Timezone changed for appointments synced to phone

[GaryT]

I have a Xperia Z1

I use Outlook 2010 on my PC

I use PC Companion to sync the calendar details from Outlook to the phone

My PC, Outlook, Xperia Z1 and Calendar on the Xperia all have the same timezone setting.

When I perform a sync of appointments from Outlook to the phone using PC Companion, the timezone in each individual appointment is dfferent to the timezone set for the PC, Outlook, Xperia Z1 and the Calendar app.

As a result the appointments show on my phone at the incorrect time.

If I edit each appointment on my phone and change the timezone in the appointment to match the timezone in use in all other settings, the appointment displays correctly.

This applies to all appointments but has a bigger impact on recurring appointments.

The timezone in a single appointment is not the same as the timezone in all other settings but it at least has the correct offset from GMT so the appointment shows at the correct time.

For recurring appointments, the timezone in the appointment is changed to one which is not in the selection list on my PC and it has a different offset from GMT to the actual timezone in use.  Consequently the recurring appointments display in the calendar app on the phone at the wrong time.

The timezone setting in use is:  Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney.  This timezone is GMT + 10 and GMT +11 during Daylight Savings Time.  The timezone is currently in Daylight Savings Time.

The individual appointments, when synced to the phone using PC Companion, shows a timezone of "(GMT+10:00)GMT+10:00".  Even with a GMT offset of 10:00 it somehow recognises Daylight Savings is applicable and adjusts the start and end time of the appointment by GMT+11:00.

A recurring appointment, when synced to the phone using PC Companion, shows a timezone of "(GMT+11:00) Sakhalin Standard Time".  This results in a recurring appointment presenting in the calendar app at the correct time until the recurrence cross the start or end date for Daylight Savings Time.

I have had the Xperia Z1 for 10 months now and have crossed the transition into and out off Dayligh Savings Time once each.  On each occasion the appoinment times in the calendar app on the phone became incorrect.  The only solution is to individually edit each appointment and manual select the appropriate timezone.

I have been synchronising phones with Outlook for about 15 years now.  During the early years there were issues with timezone changes for daylight savings but I haven't encountered it for at least 10 years.  It is very disappointing that Sony has not been able to get this right when it had already solved the problem for its pre-android phones and syncing with the earlier version of PC Companion.

I look forward to a resolution to this issue.

[Nashidar]

---

@Thommo wrote:

This is a member forum ran by members like you which I am and we have no influence over Sony - You will need to contact Sony directly to forward a developer issue http://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/support/contact-us/

---

Fair enough. I have contacted them (via email) and logged a job (have received a reference number).

I really hope this issue is, eventually, resolved. I do intend to stay on top of this so will post back if I hear anything.

[GaryT]

Interesting to see that other people are having the same issue with time zones when syncing from the PC.  Even more interesting since every time I talk to Sony about they say it is the first they have heard of it  -  even when I have raised with them before!

This is definitely NOT a Microsoft or Android issue  -  both Microsoft and Android have been accurately dealing with time zones in calendar entries for years.  Sony even did it properly in the past with their Sony Ericsson mobile phones.

I have now given up on any support or assistance from Sony.  Sony will not even acknowledge there is an issue.  For me, this lack of basic functionality is a deal breaker.  Having correct calendar entries on my phone is vital and if Sony cannot deliver on this, I will be changing to a different handset.

Thanks for the memories Sony, I will not be back.

[GaryT]

Well I first raised the issue of syncing calendar entries from Outlook to the Xperia using PC Companion over 18 months ago.  In the last 2 days an update was released for the phone along with a newer version of PC Companion.  I have applied both updates.  Guess what?  The syncing of calendar entries still does not work.  Not really surprised given that Sony has repeatedly responded they were not aware of this issue.

After 18 months Sony has still not being able to fix a basic function in identifying the timezone offet of calendar items for use in the sync function.  This is something that every other phone vendor can do and, in fact, Sony has done in the past with other products.

Well, my contract is almost up and I can guarantee that my next phone will NOT be a Sony.

Gary T.