Changing Date and Time in Unix BSD

This post is as much for me as anyone else, I always forget this simple command for changing the system date or system time in BSD Unix.

Simply (as root) type 'date' then hit enter
This will spit back the current date and time

If you want to change it, type 'date yyMMddhhmm' then hit enter
substitute:

• yy with 2 digit year code
• MM with 2 digit month code
• dd with 2 digit day code (date)
• hh with two digits for hours (Unix uses 24 hour clock)
  
• mm with two digits for minutes
  

In this example 'date 0903300935' you will get the time and date of March 30th, 2009 at 9:35AM

Remember that BSD Unix is using a 24 hour (military) clock. So if you need something in the afternoon, say 3:35pm, you would use 'date 0903301535' then hit enter. This would render the date and time as March 30th, 2009 at 3:35PM

That is how you change the time in BSD Unix.

Windows Mobile 6.1 DST Issue

I am disappointed in both Verizon Wireless and Microsoft. After I recently wrote about the windows mobile 6.1 update for the verizon wireless smt5800, which overall, I was very pleased with, I found out that they did not patch the Daylight Savings Time adjustment issue in Windows Mobile 6.1 . How stupid is that?

For those of you that do not know, windows mobile 5 and 6 devices needed to be patched due to the change in dates for DST updates. Well, it turns out that they did not fix it in Windows Mobile 6.1 either. So in short, if you receive a calendar request from your exchange server, accept it, and get back in the office and see that your calendar is one hour off, you need to patch your phone.

Go here to get the patch.

Green Screen Verizon FIOS via HDMI

I recently had Verizon Fios TV (and internet) installed at my house. Overall, I was extremely impressed with the level of service in notifying me about the install and the technician that was sent to do the job. However, I am having a problem, and it turns out I am not the only one.

I have new Sharp 32" LCD 720p tv connected via HDMI cables to the QIP-7100 Motorola HD set-top box. After watching the tv for about 30 seconds, it will turn to a green screen, yet the audio works fine. I need to powercycle both the box and the tv in order to get picture again, yet it will just happend again immediately. I have switched out the cables, inputs, etc and nothing works. The box does work if I use the 5 component cables, however that is not an ideal solution for anyone that is trying not to have a million ugly wires running up the wall.

So far, I have found on other blogs, that this is a known issue with the Verizon box, and that it has gone unresolved for almost a year. That is unacceptable, I hope my decision to move to Verizon because of Comcast's idiotic technicians and support was not a bad decision.

I did read on another blog that a patch is on the way, so let's see if it actually happens.