isambard

Frustratingly, my iPad calendar appeared to unilaterally decide that the first day of the week was Sunday. And there was no obvious setting to change it, like there is for Calendar on the Mac.

Turns out this “feature” is decided by Apple based on your region. They believe Australian weeks start on Sunday so that’s the way it is. To change the day, change your region.

For Australians wanting their calendar to start on a Monday:

1. Launch settings
2. Select General > International
3. change region format to Namibia

This bizarre choice seems to have the best option for calendar setting, as well as changes it makes to keyboards (what currency symbol you see), date and time formats, even which google you default to when you search. Namibia appears to leave all the other settings “just like Australia”, and still default to google.com.au for searching in Safari.

Thanks to the clever chaps on the Whirlpool forums, particularly dokh22, for uncovering this. Now how long before Apple gives us a calendar setting to do it properly?

Finally managed to download and install the IOS5 update for the iPad. Most of the new features are unobtrusive, although still trying to find some of them.

However what wins is the wireless synchronisation feature. Now I can update my library (songs, books, tv) on my computer and click Sync. And the iPad gets updated while not connected. While not even switched on. While in my briefcase in another room.

Sweet.

[Although I'll admit it's probably sweet because Apple kept us tethered for far too long!]