Time change alert: There's a glitch in the iPhone alarm clock

iPhone users beware: There's a glitch in the alarm clock app that will keep iPhone alarm clocks from recognizing this week's time change in most U.S. states this weekend.

What does that mean? Actually, we're not sure.

You see, a post on CNN's Tech, which includes a quote from an Apple spokesperson, suggests that your alarm clock will go off an hour late - therefore making you late on Monday morning. But that makes no sense, considering the fall time change is when we set our clocks back an hour, getting back the extra hour of sleep that we lost in the Spring.

Daylight Savings time officially ends at 2 a.m. Sunday morning, returning most of the country to Standard time.

If I understand the glitch correctly, you're alarm will still go off at 5:30 a.m. on Monday morning - but it will really be 4:30 a.m. But maybe I don't really understand the glitch. Does the clock reset itself for the time change and the alarm clock self-corrects the wrong way? Or maybe the alarm clock resets for the change but the clock doesn't. I have asked Apple for some clarification and will update when and if I get a reply.

Apple spokesperson Natalie Harrison told CNN that users who depend on the iPhone to wake them should "set nonrepeating alarms for now and reset after November 7 to resolve the issue." The bug only applies to "repeating" alarm settings, such as those that are set to go off at the same time every day.  From Apple's support page about this problem:

Symptoms

In some regions, shortly before or after the daylight saving time (DST) change, repeating alarms created in the Clock app may work incorrectly.

Products Affected

iPod touch (4th generation), iPod touch (3rd generation), iPhone 3G, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch (2nd generation)

Resolution

To resolve this behavior for existing alarms, set the repeat interval to Never. You will need to reset these alarms for each day you need them. After November 7th, 2010, you can set your alarms to repeat again.

She also said Apple will release an updated version of its mobile OS later this month, which will permanently fix the glitch. Too bad Apple couldn't have pushed out that update BEFORE this weekend's time change.

Bottom line: if you really need an accurate alarm clock on Monday morning, perhaps your best bet is to run out and get one of those wind-up nightstand clocks - or do as a reader on the CNN post suggested:

Buy an Android.