Microsoft Band suffers Daylight Saving Time glitch

Redmond rushes out fix for its fitness tracker

Microsoft has advised purchasers of its new Band fitness tracker that it may have displayed some errors this weekend.

The firm said that the change to Daylight Saving Time may have affected some users, warning that while the time displayed on the device is correct, it may not be supplying the correct information to the fitness tracking side of the wearable.

Microsoft is not alone in having to update its software because of a time-related problem. For example, Apple had to update its iPhone software after a glitch stopped its built-in alarm clock going off, leaving many people oversleeping on the first two days of the 2010/11 New Year.

Microsoft seems to have things under control, though, with its support page stressing that not all users will be affected, and that those who are should get an automatic fix today.

"Following the Daylight Savings [sic] Time change, some customers may find that data displayed on their Microsoft Band is correct, but is out of sync with the Microsoft Health app," it said.

"Customers do not need to take any action. All data is intact and discrepancies between Microsoft Band and Microsoft Health will be corrected automatically on 11/3/14."

The Band is Microsoft's first foray into the burgeoning wearables market, which will see rival Apple enter the fray with a smartwatch next year. The $199 device offers fitness tracking, email, voice communications using Cortana, Windows 8.1 and messaging capabilities.

Microsoft Band can track and assess movement and sleep patterns, and link with a smartphone or computer to analyse and display the data.