornings.

This is finally the weekend for the switch back from Daylight Savings Time to Standard Time here in the United States.  We've discussed how to update your PCs and Windows Mobile devices before, but how does the transition affect you?  Dr. Sydney Spiesel discusses this in Slate Magazine.

Not too surprisingly, it turns out that people are affected by the time change, and that people are affected in different ways.  It is interesting that for some, the disruption of sleep/wake cycles can last the entire summer, resetting again on the change back to Standard Time!

Dr. Spiesel was also on line for a chat about the article.

Due to the new Daylight Savings Time rules, this past weekend was NOT the shift back from Daylight Savings time to Standard Time in the United States.  However, if you did not apply the Daylight Savings Time patches to your mobile devices, they may have set their clocks back automatically.  Make sure you check to prevent your collected data from carrying the wrong timestamp!

The correct time change will be this coming weekend, November 4th at 2:00am.

Last spring, we wrote several articles regarding the new Daylight Savings Time change, and how Windows Mobile and Windows CE were affected.  This weeks Windows Updates patches include a new update to the Daylight Savings Time rules for the PC.  From the linked article, the following updates were made:

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Updates from the previous cumulative Windows time zone update
The following changes have been made since the previous Windows cumulative time zone update, described in KB article 931836:
• Caucasus Standard Time
Changes display name to Caucasus Standard Time as cities in the previous display name have separate time zones, and removes DST settings.
• Armenian Standard Time
Creates a new time zone for Armenia to better align with different DST changes in the Caucasus region.
• New Zealand Standard Time
Adjusts DST start dates and end dates according to changes signed in to law after the prior cumulative time zone update was created (February 2007).
• GTB Standard Time
Corrects the display name for GTB Standard Time on Windows Server 2003 SP2 to include Bucharest.
• Jordan Standard Time
Adjusts DST start times, end times, and dates according to changes signed in to law after the prior cumulative time zone update was created (February 2007).

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With Extended Daylight Savings Time turning our clocks forward 3 weeks ago, you may have put that whole problem behind you.  This past saturday was the original Daylight Savings Time changeover date, so any devices which were not updated with the new rules will have changed their clocks ahead.  Take a moment to double-check your devices and make sure all clocks are in sync!

Did you update your devices for the new Extended Daylight Savings Time?  The first deadline has passed, but if your devices are not updated, they are going to change the clock automatically when the original daylight savings time date arrives!

HandHeld Products has posted the CAB files for the Extended Daylight Savings Time update.  Put the correct CAB file (PocketPC 2003 or Windows Mobile 5) in the \IPSM\AutoInstall and cold-boot the device.  Be sure you have backed up all data on the device before cold booting!

This is your last chance to update your PC and mobile devices before the new Extended Daylight Savings Time change this weekend.  We've previously discussed these issues in the following articles:

Extended Daylight Savings Time and Windows Mobile / Windows CE

Windows Mobile 5 Daylight Savings Time update tool released by Microsoft.

And of course, visit Windows Update to update your PC.

If all else fails, reset your clocks on Sunday/Monday, and then be prepared to set them again on April 2nd!

As previously discussed, Windows CE and Window Mobile devices need to be updated for the new Extended Daylight Savings Time in 2007.  Microsoft has now released a tool to make the necessary registry updates to support Extended Daylight Savings Time.

Here is the tool for Windows Mobile:
Windows Mobile Updates for Daylight Savings Time
This tool is intended for Windows Mobile devices and SmartPhones.  If you are using a Portable Data Collection device, check with your manufacturer to see if a custom tool or CAB file is available.

For Windows CE, since every device manufacturer builds a customized configuration of the operating system, it appears that you will need to either:

• Make the clock changes manually.

-OR-

• Update the registry manually, following the directions in this KB article.

-OR-

• Get an update from your device manufacturer.

Be sure to test after applying these updates to make sure the clock updates correctly!

As you are no doubt aware, Daylight Savings Time has been extended by 4 weeks in the United States.  This means that your Windows Mobile devices will need an update to change the clock automaticaly on March 11, 2007 instead of in April.

Microsoft has released an article for each operating system.  These articles describe registry changes to be made.
How to configure daylight saving time for the United States and Canada in 2007 and in subsequent years on Windows Mobile-based devices
How to update daylight saving time for the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2007 on Windows CE-based devices

Microsoft has also announced a tool to set the appropriate registery entries.  This tool does not appear to be available yet, but we'll keep you posted.  Each device manufacturer will probably release a CAB file or update tool for their devices, as well.

Microsoft has a Daylight Saving Time Help and Support Center with information on updates for desktop and mobile operating systems.