Apple has confirmed that the next update to its iPhone software, iOS 4.2, will fix the alarm clock bug that caused owners throughout the UK to wake up late for work on Monday morning.
Apple issued a statement saying: "We're aware of an issue related to daylight-saving time and repeating alarms and will deliver a fix with the iOS 4.2 software update this month."
When the clocks went back over the weekend, iPhones running on iOS 4 automatically adjusted their internal clock. Unfortunately, this appeared to create a problem with recurring alarms, which went off exactly an hour after they were assigned to.
This continues to happen even if you reset the recurring alarm and set up a new one. It can be solved by using single alarms, or setting the recurring alarm for one hour before you are supposed to wake up. Of course, you could simply find a different way to get out of bed.
"We suggest customers set non-repeating alarms for now, and reset after November 7 to resolve the issue," Apple said.
The software update is unlikely to drop before this weekend, when US iPhone owners will encounter the same bug as their own clocks change over. The Twitterverse was ablaze with annoyed late-waking iPhone owners on Monday, so at least US iPhoners should be better prepared.
This whole problem may seem trivial, but there are a huge number of iPhone 4, 3GS and 3G owners who run iOS 4 and rely on its alarm clock. As well as costing businesses money due to people turning up late, others could have easily missed flights.
The iOS 4.2 update was due this month anyway, but this latest bug could force Apple to hurry it along. The update is of particular interest to iPad users, as it will offer them new features like multitasking, folders, wireless printing, Apple TV AirPlay, Game Centre and improved email.
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