2 Apr 2010

Time conversion doesn't have to be a bitch.

While I wait for my iPad to arrive, I keep checking my UPS tracking code for updates.

However one of the things that gets me frazzled is trying to figure out when exactly all these updates occur. Each update has a timestamp recorded according to whichever time zone the update took place. While this is pretty easy to figure out for domestic packages, I always have a hard time with international ones. I just can't remember how many hours I have to add or subtract, not to mention whether or not daylight savings is in effect. Blech! I Google it, which will normally bring me to the official time.gov site, where I have to wait for the 90's Java applet (below) to load, and then figure it out from there. While this works reliably well, it is definitely not a preferred method.

There's a much easier way, with the help of our geeky friends at Wolfram Alpha. In the equation box, type in the time and location of the update you're looking to convert. In my case  typed in, "4:10am april 2, 2010 china". And just with that, WA knows what to do.

Tah-Dah! My iPad left Guangzhou, CN on 4/1 @ 1:10pm local time.