On March 11th at 2:00 am, Daylight Savings kicks in for Canada, Mexico and the United States. DST starts three weeks earlier and ends a week later than previous years.  In previous years, DST started the first Sunday in April and ended on the last Sunday in October, but now it starts the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

Microsoft provided some guidelines about how the Pocket PC's registry could be changed to accommodate these changes in its article entitled, "How to configure daylight saving time for the United States and Canada in 2007 and in subsequent years on Windows Mobile-based devices" (Article ID 923953).  Recently Microsoft posted comprehensive Daylight Savings Time 2007 updates to its website.  These updates address not only the Pocket PC, but also the desktop computer and Outlook.

Update the Computer
The 2007 time zone update addresses the desktop's operating system.  This file updates the system clock on the PC and,  in turn the DST table in the Pocket PC upon its next synchronization.

Update Outlook 2000, 2002 and/or 2003
The Outlook Time Zone Update addresses Outlook's Calendar function.  This update, is applied to Outlook 2000, 2002, and 2003, and addresses potential calendar issues that may arise with appointments that fall within the new DST weeks.

Update the Pocket PC
The Daylight Savings Time 2007 Update for Pocket PCs update fixes the Pocket PC's system clock and updates its DST table.  The update should work for all Pocket PCs regardless of the OS (I installed it to my windows mobile 2003se handheld with no problem).  You'll download the file to your computer and install it to the pocket pc through an ActiveSync connection.

Microsoft also provides three different Pocket PC updates in CAB file format:
 
Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC and smartphone devices

Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PCs (including Second Edition)

Windows Mobile 2003 smartphone (including Second Edition)


The .CAB updates can be copied directly to your Pocket PC and installed there, bypassing the computer altogether.  The CAB file does not address the computer or the Outlook Calendar, so you may still need to install those updates to your computer.  If you have a Windows Mobile 2002 Pocket PC, try installing the Windows Mobile 2003 update - I think it will work for you.

UPDATE:  HP has recently posted an IPAQ Daylight Savings Time Fix to their website that also addresses the daylight savings changes for most, if not all, IPAQs.

To get the Pocket PC to recognize these changes after you've installed the Pocket PC update:

1. Tap Start > Settings > Clock & Alarms > Time tab
2. Change the current time zone to any time zone other than the one that is selected.
3. Tap Ok > Yes to save changes to the clock settings.
4. Then change the current time zone back to the one you want to use.
5. Tap Ok > Yes again to save the changes to the clock settings.

If you have a Pocket PC running an earlier OS and do not use ActiveSync, you could try installing the update by using the CAB file found on PDAPhonehome forum or here.

Other than the DST update shown in the Pocket PC's installed applications listing, you won't see anything different on your handheld until 3/11/07 at 1:59 am.  When the time changes to 2:00 am, the time should immediately change to 3:00 am and leave a message for you informing you of the DST change adjustment. You can test out the update to make sure it has worked by setting the calendar and time of your handheld to 3/11 and 1:58 am and then watching your screen until the time changes to 2:00 am.

Australian Update for Pocket PCs
Over the last couple of months, I've see a few requests on the Pocket PC forums I visit from Australian users looking for a way to address their recent Daylight Savings changes.  In searching for information for this article, I found an update on the Pocket PC Thoughts website that address the Australian Daylight Savings time change.

[PS: Personally, I wish we could get rid of Daylight savings altogether.] 

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